Monday, June 16, 2008By Joyce Mandelkern
This can't go on like this. I'm not talking about losing games, I'm talking about the indecision about the managerial and coaching positions on our team. Personally, I've had it with the way Omar and the Wilpons are handling the situation. Shame on them!
I have made it quite clear on this blog, over the past two seasons, that I don't feel that Willie is the right manager for the Mets. That being said, I think it is deplorable, embarrassing, and counterproductive to leave him twisting in the wind the way management has these past few weeks. You can't have a manager and coaching staff that is "day-to-day." Want to talk about distractions? Who runs a ball club this way? And we wonder why they can't go on a prolonged winning streak.
Just make a decision for goodness sake. At this point, I don't even care what it is. Do I think we need to shake things up? Yes. But just decide, one way or the other, whether or not to change managers and/or coaches.
I am sure part of the problem is that if Omar fires Willie, and the next, or interim manager does not or cannot turns things around, Omar's head is on the chopping block, and rightfully so. This team was built to win in 2006 and didn't succeed. We have some aging players, some bad contracts, and some injuries. And while I have no problem with what we gave up for Santana, and it was absolutely the right thing to do, the fact of the matter is, we have no farm system anymore. It is pathetic that when your two corner outfielders go down you have to call up a catcher, the 3rd you are carrying, by the way. I cannot blame Willie for this. I'm looking at you, Omar.
There is more than enough blame to go around. Manager, coaches, and players can share in this year's disappointing showing. And now I will add management to the list. Who can work under these conditions and perform to the best of their abilities? I find it difficult to concentrate on the games, how can they? Why can't they come out and say that Willie is their guy for the rest of the season and then if a few weeks down the line they decide to fire him, do it and say you changed your mind? Isn't that their prerogative? Or, if they prefer, fire him now. But to leave him, the team, and all of us in limbo, is destructive to what might be left of the season.
For owners who pride themselves on integrity, show me the integrity and humanity in how they are handling this situation? Willie deserves better, the coaches and players deserve better, and we, the fans, who support this team deserve better.




