Davidoff: Maybe Mets Should Start By Firing Manuel

This is the column the mainstream media has resisted writing. Per Davidoff:

Contemplate whether you're giving your team its optimal chance to win with Manuel running the clubhouse, writing out the lineup card and making in-game, on-the-fly decisions.

For based on what we've seen for the past baseball season and a half, I'm not sure how you come up with "Yes" as the answers to those questions.

This isn't a fun column to write, because we media folk are mostly human, and Jerry Manuel comes off as an eminently likable man.

Davidoff recognizes that Manuel's strong relationship with the media has earned him some goodwill. Imagine if Manuel had the personality of Joe Girardi or Willie Randolph. He would be the target of daily tabloid headlines calling for his head. A good read, click through for the full version.

4 months ago James Kannengieser 30 comments 1 recs |

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It's a good start

Hopefully the other parrots in the media hop on the Fire Jerry Bandwagon.

18-41 in the last 59? I thought that was a misprint when I first read it. Jerry doesn’t give you the idea that he knows the first thing about dealing with people or handling baseball situations. Let me check if those are pre-requisites for being a manager and get back to you.

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Oct 1, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course they will.

It’s trendy now.

by The 'Ropolitans on Oct 1, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice article

Though the Joe Torre comment was stupid and I want no partnof LaRussa. Manuel suck, we all know it, but wath him get a pass because of the injuries.

"We must win and we must know how to win rather than win because we have statistical people."

by Evan_S on Oct 1, 2009 9:57 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I didn't really get the Torre comment

he either meant a) Torre has some magical innate ability to manage around his tactical miscues, or b) Torre gets a pass because of his track record with the Yankees. Neither really makes much sense, but b) is more excusable than a), so I’ll assume that’s what he meant.

2010 Mets’ coaching staff:

Manager: Bobby Valentine
Bench Coach: Manny Acta
First Base Coach: Edgardo Alfonzo
Hitting Coach: John Olerud

by Eric Simon on Oct 1, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

GM: Omar Minaya (ouch!)

by Michkin on Oct 1, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's more B

Torre was never a great in-game manager, but when you win 4 world series titles in your first 5 years, nobody is going to really question you. Winning is the deodorant that covers any stink and it was until the Yankees stopped winning that people began to question Torre’s managerial prowess.

by Reg Dunlop on Oct 1, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For a real time example look at Eric Wedge

Manager of the year to fired in 2 years. Winning is the cure all, and even when CC, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez get jettisoned, the manager is still at fault (not that they were winning much with those last two guys earlier this season).

Torre won a bunch with a very talented team. I’m sure another manager could have f’ed that up, but it’s possible another manager could have won more. Torre was good at supporting his players and bringing Mariano into games.

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Oct 1, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bob Melvin was NL Manager of the Year in 2007 too

by Cox813 on Oct 1, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alfonzo

Would be freakin’ awesome!

Just know, if there's ever a riot at Citi Field and Oliver Perez was the starter, I started the riot.

by meigs1414 on Oct 1, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those coaches

would be solid and add 10 wins. Add pitching coach: Ron Darling or Roger McDowell.

by David G on Oct 1, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it might have been tongue in cheek

that Torre seems to have a deal with the devil that he could manage by flipping a coin to make every decision and still make the playoffs. If you’re in the MSM and want to diss Torre, you have to do it subtly.

by Mount17 on Oct 1, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

starting catcher: Mike Piazza

"[The Giants] beat us down. We were beat by a grown-man team, a team we want to be like one day. They came in here and took it to us. Out-manned us, out-gunned us. ... It wasn't even close." - Raheem Morris, 9/27/09

by cjmulrain on Oct 1, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But the injuries aren't his fault!!

Tactical decision making…psh.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Oct 1, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mets need a complete makeover (the front office)

Best case scenario – Wilpons sell the team, new owner fires Minaya and his staff, new GM fires Manuel and his staff..2nd best, Wilpons fire Minaya, new GM fires Manuel

Firing Manuel accomplishes nothing here, we arent in the situation where a competent manager makes this team win 90 games instead of losing them

by viktor06 on Oct 1, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I keep seeing this argument

See fxcarden below as well. Yeah, firing Manuel isn’t a catch-all solution but as Davidoff notes it might be a good place to start. No one is suggesting switching Manuel for Bobby V. is the start and finish of the necessary changes.

by James Kannengieser on Oct 1, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

But firing Manuel means kinda the opposite, it would mean that Minaya is using him as scapegoat and basically saying ‘we will try again with Minaya and someone else’

I mean firing the manager, then make other changes higher (firing Minaya or other executives) doesnt make much sense, it has to start from the top

by viktor06 on Oct 1, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He forgot numbers 4, 5, and 6

4. Excessive bunting
5. Excessive bunting
6. Excessive bunting

by Reg Dunlop on Oct 1, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Joe Morgan says

“You need to have guys who put up productive at bats to win a championship. Move those runners along so the big guys can drive ’em in”

(I use quotes only because Joe Morgan had to have said that at some point, right?)

by HotChipWillBreakYourLegs on Oct 1, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

My main problem with Jerry is his commitment to the bunt in all situations. He has zero understanding that the odds of scoring often go down after the sac. I also blame Castillo though, because he has the permission to bunt whenever he wants and it’s not always a good move, especially when you have a OBP of .400.

by David G on Oct 1, 2009 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs