A lot of people are getting very sick of Willie Randolph. That's understandable, as the very expensive Mets are only two games over .500. Here's my issue: I've never seen more fickle fans.
Sunday night and into Monday morning, Mets fans were riding high after taking two of three from the NL leading Diamondbacks. Emotions quickly turned as the Mets dropped the first game against the Dodgers Monday night.
One day he's doing everything right, the next he's in the doghouse again. Make up your minds!
I don't want to come across as some sort of Willie apologist, and I truly understand he is pretty awful at managing a bullpen. People were complaining last night that Randolph used three pitchers in the game. It's not his fault that Oliver Perez threw 95 pitches through six innings and gave up three long balls.
Do you want to keep the game close and have a few pitchers throw or tax a pitcher and have him stay in a game he's already performed poorly in?
Fans just can't seem to make up their minds, as usual. Again, sorry if I sound brash, but it's really just getting silly at this point. Do you want him to stick with a pitcher or have them try and win the game?
Randolph has quickly become the scapegoat, though Rick Peterson is not far behind. I know fans are passionate, because I am one, but until the team starts to tank, could you hold off for a bit? Again, they just took two of three from Arizona. Remember? It wasn't that long ago!!
Give him, and me, a break.
Respectfully disagree. I think people love the franchise, and some of the players (usually the home grown ones) - but Willie was at the helm for The Great Collapse, and somehow continues to get a free pass.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that this is the most criticized "half-game out" (1.5 today) team ever....but I'm just not confident in this manager who has not earned the confidence of the fans.
I agree wholeheartedly, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't Willie's fault that Oliver Perez took the wind of their respective sails last night.
An old baseball adage says, "Momentum is only as good as your next day's starting pitcher." Your team could look great one weekend, but come out flat the next because of who is starting the game.
It's still very early, and we're above .500, so it's not nearly time to panic.
I understand what you're saying, Mets Police. I think that we )as fans) REALLY need to put '07 behind us. It happened, now forget about it. There's nothing we can do.
ReplyDeleteIf the Mets didn't can Willie after the train wreck that last season turned into, they're certainly not going to fire him now. They'll probably give him about 33% of the season and see where they are at that point. I'd be shocked if they made a move this early in the season. What's the point? They might as well have fired him at the end of last season then.
ReplyDeleteI'm still wondering why after last season there wasn't more "criticism" towards Peterson like Willie was getting. I mean, so Willie "manages" the bullpen (and team), but don't you think Peterson is still involved in going to the 'pen? They are "his" pitchers.
ReplyDeleteAnd then all the talk everywhere, blogs, tv, friends etc. about firing Willie...well what are the replacement options? Mazz? Backman? People I'm sure I can't think of? I think it's more than the manager and coaches.
Well put, Julie.
ReplyDeleteAnd exactly. I can't think of any viable options to replace him. Willie is the scapegoat here, plain and simple.