Jerry in September

[Guest Kong76]

Does he really need to be Mets manager another month? I
don't even dislike him as much as probably 7/8's of the people
who will read this but I'm really just sick of looking at him -- his
post game Jerryshit especially. Just let Hojo (the Teflon coated
wonder boy) or someone else coach the expanded roster in a
couple of days and put everyone out of their misery.

[ashie62]

DITTO!

[metirish]

I'm with kase on Jerry , not on Hojo though, he's gots to go.

[Zvon]

metirish wrote: I'm with kase on Jerry , not on Hojo though, he's gots to go.

Agreed.
If Jerry goes Howard's GOT to go.

If they know for a fact they are not gonna bring Jerry back, yea, get rid of him now.

[ashie62]

At least Hojo can do Hair Club for Men promos on the postgame.

[Guest Kong76]

I was being sarcastic regarding Hojo ... he would have been fired
by any other organization as batting coach six times already.

(sorry Hojo, you're still in my favorite top 20 Mets of all time :-))

[Zvon]

Some days my boys bat like they are ..aaah...blind. And then some days mah gangstas hit like they are insane in the, the.. aaah...umm.. the membrane.

[G-Fafif]

September: When the manager starts to turn...to leave (and the leaves start to turn).

[HahnSolo]

The NY-Penn regular season ends Sunday. So one candidate will be available. Just sayin'.

Wait, the Cyclones will be in the postseason...never mind, for now.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's not like Oberkfell and 100 candidates aren't available. I certainly hope Backman's lack of availability isn't the key to the persistence of Manuel.

[HahnSolo]

I don't either, but I did get the impression that finishing the season without any transgressions was an important step if Backman had any hopes of moving up to the big club.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Kong76 wrote: I was being sarcastic regarding Hojo ... he would have been fired by any other organization as batting coach six times already. (sorry Hojo, you're still in my favorite top 20 Mets of all time :-))

And there's the problems with hiring your legends. They're tough to fire when things go bad. I tend to agree that the hitting coach was not the beloved HoJo, he'd have been canned months ago.

Which leads me to Backman. if he was a scrappy little player for the Giants or Cardinals, would there be this cry for him?

I don't think they're going to name a manager until they know for sure who is going to be GM, because you want that person deciding who will be the skipper. If they pull the trigger and name a replacement now, that's a sign that Omar is staying.

[DocTee]

I don't get the love for Backman, either.

There are literally dozens of candidates I'd consider before him. The Jerry Watch thread we had a few months back listed some really good ones (Stearns, Hershiser and Oquendo were my offerings, IIRC).

[seawolf17]

I have a lot of high school visits scheduled for late September, but I can cancel them if the Mets need me.

[Guest Edgy DC]

All Mets too.

Any replacement now would be hired on an interim basis, so it shouldn't put a hold on an axing of Jerry if that's what they've decided.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Sick of him here, too, but that's not the main reason I'm with Kase.

He's displayed poor judgement regarding usage/development of young arms (Mejia, e.g.) and seems to be useless during long Septembers (Tatis/Reed/Sullivan over Evans/anyone else with a future, e.g.). So he REALLY doesn't need to be here.

I could live with Backman as a caretaker, since he'd essentially be doing the same job up here that he's doing now, with a little less teaching and a few more media responsibilities. (I don't quite get the clamor for him as a permanent candidate, either. Well, I get it, but it just strikes me as dumb.)

[G-Fafif]

This is from Adam Rubin, though I swear it could be from The Onion:

Manuel did acknowledge the Mets will have a subpar defensive outfield Wednesday against the Braves. Going from Jeff Francoeur to Chris Carter in right field is going from the team's best arm to worst arm. Lucas Duda is a converted first baseman still learning the position. And Carlos Beltran has diminished range with his arthritic knee and clunky brace. Manuel did note that at least Mike Pelfrey is a groundball pitcher. "Whoooo, Lord have mercy," Manuel said with a laugh when asked about the outfield defense. "C'mon now. What time are we playing tomorrow? I've got to tell Pelfrey, 'Keep that thing down.'"

This, too, actually:

Manuel wanted to give newly acquired Joaquin Arias a start -- perhaps in the outfield -- but didn't think the ex-Ranger would be ready because he has been idle for two weeks. Arias had been designated for assignment by Texas. "My understanding is he can play everywhere," Manuel said. "My understanding is he has played some games at first base this year. My understanding is that he has played second base. My understanding also is that he's played center field. If he had been playing let's say two or three days ago, he might have been a guy I put in the outfield just because he's athletic. ... It would be tough for him to be available today because he has not played in two or three weeks. We're just trying to get him acclimated to just being back in a uniform. It would have to be an emergency for me to put him out there today."

[metirish]

Just like Frenchy Jerry always has that smile and ready laugh, he must be a stand up guy too.

[Guest Edgy DC]

"My understanding is he can play everywhere," Manuel said. "My understanding is he has played some games at first base this year. My understanding is that he has played second base. My understanding also is that he's played center field."

My understanding is that your understanding has been wanting.

[seawolf17]

G-Fafif wrote: "My understanding is he can play everywhere," Manuel said. "My understanding is he has played some games at first base this year. My understanding is that he has played second base. My understanding also is that he's played center field."

Funny, because my fifteen-second-long check of B-R.com tells me hasn't played anywhere outside the infield since he started in professional ball in 2002, at age 17. You know what, Jerry? I played center field in Little League. Doesn't mean I'm qualified to play there now.

[Valadius]

The sooner we can replace the Jerry Manuel Managing Unit the better. HoJo's gotta go, and I've never cared for Razor Shines, I view him as a waste of space. Let him go back to hawking Aquafina.

[Zvon]

I know they never do this, but I would not mind if we kept Jerry on as a coach, like he was before he was given the helm.

Do you feel like I do?

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's done occasionally with interim managers. Frank Howard returned to the coaching staff in 1984 after managing the last 113 games in 1983.

[G-Fafif]

Cubbage and McMillan both came back as coaches after their inte-reigns.

[ashie62]

Axe them all and start a "memories of" link.

[Guest Edgy DC]

You sure like the blood.

I'ts worth noting that Jerry's reign started as the fifith interim manager in Mets history.

[Centerfield]

Interesting quote. Jerry on Lucas Duda:

�I was really impressed with his swing during batting practice. Just from what I observed today, from a defensive player and what I observed during batting practice, I think they�re going to have to find a place for this young man to play, here in the major leagues next year. Again, I hope I�m right, because he looks like the type of guy who can produce runs immediately and that is something that is lacking here."

Maybe I'm reading into this too much, but it seems like Jerry realizes that whoever is filling out the lineup card next year, it's not going to be him.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Without reading your comments, I read it the same way.

Hey, maybe the Mets are keeping him on to improve thier draft position! They've got to have moved up at least 10 slots since the All Star break. Or maybe since Puerto Rico.

[Zvon]

Edgy DC wrote: Without reading your comments, I read it the same way. Hey, maybe the Mets are keeping him on to improve thier draft position! They've got to have moved up at least 10 slots since the All Star break. Or maybe since Puerto Rico.

That really was the turning point in our season, wasn't it.
I remember then saying I hope I don't look back and think that was the case.
But I am and I do.

[ashie62]

It was for Jose Reyes at bare minimum.