Posts Tagged ‘Omar Minaya

31
Aug
09

The Mets are the Best Run Organization

By slanch Leave a Comment
Categories: Baseball
Tags: , ,

failureThey moved into a tax-payer financed $1 billion stadium with incredibly high ticket prices but the cost of featuring the second highest payroll in the majors and being bilked out of hundreds of millions of dollars by Bernie Madoff has left the Mets DESPERATE for cash.

Amidst rumors in the last few weeks that the Wilpons may be forced to sell the team, another example of the team’s anemic finances came when former GM Jim Duquette reported that the team has canceled their normal off-season instructional league.

Makes sense, after all the Mets prospects have been thriving recently… And if their current AAA lineup — excuse me, that’s their MAJOR LEAGUE LINEUP! — is any sign, things are robust down on the farm…

“There’s a lot of talk and I believe this is information that has not gotten out,” said Duquette, [on his XM radio show] “… The Mets have made a decision, and some organizations do this, but they’ve decided not to have what’s called their instructional league, which is, for their minor leagues, it’s an opportunity to develop [and] continue to develop your young players. And there’s some debate within circles over the past couple years the true value of instructional league but most organizations have a version of it. They’re not going to do it. Now the rumors within the scouting circles are that they can’t afford – which it roughly costs about 300 grand to staff and to invite and fly down all the players, to having meals throughout for about, it’s like a 4 to 5 week program. It gives you a chance to extend the development of your young players, of your prospects. And they’re not gonna have it.   They have cancelled it for this fall. And to me, being a development guy, that’s big news. If you’re development oriented, it’s not a good decision in my opinion.” 

Look, I get that the Wilpons lost a shitload of money, but to not be able to afford a couple hundred thousand dollars? Maybe if they didn’t have AWFUL management who outlays millions upon millions of dollars on wastes of roster space like Oliver Perez and Livan Hernandez or Omar Minaya they’d be able to develop young, cheap talent.

Quick, name the last successful Mets prospect to last a full effective season, I’d say no one since David Wright. And that was YEARS ago. But sure, cancel the instructional leagues…

The Mets are pretending that they will be doing a similar camp in the Dominican instead saying in a statement:

In a reevaluation of the Mets minor league operations, the club made the decision to move our Fall Instructional League to our new Dominican Academy in Boca Chica from Port St. Lucie, Fla. We believe that by housing our minor league players in the Dominican, we will have more opportunities to have competition against opposing teams that have training facilities nearby.

Say whatever they want, I firmly believe this is because the Mets were too cheap — or too poor — to go about the process of actually developing their own players.

But then, I’m a Mets hater right…

[NY Daily News]

21
May
09

The Mets Continue to Be Amazin'(ly Bad)

By slanch 4 Comments
Categories: Baseball
Tags: , ,

I get accused in certain quarters of being very anti-Mets; I’m not, I just watch more of their games than any other team besides the Red Sox and so feel like I know what’s going on pretty well.

This discussion came up in my fantasy baseball league today regarding the sheer ineptitude of the Mets management team. With Jose Reyes injury status continuing, Carlos Delgado out at least 2 months and now significant playing time going to Fernando Tatis, Daniel Murphy (once more playing out of position and proving he’d be better served playing in the field WITHOUT a glove) and now RAMON MARTINEZ playing short this does NOT look like a $150 million team.

As reader Myummers pointed out, with David Wright and Jose Reyes earning a combined $14 million, throw in Johan, Beltran and Delgado, combined earning $50.5 million and that means that the remaining players on the roster account for $86 MILLION. And for what exactly?

Oliver Perez was an awful signing at the time, everyone agreed except Omar Minaya, now, he isn’t even in the ROTATION. But don’t worry, the Mets have LOADS of prospects coming… they’ve got Fernando Martinez and … um…uh…Mike Karp? Ugh.

But don’t worry, because Minaya will only be around for 4 more years.

Meanwhile Derek Lowe has 6 wins on the season, Orlando Hudson is keying the Dodgers offense AND defense and while Manny is still suspended, he’d still have been and continue to be a marked improvement over Daniel Murphy in left. And Manny would play better defense and that’s not something I ever imagined I’d say.

Of course, the Mets didn’t sign ANY of those three players that would have actually improved the team. No, instead they are throwing out the worst $100 million+ team ever.

Bernie Madoff may have shadily taken the Wilpons’ money, but now they in turn are straight out stealing money from their fans. This team isn’t worth paying to see right now.

28
Jan
09

Why HAVEN’T The Mets Signed Manny?

By slanch 4 Comments
Categories: Baseball
Tags: , ,

The biggest surprise to me this off-season, as the days to pitchers and catchers dwindle down–14 by the way–is that Manny Ramirez remains unsigned, and most surprisingly, that the Mets have made no effort to sign him. Omar Minaya has had a man-crush on Manny for YEARS, trying to acquire him pretty much since the moment he became the Mets GM. Yet now, when the cost of acquiring Manny is a mere draft pick, Los Mets are nowhere to be seen.

Let’s look at the Mets team for next season, do they have a hole in the batting lineup for a slugger? Yes. Do they have a need for a left fielder who can stay on the field? Yes. Is Manny Ramirez latino? Yes!

How is this not a fit? In the last 8 years, he has played 140+ games 5 times, which is plenty for a Mets team who last year had to deal with approximately 18 different left fielders last season. The addition of Manny to the Mets lineup would make their team much more powerful and more likely to be able to endure all those starts that the team seems intent on giving to Tim Redding. Do you have any idea what the Mets current situation at LF is? Here is the depth chart as listed on the Mets official site: Daniel Murphy (a ROOKIE INFIELDER), Fernando Tatis (old, highly unlikely to duplicate his stats from last year), Nick Evans (at best a 4th OF), Marlon Anderson (really?), and Angel Pagan (meh). Quite the murderer’s row.

Let’s take a look at the lineup if Manny were on the Mets:
Continue reading ‘Why HAVEN’T The Mets Signed Manny?’

25
Sep
08

Other Reasons I Dislike Omar Minaya

By slanch 4 Comments
Categories: Baseball and Random
Tags: ,

I’ve been accused by reader Youppi for hating the Mets and such because of my latest diatribe against the sheer insanity of signing Omar Minaya to a new 4 year deal. Well, I disagree. Youppi, first off, I don’t hate the Mets. I don’t particularly like them, but I have zero hatred for them, although seeing them fail is pretty hilarious to me. I do dislike and abhor Omar Minaya who I think is overrated and inept. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE David Wright. I want him to succeed.

So that’s first off.

Secondly, I had even forgot about El Duque. The beginning season rotation was supposed to be Johan, Pedro, Maine, Perez and El Duque. YIKES! And then when injuries and Perez being perez happened they were scrambling for pitching. How do you assemble a roster like that and not have 10 other semi-decent starters available, after all, besides Johan and Maine no one in that starting rotation is in any way consistent and two of them are old as fuck and likely to, and did, get injuries. Now fortunately the Big Pelf stepped up and was surprisingly good. That’s awesome, and it’s about time. But, the fact that beyond him there were meaningful starts going to the likes of Nelson Figueroa is abominable.

Continue reading ‘Other Reasons I Dislike Omar Minaya’

24
Sep
08

Today in Ridiculous News

By slanch 4 Comments
Categories: Baseball
Tags: , , , ,

First I saw that Clay Aiken had come out as gay and my mind was still trying to wrap itself around that; I mean, he always seemed so straight, plus he kept denying the rumors so vehemently, it’s a hard one for me to believe. Then I hear that Matt Millen (Detroit’s record under him was 31-84(!)) was finally FINALLY fired. But then, to make me even more incredulous, in the most ridiculous news of the day I see that Mets GM Omar Minaya is getting a 4 year extension. Um, WHAT? Among his accomplishments Baseball Tonight had listed were that his team went to the NLCS once (losing to the worst eventual World Series winner in recent history), that he has a winning percentage of .551 and that he signed Carlos Beltran and traded for Johan Santana. Um, that’s it?

Now I’ll give credit for Johan, the deal Omar made was a fucking steal as we’ve seen that Carlos Gomez and the rest of the semi-scrubs the Mets sent the Twins’ way are not CLOSE to being truly serviceable on the major league level. That was a well played move. Omar waited until the Sox and Yankees, with their superior offers, bowed out and played upon the desperation of the Twins. That’s some smart maneuvering. However, the REST of the Mets roster is an epic example of FAIL. How can you go into a season with someone like Moises Alou penciled in to start and really not have an effective backup behind him for his eventual injury? Endy Chavez doesn’t count as he is and always should be a 5th outfielder. The farm system isn’t producing any major new talent, sure the infusion of players like Daniel Murphy have been nice in recent weeks but the rest of the system is bereft of top-quality players who can make any kind of impact in the near future. Continue reading ‘Today in Ridiculous News’

19
Jun
08

Ten Reasons the Mets will Finish 10 Games Under .500

By slanch 20 Comments
Categories: Baseball and Guest Columns
Tags: , , , , ,

Today we bring you a guest column from generally angry commenter Shatraw, who offers his insights into what is ailing his beloved Mets (until he jumps onto the Rays bandwagon.)

_________________

The inevitable came to pass in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, June 17th, when Omar Minaya snuck into Willie Randolph’s hotel room and left the severed heads of Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto in his bed, scrawling the word’s “YOU’RE FIRED” in blood on the wall over his bed. There is no debate about whether the firing was warranted and going into the theatrics surrounding the situation is just beating a dead horse. The real question now is: “can the Met’s get their act together and finish off 2008 in the hunt for a playoff spot?”

Hah hah hah.

Here are the 10 reasons the Mets will finish 10 games under .500. If each one of these factors only adds one loss to their chances of finishing .500, the Mets should consider themselves lucky.

PROBLEM: Oliver Perez will walk 100+ batters

Free Parking Perez has walked 48 men in only 72.1 IP. Remember last year when he went 15-10 with a 3.56 ERA and 174K, walking “only” a total of 79?

The honeymoon is over. His ERA is flirting with 5. He gives his team almost no chance to win 1 out of 3 times he’s on the mound.

CAN IT BE FIXED? Well, since he walked 8 in 5IP on May 23rd in Colorado, he’s only walked 4, 2, 2 and 3. So no, probably not.

PROBLEM: Jose Reyes turned into a sniveling prick

Everyone knows that watching Reyes play at the height of his game is possibly the most exciting sight in baseball. But that’s if he feels like it.

Reyes seems more petulant by the hour, climaxing last night in Jerry Manuel’s first game as manager. Reyes pulling up lame at first, whined into the bench. When Manuel emerged from the dugout and told him to take the night off, Reyes chucked his helmet and sulked off the field.

It’s just the latest in Jose’s trend toward little-bitchery. Reyes can regularly be seen booting routine groundballs, not laying out for tougher plays and scuffling to first on grounders.

CAN IT BE FIXED? I don’t know what his deal is, but they have to make Reyes care again. Send him to a Tony Robbins brainwashing if it’s necessary.

PROBLEM: The Wilpons are reverting back into the Wilpons

After a couple of relatively sane seasons from ownership, the Wilpons are up to their nasty old tricks again. Now that their team is sputtering, it’s back to a steady flow of media leaks, petty in-fighting and backstabbing in an organization famous for such hijinks. That’s always good for team morale.

I’m starting to suspect that Mets ownership is intentionally tanking this season. Omar Minaya has that look in his eye, like his time is about to come. And it probably will after this season.

CAN IT BE FIXED? Not really. Unless the Wilpons charter a fateful helicopter tour with the always hilarious Dolans, curing NY sports of insanity at its uppermost levels. Oh wait, forgot about Hank Steinbrenner. Damn.

PROBLEM: Both Carlos’s (Carlii?) suck and neither one of them cares Continue reading ‘Ten Reasons the Mets will Finish 10 Games Under .500’

17
Jun
08

Say Goodnight Sweet Prince

By slanch 4 Comments
Categories: Baseball
Tags: , , , , ,

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am obviously satisfied that the Mets finally fired Willie Randolph, but could that franchise look any more dysfunctional after the manner in which they actually let him go? The organization sent out emails at 3:11 am letting media outlets know that Willie Randolph, Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto were all axed. There has to be a better way to have handled this. Do you think that back at the hotel, Omar hid in Willie’s closet and then smothered him with a pillow when he laid down to sleep?

But regardless, Willie, a seemingly classy guy was simply unable to corral this team and make them perform the way they were supposed to. Two years ago they were a base hit away from the World Series, since then, they have gone 122 – 109 which is simply not good enough. They have a $139 million payroll and were expected to be the best team in the NL. As reader Youppi pointed out yesterday, it is not Willie’s fault that players got hurt or have completely slowed down (cough, Delgado) but it is his responsibility to get the team to perform no matter what. This team goes the way Jose Reyes goes, and he hasn’t been going. The only player whom Willie’s constant mismanaging didn’t seem to affect was David Wright. Every few games there were moves that Willie would make that would be questionable. Whether it was even allowing Fernando Tatis to play or the manner he handled the bullpen, it just seemed like Willie was grasping at straws and didn’t have a plan.

I’m not convinced that Jerry Manuel is going to be a long-term answer, but any change is good at this point. What I’m most interested to see is who they hire for pitching coach. Leo Mazzone is still unemployed and, up until his less-than-successful tenure in Baltimore was considered the best pitching coach in the game. Was he product of the fantastic Braves pitchers, or is he really that good? Someone needs to figure out how to make Oliver Perez throw strikes, and Mazzone might just be that guy. If Perez, Mike Pelfrey and John Maine can’t be consistent this team should start booking their October vacations now.

The fact that Omar Minaya handled this situation so poorly though, is just one more example of why Omar Minaya ALSO needs to be handed his walking papers. That he could have done it at the worst possible time, and after forcing the coaches to fly across the country only to get fired in the middle of the night. Completely classless. Omar has managed to arrange a team that is inconsistent, a bench that is unproductive, the highest paid players (again besides David Wright) are all under performing. Ridiculous moves like the signing of Luis Castillo are simply inexcusable. WHY DO YOU SIGN A SECOND BASEMAN WITH BAD KNEES WHOSE GAME IS BASED ON SPEED TO A 4 YEAR CONTRACT IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE HAS KNEE SURGERY!?!?!?!?! Is that not the most idiotic move possible? Now the team is hamstrung at the position. The rotation is struggling, the bullpen is a rollercoaster, Delgado is finished, Beltran (last night excepted) has been not close to what he is supposed to be, Pedro has had one good year. There are very few moves that Minaya has made that have panned out and it is time that he go to. Let’s see if the Wilpons have the brains to do it.

Day one of a new Mets era starts today. Let’s hope it goes well…

16
Jun
08

What Willie Randolph Should Expect Today

By slanch 8 Comments
Categories: Baseball
Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Willie Randolph’s Damoclean adventure seems to be coming to an end, and none too soon.

“These are our coaches today. I think we’re not playing up to our potential. I always leave room to evaluate things.” Those are the less-than-encouraging words of Mets GM Omar Minaya after the Mets split a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers yesterday.

And this is what Willie should expect from Omar later today:

Especially since, according to news reports from the New York Daily News, Omar Minaya has received permission from the owners of the Mets, the Wilpons, to fire Willie and Rick Peterson and to have Jerry Manuel take over as manager.

I just hope the Wilpons saved a little of that firing sauce for Omar Minaya too.

And just to help out the poor Mets fans who have been suffering so recently, here’s some video from when Josh Hamilton, Milton Bradley, Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Ryan Rupe decided to turn the infield tarp into a giant slip-and-slide during the rain delay and of Saturday’s game.

20
May
08

Black is Beautiful, Your Managing is AWFUL

By slanch 4 Comments
Categories: Baseball
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Willie Randolph has been receiving a ton of criticism lately from the Mets faithful, many of whom have been very frustrated and disappointed in his managing. Willie’s poor decision making has been put under a microscope as the team has struggled and looked identical to the one that had the biggest regular season choke in baseball history last season.

With rumors that his head is on the chopping block, the Mets came out on Sunday and bashed the shit out of the ball, winning 11-2, apparently Willie had a fiery speech before the game, both to players and to the reporters. However, during his comments with the reporters he mentioned that he thinks SNY, the Mets owned network, has been portraying him unfairly and presenting him inaccurately.

Why [isn’t] SNY shooting me when I’m ready to go down the dugout clapping my hands and patting guys on the butt, schooling them during the game? I’m on the top step every game. … Why don’t you show that side of me so people can say, ‘Wow, jeez, Willie’s fiery’? … You watch any manager in baseball, you see him look like a bump on the log sitting there. They don’t move, they don’t talk. I’m as animated and as demonstrative and as involved and as intense as any manager in baseball.

First of all, they don’t show those things because they aren’t interesting television, secondly, because the moments that are the toughest, when things go wrong, that’s when leadership matters and most of the time it looks like that word befuddles you.

Willie went on saying he wanted to know why Joe Torre managed in a similar way and wasn’t given the same amount of grief.

“Is it racial?” Randolph asked. “Huh? It smells a little bit.”

Asked directly if he believes black managers are held to different standards than their white counterparts, Randolph said: “I don’t know how to put my finger on it, but I think there’s something there. Herman Edwards did pretty well here and he won a couple of playoff [games], and they were pretty hard on Herm. Isiah [Thomas] didn’t do a great job, but they beat up Isiah pretty good. … I don’t know if people are used to a certain figurehead. There’s something weird about it.

Joe Torre was given a break mainly because he won 4 World Series! So far Willie you’ve managed your teams to one first place division win, two second places and a third. That’s not a record that is impressive. You play with one of the highest payrolls in the league and should do better than that. And the one year you DID win the division your team ended up losing to the worst World Series winners in years in the Cardinals. So, don’t you think that maybe THAT’S where the scrutiny comes from, and why Torre got a break. Also, Torre DIDN’T get a break the last two years did he? The NY Post and other papers, and Steinbrenner himself were all pretty angry and unhappy with Torre’s lackadaisical style, hence them going out and hiring the fiery Joe Girardi.

As for the racial stuff, frankly, that’s fucking bullshit. I have never heard ANYTHING remotely considered a racist comment from Keith (who isn’t smart enough to make a backhanded racist comment), Gary loves the Mets and hates to say ANYTHING negative and Ron is so nice that he never would do anything like that. Further, the reason people are upset is because you do things like pitch Billy Wagner in back-to-back games that are blowouts and non-save situations and then the next day when it actually IS a save situation you pitch him again. Gee, maybe those previous games weren’t the best situation for him… Or maybe it’s when Dusty Baker, your fellow dumb manager, batted his team out of order and instead of waiting until one pitch was thrown, thus getting both the hitter at the plate AND the hitter who was supposed to bat out you instead only got the one out. Or maybe it’s the mishandling of Aaron Heilman who should be starting, or at least tried in that role. Or maybe it’s how Jose Reyes went from the happiest man in baseball into a petulant, unhappy little boy because you don’t handle him carefully enough?

Continue reading ‘Black is Beautiful, Your Managing is AWFUL’

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