Next Met Manager Candidates

[Guest sharpie]

Put me down for Oberkfell.

I remember his reputation was that he was a really smart player. Not a whole lot of natural ability but good obp, good fielder, played on some good teams under good managers and played fifteen of his sixteen seasons in the National League.

No retreads, nobody with Yankee connections.

[Frayed Knot]

You can cast a wide net during the mid-season if you're willing to have a three-manager season. They could fire Willie, let HoJo (for example) hold down the fort for a couple of weeks, while they openly search for a replacement.

Sure, but first you're going with a stop-gap who you pretty much admit isn't the guy you want (and does that really solve anything except blood-lust? And then there are going to be numerous potential replacements who aren't available mid-year because they're under contract (BV for instance).

Carter is managing an independant league team in California.

[Frayed Knot]

Keith played with Oberkfell, I wonder what his opinion would be?

Of course he's not going to publicly spout one until the firing squad is already set and their about to tie on Willie's blindfold and light his cigarette.

[Guest AG/DC]

Oberkfell's Herzogian bloodlines are appealing. I'll give him that.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Frayed Knot wrote: Sure, but first you're going with a stop-gap who you pretty much admit isn't the guy you want (and does that really solve anything except blood-lust? And then there are going to be numerous potential replacements who aren't available mid-year because they're under contract (BV for instance).

True. I'm not advocating it. Just saying it's an option.

And even if a guy is under contract, that doesn't mean he's not available. As long as he's not managing another team, that is. But teams usually grant permission for their coaches to interview with other clubs for managing jobs. Bobby Valentine was hired away from the Mets to Texas that way in 1985.

[Guest AG/DC]

Clint Hurdle has announced that, in additoin to his Colorado Rockies staff, Bud Black and Willie Randolph will be joining him in the National League All Star dugout.

That may be a nod to the game being in New York or Willie just may... have peer respect.

Or there's a third reason.

[metirish]

Maybe Hurdle is bringing him because last season Willie gave up his spot to have surgery .

[Willets Point]

Mookie!

Who could hate Mookie! Who could boo Mookie! And if they booed him wouldn't it just sound like they were saying "Mooooooooooooook?"

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it's the surgery thing, AND the Yankee Stadium thing.

Willie needs to hang on to his job for another couple of months if he wants to fill that spot, though.

[Guest Grote15]

I nominate Jane Jarvis..walker or no walker

or Ken Oberkfell if she's not up to it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

AG/DC wrote: Clint Hurdle has announced that, in additoin to his Colorado Rockies staff, Bud Black and Willie Randolph will be joining him in the National League All Star dugout. That may be a nod to the game being in New York or Willie just may... have peer respect. Or there's a third reason.

Well, I think he's announcing it because WWSB let it slip that this wouldn;t be his "last" trip to Yankee Stadium this year and the writers figgured it out.

[Guest AG/DC]

No, the entire coaching staves were announced.

The story the papers would have wanted would have been Torre in the NL dugout returning to YS.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

AG/DC wrote: No, the entire coaching staves were announced.

Today, right? WWSB spoke yesterday, and the stories ran ahead of the official announcement today

[metirish]

Yeah Willie let it slip during a jaw fest about his " last" visit to " The Stadium" with the writers yesterday.....

[Frayed Knot]

Willets Point wrote: Mookie! Who could hate Mookie! Who could boo Mookie?"

Buddy!

Who could hate Buddy! Who could boo Buddy?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Bud Harrelson is a cautionary tale about giving the managing job to old favorites.

I'm glad, for his sake, that Buddy is now once again more remembered as a shortstop than as a manager.

[Benjamin Grimm]

In today's Daily News, Omar gives Willie the dreaded "vote of confidence."

[Guest AG/DC]

I gues that's not as bad as the VoC from the owner, but, sheesh. Poor Willie.

[G-Fafif]

Everybody dreads the dreaded vote of confidence, but what's the alternative? "No comment"? "No chance he stays, he's terrible"? "Hey, look at that thing over there!" and while the press is distracted, the GM runs away? I guess the dreaded part is that the subject comes up at all.

[metirish]

In fact Minaya's words were " Juno I give Willie a vote for confidence , knowwhatImean?"

[MFS62]

How about Billy Wagner?
Whatever it was that he did seems to have worked (at least for one game).

SC= off the chart

Later

[Guest d'Kong76]

mi: >>>Minaya's words were " Juno I give Willie a vote for confidence , knowwhatImean?"<<<

I know you're joking, but last night it struck me that when Omar was on with
Kevin B before the non-game that his oral communications have changed a
bit. He's clearer and doesn't use the repetative phrases that have been tagged
on him for sport as much. I wonder if he's been working on it.

John Starks leaps to mind as a famous NY sports guy that worked on improving
his oratory skills.

[Guest themetfairy]

KC wrote: John Starks leaps to mind as a famous NY sports guy that worked on improving his oratory skills.

Patrick Ewing as well.

[MFS62]

KC wrote: John Starks leaps to mind as a famous NY sports guy that worked on improving his oratory skills.

Great. Then one day, when a reporter asks him the question, he can provide a well spoken explanation about why he cheap-shotted Kenny Anderson under the basket and broke Kenny's wrist.

Later

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I wouldn't normally say this but Fatso & Fruity might have a hot interview on their hands in Willie's weekly appearance today at 5:05.

Yeah, they'll screw it up with dumb questions.

[metirish]

At the very least Francesa will give Willie a history lesson on racism in America.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Yeah, they'll screw it up with dumb questions.

Willie, don't you wish you were still a Yankee?

Willie, just how great IS Derek Jeter?

Willie, wouldn't you rather be on Joe Girardi's staff?

Willie, could you share with us some of your wonderful Yankee Stadium memories?

Willie, how overrated is Jose Reyes?

Willie, do think Hideki Matsui is really as homely as people say?

Willie, do you agree that Johnny Damon isn't a traitor, but just a man who appreciated the opportunity to play for such a storied franchise?

Willie, do the Mets even understand that they are second-class citizens in this city?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Derek Jeter: You KNOW he has an Edge!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I caght the first few minutes. Willie acted to disarm them by making a contrite statement of apology to fans, the Wilpons and SNY before a question was asked.

Those guys were actually pretty easy on him.

Willie denies race is an issue, just frustrated with how the season has gone thought he was OTR but takes full responsibility bbbyyy

[soupcan]

AG/DC wrote: Keith Hernandez: smart, out of left field (actually, the lot behind left field), and intense. Dierker was hired out of the broadcast booth. Why not Keef? I mean, he'll still need his days off, plus time for his Florida tax dodge

Francesa on WFAN today said that he saw Mex at Yankee Stadium last week and asked him if the Mets offered him the job would he take it.

Keith said yes.