Let’s play a game for a minute. How would you like your boss conducting business with your assistant for a week? Better yet, how about this trip is scheduled just a few weeks after you publicly embarrassed your company? Wait, there is one more: rumors are swirling of that assistant being next in line for your job. My answer to each is “not very good”. Wouldn’t you start brushing up that resume? This is exactly what has happened to Omar Minaya as Jeff Wilpon and assistant GM John Ricco “tour” the minor league system. Does that sound good for job security? Originally I was going to make this column the countdown to Minaya’s dismissal. Fred Wilpon squashed that over the weekend when he guaranteed the safety of Minaya. When you combine the two stories you continue to get the same dysfunctional management hierarchy outlined by Steve Phillips earlier in the season. This leads me to believe we need to buckle up for another lesson in management dysfunction 101 courtesy of the New York Mets.

During last week’s Gary Sheffield debacle, NYBD contributor Frank Russo reached out to contacts who speak to some members of the Mets organization. The club was described as “in complete chaos” because “no one knows who is calling the shots”. The generally feeling is Jeff Wilpon, not Omar, has taken full control of the reigns. This doesn’t surprise me because Jeff has a reputation of being too involved. Just look back at some of the quotes from former owner Nelson Doubleday in 2003. Upon his departure, Mr. Doubleday said that “Jeff Wilpon has decided that he’s going to learn how to run a baseball team. Run for the hills, boys. I think probably all those baseball people will bail.” When I chastised ownership for being AWOL during the Bernazard fiasco that didn’t mean I wanted them to run the ballclub. What I wanted was for them to establish a clear chain of command so the baseball people have an environment to be successful. Enter Fred Wilpon and his “Omar is safe” quote from Saturday night. Now who is in charge?

There may be some good in letting Omar know he is safe. NYBD was also told on Friday that Minaya has been “maniacal” in his attempts to save his job. That is why he tried to get maximum value for Gary Sheffield. I am sure he is doing the same with Boston and Billy Wagner. A general manager with that state of mind is bound to make a move that will harm the team long term.

Hearing Fred Wilpon give Minaya the “vote of confidence” raises two questions in my mind: 1) Is Fred or Jeff running the show? and 2) What took so long? It was just a couple of weeks ago that Jeff told Newsday’s Wallace Matthews Omar was “this close to being out of baseball.” Why the sudden change of heart from Fred? Is it the Francoeur trade (There is John Ricco again)? Madoff money problems? Obviously, it couldn’t be the handling of the Gary Sheffield situation. Better yet, don’t you get the feeling that Fred is taking the keys to the convertible away from his son? Again, not good for a team that needs to be unified in rebuilding their expensive mess.

I still have my doubts about whether Minaya will survive this season. I could easily see the scenario where they demote him and put Ricco in as the front guy.  Sound crazy? Remember, nothing is beyond reproach with this Mets ownership group. Regardless, I still go back to Jeff Wilpon hanging out with John Ricco. You think Tony Bernazard would have taken it upon himself to talk behind Willie’s back if he didn’t have some good teachers around him? History indicates that this management team talks about each other in an odd “trust but verify” strategy.

If you thought yesterday’s triple play was bizarre, buckle your seatbelts, the ride is just beginning. The Mets are about to give you a first class lesson in management dysfunction led by their table setters, Fred and Jeff Wilpon. Unfortunately, this won’t help obtain the talent they need, but rather, keep the Mets as the fourth best team in the NL East – for now.

During last week’s Gary Sheffield debacle, NYBD contributor Frank Russo reached out to contacts who speak to some members of the Mets organization. The club was described as “in complete chaos” because “no one knows who is calling the shots”. The generally feeling is Jeff Wilpon, not Omar, has taken full control of the reigns. This doesn’t surprise me because Jeff has a reputation of being too involved. Just look back at some of the quotes from former owner Nelson Doubleday in 2003. Upon his departure, Mr. Doubleday said that “Jeff Wilpon has decided that he’s going to learn how to run a baseball team. Run for the hills, boys. I think probably all those baseball people will bail.” When I chastised ownership for being AWOL during the Bernazard fiasco that didn’t mean I wanted them to run the ballclub. What I wanted was for them to establish a clear chain of command so the baseball people have an environment to be successful. Enter Fred Wilpon and his “Omar is safe” quote from Saturday night. Now who is in charge?

There may be some good in letting Omar know he is safe. NYBD was also told on Friday that Minaya has been “maniacal” in his attempts to save his job. That is why he tried to get maximum value for Gary Sheffield. I am sure he is doing the same with Boston and Billy Wagner. A general manager with that state of mind is bound to make a move that will harm the team long term.

Hearing Fred Wilpon give Minaya the “vote of confidence” raises two questions in my mind: 1) Is Fred or Jeff running the show? and 2) What took so long? It was just a couple of weeks ago that Jeff told Newsday’s Wallace Matthews Omar was “this close to being out of baseball.” Why the sudden change of heart from Fred? Is it the Francoeur trade (There is John Ricco again)? Madoff money problems? Obviously, it couldn’t be the handling of the Gary Sheffield situation. Better yet, don’t you get the feeling that Fred is taking the keys to the convertible away from his son? Again, not good for a team that needs to be unified in rebuilding their expensive mess.

I still have my doubts about whether Minaya will survive this season. I could easily see the scenario where they demote him and put Ricco in as the front guy.  Sound crazy? Remember, nothing is beyond reproach with this Mets ownership group. Regardless, I still go back to Jeff Wilpon hanging out with John Ricco. You think Tony Bernazard would have taken it upon himself to talk behind Willie’s back if he didn’t have some good teachers around him? History indicates that this management team talks about each other in an odd “trust but verify” strategy.

If you thought yesterday’s triple play was bizarre, buckle your seatbelts, the ride is just beginning. The Mets are about to give you a first class lesson in management dysfunction led by their table setters, Fred and Jeff Wilpon. Unfortunately, this won’t help obtain the talent they need, but rather, keep the Mets as the fourth best team in the NL East – for now.

Tags: Bill Wagner, Fred Wilpon, Gary Sheffield, Jeff Wilpon, John Ricco, Nelson Doubleday, New York Mets, Omar Minaya, Steve Phillips, Tony Bernazard