dave_ross's Blog

As a long suffering New York Mets fan, well, it's been a tough week after the firing of Willie Randolph. i do see a solution in the Big Apple, and it involves DC... below is the actual email I sent to my buddy who's also a life-long fan of the Metropolitans; I'd have grown up a fan of the Nats had there been a team in DC, but whatchagonnado???

Anyway, I submit my replay and the original message.. enjoy!

I needed a week to assess... GREAT email.

Okay: my thoughts; I told you after last year's collapse that SOMEONE had to go. Didn't know who, but someone. Was on the fence with Willie, and truly I've always liked him. Loved his demeaner after he, was it, 5 or 6 straight losses to open his managerial campaign, and i'll never forget hearing him say that night on wfan that "we'll be alright. we've got a lot of veterans in this clubhouse that know how to play the game the right way. they're not paniking so neither am i". them wham! we win 6 straight.



You're right about not being able to get rid of the stigma and stench from that collasal collapse last year. No matter what he did this year; especially with the bullpen, it was the wrong move. I didn't want Willie out even still, until I heard the whispers that he had lost the clubhouse. At that point, no matter how much you/i/omar minaya/the truck driver in queens may like willie... too bad; time's up.



And yes, Omar may have to go next. I equate it with Bobby V. and Steve Phillips. Once the first shoe drops, the second isn't far behind. Ironically, I couldn't stand Bobby V; but I never grew a hatred for Willie like I did Bobby. Willie is just too classy I guess. But his race comments sure were stupid and showed the pressure he was under; and that it was starting to boil over at that point. The New York media can do that to anyone.



Manuel? I don't know. I watched the whole Omar/Jerry presser last week; not impressed. Omar I believe really did go back and forth on the decision, and in the end, you can critisize him all you want for how/why/when he fired Willie, but really the biggest crime WAS his indecision. He's the G.M.; act like it. Make a command decision and move on. All the hemming and hawing is where he truly started to lose me. Whether I liked the move or not, I'd at least respect the decision making process if he showed he KNEW this was the right thing to do. This seems more like a guess at this point.



So who's next? Can we dig up Davey Johnson? I'm being half serious. If the Jays can ressurrect Gaston, why not? I mean, it's not like you can't be 80 and win. Ask Tommy Lasorda. Or Torre. Age is no factor here.



HoJo? Keith? Yikes. Carter? Um.. no chance. Oberkfell? A Cardinal runnin' the Mets? I think Torre is the only guy before or after that can do that.



I'm telling you; go get Manny Acta. It's brutal here in DC. He has no chance to win. Give him one in NY. He's energetic, and he'd feel like he was handed the keys to the 27 Yankees compared to what he has now. And it may be the only way for Omar to save his own hide.



That's what I'd do. Thanks for your patience. It's been a tough week for our Metropolitans. And then Johan serves up a slammy to the King Felix. Just when you thought we'd hit rock bottom...



----- Original Message ----
From: Jay Cohen >
To: Dave Ross <>
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 9:33:56 AM
Subject: Willie


Why is it that when the Yankees totally screw up their managerial stuff (Torre, Billy Martin) it's easy to pass off on the psychosis of the Steinbrenners but when the Mets BLEEP the bed it's just an utterly embarrassing display of ineptitude? Willie had to go, but Omar should be right behind him. Just a piss poor way of handling a bad situation.



Did he need to be canned after the collapse last season? Maybe. I watched the games and it didn't matter what he did, every time he called someone from the bullpen they had a glove on one hand and can of gasoline on the other. He's got no feel for a pitching staff -- and that's why Peterson went too -- and it was just tough to deal with.



Coming into 08, I told you all we did was upgrade from Glavine to Johan. The bench was worse, the bullpen was worse. We both panned on the Milledge deal but that was for a long-term thing. Church is a serviceable guy, no worse than Shawn Green and we wouldn't truly regret it until 2010. That's on Omar. Willie tried but couldn't rid the stench of the collapse on the team. *That's* on Willie. The race card was sheer stupidity and you knew he was done then. Instead, they dragged it on for another 3-4 weeks. Sad, pathetic and embarrasing.



Jerry Manuel doesn't do much for me. If they win, so be it but I like to identify with a manager, a little swagger. Davey and Bobby V were it. I know Oberkfell has had success in the minors, but I don't know if he's the guy. I swear I keep hearing Keith Hernandez and that would be an AWFUL idea. Omar needs to make a couple of trades. Delgado is done -- platoon him at best. Trot's okay, but no panacea. Tatis, Cancel, Easley - done. Marlon can hit a little so keep him as a 25th man/PH. Heilman needs to go. Endy needs to go (sorry - the magic is gone). It's going to be a tough summer, but at least I won't have any delusions of grandeur and I can make my last visit to Shea next month just like my first in 1980 - to watch a crappy* team play ball.




* - I reserve the right to amend if we close to within 3 of the NL East before July 31.