2009 Mets: We Know Drama

It's hear folks. Like the season premiere of your favorite TV drama, the Mets are about to start the 2009 season, and like any good drama there are several interesting plotlines and story arcs for you to follow.

The main storyline which will become increasingly annoying as the season goes on is will the Mets collapse in September...again. You'll hear it on every Mets game they play on ESPN and you're bound to hear it on SportCenter and Baseball Tonight at least 83 times during the course of the season.

The bullpen is your second major plotline as the Mets basically cleaned house and just kept Feliciano and Brian Stokes. Will the money spent on Putz & K-Rod be worth the investment? I think so, but time will tell.

Finally, a minor plotline that is still worth noting is that this will be Jerry Manuel's first full season as Mets manager. It feels like it was years ago that Willie "These Are My Guys" Randolph was the helm of the ballclub. Now that Jerry has a full year to manage I think we'll see some changes in the way he manages games right from the start. I fully expect to see more hit and runs put into play, and a willingness to play the player that's on a hot streak.

It's a long season, but it all starts today at 1 p.m. I do love a good drama, and the Mets should have it in spades this season.

Let's go Mets.

Things Mets Lifers Can Be Thankful For

It's that time of year when we reflect back on all that life has thrown at us, ignore the bad stuff, and focus on what we can be thankful for.

As a Mets Lifer, it's tough to be thankful for a team that pulled a stunt like the Mets did not once, but two years in a row. But still, here's a list of things Mets Lifers can be thankful for:

1. David Wright & Jose Reyes - The future is still bright
   
2. Daniel Murphy - The future is brighter yet...
3. Tom Glavine is not on the Mets
4. Willie Randolph is on the Brewers - Can you say more Guillermo Mota please?
5. A brand new ballpark - Who cares what they name it? It's still going to look really nice.
6. Last time the Mets collapsed the Giants won the Super Bowl! Deja vu?
7. Moises Alou is guaranteed to not be on the disabled list this year
8. Johan Santana - The ace you've always wanted
9. At least we're not Cubs fans - I never believed in curses until this season
10. The Mets have a shot at signing LeBron James in 2010 - Who needs Brooklyn? Queens, baby!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Willie Randolph New Brewers Bench Coach, Guarantees More Guillermo Mota

Congratulations Willie Randolph on landing a new job. That Mets' paycheck was about to run out so it's good to see you out there pounding the pavement and submitting those resumes.

So you're the new bench coach for the Milwaukee Brewers. Way to go. You found the only team dumb enough to take Guillermo Mota off the Mets hands. But hey, he's your guy so this must be a perfect fit for you.

I'm pleased to see you back in baseball and I'm hopeful that you'll be influential in bringing Mota into every game the Brewers play against the Mets.

17 to Play

Did you wake up this morning and feel this eery sense that there was something wrong with today? Well, if you did there's good reason for it. Today is officially the day where there are 17 games left to play.

As I'm sure you remember this is the day last year that officially marked the Mets demise. As neurotic and anxious a Mets Lifer as I am, I'm feeling ok about today. You see I honestly believe this team is different than last year. There's a different attitude, a different vibe, and a different sense of confidence in this team.

The lineup is made up of mostly the same players, but one addition and one subtraction has made the difference. The addition is obvious. It's Johan Santana. Every 5th day we have a starting pitcher who will go out there and give us 7+ innings of competitive baseball. He's the guy we were missing last year when Tom Glavine hung us out to dry on the last game of the season. Santana is giving us a Cy Young worthy performance every time he steps on the mound, and is a man able to stop a losing skid in just 9 innings.

The subtraction is also obvious. It's Willie Randolph. No more "my guys" and "we'll laugh about this" type of attitude. Instead we have a straight shooter in Jerry Manuel who appears to have been the steady, calming hand this Mets team needed. He's manager of the year. Lock it up.

So with 17 games to play, I'm feeling much better about a dismal 3 game lead than I did last year with a 7 game lead. Is it crazy to think that? Probably, but that's life as a Mets Lifer.

A Thank You to Willie Randolph

Dear Willie-
Just wanted to write you a quick note of thanks for all that you've done this year. I know, I know, you probably get that a lot, but I really do mean it.

You see, I know that without you the Mets wouldn't be in the position they are in right now. Seriously. We have you to thank for the Mets success.

In 2005, you hired a guy named Jerry Manuel as your bench coach. Throughout your years as manager you touted from time to time how confident you were in your job that you had a former manager who was just as qualified as you were to be your bench coach. Who knew that it would one day be a self-fulfilling prophecy, but it's paid off for us as Mets Lifers.

Your decision to hire Jerry Manuel will be your lasting legacy with the New York Mets. In fact, it's possibly the best coaching move you've ever made (and potentially will ever make). But aside from hiring Manuel, your managing of this team set the stage for the thrill ride that this season has been. Speilberg and Lucas would kill for a script like this. Manager of team with high hopes drives team into oblivion without hope when suddenly his controversial and swift exit opens the door for a philosophic outsider to enter the picture and lead this team back into contention.

Denzel would play Manuel in the movie. They'd hire the guy who did his makeup and hair for Malcolm X just add a touch of gray. Don Cheadle would be the backup choice.

Now I've gotten way off track, but let me close by saying your role in this season is not overlooked. In fact the memory of your managing days brings a smile to my face and brings to light the fantastic job that Jerry Manuel has done since your departure. He's on pace to be the manager with the best winning percentage of all time in his first year as a manager. He's a popular choice for manager of the year, and there should be a lovely contract waiting for him come November.

So thanks for the memories, Willie Randolph. Enjoy your free time and the money left in your contract.

Sincerely,
Mets Lifers Everwhere

P.S. If you happen to run into Rick Peterson, tell him Oliver Perez sends his regards.

Twenty Blown Saves

Yes, that's right. The Mets bullpen has blown 20 games for the Mets this year. 20.

Now I tried to find a stat that showed how many tie games the bullpen has blown after the 7th inning, but I couldn't find it. I also looked for games that the Mets were down by 1 run after the 7th and the bullpen let up subsequent runs, but I couldn't find that either so I'll estimate.

I'm guessing that there are at least 10 additional games that the bullpen has blown by either giving up runs when the game was tied that doesn't count as a blown save.

So let's say the Mets would have won just 4 of those 10 games. Add that to the 20, yes 20, blown saves this year and the Mets should have an extra 24 wins.

Never mind that. Let's say they only win half of those games. They should have an extra 12 wins. That would leave the Mets with 74 wins and the best record in baseball.

Did you read that correctly? 74 wins and potentially the best record in baseball. So what does this mean?

It means the bullpen is the #1 reason this team is struggling this year. I might even go as far to say that it's a bigger reason for the Mets problems than Willie Randolph was. Randolph was fired, but I see no one leaving Queens from the BLOWpen.

Bryan and I have written about maybe this team is mediocre at best and we should just learn to deal with that fact. But the reality is the BLOWpen is well past mediocre and is knee deep in heinous.

Until something is done to change things we can expect more of the same.

Who Do You Miss the Most?

Go ahead and look at a copy of the original roster for the New York Mets at the start of the season. Now look at the current roster. It's like watching a sequal where all the actors are different from the original.

Which made me ask the question who do you miss the most? Let' see:

Willie Randolph? Nope
Rick Peterson? Not at all. Just ask Oliver Perez.
Moises Alou? Old man Moses. Yup, we'll miss his RBI.
Angel Pagan? Wow, he played for the Mets this year.
Jorge Sosa? I'll miss him like a migraine.
Nelson Figueroa? I think I miss his dad in the luxury box more than him.
Luis Castillo? Wait, he's still on the roster?
Raul Cassanova? I think we need another catcher on the bench.
Matt Wise? Who?

And those are the guys I can name off the top of my head. I'm sure there's more, but the one guy who I miss the most is Ryan Church. This guy started off the season hot, I mean, habenero hot. To have him go down with a head injury may have been the biggest blow to this Mets team.

Church was on track for a 30 homer, 100 RBI season. He was making up the gap that Delgado and Beltran were leaving behind. Now with Delgado on track and Wright starting to get hot again, having that extra power bat in the lineup would make up a world of difference.

Now on the flip side if Church was playing this whole season we might not have seen Fernando Tatis become the ultimate Super Sub. Nick Evan and Dan Murphy might still be playing in the Double. And who knows Willie Randolph might still be manager.

But I can honestly say that if Ryan Church can come back in September and be productive this team will be in a much better than there are now. And we're only 2 games out.

Willie Randolph in an Insane Asylum

Who could blame Willie Randolph for being institutionalized? I mean the guy was getting hit from every angle this season. His team wasn't performing well. He was getting asked about getting fired every other day. "His guys" were playing like little girls. Then he gets fired in the middle of the night and his bench coach takes over and brings this team back from the dead to within a half game of first place.If that's not enough to drive you insane, I don't know what will. Thanks to the site CommitYourFriend.com to promote the upcoming film, The Dark Knight, we get to take a peek at what Willie Randolph would look like in an insane asylum. Check it out:

I love these pointless sites, to commit your friend (or maybe one of the Phillies) visit CommitYourFriend.com.

Jerry Manuel vs. Willie Randolph

Dan Graziano discusses the differences between Manuel and Randolph:

Summary of Omar Minaya's Press Conference

Below is an exact account of Omar Minaya's press conference as I heard it where Omar answered questions about the firing of Willie Randolph:

"Willie Randolph. Blah blah blah. General manager. Blah blah blah. My decision. blah blah blah. I love Willie Randolph. Blah blah blah. General manager. Blah blah blah. I need to sleep on it. Blah, Willie Randolph. Blah blah blah. General manager. Um, blah blah you know. Willie Randolph. Blah blah blah. Is it hot in here? Blah blah blah. My decision. Blah blah I love Willie Randolph. Blah blah, general manager. Blah blah, Jerry Manuel."

Let's Get Over Willie Randolph Being Fired

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Willie Randolph was fired. It's done. The Mets could have handled it better. They probably should have, but guess what. It's over. Let's win some baseball games, which bring me to this very important point.

Tonight's game is HUGE. Enormous, really. If you think I have a tendency for hyperbole, you'd be correct, but honestly I believe this game is really big for this ballclub for a number of reasons:

1. No one expected them to win last night - with a win tonight, you've won the series against the Angels and won 4 out of your last 5. That's a huge step for a team that can't find a winning streak to save their lives.
2. Gets people to move on from Willie Randolph - A win tonight gives Jerry Manuel his first win and starts getting people to forget about the Randolph situation and focus on winning ball games.
3. Big win against a top pitcher - Tonight's matchup is a serious pitchers' duel. We've got Santana. The Angels have Lackey. A win against the opponent's top pitcher is a rarity for the Mets, unless you're the Diamondbacks.
4. Player morale needs to be up - A loss tonight would do some damage on player morale. I'm sure there are guys who are sad to see Willie go and this will just allow them to mope and moan for a few more days. A win tonight and spirits are high.

Winning ball games is what it's all about. How's that for profound? Reyes is on fire. Beltran is heating up. Castillo is the best hitter with runners in scoring position. And our ace is on the mound.

No excuses for not winning tonight. We need it.

If only David Wright could get out of this slump, this team might be able to start something. It starts tonight.

The Mets Way

Is anyone really surprised with the way the Mets’ brass handled Randolph’s firing? This is the same organization that held a sing-a-long contest and played a Rick Astley song at the final home opener at Shea, knowing full well that the song was chosen as a joke. This is the same franchise; that had Broadway stars sing show tunes for a half hour before a game with their hated, cross town rivals; that allowed the Baha Men (you read that correctly) perform “Who Let the Dogs Out?”at the 2000 World Series. This is the same organization that signed off on the Kazmir-for-Zambrano trade.

I’m no apologist for Randolph, as I wanted his head more than a month ago, but as far as I’m concerned, the handling of his ousting was just par for the course for this Mickey Mouse operation. The only thing appropriate about it was the location and its close proximity to Disneyland.

Willie Randolph is Fired

Wow. After waiting for this moment for quite some time I'm almost at a loss for words.

Almost.

A friend of mine told me Willie Randolph would be fired today, but I didn't believe him. The timing didn't seem right. On the radio today, you'll hear Yankee fans and sports talk hosts whine about the way the Mets handled Randolph's firing and how they made him fly to the West coast only to be fired.

Poor, poor Willie.

Guess what people. If he was a middle manager in the marketing department of a major corporation and got fired after a business trip, you wouldn't care so let's not shed a tear for Willie Randolph. Here's a man making millions of dollars for not managing a team very well. The man behind the largest collapse in baseball history and who couldn't find a winning streak if it fell in his lap and we're going to feel sorry for him because he was fired after having to fly (on a chartered plane no less) to the West Coast?

Cry me a river.

Here's the real reason they fired Willie Randolph today. The Mets just won a game that no one expected them to win. After playing a double header on Sunday, the Mets had to fly to California and face a top AL team with their worst pitcher on the mound with limited rest. I fully expected them to lose. But they didn't.

By firing Willie on the West Coast, it allows Jerry Manuel some time away from the New York hub bub to get some games under his belt as the top dog and sort out his new coaching staff.

Now I fully believe that Willie Randolph should have been fired on Memorial Day, but hindsight is always 20/20. This team needed a change and the players didn't need the fate of their manager to be hanging over their heads for another 3 months. I'm glad it's done.

Best of luck Jerry Manuel. Let's get a few more wins.

Hot for Trot

The Mets just signed the newly released Trot Nixon to add an extra bat (and body) to their bench.

I love this move for a couple of reasons. Now don't get me wrong, Nixon is not the solution to all the Mets problems, but his arrival hopefully helps in a number of ways.

1. Less Fernando Tatis

Tatis is a great story...for a day. He can no longer play every day and he has proven he can't catch up to fastballs. Nixon's arrival put Tatis on the bench in a much more limited role which is where he deserves to be.

2. Willie Randolph can't carry 4 catchers

I know Willie is tempted to bring in another catcher. I think he was hoping Mike DeFelice would become available, but Nixon is an able body that can prevent the addition of yet another catcher on the bench.

3. An experienced OUTFIELDER

No more Easley or Anderson in left field. Not sure why they were out there to begin with but Nixon now is that extra outfielder to back up Alou/Church whenever they get healthy.

I've liked Nixon for a while now starting back when he was on the Red Sox. He's the type of hard nose, no-nonsense type of player that the Mets need right now. The question will be whether he can hit .250 or better, but I have a feeling he'll play a nice role on this team.

Making Sense of the Mets

I just got done reading a post by Matthew Artus at Always Amazin' and it's calmed me down a bit.

Artus claims the most devastating part of yesterday's collapse (ouch, I hate that word) was Joe Smith giving up 2 runs in the 8th. Yes, I can see his point, but it's Joe Smith vs. Billy Wagner. You can expect that from Smith, you cannot accept that from Wagner.

However, as I continued reading he makes some valid arguments that firing Willie might have zero effect on this cast of characters, and he's got a realistic view of what he can expect from this team the rest of the way.

Artus has a realistic view of this team. I'm running on pure, unadulterated anger right now so it's always good to get a cool head's perspective.

I disagree that the Willie firing won't have an impact because at this point I think the player's expect it and are just holding their breath until it happens. Let's do it and move on.

I do however like his closing thoughts which I will leave you with:

"We Mets fans won't be teased the way we were at the end of May. Not again. Not by this roster. We don't want a hot streak. We want consistency and to stop reading the stories of hard luck losses. If they finish June strong, great. They'll need it when they visit Philly on July 4th.

But if they don't - then whatever will be, will be. The future's not ours to see. And every day we get closer to Shea's farewell, it becomes more apparent that we probably don't want to know how this story ends anyway."

Click here for the full article from Always Amazin'.

Dead Man Managing

Willie Randolph should have been gone on Memorial Day. Instead Willie had a friendly BBQ with the Wilpons and Omar Minaya and was given a second chance.

Bad move.

Since Memorial Day the Mets have showed sparks of turning into a winning team only to have them immediately followed by coma-inducing losing streaks. After Wednesday's saving grace of a game, Thursday was met with utter demise.

Did Willie lose these games? Nope, but this team needs a change at the helm in the worst way. I think it's so evident to everyone, but Mets management. Sometimes players become complacent in their current situation and sometimes the man at the helm is just not getting the most out of his players.

This team needs a change. Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what he/she is talking about. A major trade at this point in the season is highly unlikely. Trading Reyes is idiotic banter for the Jerk and the Fatman (hint: WFAN 1-6 p.m.).

The move that can be made immediately and have a swift impact is changing the man in charge. Willie likes to say that his record proves what he's done. Well Willie you're 3 games under .500 and since last July your a losing manager.

You're a nice guy and you've had your moments, but the time has come. Please someone pull the hook on this guy before we're drowning at the bottom of the NL East and resort back to our 2004 losing ways.

Time To Rant About this Horrendous Team

A 5-1 lead becomes a loss. It's beyond pitiful. How much longer do we have to wait until something happens?

Does anyone care? Can anyone pitch on this team? Where on earth is Angel Pagan? What happened to Matt Wise? Has Duaner Sanchez been getting advice from Aaron Heilman? How is the best hitter on this team a 42 year old arthritic man? What does Willie Randolph have to do to lose his job? Does Willie have photos of the Wilpons in a precarious position? How many runs is needed for a "safe lead?"

Can we watch Triple A games on SNY instead? Can they just rerun games from 1999 so I can see some professionals like Piazza, Ventura, and Olerud who could get timely hits? How much longer before Santana turns into the lights out ace we all needed?

How on earth did the Diamondbacks score 3 more runs from the time I started this post? If another person complains about how fans boo the team at Shea do I have the right to slap them? Why on earth is Willie obsessed with having a dozen catchers on the bench when none of the subs are any good?

Why can't there be any good shows on TV during June so I at least have something else to watch? When does The Closer come back to TNT? Is a little consistency too much to ask? Why do the Mets like to tease us so?

What on earth does Willie have to do to get fired? He's like George Costanza on that episode of Seinfeld. Is it just me or does Endy Chavez make Nick Evans look like Ted Williams? Was there ever a clean up batter in MLB history who didn't hit double digit home runs in a season or will Beltran be the first? Why am I sweating so much while writing this?

I think I'm done now.

What Will It Take to Change the Mets?

What's it going to take? An earthquake? 10 plagues? Tug McGraw's ghost in the dugout?

What's it really going to take to get this team straightened out?

I'm not sure it's going to happen, but there are a few ideas I have that could possibly change the course of this season:

1. Fire Willie Randolph
Whether you like Willie, hate Willie, support Willie or think it's not his fault, there's no denying that firing a manager before the All Star break would change the course for this team. I don't even know who you would bring in. Larry Bowa? Jerry Manuel? Bobby Valentine? Keith Hernandez? I don't know, but it would sure shake things up. I remember in 1999 when the Mets fired all of Bobby V's coaches but kept him as a manager. All of a sudden things started changing. This team needs a shot in the head and firing a manager would rattle some cages for sure.

2. Make an early trade
This time of year trades are unheard of. Everyone seems to like to wait until the end of July to start dealing. Omar Minaya is a guy who likes to make a splash and making a trade this early in the season would send a message to this team. Now I have no clue who on earth the Mets would trade for or who they would trade, but just the fact that an effort is being made to improve this club could open up some eyes.

3. Swap the roles of Aaron Heilman & Oliver Perez
This might be the most drastic of ideas. Put Perez in the bullpen and throw Heilman into the rotation. Do any of us really believe that Perez will fix what's wrong in his head and become a dominant pitcher for years to come? Ok, now does anyone think that Aaron Heilman will be a lights out 8th innning guy for years to come? Yet we're going to leave them as they are and expect different results? That's the definition of insanity.

I don't claim to have the answers, but I know we can't keep going the way we're headed. Something has to change.

Sad Realizations from a West Coast Road Trip

1. I hate West Coast road trips, and so do the Mets
2. Every Mets Lifer knows that Pedro Feliciano should only pitch to left-handed batters, but Willie Randolph doesn't
3. Carlos Delgado can hit in San Diego, but can't hit anywhere else
4. David Wright is struggling
5. Adrian Gonzalez has 17 home runs on June 8, but Carlos Beltran won't have 17 home runs on September 8.
6. I found myself coveting Brian Giles because he has a .414 OBP and no one on the Mets is even close to that
7. Fernando Tatis needs to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Figeroa
8. Pedro Martinez WAS a hall of fame pitcher, but is no longer
9. Oliver Perez needs a psychiatrist
10. The Mets will never have a run like the Phillies are on
11. Willie Randolph is the only person that doesn't know about Billy Wagner's horrible track record when he pitches in the 8th (anyone remember his performance against the Phillies last September?)
12. This team will finish the season 2 games over .500
13. While the Mets can't beat the worst teams in the West, the Phillies are sweeping the Braves in Mylanta.
14. The Mets don't have an All Star player this year.
15. This team is playing tired and it doesn't get easier against the Diamondbacks with Owens, Webb & Haren pitching
16. The Mets left 20+ runners on base against the Padres
17. 90% of the times a Mets batter gets a 3-0 count, the count ends up going to 3-2
18. A two out hit with runners in scoring position is as rare as a $2 gallon of gas
19. I learned more about Keith Hernandez's childhood this week than I ever thought I would
20. And the worst realization is the Phillies are hands down the best team in the NL

Back from Vacation But the Mets Aren't

I've spent the last 5 days away from the Mets enjoying the Jersey shore and some time off fully expecting that when I came back the Mets would have changed their ways.

Wrong.

I at least expected a new manager to be in the dugout on Monday if the Mets continued to lose.

Wrong.

So I'm back from vacation, but Jose Reyes' glove, David Wright's bat and Willie Randolph's will to win is still on vacation.

Welcome to the 2008 Mets. Your disappointment is now.

I actually listened to part of Monday's game on the radio while driving in the car. I believe it was the 5th inning when Wright singled and Beltran singled to make it 1st & 2nd and no one out. Delgado fouls out. Schneider grounds out. So poor Nick Evans is left to clean up the slack.

The worst part was I fully expected Evans to get a hit. Wow. That's sad. I was leaning on a 22-year old kid playing his third game in the major to come through and help the Mets cut the Marlins' lead to 6-5.

Evans struck out. But you know what, the kid doesn't deserve that kind of pressure.

And so the Willie Randolph dance continues. He should be gone by now, but he's not so I guess I have to deal with that. But don't expect Met fans to continue to deal with losing. We won't accept it.