I just can't believe the Mets. Yes, I believe in them, but do not believe them. If you had told me a month ago that they'd be a half game out of first before the All Star Break, I have said 'please pass the crack pipe'. OK, the bullpen is performing beautifully because the starting pitching is strong. The team is hitting, getting results from former bench warmers such as Tatis, Easley and the Second Mr. Reyes. To me, the most important stat is the lack of fielding errors. There was a time when Mets' errors were routine: now they are infrequent.
Can Jerry Manuel get some of the credit? As my Dad used to say 'to a certain extent yes, to a certain extent, no. Yes, he does seem to do a better job of using all his players, and lets the contract players know that performance trumps contract price. However, I don't think it's quite fair to give him all the credit for the team's relaxed, confident, outlook. Much of the doubt and anxiety was manufactured by a media frenzy: when will Willie Randolph be fired? That frenzy was stoked by certain members of the Mets' front office, who used it to orchestrate one of the most inept firings in Major League Baseball.
After the Monday Night Massacre, the tension around the clubhouse eased, and their play gradually improved. Would Willie Randolph have gotten the same results if there had not been a media circus around the club? Guess we'll never know.
Can Jerry Manuel get some of the credit? As my Dad used to say 'to a certain extent yes, to a certain extent, no. Yes, he does seem to do a better job of using all his players, and lets the contract players know that performance trumps contract price. However, I don't think it's quite fair to give him all the credit for the team's relaxed, confident, outlook. Much of the doubt and anxiety was manufactured by a media frenzy: when will Willie Randolph be fired? That frenzy was stoked by certain members of the Mets' front office, who used it to orchestrate one of the most inept firings in Major League Baseball.
After the Monday Night Massacre, the tension around the clubhouse eased, and their play gradually improved. Would Willie Randolph have gotten the same results if there had not been a media circus around the club? Guess we'll never know.
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