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Former Mets manager Davey Johnson has been announced as a manager for the Futures game on July 15 at Yankee Stadium. He’ll be opposed by Tino Martinez. Davey’s also managing the USA Olympic trial team in an exhibition game on July 13 before the Beijing Games in August.
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Not to be outdone by the Mets, the Mariners fired manager John McLaren today. This follows GM Bill Bavasi’s firing on Monday. Bench coach Jim Riggleman will take over the major’s worst team with a record of 25-47. Their putrid performance mixed with their $117 million opening day payroll proved to be a bad combination for McLaren.
The amazing thing about this story is that McLaren was the SECOND manager fired this season. How could he keep his job for longer than Willie Randolph?
There’s a lot to talk about today. The Mets are taking a major change of direction. I want to hear what you have to say. So let’s chat tonight in The Mets Report Game Chat room. Click above on “Game Chat” on the navigation bar or just click here. It’s a late night game at 10:05pm but I’ll see you in the chat room.
Lenny Dykstra is the subject of a scathing column in Forbes.com this month entitled “Piggyback”. I won’t get into the legal mumbo jumbo but it basically says that Nails has a shadow stock picker working behind the scenes to make him appear successful.
The column describes in gory detail Nails’ failed deal to work with Doubledown Media, LLC and the lawsuits and counter suits that have ensued.
I don’t typically scour Forbes.com but did take notice of the post on Deadspin.
Although the Arizona Diamond Backs have been struggling nearly as badly as the Mets have over the past month, they come into New York fully loaded with starting pitchers. Micah Owings, Brandon Webb, and Dan Haren give the Mets reason for pause this week.
The Mets struggles are well documented, both from a seasonal perspective and from the debacle in San Diego last week. But they certainly expected to come home, get some veterans off the disabled list, and get right against the D-Backs and Rangers. After last night it’s clear that the Mets will continue to find ways to lose even with their "A" roster and at home.
Facing Brandon Webb and Dan Haren over the next two days provides the real possibility that the Mets losing streak could run to seven straight games. Webb is currently on pace to win 29 games this season. Take a look at his last ten games:
Brandon Webb Game Log Source: MLB.com
Other than a bad game in Atlanta on May 26 he’s been consistently solid or fantastic. So there’s no room for error tonight for Mike Pelfrey. The Mets offense will need to make the most of every chance to score that they get. Considering Pelfrey’s inconsistency this season and the Mets team batting line of .254/ .331/ .392 the chances are that’s an unlikely scenario.
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Former Met and current SNY analyst Darryl Strawberry will be at the Rockefeller Center store tomorrow June 10th from 6:00pm-7:00pm for an autograph signing. He’ll be signing copies of “New York Mets: Essential Games of Shea Stadium” and “Shea Goodbye: 45 Years of Amazin'” DVD sets. The address is 559 5th Avenue.
Hopefully, he now understands the tax implications of an autograph signing after this judgment that was signed by a judge in February 2008.
Remember to enter the MetsReport.com contest to win a free copy of the “New York Mets: Essentials Games of Shea Stadium” DVD set.
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The Philadelphia Phillies are starting to pull away from the pack in the National League East. They’re now 6.5 games ahead of the fourth place Mets. Actually, the Mets record is closer to the last place Washington Nationals than it is the first place Phillies.
Despite the Mets early season problems, I’ve been telling myself “It’s still early in the season” and “We’re still within striking distance of first place”. But neither of those statements is true anymore. It’s not early in the season anymore, and we’re not within striking distance of first place.
The Phillies are 8-2 in their last ten games and the Mets are 5-5, a microcosm of their season. Just wading along waiting for some player to catch fire but it doesn’t happen. The Mets have scored 54 fewer runs than the Phillies this season, and the Mets dismal 13-20 road record is the mark of a team going nowhere.
Two weeks ago the Wilpons met with Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya to discuss the state of the team. There was a brief surge and blast of energy by the team, mostly by bench players including Fernando Tatis and Endy Chavez.
But the bench players have been exposed as who they are. Good bench players that are better off seen in small doses. The Mets regulars just can’t get anything going on a consistent basis offensively.
Without changes made, this team will continue to scuffle along at or near .500. It’s time for Minaya to make a move, whether it be letting hitting coach Howard Johnson go or bring in an offensive player like a Kevin Millar. Or maybe it’s time to get more drastic and let Randolph go… Before the season is completely lost.
The Mets Report 