Tag: Jerry Manuel

Mets Bullpen May Be Their Undoing

It’s become almost impossible for me to watch the Mets now. And this should be the most exciting time of the season. We’re right in the playoff hunt and there’s only one week left in the regular season. The Phillies and Brewers have had their own problems at various times this season. The Mets are better than both of them, or they should be.

At the All-Star break I would’ve told you that if the Mets don’t make the playoffs in 2008 it’s because Carlos Delgado can’t hit anymore or Moises Alou is injured again. But Delgado can, and has, hit and the left field combination of Daniel Murphy, Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis, and Nick Evans has worked.

Now it’s readily apparent to every Mets fan that if the Mets don’t make the playoffs it’s the bullpen’s fault. Johan Santana should have 20+ wins right now. He’s been victimized more than anyone save the fans. And the bullpen may cost Jerry Manuel a well-deserved shot at managing this team for the next three or four years.

Take a look at the Mets statistics in releif appearances this season. But don’t look at it right after eating. You might lose your lunch. If you go to MLB.com, click Stats, then select the Mets, pitching stats, in relief appearances you’ll see all of the Mets relief appearance stats and it isn’t a pretty sight.

I won’t even single anyone in the bullpen out because they’ve all been so bad. It’s time to move Bobby Parnell to the top of the heap. Could he be worse than what we’ve already seen? I don’t think so.

Report: Jerry Manuel Expected To Return in 2009

CBS Sports senior baseball writer Danny Knobler wrote a column yesterday about managers that will be returning next season. We already knew that Cito Gaston would be back in Toronto next year, but Knobler also writes that Jerry Manuel is expected back with the Mets.

I’d be shocked if Manuel didn’t come back next year. The 2008 season has turned around dramatically since he took over. He’s accomplished the only thing that he really has control over: motivating the players to reach or exceed their potential. His in-game decisions are solid, if not innovative. He’s not driving us crazy by batting the pitchers eighth in the lineup or anything silly like that. I’d be hard-pressed to come up with an argument not to bring him back.

Image via Wikimedia