Gammons Sympathetic Take on the Mets

Hojo of 1991 · 05-27-2008, 12:06 PM

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But there is so much we don't know because Randolph internalizes so much. We don't know why Carlos Beltran sometimes plays as if he's lost, or why Jose Reyes pressures himself out of focus, or if the Mets do the things they do because of overrated talent or underappreciation of the expectations that any big East Coast market presents. We don't know the extent of misunderstandings on different levels of Shea Stadium. We know only that the Wilpons and GM Omar Minaya do not want to blame everything on a man who has represented dignity and championships before this managing job, one who endured a 2007 collapse that has left him scarred by a public asterisk.

We don't know what the Wilpons -- who once saw the Bobby Valentine/Steve Phillips chasm freeze-frame their franchise -- can do here, or if a Pedro Martinez comeback will restore the real Jose Reyes and give the Mets back their swagger. We don't know what it's like to be a Latin player and hear that there are too many Latins in the clubhouse.

We don't know what it's like to wake up every day knowing the fans and the media are speculating that that day's game represents Randolph's future. Or what it's like for his family to sit in the stands, listening to the hailstorms of anger and ridicule. Most of us don't know the needles of subtle and sometimes overt racism and how it plays; we know it still permeates society, be it a presidential candidate playing the "hard-working white" card to win at all costs, or the shock jocks of the electronic media. We know only that Randolph was forced to apologize after what crossed his mind squeaked out to Ian O'Connor of the Bergen Record.

OK, Randolph let it out once since September. Similar words never came out of Ron Washington, who at the end of April was being hatcheted in Texas and has managed the rising Rangers to a 16-9 record in May, developing what may be long-term all-stars his general manager acquired in center field and behind the plate.

There is clearly something wrong with the Mets. Age is a problem in left field, at second base and at first base. Losing Ryan Church to post-concussion syndrome is crushing. Mike Pelfrey hasn't been able to do what the Angels, Red Sox and White Sox young starters have done, and the bullpen at times has been a minefield. While the Mets should be better than the 77-83 team they've been since last May, we should know by now that they're clearly not more talented than the Braves and Phillies and even the Marlins. They're not so much better that it's as simple as replacing Randolph with Jerry Manuel or Jim Fregosi or Joey Cora.

Some like to blame Carlos Delgado for not being Thurman Munson. Delgado will never be a baseball evangelist, just a fair, socially responsible man who never self-promotes. Recently, he apologized to Billy Wagner for Wagner being left in a media storm (even though a family emergency forced Carlos to leave the park), he helped Randolph and Rick Peterson guide Ramon Castro through an experience with a new pitcher, and he pulled Reyes aside on the field during a pitching change to exact his focus. But somehow Delgado's bat speed and character have become blurred lines in the case of a very decent man.

Maybe Minaya needs to blow something up, like trading Beltran, cash and pieces to a smaller media market and bringing back a package with Alex Rios and A.J. Burnett. Maybe Martinez will revitalize them. Minaya tried to sign David Eckstein last winter. Maybe a Scott Hatteberg, Kevin Millar or Ryan Freel would change the mix.

In many ways, the Wilpons and Minaya all accepted some responsibility for what's happened since last May -- how they all rode shotgun down the avalanche in September, how nothing has changed. What they don't seem to know is what role Randolph's managing plays in all this or who is the right person at this point to change it.

Remember, last May when the Mets swept the Yankees, there were cries for the heads of Joe Torre and Brian Cashman, and the Yankess stormed back into the playoffs. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf never wavered in his support for Ozzie Guillen when they finished last, and now they're in first. Washington was treated as if he lacked the necessities on May 1, and now the Rangers are one of the most interesting teams going.

It's likely the music for the Monday meeting at Shea was Bob Dylan's "Let's Keep It Between Us":

Backseat drivers don't know the feel of the wheel,
but they sure know how to make a fuss.

Tony La Russa knows that line because he used to have a sign with it in his office. Solutions with the gold stamp of accountability aren't as simple as clubhouse meetings or not bringing in Pedro Feliciano to face Luis Gonzalez. And no one on the Mets has called up WFAN with the solution.

graves9 · 05-27-2008, 12:10 PM

Now that Gammons has praised Delgado his family will be safely returned to him without having to pay a ransom.

Fonzy13 · 05-27-2008, 12:13 PM

"Maybe Minaya needs to blow something up, like trading Beltran, cash and pieces to a smaller media market and bringing back a package with Alex Rios and A.J. Burnett. Maybe Martinez will revitalize them. Minaya tried to sign David Eckstein last winter. Maybe a Scott Hatteberg, Kevin Millar or Ryan Freel would change the mix."

What a pathetic article. No offense, Peter, but those aren't really Omar's kind of guys.

Busyman · 05-27-2008, 12:17 PM

So basically, it's the racist media and racist fans fault. Yawn.

graves9 · 05-27-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Busyman

So basically, it's the racist media and racist fans fault. Yawn.

At least he didn't call us dog beaters.

Busyman · 05-27-2008, 12:20 PM

And don't give me the "accepted responsibility" crap. The mantra of the team the entire off-season was "Two bad weeks", and this year it's been the same "It's early" bullsh!t.

A$$hole from El Paso · 05-27-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

No offense, Peter, but those aren't really Omar's kind of guys.

He did suggest Alex Rios

Fonzy13 · 05-27-2008, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A$$hole from El Paso

He did suggest Alex Rios

You just gained a point in my book. I didn't think you could read.

Paulie Cee · 05-27-2008, 12:57 PM

Boy, I never realized what a complete jackass Peter Gammons was. To blame the Mets crappiness on the expectations from Pelfrey or Church is beyond laughable. What a f*cking hack.

Shastada · 05-27-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

we should know by now that they're clearly not more talented than the Braves and Phillies and even the Marlins.

Wow... What a dumb ass thing to say. The Mets have by FAR more talent than these teams (except maybe the Phillies). We don't suck because of lack of talent. We suck because everyone has magically disappeared and stopped performing. Why do these things happen? Why does he think changing managers isn't a good way to fix it? This is a trash piece that doesn't even make sense. Come on gammons, have you completely lost it?

Migs · 05-27-2008, 01:17 PM

What is this talk of subtle racism, in regard to Willie? I don't want to hear any justification of that nonsense he was spouting last week. It was stupid and completely oblivious to the fact that Willie sucks because he can't manage, not because of his ebony exterior.

I love Gammons, but that article wasn't his best.

Paulie Cee · 05-27-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Migs

What is this talk of subtle racism, in regard to Willie? I don't want to hear any justification of that nonsense he was spouting last week. It was stupid and completely oblivious to the fact that Willie sucks because he can't manage, not because of his ebony exterior.

I love Gammons, but that article wasn't his best.

Nah, Gammons was right on. It's Hillary Clinton's fault that the Mets suck.

Migs · 05-27-2008, 01:24 PM

It was like Bonds talk of chasing records while facing racism from all sides. Like Henry Aaron was Grand Wizard of the KKK.

Bensonhurst Mike · 05-27-2008, 02:06 PM

Gammons is a tool. I stopped reading his columns years ago.

joshuahist · 05-27-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bensonhurst Mike

Gammons is a tool. I stopped reading his columns years ago.

If its not an article praising everything in his beloved Red Sox land, its how the mets suck. We got a nice reprieve for a year in Pedro's first year here, but that was because Gammons was pissed that the Red Sox let him go in the first place.

Gammons has turned into that crotchety old man that yearns for the good old days...

05-27-2008, 12:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
graves9 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hard at work Posts: 5,466	Now that Gammons has praised Delgado his family will be safely returned to him without having to pay a ransom. Last edited by graves9 : 05-27-2008 at 12:18 PM.

05-27-2008, 12:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fonzy13 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: WAF Supreme Commander Posts: 3,576	"Maybe Minaya needs to blow something up, like trading Beltran, cash and pieces to a smaller media market and bringing back a package with Alex Rios and A.J. Burnett. Maybe Martinez will revitalize them. Minaya tried to sign David Eckstein last winter. Maybe a Scott Hatteberg, Kevin Millar or Ryan Freel would change the mix." What a pathetic article. No offense, Peter, but those aren't really Omar's kind of guys. __________________ We Are **ed! (WAF) The WAF Pledge of Allegiance** Under water grottos, caverns Filled with apes That eat figs. Stepping on the figs That the apes Eat, they crunch. The apes howl, bare Their fangs, dance . . Yes. We. Do.

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05-27-2008, 12:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
Paulie Cee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Well, we'll know in a month, you miserable shitstain. Posts: 5,926	Boy, I never realized what a complete jackass Peter Gammons was. To blame the Mets crappiness on the expectations from Pelfrey or Church is beyond laughable. What a f*cking hack.

05-27-2008, 01:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
Migs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 154	What is this talk of subtle racism, in regard to Willie? I don't want to hear any justification of that nonsense he was spouting last week. It was stupid and completely oblivious to the fact that Willie sucks because he can't manage, not because of his ebony exterior. I love Gammons, but that article wasn't his best.

05-27-2008, 01:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
Migs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 154	It was like Bonds talk of chasing records while facing racism from all sides. Like Henry Aaron was Grand Wizard of the KKK.

05-27-2008, 02:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Bensonhurst Mike Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Big Apple Posts: 32	Gammons is a tool. I stopped reading his columns years ago.

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