Well you might be wondering why i'm saying Jerry needs to go. I mean after all, the mets have had a hell of a week. 35 plus shut out innings, a shut out sweep of the phils, taking two out of three from the yanks. And really, the mets are not in bad shape. They are second in the NL in strikeouts with 373. Second in triples and steals with 15 and 48 respectively. So why are we having this discussion? Why is fire jerry a trending topic on twitter? its simple, this team is winning in spite of him.
Jerry does not know how to manage a bullpen. Perfect example, tonight's game. Johan Santana pitched a hell of a game as usual. But jerry yanks him after 105 pitches. now i can kind of see the logic in that. The brewers were starting to get a good read on his pitches, hitting some balls very hard. So you bring in Pedro Feliciano, who is so far having a good season....2.21 ERA, 18 strikeouts in roughly 21 innings. He gets Prince Fielder, one of the best power hitters in the game, out on one pitch. So what does jerry do?? He takes out Pedro and puts in ryota igarashi, who promptly gives up a walk off home run. Igarashi just got off the DL and nearly blew the game against the yanks. Why do you make that move? Besides the stats Pedro has put up this year, this past week he has been one of the best pitchers out of the pen, regardless of whether he's facing a righty or a lefty. this game hinged on pitching, and when it came down to it, jery made the absolutely wrong decision.
And its not just the pitching. Can jerry please explain why time and time again he puts Alex Cora in the starting lineup and batting second no less? Now, i like Cora as a person. He's a good solid vet to have around the young guys on the team. But he is not and has never been a go to guy. Luis Castillo when he is healthy can hit in that number two spot...he knows how to take pitches, get on base, etc....but jerry is obsessed with letting Cora play. Here's an idea...teach ruben tejada to play second. Don't tell me you wouldn't love to see him and reyes turning double plays. But that will never happen as long as jerry is at the helm. He has his "boys" and will stick with them no matter what.
Now i know some of you are thinking well all managers do that, shoot look at the yanks and girardi and texieria...he stays in even though he struggles. But here's the deal...everyone knows Texieria starts slow, but he will put up numbers. Jerry's guys have no business starting on a team that needs to prove themselves and contend. If jerry is around when Beltran finally comes back, how much do you want to bet he starts him over pagan even though angel is having one of his best years both offensively and defensively?
the mets need to make changes...they have they young talent to build on. As Ron Darling said, itsno longer the scholarship players, its the walk ons. you need to play guys like pagan, and carter, and mejia. jerry does not understand that. he is in the mind frame of oh you're a vet making massive money? OK you play even though you're batting .182. The mets need a coach who understands how to blend young guys with vet talent. I've said it before, they need someone like Joe Madden down in Tampa. Someone who understands rome wasn't built in a day.
as for who replaces jerry, there's no clear answer. Wally Backman and Howard Johnson would be good, but I think they need more experience beore they can take over a major league club. I've heard a lot of people clamoring for Joe Torre or Lou Pinella, but at this stage of the game, neither is the right fit.
So i leave it up to the Wilpons...its your money, do you want to see it wasted again on a manager who makes him team lose rather then makes them better? the choice is yours



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