Die Hard Sports Fan

So Willie managed to make it through the weekend after the Mets won the series against the Rangers two games to one.  Now the Mets are in Cali to take on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or something like that.  Not really sure what that means…lol.  That would be like the New York Jets of East Ruthersford.  No matter how you slice it or dice it, it just sounds dumb.  The Angels went from representing the state to representing Anaheim to representing L.A. and Anaheim in my lifetime.  Who knows what they did prior to that.  Anyway, here’s the pitching probables for the series.

• 06/16/2008 - Mike Pelfrey (2-6) - Jered Weaver (6-6)
• 06/17/2008 - Johan Santana (7-4) - John Lackey (3-1)
• 06/18/2008 - Oliver Perez (5-4) - Jon Garland (6-4)

Mets.com:

Mets heave sigh of relief with split - Marty Noble summarized the second Rangers-Mets game yesterday.

Team cycle becoming a factor for Mets - Jon Blau wrote up a pregame analysis for tonight’s game between the Angels and the Mets.

Late-inning heroics not enough - Jon Blau summarized the first Rangers-Mets game yesterday.

Church itching to be back with Mets - Ryan Church stated, “It’s progressing every day, it’s getting better. I haven’t had any spells or anything like that. It’s just one of those things now, waiting out time on the DL.”

Newsday:

Willie deserves better from Jeff Wilpon - Wallace Matthews wrote that,

No one with the Mets has told Randolph he’s in trouble, not to his face, anyway. He must read it in the papers, leaked through Wilpon’s media lapdogs, hear it on the radio, discern it in the lukewarm votes of confidence from his general manager and the ominous inaccessibility of his bosses.

Randolph gets on plane, going day to day - Mark Herrmann pointed out that,

Minaya was asked by reporters if Randolph and the coaching staff will be working when the team plays the Angels in Anaheim, Calif., tonight, and gave only this vague response: “Willie is our manager. That situation is always under evaluation.”

When he was pressed again about the manager and the coaches, Minaya kept repeating the same basic theme. “You know my feelings on it,” he said. “I think we’re not playing to our potential and I would like to leave myself room to evaluate these things.”

Nine years since last hit, Cancel gets a big one - Katie Strang covered Robinson Cancel’s big pinch hit two-run single off Texas starter Kason Gabbard to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning.  Strang also pointed out, “Before his at-bat, fans were chanting Martinez’s name in hopes he’d get another at-bat during his first home start of the season, but fortunately for embattled Mets manager Willie Randolph, he did not oblige.”  That was a gutsy move by Willie, and he’s lucky it worked out.

New York Daily News:

Rick Peterson, Tom Nieto facing ax but Willie Randolph safe - for now - Adam Rubin wrote,

Sources have told the Daily News that principal owner Fred Wilpon and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon have authorized Minaya to make the call on whether to fire Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. Bench coach Jerry Manuel would ascend to manager if Randolph is ousted, while Triple-A New Orleans manager Ken Oberkfell and pitching coach Dan Warthen would join the major league staff.

A team insider speculated that Randolph could survive a first round of firings, saying: “I think the coaches are in trouble. That may be the compromise for now.”

I have no idea how firing the first base coach is going to get this team rolling.  Minaya has to realize that his players are the problem.

Mets bullpen finds a way to save face in second game vs. Rangers

Slow-footed Brian Schneider easily out at the plate - Now that was some poor base running by Brian Schneider.

Brooklyn Cyclones & Staten Island Yankees get farms up & runnin’

The Star-Ledger:

Hola from the OC

Monday Morning Mets Thoughts

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Die Hard Mets Fan would like to wish all of you a Happy Father’s Day.  So the Mets get to play twice on Father’s Day as a result of last night’s rainout.  I guess most of them won’t get to see their families unless they brought them to Shea.  The Mets are getting rocked 8-2 right now in the Top of the 8th.  Maine only gave up 3 runs until he got beat up in the 7th.  Hopefully the second game will be much better than this one.

Mets.com:

Pedro’s return parade rained on - Jon Blau reported that, “Saturday night’s game between the Rangers and Mets was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 1:10 p.m. ET. Tickets for Saturday night’s game will not be honored at either of Sunday’s games, but can be used for any other game during the 2008 season — depending on availability.”

Nixon’s debut to come during twin bill - Marty Noble put together a pregame analysis for both of today’s games between the Rangers and the Mets.

An off-day not on Wright’s mind

Newsday:

Nixon arrives, but role on Mets up in the air

Drug secret helped Mets get Keith Hernandez - Steven Marcus pointed out that on,

The 25th anniversary of the most significant trade in Mets history includes a historic footnote. It might never have occurred if the Mets’ front office knew why the Cardinals were unloading Keith Hernandez.

Years before he became a central piece of the 1986 world champion Mets and gained iconic status in team history, Hernandez abused cocaine, an issue not publicly confirmed until Hernandez and several other players testified in the 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials.

I highly recommend that you read the entire article.

Ex-Met Backman has had one wild ride of late - Ken Davidoff ponders, “As Willie Randolph writhes on the Mets’ skillet, his job in serious jeopardy, it’s interesting to wonder whether Backman would be a candidate to replace him had he made different choices - and whether the Mets should give him a job somewhere in their organization now.”

Minaya’s full autonomy more like fool autonomy - Shaun Powell believes that Omar Minaya doesn’t want to fire Willie Randolph because that’s the manager he hired.  Powell thinks that the Wilpons do want to fire Willie.  Since Omar received full autonomy upon taking over, he would be acting as a puppet if he had to pull the trigger.

Schedule has been brutal to Mets

Randolph hanging on as Mets manager for now - David Lennon and Ken Davidoff wrote, “A person familiar with the situation said late Saturday that Randolph was not likely to be fired on Father’s Day and would be on board the team’s charter to Anaheim, Calif., later Sunday night. But the Mets are still seriously considering a plan to fire Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson in a last-ditch effort to revive this underachieving team.”

New York Daily News:

Rangers soak it all in at Shea - Roger Rubin explained that, “Five members of the Rangers starting lineup and a relief pitcher put on a show for Mets fans Saturday night at Shea and also showed New York what a team having fun looks like. After finding out the game had been postponed due to rain - it will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader beginning today at 1 p.m. - they made the drenched tarp on the field their personal Slip ‘N Slide before exiting to chants of “Let’s go Rangers!”  The article contains pictures of the 5 Rangers sliding on the tarp, and it pretty funny.

Mets show interest in Rockies’ Brian Fuentes, but deal not close

New York Post:

NEVER MORE POPULAR, HERNANDEZ IS THE REAL MR. MET

25 BEST MOMENTS AT SHEA: NO. 15 - “The Mets seemed destined for the World Series in 2006 until they were cut down by the underdog Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. The series went to a decisive Game 7 at Shea Stadium, the first Game 7 there since the 1986 World Series.”  That was depressing.  It was like the MC pressed a mute button as soon as Beltran watched the called strike three go over the plate.

SERBY’S SUNDAY Q&A WITH… Tom Seaver.

The Star-Ledger:

The beginning of a long (and potentially longer) day - Colin Stephenson provided the lineup for the first Rangers-Mets game of today’s double header.

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Tonights game between the Rangers and the Mets was postponed due to the rain and thunderstorms.  That sucks, I was all pumped up and ready to watch it.  It began raining lightly a few hours ago, and then it kept getting heavier.  The thunder has been really loud at times.  Instead, SNY is airing a game between the Dodgers and the Mets that took place on 5/07/1991.

Mets.com:

Perez poised in much-needed victory - Anthony DiComo summarized last night’s Rangers-Mets game.

Team player Anderson gives reminder - Jon Blau wrote up a pregame summary for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Mets.

Mets ink first rounder Havens to deal - Jon Blau reported that Reese Havens and Brad Holt each signed contracts with the Mets yesterday.  Havens was the 22nd overall pick in this year’s First-Year Player Draft.  Holt was the 33rd pick in the Draft.

Willie focusing on job at hand - Willie said, “I can’t control what’s said or written. I just come to work ready to go. The nights are a little tougher to sleep, and you get up every morning ready to come out and try to find a way to do something to help the team win. It’s been really bizarre.”  Omar said, Willie has my support. I believe that he’s going to get us to play better. I have full confidence that he’s doing everything he can.”

Alou reluctantly returns to disabled list - As expected, Anthony DiComo reported that the Mets officially placed Moises Alou back on the disabled list Friday with a strained left calf.  DiComo also mentioned that the Metsies recalled Robinson Cancel from Triple-A New Orleans to take Alou’s roster spot.

Newsday:

It might be best for all to fire Randolph - Ken Davidoff says that, “there’s only one potentially high-impact move to make, and that’s firing Randolph and replacing him with Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel. And the Mets could do that as soon as Saturday.”  I strongly disagree with Ken here because I don’t think that Manuel is the answer like I said yesterday.

THIS DAY AT THE OLD BALLPARK - Newsday lets us know what took place at Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium on June 14 of a year in the past.  “June 14, 1997, at Shea Stadium: Mark Clark pitched seven strong innings and hit a home run off Tim Wakefield as the Mets defeated the Red Sox, 5-2.”

New York Daily News:

Mets are focusing on wins, not manager Willie Randolph

The Star-Ledger:

Saturday Morning Willie Thoughts

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So pretty much everybody in New York knows that John Heyman of SI.com broke the story about how Willie could be run out of Flushing in the very near future, but not as soon as today.  Heyman stated the same thing on WFAN a few hours ago, and on the Mets pregame show on SNY.  Here’s part of the article:

Willie Randolph’s status as Mets manager is extremely tenuous now. General manager Omar Minaya is seriously considering changing managers and at least a couple of the team’s coaches, sources told SI.com. A Mets official indicated that nothing was expected to be decided today regarding Randolph’s status. But that doesn’t preclude something from happening later this weekend. Sources indicate his hold on the job is shaky, at best. Should Randolph be fired, bench coach Jerry Manuel will take over, sources told SI.com.

Personally, I don’t know how Jerry Manuel is going to do.  I’m not really a fan of his.  If the Mets really fire Willie then this Manuel dude is one of the last guys that I want to manage the Mets.  I would prefer that they kept Randolph over Manuel and got rid of everybody on the team except Santana and Wright.  Clean house Omar.  Accept the fact that you do not have a championship caliber team, and so you can fix the problem.  In case Omar ever finds Die Hard Mets Fan, our vote is for Bobby V. of course!

Mets.com:

Yanks-Mets set makeup date for June 27 - The intra-city rivals will meet at Yankee Stadium for a 2:05 p.m. ET game on Friday, June 27, and then face off in the nightcap at Shea Stadium at 8:10 p.m. ET. The original game was to be played on May 16. Schneider playing for Dad every day Mets hope turnaround starts vs. Rangers - Jon Blau wrote up a pregame analysis for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Mets.

Newsday:

Wagner blows another save as Mets fall to D-Backs - Mark Herrmann summarized yesterday’s Diamondbacks-Mets game. Mets needing big change could cost Randolph job Could Mets hitting coach Johnson take the fall?

New York Daily News:

Sources: Willie Randolph’s tenure as Mets manager in grave danger - Adam Rubin wrote, “Willie Randolph’s tenure as Mets manager is in grave danger of ending this weekend, sources tell the Daily News. It’s believed that bench coach Jerry Manuel would succeed Randolph if the manager is fired. Randolph has a four-year record of 299-252 with the Mets.”  Manuel is going to be worse than Randolph, but maybe it will work.  Something has to work. After this spell, any positive thinking would be a relief for Mets Billy Wagner is the least of Willie Randolph’s worries In ninth, Mets find bad luck is catching Johan Santana keeps his cool after win is taken away Moises Alou likely returning to DL

New York Post:

SNAKE-BIT BILLY A BUST AGAIN - Mike Puma wrote up a game summary about yesterday’s D-Backs-Mets game. WAGS CARES, BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH SANTANA’S GEM GOES FOR NAUGHT ALOU MAY BE HEADED FOR THIRD STINT ON DL WAGNER BLOWS IT AGAIN IN 5-4 LOSS

The Star-Ledger:

Willie’s Warm Seat - Dan Graziano examines the Mets managerial position from all angles. Willie still manager…for now SI: Willie still on hot seat Mets can’t close out Diamondbacks Alou (calf) likely DL-bound again

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