Let's Fire Ramirez and Barwis

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't want to be one of those smarty-farty, revenge-focused fans but I think it's time we whacked Ray Ramirez, Mike Barwis and their staffs.

Ramirez at this point predates nearly everyone in the front office: He was hired by Omar in fall of '04, prior to his getting Wee Willie Smallballs!

Ramirez and Omar shared that NY-to-Texas-Rangers connection that a lot of his early guys seemed to have. The hiring came after the Jose Reyes Debacle of 2004 when for a time the Mets felt they needed to teach him how to run. Interestingly the Mets framed the Ramirez hiring as a way to get guys back from injury sooner than they had under Scott Lawrenson.

Not that I'm clamoring for Lawrenson back but it's interesting to see the career trajectory: Post-Mets, he became an assistant Nationals trainer, then onto Liberty U and now Randolph College in VA.

[Edgy MD]

I don't know how to assess trainers. I'm not going to defend Ray Ramirez, but I just don't know how to proceed.

With regard to Barwis, though, that video you posted of him and his scratchy-voiced screaming at his clients as they RAGE-lift, with TERRIBLE leverage over the weights, was all I needed. Cashiered. My wife watched 10 seconds of that and was convinced he broke David Wright's back.

I'm also curious about the relationship of Barwis and Dustin Clarke. Is Barwis more of the consultant, working with players in the offseason, but only corresponding with them during the season, while Clarke travels with the team and supervises the gym? Is Barwis Clarke's guy or is Clarke Barwis' guy or are they both independent hires with separate but equal authority?

[fimg=102]https://metsinpeace.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dustin-clarke-1.jpg[/fimg]

[Ceetar]

I feel about Ramirez much the same was as Terry. I think they're probably 'fine' and probably have benefits I don't know about. There are top-flight guys out there that would do a much better job but I don't have faith in the Mets finding/hiring them.

I don't know about Barwis though. I know a lot of other people use him as well, and hell, a lot of Mets were using him already and would presumably continue to do so if the Mets removed him from PSL. The benefit of hiring him was having him in house and under the same roof so that your players are nearby and not in Michigan.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: With regard to Barwis, though, that video you posted of him and his scratchy-voiced screaming at his clients as they RAGE-lift, with TERRIBLE leverage over the weights, was all I needed. Cashiered. My wife watched 10 seconds of that and was convinced he broke David Wright's back.

Yup.

[Edgy MD]

[youtube:13gbtnlm]EHxoAwM_DE0[/youtube:13gbtnlm]

[Guest 41Forever]

The foul ball to the face type of injuries and collisions are things that just happen.

But it seems like we have an abnormal number of soft tissue injuries. I'm in no way an expert in these kinds of things. But it does seem like whatever they are doing now isn't working.

I went to some spring games this year and was surprised by the size of the Barwis building that's attached to the stadium. I don't know if it was there before and re-purposed for Barwis or is a new build, but it seems like a pretty big operation.

[Ceetar]

41Forever wrote: The foul ball to the face type of injuries and collisions are things that just happen. But it seems like we have an abnormal number of soft tissue injuries. I'm in no way an expert in these kinds of things. But it does seem like whatever they are doing now isn't working. I went to some spring games this year and was surprised by the size of the Barwis building that's attached to the stadium. I don't know if it was there before and re-purposed for Barwis or is a new build, but it seems like a pretty big operation.

they did do recent renovations.

[metirish]

This is a great thread, I remember a game a few months back and Keith and Gary basically defending Ray Ramirez on the telecast, I was taken aback as it seemed odd that they would feel the need to defend a head trainor.

[A Boy Named Seo]

metirish wrote: This is a great thread, I remember a game a few months back and Keith and Gary basically defending Ray Ramirez on the telecast, I was taken aback as it seemed odd that they would feel the need to defend a head trainor.

Passionately defended Ramirez. Wasn't Ronnie on it, too? I remembered being pretty surprised by it, too.

[metirish]

A Boy Named Seo wrote: metirish wrote: This is a great thread, I remember a game a few months back and Keith and Gary basically defending Ray Ramirez on the telecast, I was taken aback as it seemed odd that they would feel the need to defend a head trainor. Passionately defended Ramirez. Wasn't Ronnie on it, too? I remembered being pretty surprised by it, too.

Yeah maybe Ron was there too, and yeah they sounded like his agent, but you know they are all likely friends

[Edgy MD]

There's not a single season undermined by injuries, with any team, where there aren't widespread calls for the trainers to be axed.

Maybe he should, but not for the sake of fans calling for scapegoat blood. And I think the the booth conversation was in response to scapegoating. And reminding folks that (1) these are human beings, and (2) we have no idea what they do and how much science and devotion go into their jobs.

Which, again, doesn't mean a change isn't necessarily warranted. But let's talk about the right move for the right reasons.

[Benjamin Grimm]

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Mets sticking with strength coach despite slew of injuries

[Guest cooby]

I wonder if any players would object to doing that stuff to themselves and if they'd be allowed not to.

Does that sentence make sense?

[Benjamin Grimm]

You're asking if players could decline to work with Barwis? I would imagine that they can.

[Guest cooby]

Yes! That's what I meant lol

[Edgy MD]

“You can say the team went to the World Series two years ago and the playoffs last year with Barwis, so maybe this is just an anomaly,” another source said.

Well, you could say the same about Ruben Tejada, but I don't see any overcooked loyalty directed at him.