I wrote this column for the May 17 edition of Newsday, and in it, I offfered a solution concerning Willie Randolph's future.
If the Mets couldn't turn their season around in the subsequent three weeks, I wrote, then Omar Minaya should feel justified in firing Randolph.
At the time I wrote that, the Mets were 20-19. Now, they're 30-32. So they went 10-13 during the stretch I described as critical, culminating with yesterday's devastating loss to the meek Padres.
By my May 17 logic, I would be calling for Willie's head right now. But despite the losing record, I feel like the Mets have changed for the better.
Since Randolph's May 26 meeting with the Wilpons, which followed a brutal road trip through Atlanta and Colorado, the Mets are 7-7. They were 7-3 before this weekend's sweep at San Diego.
And the weekend sweep was just weird. Marred by incompetence? Unquestionably. But they lost the four games by a total of five runs, in a ballpark that is so pitcher-friendly it aggravates not only opposing hitters, but the Padres' regulars, as well. I wasn't there, as was our Mets writer David Lennon, but through the TV, at least, I didn't sense apathy. I just sensed a lot of pressing.
Meanwhile, since the Wilpon meeting, the Mets have seen a pair of quality starts from Mike Pelfrey _ he hasn't quite looked like Roy Halladay out there, but he's getting the job done _ and Pedro Martinez has returned, even if yesterday's outing wasn't great. Carlos Delgado might finally be waking up, a little bit. In general, they've played with more life. Even yesterday, they kept building leads for a shaky Pedro, until Billy Wagner blew it all up.
The Mets have to start winning series again, pronto, but if they can quickly establish this past weekend as an aberration, then they have plenty of time to turn it around. They are seven and a half games out of first place (and six and a half games out of the National League wild-card spot), and they have 100 games to play. Perhaps you remember that last year, they blew a seven-game lead with 17 left. So their season is hardly over, and I think if anything, there's less of a case to fire Randolph than there was on May 17.
Meanwhile, Hank's younger brother Hal told Kat O'Brien on Friday that Cashman's future wouldn't be resolved until the end of the season.
And so Hank's role with the Yankees becomes more clear. We, in both the media and the fan base, have to stop pretending that Hank is George II. He doesn't have the power to pull it off. He can't do anything unliaterally. And Hal appears to be far more rational.
So we'll be talking to Hank, and reacting to his reactions. But they must be placed in their proper context. Hank didn't order the shift of Joba Chamberlain from the bullpen to the starting rotation. He couldn't have if he wanted to.
I'm sure the Yankees are now very thankful for their dilemma. Where would they be without these three guys? I was at Saturday's game, in which Damon made history and Giambi crushed yet another homer.
I still don't see how the Yankees bring back Giambi next year, not after all of the agita he has caused (and could still cause, since he could very well be called to testify in next March's Barry Bonds trial). And remember, the Yankees would have gladly traded Matsui to the Giants ths past winter _ it never got to the point where Matsui was asked to waive his no-trade clause _ if the Giants hadn't signed Aaron Rowand and lost interest in Godzilla.
For now, though, in this Yankees season of dual ambitions _ trying to win this year, sort of, but definitely trying to win beyond this year _ they should be relieved that no one took Damon, Giambi or Matsui off their hands.
Comments (15)
Ken - losing four to the Padres (without Young and Peavy) is terrible. The Yanks can claim that this is a development year and tread water hoping for a miracle (so Cashman may be around in 2009 - his decision if he wants to stay) , but the Mets cannot (especially Randolph and Minaya).
The Mets are once again finding ways to lose to inferior teams.
Off to watch Mussina at the stadium and wonder if I throw harder than Moose does despite my 52+ years.....
Ken, the Mets lack 3 things. Heart, grid and most importantly guts. That something the Phillies have, and Mets don't. If the Mets are consider a World Series contender, you cannot get swept by the last place Padres. The Padres best 2 starters, Jake Peavy and Chris Young are on the DL. And their offense stinks, yet the Mets allow them to win 3 2-1 games because their offense can't buy a hit with RISP. And yesterday the Padres hit peas left and right against Pedro, and Wagner spits the bit by giving up a 3 run hone run to Toiny Clark. Bottom line is when the Mets face adversity, they get hit in the mouth, and don't answer. And they are right back to where they were 2 weeks ago.
Joba was better yesterday but didn't get pass the 5th inning. Giese is a guy, I say will be the long man for the Yanks if he keep pitching lik this.
You metion Damon, Giambi, and Matsui. What do all 3 have in common? All 3 are playing for the Yanks, are over 30 years old, and are win now players.
Ken, I meant to compliment you on your Eckstein/Rolen article. Yeah, yeah the stat guys love bashing them, but there is a happy medium between the stats and 'grit' (for lack of a better word).
The Phils are 13 games over .500 (give or take) with Rollins been on the DL, Myers pitching poorly and Howard not hitting. Not sure if the Mets can catch them at this point, especially if those guys get going.
One thing I have wondered is who will be running the Yankees five years from now. Will it be Hank? Will it be Hal? Both? Will the family sell? I think Hal will be despite being the younger. Beware of the quiet guys who sit, watch and control the purse strings.
Dennis, it is folly to say the Mets aren't serious World Series contenders based on one series. The Yankees got swept by the Royals, the worst team in baseball, on May 31-June 2, 2005. Yet they won 95 games that year.
Every Met fan has short memories. Don't you all remember the mess Steve Phillips left to clean up? Him and his fantasy baseball trades left no farm system to speak of and pretty much the worst team in the NL. I'm not saying Omar is good, but I didn't expect then the Mets to even be able to compete for anything until this year. What happened in September last year was awful, but maybe the team overachieved most of the season. This year seems to be more like the way it should be. They have inconsistent pitching, lackadaisical defense, poor fundamentals, not much character, and a lot of age. Three years ago this would be the best (.500) anyone could expect for now. Omar rushed things along and probably needs to win things this year, but he just doesn't have enough there to do it.
Ken, I know there's still plenty of baseball to play, but don't you feel like the Mets should have their eye on the wild card at this point? I know the Mets collapsed late last year, but we shouldn't use that against the Phillies, who have proven to be a tough, resilient team (after all, the Phillies had to win to make that collapse truly come about).
The Phillies are a bit of a weird team, since their pitching isn't really great, but I can't see them just flat-out falling apart.
Last year John Flaherty said that the Yankees couldn't consider themselves a playoff team until they got to .500. That's true of all teams, and the Mets, too.
They got decent pitching in San Diego, but they made bad errors again, and Wagner really sucked the life out of them with that home run.
And by the way, someone needs to put Keith Hernandez out of his misery... the guy is whining at an alarming level during the games.
Off to watch Mussina at the stadium and wonder if I throw harder than Moose does despite my 52+ years.....
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Pretty harsh comment from an ex-pitcher, Bob. Moose threw hard back in the day, when he was younger and before his various minor injuries. But I guess if he's ever feeling a bit insecure, he can pull out his 250+ wins.
baileywalk, the only point I was trying to make was, it's early. I agree, this year's Phillies don't seem like a collapse candidate. But with 97 games left (and the Mets 100), the Mets could go 61-39, and the Phillies could go 51-46, and the Mets would win the division.
On this date last year, neither league's eventual wild-card winner (Yankees and Rockies) had a winning record. Neither did the Cubs, and the Phillies were 32-30. So, so much can happen before we're all done.
For the most part, unlike the last 2 or 3 seasons, Moose is avoiding the one bad inning he has every game. I don't know why he had them, but I always expected it and he almost never let me down. Plus it seems like his velocity went up a bit this season as compared to last year he's consistently in the mid to higher 80s this season.
Ken, Moose seem to taken a page from Glavine and change his appoach. Moose realize that he can't be the same pitcher like he was 10 years ago, so he ulter his appoach to pitching. I doubt Moose will pitch like this the rest of the season, but any win I get out of Moose I'll take as a Yankees fan.
The Mets need to play better, that's the bottom line. Just like the Yanks, the Mets need to worry about themseleves, not eveybody else. The Mets screw up the Church situation. What they should have done is send Church back to New York instead of Colorado. Have Church be examined by your doctors and put him on the DL. Instead the Mets let him play a little, and it has gotten much worse.
Dennis, I guess even a broken clock is right twice a day, as I agree with you on Church.
Bwalk: It was not an attempt to demean Mussina and a Hall of the Very Good career, just an observation about the lack of speed. He was about 85-86 on the gun today. But his arm had more life than Jeter's bat.
Ken, you are right about Cashman's plan and how it very well could pay longterm dividends. Melancon is looking really good. Alan Horne fanned 7 in four innings the other day and gave up one earned run. Austin Jackson is steadily improving. I like what JB Cox is doing, too. Even Chase Wright has thrown well (although he is currently on the 7 day DL.) I think the Yankees are going to be fine longterm.
Ken - Thank goodness I was coaching Little League all day Sunday and didn't read your Eckstein comments. I would have spent the whole day in front of the computer trying to come up with semi-witty posts.
Dennis - The Mets lack more than three things and they have nothing to do with the heart, grid (???) and guts.
Let's start with
1. A first baseman
2. A left fielder
3. A second baseman
4. A bench.