Have you seen A Bronx Tale? If so, you'll likely remember the scene where 'C' asks Sonny if it's better to be loved or feared. Sonny answers that it's nice to be both, but it's difficult. He preferred to be feared but I think either approach works for a big league manager. Guys like Billy Martin have won titles and so have ones like Joe Torre, the key is that you have to be one or the other. Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes today that part of the reason Willie Randolph may be in trouble with the Mets is because his players neither love him nor fear him.
I don't think Willie Randolph's players hate him. That is not the sense you get around the team. But what you sense is perhaps just as damaging. There is indifference about him. There is not a wholehearted disrespect, but critically there is not respect either. Not hate, but not love. And this is bad for Randolph.
If you had to choose one word to describe the way the Mets have taken the field this season, indifferent would be a very good choice. It's not that they aren't playing hard enough or with enough emotion, though both have been lacking at times, it just seems like they don't care all that much.
Look at that flap about fraternization before games. If the players loved or respected him, they wouldn't do something they knew he didn't like nor would they if they feared his wrath. That's separate from winning and losing games, of course, but I think it illustrates some of the disconnect from the locker room to the dugout.
The simple fact is that the Mets have assembled a roster with too much talent and with too high a payroll to be playing the way they are. Randolph isn't the only reason for it but the media and the fans have picked up on this issue and are going to hammer it until there's a change. Could be a change in the team's fortunes but, more and more, it's looking like a change in the dugout.
And, yes, I realize it's odd to start a story about the Mets by quoting a movie set in the Bronx.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-16-2008 @ 5:49PM
Woodman said...
When Delgado implied that New York fans were anti Puerto Rican no body called him on that dreadful and untrue remark. What an insult. Just play ball Carlos.
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5-16-2008 @ 10:23PM
Bernie said...
I'm a huge fan but if they don't start winning games soon on a regular basis with that line up and only the same bullpen that we had two years ago. We can't go on pretending that the old pitchers are going to magically heal for the rest of the season.
It's all going to reflect on Willie as much as I hate to admit. We have to make some changes, we need everday players. Too many veterans that are usually hurt, position players as well as pitchers!
El Duque, Martinez, Alou, too much money for bench warmers, I'm sorry but that what we have right now. It will eventually catch up.
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5-17-2008 @ 12:44AM
AtTheWall said...
Its not totally Willie's fault but its becoming clearer every day that hes not the right manager for this team. It just doesn't seem right when he stands there in the dugout during games like a statue no matter what the situation is even if the other team just hit 2 grand slams look in the Mets dugout and theres the statue Willie Randolph. Whats he trying to prove by just standing there all still and quiet. You can look at his face and see when hes upset and embarassed but it almost seems like hes trying so hard to hide it and show pride instead of trying to correct the bad situation his team is in theres Willie holding his pride trying his best to hide his emotions afraid to show any. That's not gonna get the team anywhere. He does not have a very manly standup approach on dealing with any of the Mets issues and therefor the problems keep continuing.
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