Mets Continue Jerrymeandering

"We have to probably sit down individually and go over the thought process of the approach," Manuel said of his bewildered hitters.

The New York Daily News, July 26, 2010

Manuel apparently has been catching up on his Stengel-isms and Yogi-isms, but what he appears to be oblivious to is that Casey and Yogi were sage analysts of the game; behind the smokescreen of their enigmatic comments they were veritable Einsteins of America’s pastime, whereas Jerry’s baseball IQ is seemingly more comparable to Gomer Pyle.

It is time to discontinue describing Manuel’s in-game managerial decisions as “perplexing.” A more descriptive description would be “plain dumb.” In Saturday’s episode in futility, the Mets had scored two runs (2 Runs!!!) in the top of the sixth. Catcher Rod Barajas pulled up lame at second base. Manuel pulled one of his typical Jerry-time decisions and replaced not-so-hot Rod with the renowned speed-demon, back-up catcher Henry Blanco. Legendary DH Edgar Martinez has often been described as the slowest base-runner in modern baseball history. Rumor has it that Edgar beat Blanco in the 100 meter run with a piano tied onto his back. Reyes singled with a grounder that wove its way through the hole in left field. Blanco, of course, was stopped at third.

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Jerry is a firm believer in refusing to use his closer in tie games on the road. In theory, it is a philosophy with possible merit. But when your only other option is Ollie Perez, even the most stubborn manager would opt for flexibility. Andre Ethier was apparently so amazed that Manuel would play Ollie-ball in a key situation in perhaps the most important game of the season that he flailed at strike three. Miracle of miracles, the Amazin’s had gotten out of the 12th inning with life. But just like the compulsive gambler who, after winning big at the roulette table, doubles down on the next play, Jerry chose to go with Ollie in the 13th. Do you think that there was a single Mets fan surprised when the Dodgers power-challenged 1st baseman, James Loney, crushed one out of the park?

"It was supposed to be away," Perez said of the fastball that got too much of the plate and wound up far, far away”. NY Post columnist Kevin Kernin 7/24/10

Of course, Jerry didn’t entirely forget about K-Rod. After the game Rodriguez was found in the clubhouse, encased in ice-packs. Why?

"I was up [throwing] five or six times," he said. N.Y. Post, 7/24/10

Thus, Jerry decided not to use him, but rather abuse him.

That makes sense in Jerry-World.

Of course, the Mets hitters once again didn’t help the cause, going 0-21 over the last 7 innings of the game, so even if the Mets had Cyclone Young pitching at that point, it might not have mattered. This followed their exemplary extra-inning effort against the D-backs, which ended with an 0-24 batting display. Forget the Mendoza Line. On this team, Luis Mendoza would hit in the 4 slot. Which brings up the next obvious point – what exactly has Batting Coach Howard Johnson been doing to alleviate the hitting draught? Manuel had announced a week or so ago that he and HOJO were had decided to spend extra BP with Jason Bay to work on some of his swinging glitches. One may ask, why in heaven’s name has it taken them until mid-July to notice that Jason was having some issues at the plate? I was thinking that I would be hearing an echo of our prior CINC, with Omar patting Johnson on the back, proclaiming “Heck of a job, HOJO.” But such was not the case:

“Asked if he could categorically say that every member of the coaching staff would survive after a 2-9 road trip, Minaya said:

"I don't want to talk about that. I feel everybody here is trying hard. I could tell you the staff is trying hard. If you ask me (about) the overall performance that has happened, of course I'm not happy. Nobody is happy. Guys are doing the best they can. But we're going to continue to sit down with Jerry (Manuel) and continue to evaluate how we can get better."

Once again offered the chance to rule out that anyone would be fired, Minaya said: "That's all I'm going to say." NY Post, 7/25/10

Perhaps the best solution to the hitting woes was offered by a New York Post Letter to the editor:

“I heard that the Mets plan to acquire Tino Martinez to go over infield drills with rookies Ike Davis and Justin Turner. Jerry Manuel calls it the Ike and Tina Turner Review.” Pete Acevedo, in Westbury, L.I. (7/25/10)

Today the Mets continued their quest for irrelevancy by losing the final game of the series, 1-0, to the Dodgers. At least they were shut out by a genuine pitcher, Clayton Kershaw, not Carlos Monasterious, whose name brings to mind a 15th century monk who labored for the Lord at Capistrano rather then a major league hurler.

Thus the final line of this road-trip to nullity in the National League is 2-9. At this point, the Mets have played 14 series on the road, and haven’t won a single one. Nada. Goose egg. Naught. Bupkis.

The next bit of bad news for the Metropolitans is that Bobby Valentine is apparently enamored with the possibility of managing the Cubbies, who as a franchise are even more dysfunctional then the Mets, if that were possible.

“Valentine, who led the Mets to the pennant in 2000 and managed the Texas Rangers, calls the Cubs job "one of the most coveted positions in all of sports" and adds "anybody who thinks of himself as a manager would love to be considered as one of the people who might take his place."

Speaking of possible candidates for manning the helm in the post-Jerry period (it’s only a matter of perception that it has lasted as long as the Pre-Cambrian age); before Sunday’s game, Dodger Joe Torre was questioned about the Mets.

His comment:

"The Mets, they're scary," N.Y. Post 7/25/10

Either Joe was purposely being incredibly gracious as well as over-effusive in his praise, or he is unfortunately showing signs of an onset in dementia. Of course, Torre will be a free-agent himself after this season, and may have designs concerning ending his managerial career in New York, with his second stint with the Mets. But those old enough to remember, recall that Joe was once upon a time not quite the legendary manager he has become over the years. After he was hired by the Yankees, the New York tabloids gave him the moniker “Clueless Joe.” Perhaps Joe would be better off retiring gracefully.

By Paul J. Nebenfuhr
MLBCenter.com New York Mets Correspondent

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