Another Lost Season

Today I find myself thinking sadly about the fast approaching end of the 2010 season. (No baseball to watch makes me sad.) I have been thinking about the last few weeks that have had Mets fans agreeing that change must take place, but disagreeing about what that changes should look like.

So, I sit here in weird anticipation of Oct 4th….the day after the end of the season.

I will be at the last three games of the season as I have done for the last ten years. 1999 was the first year that I had done that. So I have been through the last week of seasons that were fun and heartwarming while others have down right SUCKED.

I have watched Bobby V, Art Howe, Willie Randolph and now Jerry Manual as each was in the last days of what was originally a promising career. Instead, for them , it turned out to be a walk into the abyss. A walk that was most times not solely because of their own actions.

Bobby V had Steve Phillips, a disaster that Bobby could never overcome. Art Howe had… well …Art Howe. Nice guy and all but he was compared to a character from “Weekend at Bernies” and I am sure you know which one. Then there was Willie…an ex yankee- which in this town gave him a major disadvantage right from the start. But he surprised us as he ALMOST lead us into the promised land. (Thanks Carlos).

Now we have Jerry. And he has had constant adversity to contend with…ie..injuries, Minaya, Wilpons, etc.
Change is needed again. The bottom line is that they (The NY Mets) have the ABILITY to get the talent and the ABILITY to manage the talent.

SO what the hell are they doing wrong? As with any company it all starts at the TOP. All of the responsibility begins at the TOP.

So here it is, almost October 4th and we as Mets Fans look to the TOP. We need some MAJOR IMPACTFUL CHANGES.
CHANGES that will lead to MAJOR IMPACTFUL METS BASEBALL. We have the ABILITY, so show us that you care. Make those changes and make them MAJOR. Those at the TOP owe it to us Mets Fans.

Now He Fights!

Remember the days when we Mets fans would kick and scream because former manager Willie Randolph would never stand up for his players?

Well it seems he found his back bone in Milwaukee. He was suspended for one game and fined for arguing “a check-swing call on an 0-2 pitch to Albert Pujols from the dugout in the third inning”, as reported by ESPN.com.

No appeal will be made. He’ll serve the suspension tonight.

This was always a problem for Randolph here in New York. It was always then bench coach Jerry Manuel who would get out of the dugout and argue a call.

If Willie were able to do that with the Mets, maybe he would still be manager because they players would have respected him more.

Randolph Writes Book

David Lennon of Newsday reports Willie Randolph is about to come out with own book chronicling his time in the major leagues, highlighting moments with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. The name of the book is, “Rising Son: Mets, Yankees, and My Journey to the Big Leagues”.

There’s a shocker! Right on the heels of Joe Torre’s book. The book is set for release on April 1, 2009.

Most people would think he would bash the Mets. Omar Minaya and company knew about the book he was writing with Daily News writer Wayne Coffey.

However, according to Lennon, Randolph had a confidentiality clause in his contract when he signed with the Mets. In the event of his firing, he is not to speak negatively about the organization or what went on with the team, especially since he is owed $2.25 million.

Randolph had this to say about the “gag order”:

“Then [Omar Minaya] handed me an envelope, a little parting gift, and told me to make sure I reviewed it with my agent, Ron Shapiro. It was a copy of my Met contract that basically says I better not say anything detrimental about the team, or I might jeopardize the rest of the money I have coming to me.”

Good for the Mets. Bitterness never bodes well in books. I do not mind if a past manager writes about their time with an organization. I have a problem if he just outright bashes everyone because he is bitter.

Randolph was a decent manager. He made a lot of bad calls, but so does everybody. Somewhere along the road, he began to lose respect from his players. How did this happen? We will probably never know. Why did it happen? Again, we may never know.

I will be getting this book and reading it. At that point, I will post my review. If someone knows where I can get an earlier copy, please send me an e-mail at citifieldofdreams@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Willie Is A Brewer

How sad is this?

Willie Randolph has been signed on as the Milwaukee Brewers bench coach.

The whole point is to move forward, Willie. You are taking steps back. That is not how to get back to being a manager.

He has gone on record to say that he does want to be a manager again. So he does have the option to continue interviewing for managerial positions as the become available (according to the Brewers website).

He did interview for Seattle. Just do not look for him to go there. They want AL managerial experience.

I will go on record to say, “Willie, I wish you well”. At the same time, “I hope the Mets kill your team. And yes, it is personal.”

Colorado Has Interest

So the Colorado Rockies have now expressed interest in bringing in Willie as a coach.

They better not hold their breath. My source has told me if he does not get the manager position with the Brewers, he will sit out the 2009 season.

He wants to be a manager. That is the only position he will interview for, but I’m sure if the Yankees came knocking on his door to be a coach, he’ll move to the Bronx in a heartbeat.

Oooo! I think I just heard a whip crack on his backside. Hahaha!

Randolph Begins Interviews

First stop: Milwaukee.

I’m sure by now you all have heard about Willie interviewing for the Milwaukee Brewers managerial position.

Honestly, I think this would be the best for him. It is not as big as New York media-wise. He will not be hounded for interviews. Worrying about his every move being criticized by the media is a non-issue.

Willie will be able to breathe and just relax. I think he needs that.

Buck Schowalter is expected to interview for the position as well.

I really do not care who gets the position. I just don’t want Willie getting a job in our division or even our league. The last thing I want to hear is “The revenge of Willie Randolph”. Like that would not create a distraction to our players?!

Good luck, Willie! Just do not come to the east.

Willie Randolph’s New Job?

So here is what I heard from the Brandon Tierney show on 1050 ESPN radio.

Willie Randolph may be the bench coach or the third base coach and possibly take over the position of manager should Manny Acta get fired in 2009 by the Washington Nationals.

There was also a rumor about him moving back to the Bronx to be a coach for the New York Yankees.

This would not surprise me. He has always considered Yankee Stadium his home. Once a Yankee, always a Yankee. Every time he goes to Yankee Stadium, he has tears in his eyes and he speaks of some “magical moment” he had there.

Hey Willie! Are you crying? There’s no crying in baseball!

Hahaha