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John Harper Finally Gives His Approval

metirish Sep 04 2008 07:15 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 04 2008 02:35 PM

Harper is a hack , anyway a few interesting quotes in here from Tony B. ] Without Willie Randolph, Mets make sweeping changes Thursday, September 4th 2008, 12:08 AM MILWAUKEE - The subject of Willie Randolph was raised indirectly, although not incidentally, here Wednesday by Mets VP Tony Bernazard. He was touting Carlos Delgado as a legitimate MVP candidate, ticking off the usual reasons - mechanics, confidence - for his stunning resurgence, when he offered this telling tidbit: "The other thing," said Bernazard, "is that maybe it has something to do with the new people running the team." He didn't refer specifically to either Randolph or Jerry Manuel, but with that one sentence, Bernazard may as well have declared: "See? We were right." Bernazard still won't say so publicly, but it's clear in conversation with him about the state of the ballclub that he felt Randolph had to go, perhaps felt more strongly about the need for a change than anyone in the organization. And even though the Mets can never defend GM Omar Minaya's clumsy, insensitive handling of the firing, you can't argue these days with the idea that indeed the front office was right. This sweep of the Brewers, a team the Mets could face in the first round of the NL playoffs, served as punctuation of sorts to their dramatic transformation from moping underachievers to hungry, confident winners that has taken place since Randolph's firing on June17. With Wednesday's 9-2 victory, built mostly on Ryan Church's first-inning grand slam and Oliver Perez's continued development, the Mets are 45-26 under Manuel, playing with the look of a championship-caliber ballclub for the first time since early 2007. It's possible September will yet be cruel to them again and the Phillies will deny them a playoff spot once more, but you surely wouldn't bet on it the way the Mets are going, especially after this 6-2 road trip against the Phillies, Marlins and Brewers. So for whatever reason, whether they needed to change leadership to shake off the effects of last September's collapse, or the new manager has made some personal impact on players such as Delgado and Jose Reyes, the Manuel Mets barely resemble the Randolph Mets. Bernazard feels it's no coincidence. Although he avoided specific discussion of Randolph, his praise of Manuel seemed to be a commentary on the old manager as well. "You have to have the pulse of the team," Bernazard said. "You have to be prepared and you have to communicate with your players. Jerry does all of that." No player seemingly has benefited more from change than Delgado. His return to form as a feared slugger, after looking ready for retirement early in the season, already had been so remarkable you couldn't help but wonder if he was somehow lacking motivation under Randolph. Bernazard now has added to such speculation with his suggestion that the change in managers could be a factor in Delgado's renaissance. He wouldn't go into detail, but did make something of a cryptic comment that seemed critical of Randolph's managing. "Delgado is such a student of the game," said Bernazard. "If you're running a good game, he knows. When you're running a bad game, he knows." Delgado wasn't going anywhere near such talk. He insisted Wednesday that he didn't have a problem with Randolph, although he did acknowledge that the post-firing atmosphere under Manuel has been good for everyone. "In a more relaxed atmosphere you're going to do better," said Delgado. "But I didn't have a problem with Willie. I played my heart out for him. And it's not like I would embarrass myself by playing bad even if I didn't like the manager. "If I didn't make the adjustments I made at the plate, I wouldn't be getting hits for Jerry, either." Likewise Reyes, who seemed to be unfocused early in the season when he was making 12 errors by July2 (he has only three since) as well as some boneheaded baserunning mistakes, said his own return to being a dynamic player has nothing to do with Randolph - even if he does light up at the mention of Manuel. "Jerry comes and talks to me every day," Reyes said. "It makes me feel good. I have a lot of respect for that guy. I want to play harder for him." Not harder than he did for Randolph, Reyes was quick to add. It's hard to know exactly what Randolph did or didn't do, in terms of preparation and communication, but it's plain to see that Manuel continues to be more comfortable with media scrutiny, more open about his decision-making, so it's not unrealistic to think some of that carries over into relationships in the clubhouse. The bottom line is performance, and this is a team that suddenly seems to have big plans for October. Eleven weeks later, it's hard to imagine the Mets playing at this level if they hadn't changed managers.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 04 2008 07:21 AM

John Harper wrote: The bottom line is performance, and this is a team that suddenly seems to have big plans for October. Eleven weeks later, it's hard to imagine the Mets playing at this level if they hadn't changed managers. I do agree with this.

AG/DC Sep 04 2008 07:39 AM Re: John Harper Finally Gives His Approval Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 04 2008 07:43 AM

John the Harpist wrote: And even though the Mets can never defend GM Omar Minaya's clumsy, insensitive handling of the firing.... And I don't agree with this. ="Juan Arpista"]It's hard to know exactly what Randolph did or didn't do, in terms of preparation and communication... .... but I was able roll out 793 words on the subject.

Fman99 Sep 04 2008 07:41 AM

Bernazard should just shut up. Not that he's right or wrong, but Randolph is gone. Why must this shit get rehashed months later?

AG/DC Sep 04 2008 07:44 AM

Bernazard didn't actually say anything about Randolph.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Sep 04 2008 08:01 AM

Bernazard got bludgeoned about a billion times by guys like Harper relaying quotes by "a Met official" who sounded suspiciously like Randolph. Here he and Reyes and Delgado are all aattatching their names to what to me comes off as honest evaluations. And to borrow a line from Harper, the News can never defend its hysterical COWARDS IN THE NIGHT series of 5 consecutive front pages over the Willie firing. The other night in fact I was starting my charcoal chiminy with the issue of the Snooze where Willie had his bylined front pager. It's hard to believe how clueless he was, and how willing the News was to toe his line.

SteveJRogers Sep 04 2008 09:56 AM

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"] And to borrow a line from Harper, the News can never defend its hysterical COWARDS IN THE NIGHT series of 5 consecutive front pages over the Willie firing. The other night in fact I was starting my charcoal chiminy with the issue of the Snooze where Willie had his bylined front pager. It's hard to believe how clueless he was, and how willing the News was to toe his line. Might as well call it the Daily Yankees considering how much they, with the exception of Lupica, seem to be in the Yankee pockets.

Valadius Sep 04 2008 01:13 PM

I'm sorry, I can't see the name Tony Bernazard without the phrase "street Spanish" popping up in my head, which causes me to burst out laughing.

TheOldMole Sep 04 2008 02:35 PM

With me, it's the phrase "slithering henchman." I still want one.

metirish Sep 04 2008 02:37 PM

Yeah it those but lately I think "scouted Daniel Murphy" when I see Bernazard's name.

AG/DC Sep 04 2008 02:59 PM

Fuck yeah. Can we let the demonization end now? You know, landing only Martinez and Beltran during the 2004-2005 shopping spree wasn't so bad. You know we got Beltran when the Yankees got Johnny Damon? Think on that some sleepless night.

G-Fafif Sep 04 2008 03:24 PM

="AG/DC"]Fuck yeah. Can we let the demonization end now? You know, landing only Martinez and Beltran during the 2004-2005 shopping spree wasn't so bad. You know we got Beltran when the Yankees got Johnny Damon? Think on that some sleepless night. One year before they got Damon, actually. But in the great historical sweep, they are New York contemporaries.

G-Fafif Sep 04 2008 03:26 PM Warren Spahn, Batboy Nemesis

Fun [url=http://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1118239.html]video[/url] to check out from Bronx Banter's Giantspalooza concerning future former Met Warren Spahn and the hired help. Meant to put this in a separate thread. But if it helps matters, John Harper is a hack.

seawolf17 Sep 06 2008 01:27 PM

But Tony Bernazard and I go way back.

themetfairy Sep 06 2008 01:32 PM

Do they teach Street Spanish in Smithtown?

TheOldMole Sep 06 2008 01:42 PM

G-Faf - who's the guy being interviewed?

metirish Sep 06 2008 01:44 PM

="seawolf17"]But Tony Bernazard and I go way back. Great picture , what year , 1984/85/86 or 87?

AG/DC Sep 06 2008 02:13 PM

I'm pretty sure it's nineteen-eighty awesome.

seawolf17 Sep 06 2008 06:04 PM

Hmm. I'd guess it's 1987ish. I was there two summers, either 1986-1987 or 1987-1988. (Whichever was Craig Biggio's last year coaching was my first year there.) One year was Terry Leach, the other Tony Bernazard. That's my Sid Fernandez hat, which he signed under the bill.