So it’s finally happened. Willie Randolph has been fired. Less than six hours after the news was first released many are already commenting on the poor timing of the move.
But in many ways, the timing of the move makes perfect sense. Sure, it doesn’t make sense to make Randolph fly 3,000 miles to Los Angeles and manage last night’s game if the outcome of last night’s game didn’t matter to Randolph’s job security.
However, Anaheim may have been the worst team for the Mets to be playing while Randolph was on the ropes. What team better contrasts the Mets lackadaisical play than then the aggressive to the point of almost being reckless style of baseball Anaheim plays.
There was Anaheim last night, going first to third at almost every opportunity, daring you to throw them out.
There they were, with 30-something players like Gary Matthews, and Garret Anderson, and Torii Hunter, playing aggressively, daring you to throw them out, and throwing the ball around the field themselves.
There was Mike Scioscia calling no less than three hit-and-runs last night.
There was Mike Scioscia cajoling a less than effective Jared Weaver through the later innings. There were the Angels, battling back to within two runs after being down by as many as five.
The Mets may have won last night, but there is no question who is the more aggressive, more disciplined team, more competitive team.
There is no question that a manager DOES have an effect on the play of a team’s players, despite those who will now try and convince you of something different.
The timing may have sucked, but in many ways it makes perfect sense that Willie’s last game was against Mike Scioscia and Anaheim.
More later . . .
I get your point. But to compare Toriiiii and Gary IIII to Aguila and Tatis or anyother lucky fan that won the raffle to play left feild for the Mets is unfair.The decision was made before the plane ride, before the hotel check-in, before the hit-and-runs, and before the win.No one remembers how the Mets essentially overachieved in 2006, despite the backwards K hung by Beltran and how they maintained as best as they could despite injuries, a faltering bullpen and geriatrics. Everyone has forgotten how, if Billy saves those 3 games, if Heilman holds those three leads, the Mets would be above .500 and Willie would be credited for “righting the ship.”Say what you want about Willie’s “style” but he couldn’t yell at Pedro’s hammie, Alou’s leg, back, etc. or Church’s brain to make them heal faster.But that’s business.
Did that guy bring a broom? To the first game of a series?
all true, only problem is/was we couldn’t replace Randolph with Scioscia. Also, I still hate Scioscia for that HR in 88 (is that the right year?).