Though the Mets became the first team in major league history to fail to make the playoffs despite holding a 3 1/2-game lead in the standings in September, they appear to have no problem with the people running the team. Less than a week after GM Omar Minaya moved toward a four-year contract extension, sources in New York are indicating that interim manager Jerry Manuel will have that tag lifted and return to the Mets dugout next year.
From the New York Post:
A formal announcement is expected by GM Omar Minaya no later than Tuesday. "Jerry did a very good job in a tough situation, overcoming injuries to [John] Maine and Billy [Wagner]," Minaya said after today's 4-2 loss to the Marlins ended the Mets' season. "I just talked to Jerry and told him I will sit down with ownership tomorrow and give my recommendation. But I was very pleased with the job he did." Owner Fred Wilpon also strongly endorsed Manuel while talking with reporters during today's game.Minaya might not have deserved his extension, especially when you look through the prism of back-to-back September swoons, but it's hard to say the same for Manuel. He guided the Mets to a 55-38 record down the stretch after taking over for Willie Randolph in mid-June. Considering the hand he was dealt -- a very, very bad bullpen -- Manuel performed admirably as skipper
Indeed, had Billy Wagner not gotten injured, this would probably all be a moot point, and New York might be celebrating an NL East title. Here's to a few more years of Manuel describing Johan Santana as "gangsta" and threatening to "cut" Jose Reyes.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-29-2008 @ 6:33AM
chris said...
HE SPEAKS SPANISH SO THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE
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9-29-2008 @ 9:13AM
steve said...
that is not it. they had a bunch of no names in that bullpen, from hidelman to schoenwietz they all have to go
9-29-2008 @ 9:11AM
steve said...
you cant blame manuel, it is the players. they need a bullpen, and 2 starters, they dont need to get no.1 starters a 3 and 4 someone that can go 7 innings. castillio has to go also murphy has to play everyday. let me take that back they should go after cc sabathian
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9-29-2008 @ 1:08PM
Bob said...
the real problem for this mess is Omar Minaya. He has shown nothing but arrogance/stupidity with the make-up of that bullpen. And how about 29 million for Alou and Castillo. The guy really knows his stuff.
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9-30-2008 @ 12:17AM
MC said...
Jerry Manuel is fine the problem is Omar Minaya. Omar needs to go and if he doesnt the Mets are doomed to failure for as long as he remains GM.
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9-30-2008 @ 7:11AM
LEW said...
GET A CLOSER FOR NEXT YEAR. K ROD. NOT SOME WASHED UP BUM. MINAYA IS ATTRACTED TO ALL THE CAST OFFS. HE THINKS YOU CAN MAKE A GOOD RITCHER FROM A CRAPPY ONE. DO TRY TO CON US FANS WE KNOW MORE THEN YOU. NO MORE WASHED UP GARBAGE THAT OTHER TEAMS HAVE RELEASED. TRADE PEREZ NOW . HE WILL LEAVE. HE ISNT WORTH 15 MILLION. HE WON 10 GAMES WOW.
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10-01-2008 @ 5:55PM
Daniel said...
As a teary-eyed Mets fan, we need a closer that is talented but less expensive (aren't Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Santana & Martinez asking for more $$$ that Wall Street cannot even afford?), so the one thing that comes to mind is Huston Street. Sure LEW, K-Rod is awesome but I doubt he'll go elsewhere cauz he is the FRANCHISE of the Angels, thus there will be no playoffs without him. Street is a pretty dangerous flamethrower & he is not as expensive as the top guys we got currently.
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10-06-2008 @ 12:40PM
LEW said...
good to get manuel back, he did well with the wordt bullpen in the majors. do not let go of the reyes wright delgado and beltran. MOVE WRIGHT TO 5TH OR 6TH, BELTRAN TO 2ND DELGADO TO 4TH MURPHYTO 6TH CHURCH 7TH, YOUR NEW SECOND BASEMAN TO THIRD SPOT. WHOEVER IT WILL BE. JUST DONT GO AFTER SOME OLD DAMAGED PLAYER. DUMP THE GARBAGE NOW, PEREZ WILL LEAVE . I WPULD HAVE TRADEDHIM. 10 AND 7. NOT WORTH MORE TEN HE MAKES NOW. HE IS A HEAD CASE. GET A SOLID 4TH STARTER, BY ALL MEANS GO AFTER SABATHIA AND K. ROD. PUT A SUBSTANTIAL TEAM ON THE FIELD. DONT GO AFTER ALL THE WASHED UP GARBAGE. MAKE US FANS PROUD. MURPHY IN LEFT FIELD. DONT BE SUCH A CHEAP OWNER. WITH SNY AND THE NEW STADIUM FILLED WITH MILLIONAIRE SUITES. YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THEN YOU NEED.
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