Mets have very little fire ... and the manager is to blame

Links (11)

Dan Graziano, the voice of reason
Published 5/9/2008 by noreply@blogger.com (Andrew Vazzano) at The 'Ropolitans :: New York Mets Baseball Blog
One of my favorite writers penned an article last night that really puts things in perspective about Willie Randolph. Graziano points out that since June 1 of last year, the Mets record is exactly 71-71. That's .500 baseball, ladies and gentlemen. ...

The heat increases on Mets' Randolph
Published 5/9/2008 by Eddie D'Anna at SILive: Ya Gotta Believe
Another day, another dose of pressure applied to Mets' manager Willie Randolph. Dan Graziano, a scribe from my sister publication, The Star-Ledger, points out today that the Amazin's are 71-71 since June 1 of last year and lays the blame at the skipper's feet . "With players such as himself, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Moises Alou, John Maine and Oliver Perez, the Mets have the talent to be one of the top teams in the National League. A .500 record over 142 games means they're not playing up to their talent level. And that's on the manager." Not to sound like a ...

Is Willie Randolph's Seat Getting Warm?
Published 5/9/2008 by Mullet at FanHouse
... overreaction to say that the Mets have been slightly disappointing so far this season. The acquisition of Johan Santana was supposed to lift them over a flawed division. Instead, the Mets flaws have been front and center. That, combined with not only last season's collapse, but the fact that since late May of last season the Mets have basically been a .500 team with a star studded roster, could mean that the focus is now on manager Willie Randolph. Consider the following unnamed source type quote: A person familiar with the Mets' thinking, who requested ...

Buzz: Mets to Reevaluate Willie, Team
Published 5/9/2008 by Matthew Cerrone at MetsBlog.com
... According to Dan Graziano in the Star-Ledger, citing ‘a person familiar with the team’s thinking, who requested anonymity,’ Mets management is planning a reevaluation at the end of this month. ...

Mets Have No Fire Power
Published 5/9/2008 by Andrew Beaton at Hot Foot
According to Dan Graziano of the Star Ledger, the Mets brass is planning on a reevaluation at the end of the month.  The team is disappointed that they are not playing up to their potential, and will look at the idea of replacing manager Willie Randolph.  However, if the Mets remain in contention, Randolph will likely keep his job through the season. Right now, I think its too early to replace a manager, we still have to see what we’ve got. Yet, if we’re still hovering around .500 come June, I’d be in favor of pulling the trigger on Willie. ...

There's More Wrong With the Mets than Willie
Published 5/9/2008 at Mike's Mets
... Add Newark Star-Ledger columnist Dan Graziano to those calling for the head of Mets manager Willie Randolph. After making the point that the Mets are 71-71 since last June 1, Graziano accuses the Mets of not playing up to their talent level, and places the blame squarely on Randolph's shoulders: ...

Willie: "I'm no genius. I'm just trying to lead my club."
Published 5/10/2008 by Itsmetsforme (noreply@blogger.com) at It's Mets For Me: Off-Beat, Tangentially Relevant Mets Ruminations
... Willie was not fired for last season's collapse, but now it seems that the team's mediocre start is leading people to see the malaise as cumulative. There are even reports that Willie is about to be evaluated. Dan Graziano thinks Willie needs to learn to manage a bunch of losers: ...

Graziano: Mets have very little fire … and the manager is to blame
Published 5/10/2008 at BBTF's Baseball Primer Newsblog
Graziano: Mets have very little fire … and the manager is to blame Or as a totally phenorbitalized Abbie Hoffman almost said..."Free speech means the right to shout ‘theatrical’ in a crowded fire.” A person familiar with the Mets’ thinking, who requested anonymity because he was relaying details of private conversations, said Mets management is planning a reevaluation at the end of this month. The offseason acquisitions of Johan Santana, Ryan Church and Brian Schneider improved the roster, and if the team hasn’t found a way to assert itself in the division by June, the ...

No Need to Free Willie Just Yet
Published 5/10/2008 by Bill Baer at Baseball Digest Daily
... head. Carlos Delgado’s 79 OPS+? Willie’s fault. Carlos Beltran’s SLG looking similar to his OBP? Yep: Willie’s fault. Oliver Perez’s reversion back to his 2005 ways? I’m not sure. No, wait… yeah, Willie’s fault. Injuries to Pedro Martinez, Brian Schneider, Ramon Castro, Matt Wise, Jose Valentin, Orlando Hernandez, Ambiorix Burgos, Moises Alou, Duaner Sanchez, Luis Castillo, and Carlos Beltran? The Mets’ manager’s fault. The prototypical criticism directed at Randolph comes from Dan Graziano of NJ.com : He does what Joe Torre used to do when his veteran players slumped. He ...

Baseball Today: Monday, May 12
Published 5/12/2008 by Art Martone (amartone@projo.com) at Projo Sox Blog
... END GAME? The Newark Star-Ledger's Dan Graziano notes the Mets entered the weekend with a 71-71 record since last June 1 and that management is preparing to reevaluate Willie Randolph. ...

What Willie Watch Has Wrought
Published 6/17/2008 by Matthew Artus at NJ.com: Always Amazin'
... this season. From there, it caught the attention of the blogosphere and later led other baseball writers to react, such as Dan Graziano's article at the Star-Ledger on May 9th. It went full steam ahead after ...