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Way Down In The Hole: "The Wire" and Gangsta Mets

If you aren't familiar with the former HBO show "The Wire", this post will be of no interest.  Fans of the show might enjoy this though.

The setting for the late and great "The Wire" is Baltimore, where the Mets are playing this week.  It's cliche to say at this point, but it's the best television show of all time.  If you haven't yet checked it out on DVD please do.  The show is about the Baltimore drug trade and has almost nothing to do with baseball, although I recall McNulty and Bunk attending a game at Camden Yards.  However, the combination of Baltimore, Jerry Manuel the "gangsta", and the imminent firing of Manny Acta as Nats manager had me finding some parallels between recent Mets managers/coaches and drug kingpins of "The Wire".  This might be a stretch but it provides an excuse to write about the show.

Avon Barksdale and Willie Randolph

Avon_and_willie_medium

In addition to a slight physical resemblance, these 2 were proud leaders of their respective units.  Both earned respect in their early days, Avon as a boxer and young leader, Willie as a solid player and coach.  Both had connections - Avon's father was a career criminal, Willie is a "true Yankee" and was part of Joe Torre's Yankee staff.  Despite a decent run in their leadership roles, Avon and Willie's downfalls were partially brought on by stubbornness.  Avon rejected confidant Stringer Bell's recommendations to decrease the Barksdale organization's street presence and increase its legitimate business interests.  Willie repeatedly stuck by "his guys" and displayed little creativity with his lineups and bullpen management.  The fates of these 2 men were similar as far as their respective professions are concerned - Avon went to jail, Willie got the boot from the Mets last June.

Stringer Bell and Manny Acta

Stringer_and_manny_medium

Manny was a coach under Willie before moving on to manage his own team, the Nationals.  Stringer was 2nd in command to Avon, and eventually took over upon Avon's incarceration.  Both men were open to new ideas - Manny with sabermetrics and a fact-based approach to the game, Stringer with legitimate business undertakings (note that I use the past tense for Manny, with an assumption that he will be fired by the Nationals).  Unfortunately, both intelligent men were in tough situations.  Manny's Nationals were a joke, and his bullpen made the 2008 Mets bullpen look like the Nasty Boys.  Stringer messed with Omar Little and was screwed over by Senator Clay Davis.  Atleast Manny's end won't be as ugly as String's. 

Marlo Stanfield and Jerry Manuel

Marlo_and_jerry_medium

Marlo and Jerry were beneficiaries of circumstance, ascending to management roles as former leaders were taken down.  Much has been made of Jerry's "gangsta" attitude, and I think Marlo is the best parallel.  They're both old school, ruthless leaders who have no use for new ideas (in Marlo's case, going legitimate; in Jerry's case, statistics).  The 2 achieved decent success in their roles.  Neither would hesitate to throw people under the bus.  Any possible snitch in Marlo's circle was usually visited by Chris Partlow and Snoop, and was not long for the world.  A fat catcher, slumping right fielder, and promising relief pitcher similarly incurred Manuel's scorn.  Marlo's fate is unknown at the end of the series' run, as is Manuel's at this point.

No parallel is flawless but these 3 are atleast plausible.  I figured I'd ask fans of "The Wire" to decide which character is the best parallel for gangsterous Jerry Manuel.

Poll
Which gangsta from "The Wire" is most similar to Jerry Manuel?
Avon Barksdale
1 votes
Stringer Bell
2 votes
Marlo Stanfield
11 votes
Omar Little
8 votes
Proposition Joe
18 votes
Cheese Wagstaff
15 votes

55 votes | Poll has closed

4 recs  |  Comment 50 comments |

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Comments

Display:

HA HA YES

Omar should be Prop Joe because he’s good at bullshitting his way through the madness and staying afloat/on top. That’d make Bernazard Slim Charles and that works because Tony is definitely muscle.

Cerrone is definitely Scott Templeton. Ted Berg is Gus Haynes.

by All Shook Down on Jun 16, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Wow, cruel comp for cerrone

i don’t think he makes shit up, he’s just a bad “journalist” or whatever you wanna call him

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

by Evan_S on Jun 16, 2009 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's not really a reporter.

Just a monger of wrongheaded and misinformed opinions. It’s roughly the baseball blogging equivalent of making shit up and reporting it as news.

by All Shook Down on Jun 16, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I just want to know why he is on TV

I looks petrified and in desperate need of an iron everytime he’s on. Doesn’t SNY have Wardrobe?

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 17, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

*He

Everyone is entitled to be stupid, but Jerry abuses the privilege.

by AnthonyR on Jun 17, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sounded like a pirate

“I looks petrified… arrrr”

by deadspy3 on Jun 17, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ha!

I think a much better comp for me would be Cheese Wagstaff because I will seem reasonably cool all along, but then at the end I will expose myself as a complete moron with a big long monologue about how “The game is the game” and “we sellin’ dope and coke in Baltimore,” then I’ll be shot by Slim Charles. Also, I’d very much like to be portrayed by Method Man and be named “Cheese Wagstaff.”

Also, I <3 comparing baseball to TV shows, but The Wire is actually the second best TV show of all time to Arrested Development. This is fact. Sorry, it’s science. Also, I was just emailing with John Peterson this morning about his excellent use of “Omar comin’” when Minaya is inevitably about to make a move.

by TedBerg on Jun 17, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Slim Charles

was one of my favorite characters. Maybe for his voice, for his look, whatever. That final scene with Cheese sealed it for me:

:::cocks head to the side::: “That was for Joe”

by James Kannengieser on Jun 17, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

To extend the baseball metaphor, I’d say Slim Charles “played the game the right way.”

by TedBerg on Jun 17, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I guess that means

you have an abandoned son in a group home somewhere who likes to sell candy to 6th graders?

by Zwill on Jun 17, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Several, actually

But I don’t think it was ever made explicit that Randy was Cheese’s son. I think that was something David Simon said in some interview somewhere that was supposed to be developed but never was.

by TedBerg on Jun 17, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right

Twas never made explicit. But the name and timeline certainly fits so I’ll jump to that conclusion quicker than Tom Smykowski.

by Zwill on Jun 17, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Your wrong The Wire is better than Arrested Development

and so is Seinfeld and Scrubs in terms of live action comedies. But Arrested Development is still awesome, from the episodes I’ve seen. Too bad they don’t show re-runs of that show so I could at least see all of them.

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

by Evan_S on Jun 17, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You're not your

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

by Evan_S on Jun 17, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Arrested Development

I think the whole series is on Hulu.

by mets81 on Jun 17, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

that's where I've watched most of them but i never enjoyed watching tv/movies on the computer.

and i’m broke so no dvds

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

by Evan_S on Jun 17, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I find

Scrubs is spoiled by the constant undertones of sentimentality and each episodes “serious message”. Who needs that!?

by deadspy3 on Jun 18, 2009 4:27 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jerry is Shamrock

Grission and Husart - that is either the non-union Mexican equivelant of "Starsky and Hutch" or the key to winning the World Series.

by IanB in MD on Jun 16, 2009 10:57 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of The Wire and Baseball

You also should mention that if Herk could have sex with one man, it would be Orioles backup catcher Gus Triandos

by njmetfan12 on Jun 16, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

I've put too much thought into this but here goes

Jerry Manuel = Savino. Savino, like Manuel, rose to prominence in an organization and had a bright future ahead of him. In Manuel’s case, that included a Manager of the Year award with the White Sox. In Savino’s case, it was a quick escalation up the ladder of a Barksdale organization that began to have many of its mid-level muscle pinched by the detail. Each career was derailed by conflict that escalated far too quickly: Manuel wore out his welcome by feuding with Frank Thomas whereas Savino set up a hit on Orlando that resulted in Undercover Kima taking one for the company, as Rawls would say.

Each then went away for a bit: Manuel to assistant coach exile and Savino to three years in the MD correctional system. (I can do the years. Aint no thang.) Each eventually returned to what they knew best but displayed a lack of loyalty in the process. Manuel took the job of the man who brought him to the Met organization while Savino went into the employ of Marlo Stanfield, the charisma-less kingpin who deposed his former chief, Avon Barksdale.

Savino’s story ended badly. His lack of an ethic or a code was apparent to Omar Little and he paid the ultimate price for that. Like Savino, Manuel is ultimately destined for failure. And like Savino, a street poet named Omar will eventually take Jerry out. All in the game.

by Zwill on Jun 17, 2009 1:45 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Well done

The question remains: who is Omar Little in this scenario? Bobby Valentine?

by James Kannengieser on Jun 17, 2009 7:21 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would hope BobbyV is Omar

Do you think Steve Phillips imainges himself being Omar? (wow – that works in the real world and on The Wire!)

Grission and Husart - that is either the non-union Mexican equivelant of "Starsky and Hutch" or the key to winning the World Series.

by IanB in MD on Jun 17, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think Razor Shines is

Clay Davis

“Sheeeeeeeiiiiiiittt”

"I used to be legit. I was too legit. I was too legit to quit. but now I'm not legit. I'm unlegit. And for that reason, I must quit."

by jaronson5 on Jun 17, 2009 9:16 AM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Minaya and Lt. Marimow

Marimow was sent in to keep a lid on major crimes (season 4) after the politically sensitive subpoenas went out. He had orders from the bosses to focus on street level crimes and to stay away from any big political fish. Under his leadership, Major Crimes was pretty much decimated.

Minaya had his orders from the Wilpons to hold the line on payroll this off season. So rather than buck his bosses and pursue bigger fish for the outfield and starting pitching, Minaya stuck with a focus on lower level players and minor acquisitions.

by Reg Dunlop on Jun 17, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Sheff is def. Cutty

shares wisdom with the youth. he use to be a “bad seed” growing up. they both have strength and i’m going to guess sheff. is good with the ladies like cutty.

"I used to be legit. I was too legit. I was too legit to quit. but now I'm not legit. I'm unlegit. And for that reason, I must quit."

by jaronson5 on Jun 17, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Jerry = Omar

Never predictable, a tad crazy.

by TBlz on Jun 17, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

and Omar is feared

just like we fear Jerry’s managerial decisions

But Omar’s my favorite character and I don’t like Jerry

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

by Evan_S on Jun 17, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Brian Stokes could be Johnny, Bubbles friend

Because he also seems to have no luck at all

by njmetfan12 on Jun 17, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

nah brian stokes is going to be ziggy

he wants attention and to start to shine, so he’ll instead of being like ziggy and smuggling on his own, he’ll just shoot Jerry, or Sean Green

"We have to put a value on say, moving a runner over. We have to put a value on getting a bases on balls. We have to put a value on infield back, [getting a] ground ball that's sufficient to score a run. Those types of things have to be accented in order for us, in my opinion, to kind of get to the next level." "You don't see a lot of guys that have statistical numbers play well in these championship series. What you see is usually the little second baseman or somebody like that carries off the MVP trophy that nobody expected him to do. That's because he's comfortable in playing that form of baseball, so therefore when the stage comes, it's not a struggle for him." ---Jerry Manuel

by firejerrynow on Jun 18, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You can't beat this

AWESOME!

"We have to find a way to play better, there's no doubt. Overall. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. Offense, defense, pitching -- we have to find a way to play better. The reality of this is, coming here to Pittsburgh and being swept -- personally, I feel embarrassed." -- Carlos Beltran

by EMSfan9 on Jun 17, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

F!

is michael the young thug on Snoop’s block.

I could see Murphy getting as drunk as a young Mcnoulty (sp) …..
and can we make Delgado det. bunk.

Thinking about it Jerry is more like the police chief in the last season, but he is a bit to gangsta to do that.

by Delgado on Jun 18, 2009 12:51 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes!

Delgado is definitely Bunk. I can imagine him with a fat cigar.

by deadspy3 on Jun 18, 2009 4:28 AM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

I think Wright is McNulty

Awesome at his job yet underappreciated. Can’t see Wright getting hammered drunk and crashing his car into a pillar though. I guess this makes Mike Francesca (or sports talk radio in general) Bill Rawls?

by James Kannengieser on Jun 18, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Love to spot

Fatcessa unexpectedly cruising a gay club. That would outrage WFAN listeners something rotten.

by deadspy3 on Jun 18, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

that just made me

picture Wright stumbling along out of his car. He looks at the pillar, looks at the road, and back at the pillar again. Started making the swerving motions with his hands…and I just laughed at the thought.

"We have to find a way to play better, there's no doubt. Overall. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody. Offense, defense, pitching -- we have to find a way to play better. The reality of this is, coming here to Pittsburgh and being swept -- personally, I feel embarrassed." -- Carlos Beltran

by EMSfan9 on Jun 18, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

What about

Fatcessa being the cop that took over the homicide division, the real fat one.

Yeah Dub pilfering drunk women from the bar, bending them over the car.

This is a great post.

by Delgado on Jun 18, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

SHEF IS MCNUTTY

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on Jun 21, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Who is Bunk? ANd who is Lester? Alex Cora?

Jerry is more like Burrell. Never trying anything new. Manny Acta could be like Colvin

"We have to put a value on say, moving a runner over. We have to put a value on getting a bases on balls. We have to put a value on infield back, [getting a] ground ball that's sufficient to score a run. Those types of things have to be accented in order for us, in my opinion, to kind of get to the next level." "You don't see a lot of guys that have statistical numbers play well in these championship series. What you see is usually the little second baseman or somebody like that carries off the MVP trophy that nobody expected him to do. That's because he's comfortable in playing that form of baseball, so therefore when the stage comes, it's not a struggle for him." ---Jerry Manuel

by firejerrynow on Jun 18, 2009 4:50 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Maybe Castro's Lester.

Lester: Pissed off someone upstairs and got banished from Homicide to the Pawnshop Unit for more than a decade.
Castro: Got on Jerry & Omar’s collective bad side, and lost his starting job to Omir Santos, ultimately got traded to the White Sox.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Jun 20, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nothing is better than Arrested Development

“Why is he taking off his IV? It’s just glucose”

“We’re all on Atkins”

Nothing can get by him; especially in a small room: Mike Francessa

by GenJackRipper on Jun 18, 2009 5:31 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Lester Freeman is Delgado

They both have been around, do the research, and take notes on everything, and are frustrated by the impetuous youths.

Minaya is definitely Clay Davis. When someone brings up his Sizemore, Lee, Phillips trade, can’t you see him responding: “Shhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.” You could also make a case that he’s Prop Joe.

Bernazard would be Rawls or Mayor Carcetti. Just playing the game on both sides trying to get ahead.

But, important question: Who’s the reporter that makes stories up?

by David G on Jun 20, 2009 1:08 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Templeton is

Rick Peterson. Saying Johan was injured.

"We have to put a value on say, moving a runner over. We have to put a value on getting a bases on balls. We have to put a value on infield back, [getting a] ground ball that's sufficient to score a run. Those types of things have to be accented in order for us, in my opinion, to kind of get to the next level." "You don't see a lot of guys that have statistical numbers play well in these championship series. What you see is usually the little second baseman or somebody like that carries off the MVP trophy that nobody expected him to do. That's because he's comfortable in playing that form of baseball, so therefore when the stage comes, it's not a struggle for him." ---Jerry Manuel

by firejerrynow on Jun 20, 2009 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Has anyone noticed that

Roland Prezbylewski looks like Brian Schneider/Daniel Murphy? Maybe Schneider will shoot Santos kind of like how Prez shot the undercover cop.

"We have to put a value on say, moving a runner over. We have to put a value on getting a bases on balls. We have to put a value on infield back, [getting a] ground ball that's sufficient to score a run. Those types of things have to be accented in order for us, in my opinion, to kind of get to the next level." "You don't see a lot of guys that have statistical numbers play well in these championship series. What you see is usually the little second baseman or somebody like that carries off the MVP trophy that nobody expected him to do. That's because he's comfortable in playing that form of baseball, so therefore when the stage comes, it's not a struggle for him." ---Jerry Manuel

by firejerrynow on Jun 20, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

Schneider and prez are dead ringers.

by Delgado on Jun 21, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hurk is Castillo

Means well, but mainly just screws up.

by David G on Jun 22, 2009 12:36 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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