One of my favorite columnists, ESPN's Bill Simmons, recently wrote in an article that you should never write anything down while you're extremely upset. That includes, he states, letters or emails to bosses, ex-girlfriends, or in his case, columns about your favorite sports team that has recently sent you straight to a bottle of whiskey.
This didn't stop him from writing a great column about his Celtics (it's right on ESPN's front page, I suggest you check it out), in which he destroyed his beloved team by stating what everyone in Beantown's been thinking about their playoff performance.
The Mets performance today has infuriated me to the point where even I cannot hold back anymore.
Having played baseball at the college level, I have at least a somewhat better understanding than the average fan of how hard the game can be, and how hard it can be to play the game well. It's because of my experience with the game that I'm able to understand the ups and downs of a major league season, and the struggles and slumps that go on over the course of 162 games. And most importantly, it allows me to not read too much into them, because I've been there, and I understand.
But all of that has gone out the window. It's time to say what everyone who loves this team has been thinking since the end of last season, Willie Randolph needs to be fired, and he needs to be fired now.
Today's game against the Nationals, at least for me, was the final straw.
Mike Pelfrey gives the club arguably the best outing of his young career, even carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He ends up giving up one run over seven and 2/3 innings, and surrendering only three hits. He pounded the strike zone all game long, and challenged the Nats' hitters from the start.
When you get this type of outing from your number five starter, you need to win the game.
Oh, and did I mention the Mets were facing the LAST PLACE Washington Nationals, and facing a pitcher who had an ERA over 11 before today's start?
Granted, Bergmann threw the ball very well today; he was getting on top of his curveball and it was breaking sharply out of the zone, which helped him to strike out eight Mets. But he was going to the same pitch over and over with two strikes. How about an adjustment fellas? Maybe pick up a tendency one time? The guy's ERA is over 11, his stuff can't be THAT good.
Good teams win games like this. Championship-caliber teams, which everyone in the Mets clubhouse seems to think they are, win games like this. The fact the Mets lost a game 1-0 to a last place team isn't even the main issue, though. Those sort of things happen over such a long season.
But take a closer look at how they lost: With Castillo on first base and two outs, David Wright hits a fly ball to right field. Austin Kearns comes over towards the line to make the play, but drops the ball. Castillo, thinking the play is routine, coasts around second base, just waiting to be told the ball's been caught. Once he realizes the ball's been dropped, he speeds up and gets to third. Could he have scored on the play? We can never really be sure, but the play would have been awfully close if he had been busting it around the bases.
But the blunders on the basepaths didn't stop there: In the eighth inning with no outs and Jose Reyes on first base, Castillo lays down a bunt that third basemen Ryan Zimmerman fields and throws to first for the out. Seeing that no one was covering third, Reyes broke for the bag, trying to make an aggressive play. I'll never fault a player for being aggressive, but Guzman had already broke to cover third, and Boone made a solid throw to get Reyes and get the Nats a double play. This killed a potential rally for the Mets, with their three-hitter, Wright, coming up to the plate. Understand the situation, Jose. Your three-hitter and best RBI guy is coming to the plate, with one out if you stay put.
Then, the clincher: Beltran on third, bottom of the ninth, one out. The Nationals actually play the shift on Delgado, essentially giving the Mets the tying run. Deglado lines a ball right at Boone at first base, and Boone fires the ball back to Zimmerman at third, doubling off Beltran and ending the game.
Normally, I'd be fuming at Beltran, because anyone who's played baseball above Little League knows you freeze on a line drive, and see it through the infield before you advance. But as Willie Randolph just stated in the postgame press conference, Beltran was going on contact, a play Randolph called.
Going on contact?! In the ninth inning?! With one out?! I'm just now picking my jaw up off the floor.
These type of blunders are a microcosm of the Mets' entire season to this point. Poor base running, lack of hustle and fire, and poor in-game maneuvers.
All of these things fall squarely on the shoulders of Willie Randolph. For a man who preaches discipline and accountability, his players for the most part do not embody any of those things.
Reyes' approach at the plate wavers from game to game, something that Randolph has been "working on," since his arrival in Flushing. Players are not running the bases hard, and making bonehead mistakes when they're actually attempting to be aggressive.
And let's not forget the overall complacency of the majority of the players on the roster. Does anybody actually think Delgado, Castillo, or Beltran thought for even a split second they'd be benched if they weren't performing? They didn't, which is the problem.
This team plays with no fire, no intensity, and it's obvious even to the casual fan. And it comes from their "stoic" manager, Mr. Randolph. Do you remember the last time Willie Randolph was thrown out of a game? Do you remember the last time he got in a player's face when he made the wrong play? Me neither.
Those type of things are not Randolph's style, and that's fine, but his style's not right for this club. There is a fine line between being "even-keeled" and complacent, and the Mets have gone to the negative side of that line.
They used to coast through parts of the season, now they are just coasting period. Newsflash, boys: YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO TURN IT ON AND OFF. YOU HAVEN'T WON ANYTHING. You would think that after their epic collapse last season, they'd have come out on fire this season, looking to kill anyone in their path.
But that hasn't happened. The Mets have just gone 3-4 on a seven game homestand, against two last place teams. They are 20-19 on the season, and are a 500 team since June 1 of 2007, all while having one of the five highest payrolls in the game. If those numbers don't show a change is needed, I don't know what does.
Willie Randolph's team is complacent, they don't hustle and when they actually do, it's making stupid baserunning decisions. They also don't beat the teams they should beat.
When you add in the fact that he may be the worst manager in the game in regards to managing a bullpen, the writing is on the wall: Randolph needs to go. The sooner, the better.
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4 months ago
Great Article Andrew. I was planning on writing a similar article. So I will write a follow up to this shortly, but now I will mainly focus on the lack of intensity and the reluctance for any of the players besides aaron heilman, david wright, and billy wagner to own up to their mistakes.
4 months ago
Why don't you tell us how you really feel? LOL
Let's say the Mets go through with firing Willie, who do see as the logical replacement (not interim)?
Do you think Omar is going anywhere?
4 months ago
Wow. It's like you read my mind.
4 months ago
All I know is that I'm tired of hearing Willie's same monotone response to questions, whether the Mets win or lose. Last year when the Mets were in the middle of their collapse he showed absolutely no urgency, when the fans were in absolute panic mode. I can't stand his lack of fire, and I wish he would stick up for his players a little more. A perfect example of this came the other day when Alou got tossed from the game. In that situation I would've loved to see Willie come out of the dugout and get thrown out himself. You never see that with him, and as a fan that bothers me.
from 4 months ago
Could not agree more.....and have felt this way for quite awhile.
No matter HOW much money any player makes....we can't forget that they are ALL relatively young men who need direction, encouragement, correction, praise, and if earned.....support from their managers and coaches.
This guy is worthless when it comes to generating enthusiasm of any type. What a Dud of personality.
If Omar picked him, then shame on Omar. We need a guy who makes excitement ! This is New York City, everybody......this team is asleep, and don't hear or care about the crowds watching their games.
Get a loud, controversial, daring, and G0-Go manager, Mets. This manager's personality will simply never change, and your team will die once again in 2008. There's STILL enough time to do so and win the pennant....another 30+ games, and it will be over, forget about it. Willie's got to go.
4 months ago
I am with Dan on this.
This is all fine and good. The question is, though, for you and for anyone else who wants Randolph to be fired:
Who should manage the team?
I am not an avid supporter or detractor of Randolph. What I would like to see in these types of discussions is a name or set of names to go along with it. If someone wants Randolph fired, then I think they should have someone in mind to take over. If you don't, then, perhaps, you can see why the Mets aren't making a move. Maybe the Mets want to fire Randolph but aren't sure who will replace him at this time. Maybe they do know who will replace him but think it is not the right time to do so.
Sometimes the passion of fans blinds them to logic and sound judgment.
4 months ago
Sure, Ralph and Dan.......you have to know WHO ??????
It simply doesn't MATTER who, at this point.....how can you not see the permanent damage Willie has placed on the Mets inside the dugout ?
There is ZERO enthusiasm going on, and with the same exact DUD manager......it will remain that way.
After last year's final collapse, and 25 % of season finished this year already, WHO only needs to be a baseball man with some kind of personality enthusiasm which filters down to your payroll !
If he's not gone by next week, my Mets shirts/jacket and hats go back in storage. We are sick of watching this club's illness, if nothing is done about it.
The final straw for me was the Dud claiming that he himself is getting abused on a racial basis. OK, buddy.....sure. You must be living on your own planet. This team is caught in quicksand, and you were the one who led them there ! We need to be rescued , and the faster we sink, the less it matters WHO will try to save us in the 2008 season.
John
Mets fan since day one at Shea
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