Is Willie's Time Up?
The clock is ticking. As I've already noted, the Mets are just 74-75 since June 1 of 2007. If things do not change in the immediate future, trust me, Willie Randolph will lose his job.
Last summer I spent a lot of time defending the job Willie was doing, being a fan of the type of play he's brought to the Mets after the two painful seasons of Art Howe. I always labeled the Mets style of play as "Willie-Ball". In 2005 and 2006, there was so much energy coming from the Mets. Whether it was Jose Reyes getting on base and running wild, or runs being manufactured or if it was the "never-die" attitude this team presented every single night, it was some great baseball. But then last season, right around that June 1 mark on the calendar, things went south... way south. And is Willie Randolph the guy we have to blame?
At the end of the day the team's performance absolutely falls on the players. But when I once labeled the style of play the team presented after the manager, I can only do the same now. This team is playing some very underwhelming baseball, and have been for almost a full year now. The problem starts right the top with Willie.
When does Willie get mad? When does Willie say "we have to win"? It seems like it's never gonna happen, and I don't get it. For example, Thursday's game... why didn't Willie demand Moises Alou to play in a game the Mets without doubt needed. It's the things like that where Willie just isn't getting this team to play hard to win. And the problems don't just lie within his attitude, because there's been some poor managing going on this year, and late last year, as well. I don't want to go too deep into the mistakes he's mad, because I feel all make mistakes. But I just have two words regarding Willie's mishaps in 2008; Aaron Heilman. I shouldn't need to say another word.
This team has been in an "indifference haze", as Steve Somers so perfectly said on WFAN around midnight. There's no emotion, there's no passion. If you go to Shea Stadium, the emotion and passion is coming from you and me, the fans. We're yelling and screaming, cheering this team to no end, and now sadly some are being forced to boo because it's apparent that this team is out of it.
Maybe a change needs to happen. It's a shame, because he's proven to be a good manager, but things may just not work out. If you're asking me, I give him four to six weeks. That's it. But if the Mets drop two of three here against the Yankees and then go out to Turner Field and have the Braves man-handle them again, the Mets may very well be firing Willie by next Friday morning. Happy Memorial Day, I guess. Who knows what's gonna happen. But indeed something has to. And I hope what happens is this team wakes up.
Last summer I spent a lot of time defending the job Willie was doing, being a fan of the type of play he's brought to the Mets after the two painful seasons of Art Howe. I always labeled the Mets style of play as "Willie-Ball". In 2005 and 2006, there was so much energy coming from the Mets. Whether it was Jose Reyes getting on base and running wild, or runs being manufactured or if it was the "never-die" attitude this team presented every single night, it was some great baseball. But then last season, right around that June 1 mark on the calendar, things went south... way south. And is Willie Randolph the guy we have to blame?
At the end of the day the team's performance absolutely falls on the players. But when I once labeled the style of play the team presented after the manager, I can only do the same now. This team is playing some very underwhelming baseball, and have been for almost a full year now. The problem starts right the top with Willie.
When does Willie get mad? When does Willie say "we have to win"? It seems like it's never gonna happen, and I don't get it. For example, Thursday's game... why didn't Willie demand Moises Alou to play in a game the Mets without doubt needed. It's the things like that where Willie just isn't getting this team to play hard to win. And the problems don't just lie within his attitude, because there's been some poor managing going on this year, and late last year, as well. I don't want to go too deep into the mistakes he's mad, because I feel all make mistakes. But I just have two words regarding Willie's mishaps in 2008; Aaron Heilman. I shouldn't need to say another word.
This team has been in an "indifference haze", as Steve Somers so perfectly said on WFAN around midnight. There's no emotion, there's no passion. If you go to Shea Stadium, the emotion and passion is coming from you and me, the fans. We're yelling and screaming, cheering this team to no end, and now sadly some are being forced to boo because it's apparent that this team is out of it.
Maybe a change needs to happen. It's a shame, because he's proven to be a good manager, but things may just not work out. If you're asking me, I give him four to six weeks. That's it. But if the Mets drop two of three here against the Yankees and then go out to Turner Field and have the Braves man-handle them again, the Mets may very well be firing Willie by next Friday morning. Happy Memorial Day, I guess. Who knows what's gonna happen. But indeed something has to. And I hope what happens is this team wakes up.
Leave a comment