via www.coverbrowser.com

In the wake of another embarrassing stumble to a game's finish caused by Jerry Manuel's inept handling of his pitching staff, let us not forget a piece of especially disturbing news relayed by the SNY crew during the game. 

Luis Castillo begins his rehab in the next few days. Jerry says that, when he returns to the club, Castillo reclaims his starting job. When asked Tejada's role after Luis' return, Jerry essentially replied "Nada."

Listen closely to Ron Darling these days, and you can hear him becoming less and less able to hide his disgust with Jerry's handling of this squad. You could hear it when the team was in Puerto Rico and Ron was subbing for Bobby O in the studio. His thinly veiled criticism of Jerry's early-season misuse and abuse  of Fernando Nieve was especially damning.

Darling tried to be even-handed in his analysis of Jerry's imminent shit-canning of Tejada, but when Tejada made that brilliant daylight-play to pick-off Bernadina and pull Jerry's nuts out of the fire, Ron couldn't help himself. "Don't tell me there's not a place on this team for that young man!" he said in so many words, the implication being, Yes, he has a place. and yes, it's as the starting second baseman for the New York Mets.

That Manuel would even consider returning Castillo to the line-up given the team's--and Tejada's--performance since Luis was injured is bad enough, but to discount out of hand the possibility that Tejada could remain as the starter is anothr prime example of Jerry Manuel's incompetence.

Don't let up, Ron.