Quotes of the Day: Omar on Jerry, Willie
Omar Minaya on Jerry Manuel’s job status:
“Jerry Manuel is our manager. Look, any time you’re going to have a couple of losing streaks, those things are going to pop up. But there’s no discussion at all. Jerry Manuel is our manager, will be our manager. I’m very happy with the job that he’s doing.” (MetsBlog, July 22, 2010)
Omar on Willie Randolph’s job status, just a few weeks before Willie was fired:
“Willie has my support. He has the support of our ownership,” Minaya said. “Willie’s job was never in danger going into this meeting.”
After the two-hour session, Minaya said: “There is no limbo period. Willie is the manager.” (ESPN, May 27, 2008)
For the record, our sources tell us Wally Backman will be the Mets manager on Tuesday, if the Mets lose 3 of 4 in Los Angeles. But it is clear that the Mets front office is in disarray and they’ll probably change their minds fifteen times between now and then.
I think I made it clear that I would like to see Wally manage the Mets, but this is a bad situation. I think any prospective manager in their right mind would run as far away from this situation as possible. But if we’re choosing a manager for next week that could be fun to watch and might actually know how to manage a baseball game, Wally has my vote.
I think you might agree that no matter how bad you think Backman is, this situation is alot worse. No?
http://www.blueandorange.net/?p=1035
Sums up my thoughts. Joe and some others have long touted his player development skills, using Dan Uggla and some others as examples. Why take him out of that role? Sounds like that’s his supposed strength. Meanwhile he’s bunt happy as manager of Brooklyn. Sounds like a certain emo glasses gangsta we all know. There are better candidates, even within the organization. Tim Teufel is a great pick and he has been with the org for a long time now. Oberkfell too.
Again, I don’t hate Backman but he just isn’t as good a choice for manager as others.
Btw is “loge mezzanine” John Fitzgerald under a pseudonym?
With regards to your other question – no, but I do believe we’ve met. At least once.
But if they go the route of someone from within, passing over Teufel and Oberkfell for Backman would be pretty disgraceful. Wally has managed all of what, 30 games with the Mets org? The other two have been here for nearly a decade. And both have managed to not get into trouble as Wally has over the years. There’s something to be said for that.
You’re telling me that, should the Mets choose to make a managerial change this weekend, they are going to hire Wally Backman to serve as their interim manager through the rest of the season?
The same Wally Backman who was hired, then fired, by the Arizona Diamondbacks before managing a single game because of a collection of legal and financial issues, including an arrest for driving while intoxicated?
The same Wally Backman that then spent the next three years essentially blackballed from organized baseball?
The same Wally Backman who was fired mid-season from his last job managing the Joliet JackHammers of the Northern League after a combined 67-95 record over two seasons?
Wally Backman, who has essentially managed in the Mets’ system for six weeks, is going to leapfrog over Tim Teufel (coached in the Mets system for nine years, managed in the Mets system for seven years), Ken Oberkfell (managed in the Mets system for nine years, including most of the last six years as the manager of their AAA team), Bob Melvin (rumored choice of connected sources like Jon Heyman, previous major league managing experience in Arizona and Seattle), Terry Collins (previous major league managing experience in Anaheim and Houston), and the entire major league coaching staff?
I know the Mets are stupid. But they aren’t that stupid.
But Wally Backman is the contingency plan for next week. If the Mets show some life over the next few days, then anything is possible.
But Bob Melvin was the plan in May. We all know how that turned out.
The front office, in fact, had decided ahead of time that Wally would be the manager if their team dropped at least 3. Well, wouldn’t you know it … the “collegial atmosphere” that the Wilpons foster called for a big fancy meeting on Monday and changed their minds. That’s the way it goes in Metsville.
I’m sure you are giddy beyond belief that big bad Wally won’t be the manager. (Imagine all of the umpires he would’ve murdered while arguing in the ninth inning of 10-run games, and infants he would have eaten just for sport!) In fact, the final decision was that no change would be made to the managerial post.
Enjoy watching the rest of the 2010 Mets season! Should be as enjoyable as a two-month-long funeral !
And while I have your attention, could you take a few moments and educate the MetsToday readers as to why the Mets’ pythagorean W-L is 53-46 yet their actual record is 50-49? Is luck? Is it mismanagement? Inquiring minds want to know. Many thanks !
And I’m happy to answer questions about statistics — but not when presented in the totally dickish manner as you have in that comment. Later.
Sorry but my manner is my manner. As you know I’m an old dog and not likely to change. People either shy away from my often nasty and defensive retaliations or grow thick skin. Totally understood if you are of the former group. I’m sure you have much better things to do with your time anyway.