The Mets have been struggling of late; there's no question about that. Losing three of four to the Nationals then, a week later, losing five straight, including four in a row to their division rivals--I classify that as struggling.
To be the postseason caliber team that their payroll and resident talent suggests they should be, the Mets need to make a few big changes.
1) Willie Randolph. He's been the subject of much debate of late, and I agree that he isn't doing his job properly. I think he's too soft spoken with players; as a result, they have become comfortable with failure.
Prime examples are Carlos Delgado and Aaron Heilman. Delgado has been "slumping" for a year and a half now, but no drastic measures have been taken. It is a manager's job to motivate players, and Delgado just doesn't seem motivated.
What I'm not so sure about is whether firing Willie and bringing in someone else will save the season. Usually, a team doesn't perform well if given a new manager mid-season.
Randolph's replacement would have to be someone the players already know and respect. I am glad, though, that Randolph is getting a lot of heat from the media. I think maybe he will be motivated to perform better.
I remember in previous years, reporters would defer to Randolph while interviewing him rather than challenge his mistakes. Conversations went something like:
Sports writer: Willie, you are the greatest manager ever and you have never even contemplated taking a course of action that could be possibly, by some remote circles, construed as a mistake. Elaborate on that.
Randolph: *Shrug*
So I think it's a good thing that Willie's position is being challenged, but I think firing him at the end of this road trip would be premature.
2) Carlos Delgado. I spoke about him briefly above: he looks comfortable with his own failure. I'm sure, as an individual, he'd rather be successful than not. However, as part of a team, he has consistently failed his teammates and shows no signs of getting better.
I think the idea of trading him should be floated. Not in an official sense, but just a few comments here and there letting the world know that Delgado is on the market. It might stimulate him to get his act together and, if not, who knows? Maybe someone will bite. We could at least get a 1B-man who can field his position, even if he bats poorly. Delgado bats poorly and fields poorly.
3) Luis Castillo. I've always liked Luis. He's a useful player to have around because, even though he rarely hits the ball hard, he does get on base a lot. He walks frequently and gets infield singles, bloop singles, bunt singles--you name it.
However, his knee injuries hamper his play a bit. (To me, it always looks like his knees are going to go out on him. As he walks out to second base. In the first inning.) I think Castillo is coming to the end of his career and that, over the next few years, his speed is going to disappear and, with it, his infield singles and his range at second base.
However, he is signed to a four year contract. Do the Mets really intend to start this aging veteran in 2011? Jose Valentine will probably never have another season like his 2006 one and Damien Easley is not especially good, so I think the Mets need to be looking around for a new second basemen.
4) Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez. Heilman has been abysmal so far this season and Sanchez has been unreliable. If Sanchez can get his velocity back and actually start throwing fastballs again, then he'll be an asset.
My question, though, is if he can barely throw fastballs and he can't break 85 MPH, why is he in the Bigs? If he needs more time to work and get his strength back, why doesn't he stay down and work? And, for that matter, why isn't his strength back?
Wasn't he trying to shoot for opening day and then decided to wait a bit? Opening day was almost two months ago. Duaner needs to determine if he even can help a big league club, and then do whatever it takes to get into a position to do so, even if that means taking a little time off to finish his rehab.
And Heilman... if he lets up one more home run in a close game, I say just send him to the minor leagues.
He clearly cannot be an asset to a big market team, and he needs to know that consistent failure will not be tolerated. The problem partially resides with Randolph, who keeps Heilman on a ridiculously long leash when he really should be holding his collar.
5) Damien Easley. Damien Easley is not a good hitter. He has never been a good hitter. He has a mediocre .328 OBP. The problem is that Randolph develops first impressions immediately, and then takes years to lose them. Someone needs to tell him that Easley is about as valuable as any infielder from AAA New Orleans, and way more expensive.
6) Jose Reyes. Reyes has been struggling on and off for the better part of a year now. I'm not suggesting that we trade him. That would be foolhardy. I just think that a different tactic is needed when it comes to instructing him.
I remember hearing that Reyes speaks with his dad after almost every game to discuss his performance. I hate to say it, Jose, but maybe your dad doesn't know best because you don't seem to be performing all that well, especially compared to your 2006 season.
He needs more plate discipline and he needs to either learn how to bunt properly or stop bunting at the first pitch he sees every game. At best, it's a free strike.
Reyes also tends to get under the ball a lot, which is bad. A ground ball in the hole between short and third is a base hit for him even if the shortstop can get to it. He needs to try to take the ball the opposite way, especially when he's batting lefty, and stop popping it up.
7) David Wright. I put him all the way down here because I'm not actually worried about him. He hasn't delivered of late, but he'll break out of it. For the Mets to be a contender this year, though, he needs to break out in one hell of a way.
Ever honestly assessing alterations,
-Louis
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4 months ago
first whos guna take carlos delgados 15 million dollar contract and a buy out next year? second there not guna get another second basemen after signing castillo 2 a four year deal this offseason which was a stupied move. third u cant send heilman 2 the minors without placing him on waivers and i doubt the mets want 2 lose him. easley is a back up
from 4 months ago
First, your comment barely makes sense. Second, you're right. It isn't too likely that someone would want to pick up Delgado's contract, but the thought might scare him a bit and maybe get him trying harder. The same for Heilman. It's more the threat that we'll send him packing to whatever small town, losing team will pick him up.
Third, Easley may be a back up but, as I pointed out, Castillo isn't actually going to be our starting 2B-man for the next four years, no matter what his contract says. We need a reliable back-up and a good right handed bat and Easley is neither of those.
4 months ago
No way Castillo can be producing in 2011. That said, I'm not sure that it would have been easy to sign him for fewer than four years. Not this day in age, anyhow.
4 months ago
ok.. you need to realize that Castillo will be on this team until 2011.. It's amazing to me how you can rip Jose Reyes because just about a year ago he was considered the god of flushing... who is going to manage if you fire Willie? Gary Carter? he is a Single-A manager right now. The Wilpons won't hire Buck Showalter who should be the guy... How can you actually rip David Wright? He is a leader of this team and is the 2nd best 3rd baseman in baseball behind Alex Rodriguez... if you are a met fan just please calm down, the numbers on the baseball card don't lie, I still think that they will make the playoffs
from 4 months ago
Yes, I am ripping Jose Reyes. Why? Because we signed him for a big contract and he just isn't producing. He's supposed to be the catalyst that gets the Mets offense churning, but he's got an OBP hovering around .330! Don't get me wrong, I like Jose. I think he's great to watch (when he's playing well) and he's obviously a fun guy to have in the clubhouse, but if the Mets are going to be in the race this year, he needs to pick it up. That's just the truth.
And which part of "I put him all the way down here because I'm not actually worried about him," made you think I'm sniping at David Wright? David is probably my all-time favorite player. That doesn't change the fact that he's slumping. He needs to have an MVP type season like he did last year. If you recall, he started last year hitting badly and picked it up big time. Like I said, I'm not worried about him. He'll fix himself.
Lastly, you're right about the manager issue. I agree with you. That's why I said "I think it's a good thing that Willie's position is being challenged, but I think firing him at the end of this road trip would be premature."
And pardon me for not "calming down" when my favorite sports team drops four straight against their division rival and then another two of three against a last place team. The Mets have looked so awful of late I think that there is cause for alarm.
4 months ago
yes i understand that you have a right to be ticked off when they go out there and play like crap... but if you realize that the New York Giants started 0-2, wanted to fire their coach but pulled it together and won it all... I still see the Mets winning the NL East because Florida does not pitch or field well and the Phillies have little starting pitching
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