Sure, I didn’t want Willie Randolph to go. But I’m already loving Jerry Manuel. Here’s what Jerry said about Jose Reyes today:

“I told him next time he does that I’m going to get my blade out and cut him. I’m a gangster. You go gangster on me, I’m going to have to get you. You do that again, I’m going to cut you right on the field.”

He also refers to his players as “Gangstas on the field, ladies on the bus.” This guy is basically the man.

-Jonathan Kraft

Richard Rys of Philly magazine wrote a massive, and terrific, piece on the Phillies ownership.  Five silent partners, who meet 4 times a year to discuss the state of the team.  A team where friendship is valued more than performance and where caution always is weighed above risk.

It seems we get these ownership exposés about once a year.  But this is the best piece I’ve ever read about the lackluster owners we know nothing about.  I keep waiting for that deadline deal that will put us over the top.  Alas, I should resign myself to that never happening.

SELL. SELL. SELL.

-Greg Berlin

It appears that the Mariners are about to release 1B Richie Sexson, who is hitting .220, .294, .380 with 9 HR and 23 RBI this season. Sexson is certainly having a down year; he is a career .261 hitter who hit 45 home runs in 2003. So it’s pretty clear that Sexson, at age 33, is past his prime.

And that’s why I propose that the Mets sign Sexson, should he become available. Here’s the reason behind my madness. Sexson, this year, is hitting .349, .417, .581 with 3 HR and 6 RBI against left handed pitchers in 43 at-bats this season. Carlos Delgado, in 83 at-bats against southpaws this year, is hitting .229, .273, .398 with 3 HR and 10 RBI. Delgado’s lack of production has been one of the most important failures for this year’s Mets team, and there have been plenty of calls for a platoon at first base. Sexson appears to be the ideal player to split time with Delgado, and would also provide a power threat off of the bench, something that has been sorely lacking.

-Jonathan Kraft

It’s been quite the day for the New York Mets. I can’t remember the last time there was so much embarrassment associated with the Mets, oh wait, yes I can, it was after the historic collapse last season. Since that fateful day, the Mets have continued to significantly under perform, so much so that it warranted, according to many, the dismissal of manager Willie Randolph. One thing is for sure; the Willie Randolph era has ended and the Jerry Manuel era has begun. Will this transition spark a change in the team’s play? We’ll have to wait and see.

For the Mets front office, this was not a good day. Since the news broke just after 3 AM Eastern time, the Mets have been crucified by the media, both in New York and across the nation. The consensus is that the Wilpons and Omar Minaya screwed up big time, although writers differ on who to place blame. Matt Cerone of MetsBlog, whose opinion I respect a lot, argues that the harsh media reaction was not justified. Matt and I were both on the “Keep Willie” side of the divide, for the record.

But I’m going to have to diverge from his opinion on this matter. Sorry, but when the sport’s most respectable and knowledgeable writers unanimously criticize the Mets management for how they handled this issue, it’s tough to argue against their stance. Among the harsh critiques I agree with are those by Buster Olney, Ken Rosenthal, and Jon Heyman. I won’t even go into the response in New York, but it’s also very, very harsh on the Mets.

Today, as much as it pains me to say, I’m embarrassed to be a fan of the New York Mets. I, like so many other fans, invest so much time, so much energy, and so much money into this team only to be disappointed again and again. Sure, so many of us clamored for the dismissal of Willie Randolph this season. But for the Mets to fire Willie in this fashion is simply unacceptable. I don’t know if Jerry Manuel is going to be able to turn this mess around, but I seriously doubt it. Nothing about this team convinces me that they’re a contender this season. Sure, the team is much the same as for the past two years. That’s not a good thing, though. Two years older, two years farther past it’s prime, two years too late. I’m not only sticking with my call for the Wilpons to fire Omar Minaya, I’m amplifying it. Of course, the Wilpons just botched one firing, so I have no faith that they’ll act appropriately in another.

Like I said, this has been a terrible day to be a Mets fan. I don’t think it’s dramatic to say that it gets harder and harder for me to defend this team as I get older.

-Jonathan Kraft

I went to sleep content with a nice road win in Los Angeles of Anaheim or whatever. I woke up to the news that Willie Randolph, Tom Nieto, and Rick Peterson had been fired after the game. I had just completed my “Save Willie” post before going to bed, and had no idea that it would be so obsolete so soon. Why in the world would Omar Minaya fly those three coaches across the country only to tell them that they were out of a job after a win?!?!? Just like Omar’s roster moves, this is unprofessional and offensive.

I spent last night writing why Willie Randolph should have been saved. For those reasons and now for this mess, I am livid at this team. As far as I’m concerned, they’ve given up on the year. Maybe the Mets management should have taken a cue from the Mariners, who yesterday dismissed GM Bill Bavasi, correctly placing the blame on the management, not the manager, for the team’s poor record.

Jerry Manuel, who will replace Willie as Interim Manager, is a likeable guy, but his demeanor is no different from Randolph’s passive composure. We’re not exactly getting the second coming of Lou Pinella here. The Mets better find an acceptable replacement for Willie soon, or a lot more people are going to be out of a job.

-Jonathan Kraft

Everyone is throwing their two cents in on the Willie Randolph controversy, so I guess I should add my perspective. I’ve avoided comment on Willie’s situation for some time now because, in reality, there is no easy answer here. Fire Willie, and, yes, the demons of last year might be exorcised. But on the flip side, a mid-year managerial shakeup could drive the team apart. Of course, it has been extensively reported that the Mets clubhouse is divisive as it is, so maybe this wouldn’t hurt as much as it could.

If I have to pick a side, and I feel like I do, I’m more on the “Keep Willie” side. It’s not that I have complete confidence in the manager. I agree with Willie’s critics that he doesn’t motivate the team enough. I’ve commented on his poor managerial decisions in the past. But, ultimately, the responsibility for this year’s mediocre play, in my view (and I know a lot of people will disagree with me here) belongs to Omar Minaya, not Willie.

Sure, this team is made up of a bunch of All Stars. Sure, the payroll is among baseball’s highest. But that doesn’t mean that this team automatically deserves to be counted among the best in baseball. If the last decade has taught us anything, it is that payroll does not equal performance. Sure, I’m a Moneyball fan, but that doesn’t mean that I’m delusional. Time proves that the most successful teams employ general managers who have a strong eye for player development, augmenting homegrown players with free agents. It’s not a theory, it’s a fact. And the fact is that Omar has depleted the Mets farm system, trading away players like Brian Bannister, Heath Bell, Mike Jacobs, and Jeff Keppinger for players who haven’t pulled their collective weight.

I’ll save the rest of my argument for a later post about the many failings of Minaya, but suffice it to say that Willie didn’t come into this season with a whole lot to work with. The best teams in baseball have significant depth. The Mets came into this season depending on Moises Alou, Orlando Hernandez, and Pedro Martinez. There was no backup plan. It’s not Willie’s fault that left field has depended on a plethora of mediocre players including Marlon Anderson, Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis, and now Trot Nixon. It’s not Willie’s fault that the bullpen stinks. It’s not Willie’s fault that Ryan Church wasn’t placed on the DL after sustaining his second concussion of the year. It’s not Willie’s fault that players such as Nick Evans and Chris Aguila were counted on to put up big league numbers.

As I’ve said, I believe the Mets should retain Willie through the end of the year. But, regardless of what the ownership decides to do, it needs to act now. It’s not fair to anyone–the players, the coaches, the fans–to take a day by day approach to the manager’s job. I can’t even begin to imagine the atmosphere inside the clubhouse right now. As if playing in New York isn’t stress enough, this situation must be horrible to deal with.

At the end of the day, the teams who win the World Series always look like they’re having a lot of fun. Statisticians might say that team chemistry is imaginary. But I say that’s false. If a team isn’t having fun off of the field, it won’t be having fun on the field either. This state of limbo is surely helping no one. Omar and the Wilpons need to get their act together and make a decision now. And that decision should be to keep Willie Randolph as manager of the New York Mets.

-Jonathan Kraft

The Mets yesterday acquired OF Trot Nixon from the Diamondbacks organization. Nixon, of course, is a former teammate of Pedro Martinez; the two played together on the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox team. Nixon was playing in Triple-A ball for Arizona and now immediately joins the Mets, where he started in left field in the first game of today’s doubleheader, going 2-3 with 2 walks and scoring a run.

Many Mets fans might question the move. Why trade for a guy who’s past his prime, someone with no upside. The reality is that Nixon has the potential to be a huge upgrade from what the Mets have had in left field this year, which is a group of players including Fernando Tatis, Endy Chavez, and Marlon Anderson, who aren’t hitting a lick. Nixon is a guy who can fire up a clubhouse and who knows how to win. Sure, he might appear to be in decline, hitting just .251 with Cleveland last year, but he was tearing it up for Triple-A Tucson, hitting .318, .449, .578 with 10 HR and 31 RBI. Compare that to Tatis (.250, .292, .333, 1 HR, 10 RBI), Chavez (.218, .271, .277, 1 HR, 4 RBI), and Anderson (.169, .194, .246, 1 HR, 5 RBI) and it’s easy to see why this move was necessary.

Hopefully, this will be a quick fix. With any luck, Ryan Church will be back soon, allowing for greater flexibility in the outfield alignment. But with Moises Alou on the seemingly perminant DL and Angel Pagan nowhere to be found, Nixon could see a good amount of time in left field this season for the Mets. It’s certainly not the ideal scenario, but give credit to Omar Minaya for addressing a major need.

-Jonathan Kraft

20-2. Yea yea, the Phillies scored 20 runs for the second time this season, the first time they’ve done that since 1900. But the bigger story is Kyle Kendrick. Everyone knows the Phillies are going to score runs - they’re 1 run behind the Cubs for the season (Cubs have 374 in 68 games, Phillies 373 in 69 games). They’re going to overtake Chicago in that category, it’s only a matter of time.

So get over the back to back to back homers from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Pat Burrell. Get over the 9 run 4th inning and Ryan Howard’s second homer. The real story of this game is Kyle Kendrick, who went 7 innings and allowed only 1 earned run, a Skip Schumaker homer.

The game marked Kendrick’s one year anniversary with the Phils since being called up from AA Reading on June 12 of last year. In that span Kendrick has gone 16-6 over 34 games. By winning pct, he has been great at .727. By ERA, not spectacular at 4.13. Nor by WHIP, a so-so 1.35. Nonetheless, Kendrick eats innings and has the best run support in the league since coming up a year ago. Kendrick averages almost 6 innings per start and the team averages a whopping 8.14 runs per 9 innings when he’s on the mound. Wow?

Kendrick is no Cole Hamels (who, by the way, has weak run support at 5.25 per 9 innings). But Hamels is is an ace. Kendrick is a back of the rotation starter, with a knack for for being in the right place at the right time. He struggled early this season, but the Phillies are 10-1 in his last 11 starts, and 11-3 in all of his starts this season.

For some, unexplained reason, the Phillies produce for the 23 year old. Perhaps the reason is that Kendrick isn’t Cole Hamels. And, maybe that explains Hamels’ poor run support too - because he is who he is.

Kyle Kendrick, a role player, does exactly what is asked of him. This Phillies offense will carry just about anyone who gives them a chance to win (except Cole Hamels), and that’s exactly what Kyle Kendrick does. The best part of it all? Kendrick is still young, a year younger than Hamels (24).

Last season Kyle Kendrick helped lead the Phillies to the playoffs, doing exactly what was asked of him. 14 starts into this season, Kendrick is doing exactly the same thing.

-Greg Berlin

Jamie Moyer 9-0 against he the Marlins.

I don’t how to describe him anymore - old, wise, crafty. All cliches. Let’s just say: 8 innings, 2 hits, 3 strikeouts, 1 walk. And a no-hitter into the 6th. Moyer has 237 career wins. I don’t think he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but I bet he makes it in eventually. He’s a great guy, and I think he deserves it. Never underestimate a player’s personality and how that affects voters.

The Phils offense just wasn’t getting the breaks against he Marlins. 22 men left on base last night! 12 on Wednesday and 14 on Tuesday. Considering the explosion they had the week before, I’ll let it slide. But I hate streaky teams. Consistency is key to success. Explosive or anemic won’t take you very far.

Scott Olsen pitched great for the Marlins. But his best play of the night was probably breaking up Moyer’s no-no with a liner off of Chase Utley’s glove.

Brad Lidge pitched a much more Lidge-like save, only letting one man on base. Make that 18/18. What’s that Billy?

-Greg Berlin