Willie!!!! (Wild Willie Big Balls)

[Elster88]

Vic Sage wrote: i've done a 180 on Willie, this series. I thought he did a great job. He let his hitters hit, and didn't give away outs with 1-run strategies. Unfortunately, the hitters who hit all year stopped hitting (except for Delgado and Green). He didn't have any better options on the bench for Valentin and Chavez, so their lack of production (along with Wright's paralysis) dragged down the bottom 1/2 of the lineup. When Reyes and Beltran hit at the top, we won... when they didn't, we lost. Willie also yanked his starters at the first HINT of trouble. He handled Maine especially well, i thought, and his use of the bullpen (overall, despite some quibbles) was good, too. His faith in Perez was apparently well placed. he stayed positive and focused and the team played well, despite the death of their lumber. Despite my whining all year about the starting pitching, it turned out to be the hitting that was our achilles heal. Valentin and Chavez came back to their career averages at the worst possible time, and the kids played like kids do when their under pressure. Only the Blue Jay contingent stepped up and played with assurance. Next year, we need another bat in the OF (and i don't want us to count on Milledge) and i don't want to rely on another miracle year from Valentin. Okay, Willie. I hereby retire "WWSB" (at least until you have beltran sacrifice bunt in the first inning next year).

[Elster88]

="Centerfield"]I did a 180 on Willie this postseason too. The only time I questioned him was his decision to start Perez over Trachsel and we all saw how that one panned out. I also like that he had the big balls to tell reporters "You guys are going to have plenty of chances to second guess me, I'm going on gut." Gutsy to start Perez, then leave him in to face Rolen. Gutsy to pinch hit Floyd and go for it all. From now on, he's Wild Willie Big Balls.

[Elster88]

What they said.

I emphasized CF's new nickname for Willie b/c I'm using it in the thread title and don't want to take credit for it.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

When asked "who's starting Game 7 and why?" Willie remarked "Oliver Perez because I like him."

Besides turning out to be an inspired choice, you kind of have to interpret that as if they asked "who won't you use and why" he'd have replied "Steve Trachsel because I don't like him."

Will we ever find out the true poop on Steve?

[soupcan]

I'll put the hairstylist on it.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Maybe, but I'm thinking that it might be a quasi-fanboi journalist that gets the scoop.

An e-mail to Bryan Hoch might be in order at this time. He might give us the off-the-record story if we promise not to post it.

[soupcan]

Here's what I've got from an unnamed source - loyal readers of this poster will know who my various sources are so no need to name them -

Trachsel - we know that the 'personal issues' causing him to leave the team were his wife suddenly surprising him with divorce papers. The rumor circulating through the Mets clubhouse was that he shouldn't have been so surprised. The soon-to-be-former Mrs,. T had apparently recently caught our favorite ex-Met throwing his changeup to a free agent.

The relationship between Willie and Trachsel had never been great. Since Willie signed on with the Mets in '05 he never liked the kind of player Trachsel was. You don't have to be an insider to know this. When Trachsel begged out of the game against St. Louis, Willie's perception of the the kind of player Steve was rang true throughout the clubhouse. The fact that the manager's feelings toward Trachsel were widely known by the team in the first place didn't help Steve after that game. In fairness to Steve, he probably felt that since he was getting lit up at Busch it might be better for the team if he did get out of the game. Buzzzzz. Wrong choice big guy.

Endy Chavez in the lockerroom last night was having an incredibly difficult time. Handling the loss? No. Trying to keep the smile off his face when talking about his catch. According to our mole, Endy was really trying to be morose about the game but just couldn't contain his excitement when recalling his acrobatics. This reporter will give him a pass.


Willie and Rick Peterson - not exactly the best of friends. Their working relationship is fine and one can't quibble with the other's job performance but Rick was forced onto Willie and Willie would prefer his own guy. Peterson's incredibly arrogant attitude doesn't help in smoothing things over during those inevitable stressful moments. Will a condition of Barry Zito's contract be that Peterson also must have his contract guaranteed? Will Peterson advise Zito to sign elsewhere if Rick feels his days are numbered? Does any of it really matter?

To a man everyone in the Mets postgame lockerroom was diisappointed but there was also a tangible feeling of 'this is just the beguinning' They were all talking about what a great team they are going to be...next year.

Stay tuned Mets fans, this team is for real

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

] The soon-to-be-former Mrs,. T had apparently recently caught our favorite ex-Met throwing his changeup to a free agent.

You mean there really was a sexy mistress?

[soupcan]

That's the rumor.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Willie turned me around earlier this season once it became clear he'd learned how to manage our bullpen.

At this point, he's won the benefit of the doubt from me in most cases.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

That's some fine hairdressing, Soupy.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Wowsers. I feel informed, powerful, and filthy.

[soupcan]

I'm hoping Mole will put in a good word for me at The National Enquirer.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

="ScarletKnight41"] ] The soon-to-be-former Mrs,. T had apparently recently caught our favorite ex-Met throwing his changeup to a free agent. You mean there really was a sexy mistress?

We don't know that it was a sexy mistress, and I for one wouldn't give Trachsel the benefit of the doubt.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I'm kind of picturing Cloris Leachman's Nurse Diesel character from High Anxiety.

[Willets Point]

soupcan wrote: Stay tuned Mets fans, this team is for real

I hope so. I'd really be embarrassed if they were imaginary. Especially since that would mean I made up this forum and all of you people as well.

[Guest KC]

I'm glad to see so many rally behind Willie here, I thought he took too much
heat last year a bunch of times for a first year manager on this board.

[metirish]

No complaints here about Willie...he's a fine manager.

[Frayed Knot]

KC wrote: I'm glad to see so many rally behind Willie here, I thought he took too much heat last year a bunch of times for a first year manager on this board.

I agree.
It always seemed to me, probably due to his MFY roots and lack of a managerial track record, that some peeps tended to assume a kind of general dim-wittedness from him rather than starting from a more neutral POV - putting Willie in the position of needing to prove otherwise before he was accepted.