Yesterday was one of the more chaotic days of Omar Minaya's tenure, but the most unnerving part of the whole Rick Down-Rickey Henderson swap had to be the schism between the GM and manager Willie Randolph. Kudos to Randolph for sticking up for his hitting coach despite the pressure from 
above and he made it clear he was not in agreement with Minaya. I'm not sure where the relationship goes from here, but when the front office starts picking apart your coaching staff -- and axes your "brother" -- it can start to get a little uncomfortable in the big chair. Good thing Randolph got that extension done before the season. That's all I'll say about that.
As for Julio Franco, I'm sure that was a tough one for Minaya to swallow, but you could almost see his skills declining over the past few weeks. He had some big at-bats earlier in the season, but Franco will be 49 next month, and even he has to make concessions to his age at some point. With three catchers, the Mets now have the ability to use Ramon Castro as a pinch hitter, and that should help.
Comments (7)
Willie obviously was not in a good even with the team winning when he criticized Lastings' slide. Hey.....he won the game for you....or maybe it is just that Lastings can't do anything right in Willie's eyes.
Hearing some footsteps there Mut fans? GM & mgr not on the same page, the guy who walked out on your team in gm 6 of the '99 NLCS replacing a class act in Julio and your best pitcher getting ripped tonight...Be afraid NY, be very afraid. 1 & 1/2 gms back and closing fast.
tomachump again, why are you even in my paper, do i take a dump in your backyard? anyways, the braves who blew 13 chances to win it all and countless times outed in the first round, aren't going anywhere this year, this is our year idiot, this is as close as you get to first, enjoy watching us on tv in oct moron doing the dumbest act in baseball the tomahawk chop!
When is it going to be Eisley's turn? Sele's? Alomar Jr.? Valentin? Even Delgado and Green. Omar may have ok'd playing Gotay and Milledge but he still signed Marlon Anderson! for N.O. He's got to get over that old boys fixation. It doen't really matter because as this season has shown they're only a .500 ballclub.
Firstly, Julio is certainly a class act, unfortunately being a class act does not mean you can productively play anymore. 49 years old is a little ridiculous, so a class act must be released. Time to go out in the trade market and get an OF soon, and another bullpenner. My favorite Rickey story, years ago when Rickey was with the Yanks during spring training a younger player had taken his seat on the bus, while Rickey stood by the seat waiting the youngster told Rickey, "what do you have tenure or something" to which Rickey replied "Rickey don't have ten year Rickey have 15 year now get the ----- out of my seat!"
You can't be serious!
Your feeling sorry for Willie? Mr "I'm not worried, at least we are still in first place"? Maybe if he showed some emotion about how badly we have been playing I would be a little more understanding. Bottom line is he is a horrible manager, who should have never been hired(thanks again Fred). He has no understanding of how to handle a pitching staff, see the NLCS 2006. Absolutely refuses to compliment or publicly encourage any player under 35 (remember 2005 "David Wright is my number 8 hitter"?). The man doesn't even realize we are a national league team. As far as Willie and Omar's relationship, kudo's to Omar for putting Willie in his place. Fire Willie next and hire Joe Girardi. Omar is at fault also, he had a horrible off season and constructed this team badly. Julio Franco (good ridance), Alou (40yo 8 million dollar bargain, and we lost a first round draft pick, huh???), 2 year contract for "Old" Duque and of course 2 years for Mr Steriod Mota.Whats next Omar, trading away our 4 top prospects for Jose Contraras? Please, don't due us any favors! Jeff Wilpon were are you when we need you? Wait, what am I saying? Hey Jeff, did you see Scott Kazmir beat the Yankees last night! LETS GO METS!
I like Willie.