Time to Fire Jerry Manuel
By Mike Silva ~ September 28th, 2009. Filed under: Mike Silva.
Reports came out on Sunday about the possibility of the Mets coaching staff getting the ax after the season is over a week from today. I believe the team should go one step further and relieve Jerry Manuel of his responsibilities.
I have been the biggest supporter of Jerry Manuel over the last year and a half. He handled the media well, connected with his players, and didn’t do a terrible job with his in game management. Maybe it was a case that anyone would look good next to the stoic Willie Randolph. In a season where much that has gone wrong can be attributed to bad luck, the one constant theme for this team, when injured or healthy, is their lack of fundamental play. Some of the most bizarre, egregious, and bonehead plays have been on display throughout the 2009 season. That is quite simply unacceptable.
Saturday night was a perfect example of what is wrong with this team. David Wright doesn’t hustle in from third and costs the Mets a run in the fifth inning. Afterwards you get the same empty response from Wright talking about how “the mental drain of playing for nothing” and the “challenges of coming off the DL.” Neither has anything to do with running hard and succeeding at the basic fundamentals of the game. Remember, although it feels like eons ago, this is the same team that has lost games by missing pop ups, fly balls, and the most egregious, missing third base. Even young players with tons at stake, like Fernando Martinez, weren’t immune to bonehead play. You can’t fire 25 players, but you can lay the blame on the coaching staff. It’s time for Jerry Manuel and company to go.
I have spoken to a couple of people around the game about the Mets manager. Many don’t think very highly of Jerry Manuel. They all admit he does an outstanding job with the media, but doesn’t think well on his feet, and falls out of favor very quickly with players. One individual told me they could “out manage Manuel in their sleep.” The general consensus is that Manuel is a nice guy that probably is a better coach than skipper.
Maybe it’s unfair to fire Jerry after the injuries this season. Before the DL engulfed the team he had them on a 97 win pace. Last year they played about .600 ball after he took over. We heard in spring training how this team was going to play smarter and more fundamental. They have done everything but that. I don’t know exactly who is available or feasible to manage this team. I realize that firing Jerry Manuel means ownership will be paying for three managers in 2010. If they are serious about next season they need to start cleaning up the stench from this year. Someone needs to take the fall for this teams embarrassing play. Firing Jerry Manuel almost becomes a necessity.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:43 am
I thought Manuel was the wrong replacement choice. I thought after he managed them (mismanaged the bullpen) to another collapse, he didn’t deserve the job. Nothing he’s done in 2009 has made me like him more, actually less.
To me, it never should’ve been Manuel. And as much as I would like Bobby Valentine, I don’t know that he is the right choice or that we need him. I’d much rather Gary Carter, Backman, anyone. I thought Randolph was a good manager. I think going down the newbie route would work for this team. This team has a lot of professionals, a lot of talented ballplayers. While they could all use help with their approach at the plate, their mental preparation for the game, and the pitchers with a gameplan and someone who will teach them, it doesn’t have to be a hall of fame coach. Anyone can do this. It’s about putting players in the positions to win (not fail, as Manuel often does) and presenting accountability for sloppy play. Randolph is a coach, and could very well be a manager again next year. The Mets I believe save that part of his contract. If they hire someone at Randolph’s current salary, which would probably be fine for a first time manager, they really are only paying two managers.
Hand this team over to Wright (and Reyes). Have a new manager work with him to lead the team. Instead of targeting one little part of the hitting mistakes (opposite field drill, which I still maintain could’ve hurt the power swings…), get good coaches in here to really be able to teach and identify what’s going on. If Kieth Hernandez up in the booth could talk for months about what Tatis was doing wrong, Manuel and HoJo should’ve been able to figure it out.
I think Manuel has long this team. You see it in the little things, the little quotes. You know Castro and Church couldn’t have liked him, the way they were treated, but they’re gone. I think a lot of Murphy’s problems stem from Manuel’s misuse of him all season. Perez as well. Both these guys are guys that need a bit of management and oversight. Murphy pushes too hard, and needs to be taught to relax and be comfortable, and Perez just the opposite. He needs direction and regiment, something Rick Peterson was very good at doing for him, despite his shortcomings teaching actual pitches/ingame management.
If you listen to the broadcast, even Gary Keith and Ron seem to question Manuel virtually every game.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:49 am
You do know players are asked more than one question after a game right? Wright admitted he f-ed up the baserunning play and apologized for it, and said things like that can’t happen. The comments about the DL and these games were in reference to his struggles at the plate and just discussing the difficulties of the season as a whole. Its not like he attributed that stuff to his dumbass baserunning play.
But yes Manuel needs to go. I wouldn’t even say he handles the media very well either. He laughs and jokes with them, but comes across as a moron half the time anyway.
September 28th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
NYM..that’s exactly ‘handling the media’ You give them quotes and jokes and schmooze with them, and they love you. He got by last year saying (not doing) the opposite of what Willie was criticized for. Manuel actually handles the bullpen worse than Randolph did.
Randolph never used 4 relievers in the 8th inning of a tied game to lose it in extras because he ran out of pitchers. (Heilman gassed 50+ pitches, Pujols homerun, Ollie warming up in relief..) Perpetual Pedro..it was even joked about in the booth! That’s how bad he is at this stuff. If he’d managed rest for guys like Feliciano in ’08, we would’ve made the playoffs. Instead he had everyone warming up all the time, pitching all the time, so that they were all worn out and he got the least out of them he could.
A manager doesn’t necessarily need to make nice with the media, just has to manage them in a way that they don’t negatively affect his players. You can piss them off and your players may not mind if you’re preaching the right attitude in clubhouse, just like you can be nice to the media and your club can realize what a fraud you are.
September 28th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
the mets need the energy of gary carter!
September 28th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
That’s fine Pete, but hire him as a coach, not as the manager. I think Gary could use a year or two on a big league bench before he is handed over the reigns to a team
September 29th, 2009 at 5:42 am
Jerry Manuel is immune to modern thinking. Any manager worth his salt these days is either a student of statistics or has someone on his bench who is. His statements about “playing the hot hand” and his mismanagement of the younger players is a damning indictment of his baseball intellect. The only in-game management that really differentiates managers today is putting players in high leverage situations, and by that I mean understanding tendencies, odds, etc.
Nothing against Jerry the man, I think I’d like him as a person. But as a manager…cr*p.