Randolph's contract status.

[metirish]

Not hearing much on Willie's contract extension,although things are apparently moving slow,how many years do you think he should get and what kinda money...you know the Mets paid Art Howe nearly triple what they are paying Willie not to manage,hope it gets sorted soon.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What to commit to managers is so difficult, as their contributions are so hard to measure.

[metirish]

True but I think Willie is a keeper,I think they would probably settle at 3 years and $6 million.

[Guest attgig]

you have to reward him for the playoffs - even if you can't determine if it was him or minaya. There wasn't any craziness in the clubhouse like back with bobby, the players haven't said anything negative about him. I would be surprised with anything less that 3 years. the money... i have no clue.

[nymr83]

i'm not sure i'd bother extending him yet, the team had a good year but i don't know that he was any better than average, might as well take more time to evaluate him before committing to something longterm

[Frayed Knot]

Managers in good standing rarely go into the final year of their contract left hanging on whether or not they'll go beyond that year - if for no other reason then for the message it sends to the players - and I can't imagine that Willie's not in good standing at this point.
I'd be shocked if he doesn't get a 3-year deal this winter and I couldn't care less what the dollar figures are.

[nymr83]

i guess theres some logic to that, but i'd hesitate to give him 3 now with only a year under his belt. give him 1 more year while also raising his salary for this coming year as a reward for last year's success, that should keep him happy and keep the players knowing the organization has confidence in him without committing prematurely to a 3rd year.

[Frayed Knot]

"with only a year under his belt"

Ummm ... he has two



"give him 1 more year"

He already has (this) one coming. What'll likely happen is a new deal which replaces this one with a 3-yr deal, essentially adding 2 to what is already his w/a raise based on the results to date.

[Gwreck]

Nymr83 wrote: i'm not sure i'd bother extending him yet, the team had a good year but i don't know that he was any better than average, might as well take more time to evaluate him before committing to something longterm

They had two good years with Randolph, not one.

What exactly are you using to evaluate managers that would warrant the comment "i don't know that he was any better than average" ??

[nymr83]

he had the most talented roster in the NL and no real pressure in the regular season, he made a couple of questionable postseason decisions. i'd guess this team would have done the same damn thing with any other manager at the helm.

[Guest iramets]

I would pay Randolph, as with player incentives, on a per-doubleswitch incentive basis. Give him a year for every doubleswitch he's used as manager.

In other words, I wouldn't give him a damned thing. I'd walk away from him ASAP, and count myself lucky to have gotten into the playoffs once with a manager-in-training at rock-bottom prices, and then I'd hire someone who knows what he's doing. Winner, my big fat Royal Irish ass.

I just think the guy is mispronouncing "whiner." "I've always been a whiner. Every place I've ever been, I've been a whiner. I used to whine when I was a Yankee, and now I plan to whine with the Mets, make them into a whining club, because all I know how to do is whine. That's what I'm all about, the whining. Nothing else matters, just whine, whine, whine. I'm a whiner, through and through. I just can't help it, I love whining."

[metirish]

WOW..ok....

[RealityChuck]

iramets wrote: I would pay Randolph, as with player incentives, on a per-doubleswitch incentive basis. Give him a year for every doubleswitch he's used as manager.

Let me get this straight.

The indication of a manager's quality is how often he double switches? You'd much prefer it if Willie did one or two double switches a game, regardless of strategic situation? He would do better, for instance, if he takes out Jose Reyes in the third inning and put Chris Woodward as short, as long as it's a double switch?

Would your ideal manager would double switch in the first inning? Pull out Delgado, put Franco at first, and have the pitcher bat in the 4 slot.

Interesting criterion.

[Guest iramets]

No, I just want proof that he understands the point of doubleswitching, or pretty much any other standard strategy understood by any other manager in the NL. After two years, I'm honestly not convinced that he understands the basic strategic moves of baseball any better than hundreds of minor league managers, coaches, former big league managers (including Battlin' Art Howe), sportswriters, or the Mad Dog. It goes without saying that he knows less than any other big league manager about such things. I don't see why we should operate at such a disadvantage, nor why we should pay a lot of money to do so. We've dodged a bullet in that we're not paying a lot of money for the dubious pleasure of having Randolph as manager so far--but making a huge commitment to him now is like making a huge commitment to marrying Kid Rock.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What would constitute proof? What constitutes proof to the contrary? Did your ass really play for the Royals?

[Guest vtmet]

If the Wilpons could give Art Howe a 4 year $9.4 mil contract...and Willie for a "rookie" manager showed more competence in his 2 years than veteran manager Howe did in his 2 years...While WIllie may not be perfect, I don't see many perfect managers out there...Stubborn, yes...makes some mistakes, yes...but he seems like a good match for the players and front office, and is learning from his mistakes...in some ways, I think Willie had as much positive effect on Maine and Perez as Petersen did (as far as keeping their head in the game)...Has he helped Reyes get mentally passed the injury bug and the "doesn't walk enough" talk? Strategy wise, may have a ways to come...Helping his players gain confidence wise, he seems to have a good handle on it...

I think a 3 year renewal for $6 mil is not a bad idea...