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Characteristic of the New Regime

AG/DC Jun 23 2008 12:09 PM

Anybody picking up any traits the characterize the Jerry Manuel era, please designate them here: The New Looseness: While Willie Randoph seemed careful and defensive with the media, and publickly kicked himself more than once for allowing a stupid comment about racial double standards to pass his lips, Manuel seems to have a Bobby Valentine-like flippancy that'll clearly burn him more than once, but at least puts the spotlight on him, so they don't have to go running to divisive loudmouths like Paul LoDuca or Billy Wagner. The Handoff Brigade: It's been reported, but below the radar. On Friday, when Manuel was pulling John Maine from a start mid-ining, he asked Maine to stay on the mound to personally give the ball to Joe Smith, and then to walk off with him. Manuel says that it was just meant to be a one-time expression of encouragement for Smith. But the next day, Pedro Martiniez stuck around to personally hand the ball off to Claudio Vargas. The trend continued, because, as Manuel said, if Pedro does something, everybody will do it. Tat's All, Folks: No outfield starts for Fernando Tatis in the Jerry Manuel era. Yeah, Jerry had the privilege of taking over a few days after the acquisiiton of Trot Nixon, but he has continued to run Marlon Anderson out there. Veterans' Priveleges Rescinded: When Trot Nixon trotted into the Mets outfield, Willie played him in right, the position he played for the majority of his major league career, despite having the defensively superior Endy Chavez in left. There was no tactical need for this deference as Nixon had been playing left in the minors this season. Jerry's now playing Chavez in right over Nixon, and Nixon in right over Anderson. That seems eminently sensible. Riding Blue: The Angels' broadcast had mics picking up a lot of funny things, including drunkssitting near the booth screaming nonsense. But they also picked up a lot of chatter on the field. After a dubious ball/strike call, something uninttelligible came out of the dugout, and the home plate ump took of his mask turned toward the duout and held up his finger. Unusually, what he yelled back was clear: "That's twice now, Jerry! Don't push me!" It's hard to imagine such an exchange happening under Willie (even if the mics generally picked the umps up, which they don't*). And this was only Manuel's second game. * Why don't we get more of the onfield chatter picked up? I demand this change.

metirish Jun 23 2008 12:15 PM

Apparently the handoff with Maine happened becasue Manuel felt John was pissed at the umpire and he wanted to keep him on the mound to cool off , Pedro followed the next day and the rest is history. From what I have seen and heard so far things with Manuel seem to be more defined.

G-Fafif Jun 23 2008 12:17 PM

Friday night's dugout was as happy as I'd seen a Met dugout all year. Lots of laughing, skipping back and forth (OK, maybe not skipping, but ebullient striding), general camaraderie shining through. Mets won games earlier in the season. It never looked like that. Extension, perhaps, of the handing off of the ball, or perhaps just Pedro showing why he's Pedro: He's sitting in the dugout Saturday, head hung, lost in thoughts of (presumably) where it all went when Claudio Vargas walks by. Pedro snaps out of his misery long enough to slap Vargas on the fanny. It was long after Pedro was lifted. Just a tiny bit of leadership (or perhaps an ass fetish) on display there. I wasn't surprised to hear Dan Warthen wants Pedro to act as player-pitching coach. Not sure if it's chicken or egg here, but good to see and I don't remember seeing a lot of it before.

Fman99 Jun 23 2008 12:23 PM Re: Characteristic of the New Regime

AG/DC wrote: Riding Blue: The Angels' broadcast had mics picking up a lot of funny things, including drunkssitting near the booth screaming nonsense. But they also picked up a lot of chatter on the field. After a dubious ball/strike call, something uninttelligible came out of the dugout, and the home plate ump took of his mask turned toward the duout and held up his finger. Unusually, what he yelled back was clear: "That's twice now, Jerry! Don't push me!" It's hard to imagine such an exchange happening under Willie (even if the mics generally picked the umps up, which they don't*). And this was only Manuel's second game. I think, during the previous tenure, the ump would've been yelling, "Hey, someone wake up Willie and let him know he's pissing his job away for refusing to show any life in the dugout."

Grote15 Jun 23 2008 07:06 PM

actually..continued suckitude is the only thing that matters at the moment...Whether its' Randolph or Manuel I'm waiting for the NY Press to make David Wright lunch..its' comin

Frayed Knot Jun 23 2008 07:09 PM

Does he get a say in what kind of sandwich they make him?

AG/DC Jun 23 2008 07:19 PM

Grote15 wrote: actually..continued suckitude is the only thing that matters at the moment...Whether its' Randolph or Manuel Well, if you don't like talking about the actual substance of wins or losses, cleon, why keep logging on? You've already quit more than once.