batmagadanleadoff wrote: I'm liking Manuel a lot so far. For starters, two starters have really come around since Manuel took over. We've all been watching and reading about Pelfrey's development, especially since yesterday's team shutout over the Rockies. Perez has been even better than Pelfrey over the last two weeks, and is the Mets best pitcher over that time frame. I don't know how much credit Manuel and Warthen deserve for this, if any. Perhaps this is flukey or something that was destined to happen whether or not Randolph was fired. Still, the emergence of Pelfrey and Perez did happen on Manuel and Warthen's watch. As far as what I can directly attribute to Manuel, I can't recall a first inning sacrifice bunt since Randolph's firing. While I don't mind a first inning sac bunt once in a while, especially to throw the opposition off guard, I detested Randolph's virtually automatic non-discretionary sac bunting of the #2 hitter as soon as Reyes lead off a game by getting on base. I'm also happy to see Castro getting more playing time. This came a year too late for the Mets, however. Castro's bat is too potent to be kept on the bench as much as it was under Willie. I also like Manuel's comment about disregarding player salaries when determining who will play. Of course, salary is a sunk cost that has no bearing on future performance. I'd like to see a stronger hitter in the #2 hole, but I'm willing to give Manuel some slack here, recognizing the Mets current injury situation and the players Manuel has to work with. Given the composition of these Mets, Ryan Church would make a terrific #2 hitter, and, if I remember correctly, did bat second in one of the two games he started for Manuel before revisiting the DL. So far, Manuel's been terrific. Met managers, going back to Davey Johnson (an arbitrary cutoff point) have been boom or bust. I loved Johnson and Valentine and considered every other one to be severely flawed in one way or another, if not borderline incompetent. It's unusual for the Mets to land good managerial talent. I wouldn't mind if Manuel stays. The Mets could do a lot worse. I was thinking of starting this same topic here, coincidentally. I agree with all of this. Plus there is the benefit of the "cleansed palate," getting rid of Randolph who stunk of last October no matter what he or anyone else said otherwise.