As The Metropolitans Spiral And Other Stories

Rockies 6-Mets 5:

Those that want the Mets to fire manager Willie Randolph based on some knee-jerk reaction shouldn't use this game as a reference because it wasn't his fault that they lost. The argument could be made that the distractions created by the manager with his absurd racially-charged comments last week and the way the team seems to just say "screw it" when things get tough in the late innings is justifiable, but last night's game was just a case of the players not performing. When a team hands a lead to their closer and he blows it, what

is the manager supposed to do?
There are of course the usual nitpicky items about Randolph's strategies like having Jose Reyes bunting with runners on first and second and no one out in the top of the seventh inning. Reyes isn't some Punch and Judy hitter who needs to bunt as often as he does and he's an unlikely candidate for a double play; let the guy swing the bat; but Randolph has used this type of strategy since he arrived and it's unfair to add it to the list of reasons to dismiss him; it's not like it's something new.

Gary Carter campaigns for a job that is currently unavailable:

When I was about eight, I went to a baseball card show with my father at which Gary Carter was appearing to sign autographs. He was seated at a table and I, blissfully unaware of

the financial aspect of such matters, walked over and dropped some baseball cards on the table for Carter to sign; he signed three of them and one of the people flanking him asked where my blue receipt was (presumably proof of payment for the autographs); I looked on in bewilderment not realizing that I was supposed to pay for the privilege of having Carter sign my cards. Carter smiled apologetically, shook his head and said, "Sorry partner," because he was unable to sign the last card. At least I got three signatures for free.
Gary Carter is a truly nice man who would probably make a good manager and the players would undoubtedly respect his Hall of Fame career, but he's a bit too eager to jump straight to the big leagues with brief (and successful) minor league managerial experience, and he's also kind of picking through the bones of the not-yet-dead as

he contacts the Mets and lets them know that he's available for the managerial job----NY Times Story----while they still have a manager. It's sort of like Indiana Jones as he robs graves and steals precious artifacts; or telling a woman that if her husband dies unexpectedly to keep him in mind for dates; it's a bit untoward if one looks at it objectively.

Edinson Volquez or Josh Hamilton:

It's a copout to use the oft-heard statement that a trade "benefited both teams"; but what if a choice had to be made? Josh Hamilton has stayed clean; is heading for a start in the All Star game and is, right now, a leading MVP candidate for the Rangers. Edinson Volquez is

also heading for the All Star game; is blossoming into an ace at the top of the Reds rotation; is two years younger than Hamilton; and while Johnny Cueto is often compared to Pedro Martinez, Volquez looks more like Pedro than Cueto does. So which would it be if a choice had to be made?
I would take Volquez and this is assuming that Hamilton stays healthy on and off the field. Volquez is a guy that looks like he's going to be able to front a rotation for ten years. As great as Hamilton's been, he's clearly being helped by the friendly confines

of Rangers Ballpark as others----Hank Blalock, Michael Young and Mark Teixeira----have; Volquez has been dominating home and away and in his own right he's pitching in a hitter-friendly ballpark in Cincinnati. Another factor is the difficulty with which either player would be replaced. It's easier to find an outfielder that can hit than it is to find a young pitcher to front a rotation at a reasonable price. If I had to choose, it would be Volquez even before taking Hamilton's personal issues into account.

Nationals 5-Brewers 1:

Manager Ned Yost is said to be in serious trouble, but how is the Brewers play this season the fault of the manager? This may be hard to digest for those that thought the Brewers bats would be able to overcome that terrible bullpen, but the team just isn't all that good. If a team is built on their lineup and massive chunks of said lineup aren't hitting, it's not the manager's fault.
How is it possible to be a vegetarian and still be as fat as Prince Fielder? It reminds me of when my nephew was a kid and gave up eggs and meat for Lent amid the logic that he would

have little to eat other than chocolate. Bill Hall is hitting like Dave Kingman; Rickie Weeks is hitting like he did last season before being sent to the minors; J.J. Hardy has hit ten homers since last season's All Star break after hitting 18 in the first half of 2007; and Mike Cameron is still trying to get his timing down after his suspension. And all of this is before one gets to their bullpen and injury-riddled starting rotation. There are plenty of viable reasons to say that manager Ned Yost should be fired, but this team is not that impressive and may have been overrated by those that were expecting a playoff spot.

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