Jerry Manuel: A Year in the Life
On the one year anniversary of his appointment, I think the man said it best himself: "I feel like I've been here for 10 years," Jerry Manuel said before the game yesterday.
He was kidding, of course, adding quickly that "time flies when you're having as much fun as I am."
A lot of people are buzzing about David Wright's talking to with Mike Pelfrey, but the real leadership story today is Manuel. Since taking over for Willie Randolph, Manuel has led the Mets to an 88-67 record.
If you're anything like me, the first time you read that stat in the Daily News you had to jump over to the Post to make sure it was accurate. 21 games over .500 since Manuel started?
Between all the bullpen meltdowns last year and the injuries and careless losses this year, it sure feels like the Mets shouldn't be 21 games over .500 for their last 155 games, but sure enough they are.
A lot of people are critical of Uncle Jerry. They don't like his bullpen management or other in-game decisions. I myself have asked where the blame belongs for our mental error-prone team.
But at the end of the day I like Jerry; certainly, I'm a lot happier with him than I was with Willie Randolph (even if I feel that ultimate responsibility for this club's failings sits in the General Manager's office).
Willie was just too defensive for my taste; it wasn't a problem when the Mets were "running roughshod over the National League," but after the collapse in 2007 and the poor start in 2008, there was simply no room for his "I've always been a winner so don't doubt me" demeanor.
The problem was, Willie was never a winner with the Mets. When his teams blew it in 2006 and again in 2007, he still called himself a winner, as if nothing had ever happened. It was completely unrealistic for one thing, but more importantly it was completely incongruous with where the fan base's head was at.
In my opinion we needed a guy like Jerry who challenged his team to consider its failures and try to overcome them. It didn't quite work out in 2008, but here's hoping about 2009.
So here's to Jerry. Criticize his methods all you want but the team's .567 winning percentage during his tenure is pretty shiny, and rather impressive when you consider its shortcomings across 2008 and 2009. Apply it over a 162-game season and you're talking about a 92-win ballclub; I think we'd all take that in 2009.
Now let's go make it 89-67 tonight.
- A.F.O.M.G.
He was kidding, of course, adding quickly that "time flies when you're having as much fun as I am."
A lot of people are buzzing about David Wright's talking to with Mike Pelfrey, but the real leadership story today is Manuel. Since taking over for Willie Randolph, Manuel has led the Mets to an 88-67 record.
If you're anything like me, the first time you read that stat in the Daily News you had to jump over to the Post to make sure it was accurate. 21 games over .500 since Manuel started?Between all the bullpen meltdowns last year and the injuries and careless losses this year, it sure feels like the Mets shouldn't be 21 games over .500 for their last 155 games, but sure enough they are.
A lot of people are critical of Uncle Jerry. They don't like his bullpen management or other in-game decisions. I myself have asked where the blame belongs for our mental error-prone team.
But at the end of the day I like Jerry; certainly, I'm a lot happier with him than I was with Willie Randolph (even if I feel that ultimate responsibility for this club's failings sits in the General Manager's office).
Willie was just too defensive for my taste; it wasn't a problem when the Mets were "running roughshod over the National League," but after the collapse in 2007 and the poor start in 2008, there was simply no room for his "I've always been a winner so don't doubt me" demeanor.
The problem was, Willie was never a winner with the Mets. When his teams blew it in 2006 and again in 2007, he still called himself a winner, as if nothing had ever happened. It was completely unrealistic for one thing, but more importantly it was completely incongruous with where the fan base's head was at.
In my opinion we needed a guy like Jerry who challenged his team to consider its failures and try to overcome them. It didn't quite work out in 2008, but here's hoping about 2009.
So here's to Jerry. Criticize his methods all you want but the team's .567 winning percentage during his tenure is pretty shiny, and rather impressive when you consider its shortcomings across 2008 and 2009. Apply it over a 162-game season and you're talking about a 92-win ballclub; I think we'd all take that in 2009.
Now let's go make it 89-67 tonight.
- A.F.O.M.G.
posted by A Friend of Mr. Glass' at 9:51 AM
1 Comments:
this team is really dumb. Aggressive but dumb. Daniel Murphy is a awkward defensive player at best. Why is his fist balled up each time he attempts to catch a ball? Church will never live down missing an entire base as he ran.Wright's average is such a horrid statistic. His # of Ks are atrocious especially if you have seen how they occur. it looks like he tries to hit EVERY ball into the broadcasters booth. he LEANS and is off balance on 90% of his swings. Beltran is a great defensive player and an average pro hitter(good but not elite). Cora has impressed the hell out of me with the way he plays the game. I had no clue he was so sure handed and had extra base power. Tatis is in a huge rut.Parnell looks like a high school pitcher from the midwest. one pitch .live or die with it. We have to win games with the defense and pitching, we have no real hope unless Reyes comes back and puts together a career year.
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