Willie Is Still With Us - Who Else Will Be?

There was an email I received from a colleague today and the story was such that ownership of the Mets gave Omar Minaya the carte blanche to jettison some of the coaches on Willie's staff. Does this bode for a turnaround? I don't think so, but to my gut instinct, the word scapegoat comes to the fore. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/06/16/mets.coaches/

What I am trying to figure out is why Rick Down was fired. Sure, he wasn't a superstar player, but a man who understood the mechanics of the swing and could quickly analyze and fine tune a players swing. The end result was an elevation of their ability.

A caller on WFAN the other day had an interesting point. Since Rick Peterson may be on the hook for the middle relief implosion, why not hire Leo Mazzone. He did wonders with the Braves. (Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine, Avery etc...). But that same colleague is opposed and said there is a Braves-Mets stigma. Maybe, but I rather have Leo Mazzone in my circle of friends.

Oprah had her makeovers, we need a Coach-over. (and a few other players may benefit with different zip codes)

Can A Psychic Figure out What is Going On With the Mets?

I had the opportunity today to score two tickets to the Mets-Diamondbacks game and was all keyed up for a much needed sojourn from the office.

Beautiful day. Seats in the shade. A good friend / professional colleague who I haven't seen in awhile. Good conversation at the ready.

First seven innings is like artwork. Santana, flawless. Chalked up 10 strikes, issued only 3 hits, 3 walks and the Mets were putting a few numbers up on the board.

And then it happened. That dreaded pitch count philosophy. It is akin to saying, "we'll only make this top spin 100 times, despite the fact it may be in a groove and still look good spinning, but we don't want it to spin too much. Santana got the hook from fisherman Willie and then the chaos started. Joe Smith, a sidearmer I admire, put two runs on the board for the Diamondbacks. That was OK. Mets were still up 4-2. But, there was one point when the Mets had 3 men on, no out and could not execute the simple act of getting a human being to traverse the basepath a mere 30 yards to touch the plate for that comfy run.

So, Schoenweiss comes in for a cup of coffee, 1/3 inning and then when the ball is handed to Billy Wagner, it came apart at the seems. He imploded. The crowd was stunned. We were like Hiroshima / Nagasaki observers -- and couldn't do anything about it. Game is tied, and a bit of optimism was emoted when a few reached base. Alas. (say it as if you are reading Shakespeare), it was not to be.

So, what happens to the artwork that Santana painted? Aaron Heilman. The Flushing Queens version of Lazlo Toth (go ahead, click the link and look him up -- it makes the image more cerebral) struck and it was all over.

Heilman, who is 0-3 - before I ever finish that sentence, I want to know what/why/how he is staying here.

More fun coming up for the Mets. Now we have to figure out a way to play the Texas Rangers -- if it is tough playing teams you know, imagine what must transpire to take on Josh Hamilton, David Murphy and Milton Bradley of the Texas Rangers.

My advice? Fasten your seat-belts and have a ChAIRsick bag nearby.

Quick Lesson in Translation...

Ok, so, how do you say "put in a crappy pitcher that gives up 4 hits, 4 runs, loses the game, loses the lead and doesn't even get a batter out."

Alas, it can be summed up in two words: Aaron Heilman.

I have 9 credits in philosophy, 3 in psychology and combining both, I cannot figure out why Willie Randolph keeps using him, and when he does, why does he leave him in so long?

Let's put it in barbecue terms, he should be taken out when rare, not well done and burnt.

For those of you who have the fortitude and won't get squeamish, here is the Box score from the Dodgers win over the Mets.

In another Ironic move, Chan Ho Park, who appeared in one game as a Met in 2007 (of course, that was the game I went to where he had a spot start and tanked) is back with his former club (L.A.) and beat the Mets.

So, how will I sleep tonight? Maybe better, Maybe worse. If I am asleep, I will be doing an imitation of Carlos Delgado at the plate and at first.

Footnote: It WAS nice to see the Mets come back from a 3 run opening deficit. This kid on the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, looks like he has a bright future.

'Till tomorrow.

Can We Clone Nick Evans?

What a day! Nick Evans, just called up from the farm, looking like a boyish Jerry Seinfeld, swung a mean stick. Collecting three doubles and two RBI. Let's just say he led by example, showed up the team and got them fired up.

You know, with the DL summoning many a Met these days (Marlon "Pinch Hit a Specialty" Anderson, Moises "Again" Alou, Pedro, El Duque etc...) the new blood - Fernando Tatis included has given the Mets an extra spice that helped them win.

I like Evans. He's a surprise. Looks very confident, shows good patience and judgement at the plate and is very hungry. The night before, he's in Double A Binghamton and then skips a level and literally steps up to the plate. This is the approach the Mets of Yore took -2005, 2006, 1986, 1988 and that especially scrappy 1973 team. The latter foundered most of the year before coming back to roar to the World Series. This is still a goal and it still can be done.

The story on the Mets web site,"Evans makes his mark right away" http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080524&content_id=2762234&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym is a good recap.

Willie Randolph summed it up:

"He hit a bomb in Spring Training off the center-field wall," Randolph recalled on Saturday. "I like his approach -- nice inside-out kind of swing. Usually with young kids, you notice that right away, the way they approach the at-bats. I just saw two or three at-bats at the most and watched him take a little BP.

"He's having a nice little year. We need some help. Guys are getting banged up again. Hopefully, we can get a little feel for what he can help us do, not just now but maybe in the future. He's one of our young prospects. I like young kids, and I like to see what they do."

I see a bright future for him. Go # 6~

Not to Pick on Mike Hampton, but COME ON NOW....

All right. I'll admit it. (You probably never would have guessed that I am......A big fan of Fantasy Baseball. Good feeling being perched in an ivory tower and moving your players like chess pieces (and chattel)...sometimes you look like an absolute genius (still waiting on this end) and other times -- implosion is the result.

So, in one of my leagues, I am looking for a pitcher and who is on the list of free agents? Mike Hampton. Surprisingly, he is owned by 1.2% of owners in the ESPN Fantasy League Baseball (NOTE TO SELF - Invite these 1.2% to my next garage sale and jack up the prices).

Anyway, the word about Hampton:


Hampton (pectoral) threw another pain-free bullpen session prior to Saturday's game against the Dodgers, the Associated Press reports.

Spin: "Facing competition, I'm going to think about it," Hampton said. "It's not an overnight thing. I've just got to get to where I just worry about getting hitters out. Mentally, I'm just a little timid maybe. I'm still trying to feel my way through it." Hampton threw 50 pitches, including breaking balls, during Saturday's session. There's still no set timetable for his return to the Atlanta rotation, but Hampton appears to be at least another two weeks away.
RotoWire Sat, April 19

Puh-leese. And you are getting all this money? Glad you aren't a Met anymore!

In other news, Mets held their own against the Philies today. Ollie pitched a nice game, but Schoenweis, the second coming of John Franco (that's NOT a good thing) gave up a gopher ball to Chase Utley, thereby killing the shutout.

Wright is on fire and putting up some great numbers with a hot bat.

I have noticed that Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph are really letting guys like Wright, Reyes and other "home grown" players a chance to get reaalllll good. Under previous GMs, the patience level was poor and many a great player was traded away and then performed well on other teams...

Well, Sunday night, we have an ESPN game...should be nice.

See you at the Ball Park

Managing the Managers

OK...Time for a little fun and a gut-instinct rating. Since 1962, 17 men have been at the helm of the esteemed Metropolitans.

Going to give a personal gut rating *as I am writing this, the Mets are trouncing the Marlins 11-0, middle of the 7th...)

Rating is by Stars

Willie Randolph 2004-Present --- *****

Art Howe 2003-04 --- **

Bobby Valentine 1996-2002 ***

Dallas Green 1993-96 **

Jeff Torborg 1992-93 *

Mike Cubbage 1991 3-4 **

Bud Harrelson 1990-91 **

Davey Johnson 1984-90 *****

Frank Howard 1983 **

George Bamberger 1982-83 **

Joe Torre 1977-81 **

Joe Frazier 1976-77 **

Roy McMillan 1975 **

Yogi Berra 1972-75 *****

Gil Hodges 1968-71 *****

Salty Parker 1967 **

Wes Westrum 1965-67 *

Casey Stengel 1962-1965 ***** (Gotta give the Ole Perfesser 5)