Tag: Joe Torre

Baseball Bloggers Alliance Day 2010

I don’t want to harp on this but a quick mention that I’m a member of the Baseball Bloggers Alliance. Although this may not be significant for most of you, there are some tangible benefits from joining a group of like-minded individuals. You’re probably already aware of that concept because you’re reading this blog. We’re all Mets fans. That allows us to virtually “gather” here and on other sites to hang our heads at the state of this franchise.

The alliance has exposed me to some incredible work that writers are doing on the Mets and other teams. There is a lot of talent out there and some opinions and research that you would never find in the mainstream media. I’ve participated in podcasts and worked with Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation and Pitch In For Baseball to discuss our members supporting their events.  It’s been a great experience in my first season of participation and I’m looking forward to a future of growth and exposure to new opportunities with the group.

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Mets Managerial Search Foreshadows Decision Making

New York Mets new general manager Sandy Alderson responds to a reporter's question as the MLB National League Mets introduce him at a news conference in New York, October 29, 2010. Long-time baseball executive Alderson, 62, succeeds Omar Minaya, who was fired earlier this month along with manager Jerry Manuel after the team's second consecutive losing season. REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASEBALL)

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsDecisions made by upper management are their decisions to make with good reason. The opinions of sports talk gurus are only slightly more knowledgeable than the “Average Joe” getting bagels at the deli. The media covering the Mets poke blindly at who is the “obvious” or “necessary” pick for manager. The finalists for the Mets managerial job should tell the media and fans one thing “back off”. The new front office has an idea of what they want to do and they’re not going to be bullied by the masses who have little to no expertise on the subject matter.

Bobby Valentine has been left off the list and Wally Backman is looking destined for Single A. In the past I have lobbied for Backman, but I have to admit I just like my managers to be more Earl Weaver than Joe Torre. I like the Lou Pinella types who throw a tirade. I even like when players pull a Paul LoDuca and get in A-Rod’s face after a second too long pose down following a homer. In these situations, it’s best to see Alderson conducting his interviews without input from fans and the media know-it-alls.

Truth be told, the outcry from New Yorkers over unpopular decisions needs to be ignored continuously. Don’t pretend you weren’t looking for a tall building to scale after R.A. Dickey was signed. Continue reading “Mets Managerial Search Foreshadows Decision Making”

Pepsi Refresh Project- Joe Torre Safe At Home

The month of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, brings with it an exciting opportunity for our Foundation and the children whose lives we affect.  The Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation has been selected by Pepsi to compete for a $250,000 grant and the only way to ensure our success is through the support of our friends and their commitment to voting!  This grant will go to our signature programming initiative, Margaret’s Place, a safe room in schools that works to promote awareness, prevent violence, and intervene in high-risk situations.

Please take a moment to VOTE EVERY DAY in the month of OCTOBER – We are asking you to reach out to your contacts and embark on a recruiting campaign as an official teammate of the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation!  We truly believe in our chance to win this grant and change the lives of countless children who are affected by abuse, but we know we cannot do it alone.  We need your support and the support of your friends and families!  Please click the link below, sign up for Pepsi Refresh and vote EVERY DAY IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.

Each person is allowed to vote once a day online and via text and you’ll need a simple sign up to get started on the Pepsi website.  You can even sign in using your Facebook account!

1.       Go to the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation‘s page

2.       Click on the “Vote for this idea” button

3.       If you haven’t registered or signed in, you will be prompted to do so

4.       After you have signed in, make sure you click the “Vote for this idea” button

(The button will disappear once you have voted for us)

  1. After you vote, you can easily promote our idea on Facebook and Twitter!
  2. Let us know if you have any questions!  It will be posted on the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation website and Facebook page every day for easy access to the website!

We also encourage you to vote via text every day!

Text 103254 to the number 73774 (Pepsi).

Put it on your calendar!  Set an alarm!  Keep those votes coming!

THANK YOU!

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Mets Links: Joe Torre, Dysfunction, Team Photo

Joe Torre Manager
Image via Wikipedia

I’m clearing out the list of links that I’ve been holding onto now that the Mets are mathematically eliminated from NL East contention. They’re still 11 games behind the Giants for the wild card with 13 games left to play though! Keep holding out hope.

Yahoo Sports– Jeff Passan wrote a scathing column about the dysfunctional Mets. He squarely lays blame on Jeff Wilpon for running the team into the ground. It’s a good read and, although harsh, it’s hard to argue with his points.

Daily News – Mike Lupica writes about the possibility of the Mets bringing Joe Torre back 30 years later with Wally Backman as his bench coach. I find this really hard to believe on several levels. I can’t see Torre wanting to manage a team in disarray. And I can’t see low-key Torre and high-strung Backman as a good fit together.

ESPN – Adam Rubin writes that the Mets will PhotoShop Johan Santana into the 2010 team photo but K-Rod won’t be included. It’s another sign that he won’t be back with the Mets next season for the final year of his contract.

Daily News – Kevin Mitchell will stand trial for punching a guy on a golf course that said something Mitchell didn’t like. It’s certainly not Mitchell’s first run-in with fist-to-cuffs.

MetsBlog – The Mets have been calling season ticket holders offering them free tickets to one of the final games of this season. The seats have been empty, so why not have some bodies in the park buying food and concessions?

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Mets’ Managerial Possibilities for 2011

28 Feb 2002 : Manager Bobby Valentine of the New York mets during the Spring Training game against the St.Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals won 5-2. DIGTAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Eliot Schechter/Getty Images

http://view.picapp.com//JavaScripts/OTIjs.jsWith the inevitable end of Jerry Manuel’s tenure in blue and orange looming down the homestretch of another dreadful Mets season, the question on every fan’s mind is who will be his successor come 2011. There are the obvious and popular “sexy” choices to take reigns, as well as the low profile names who have had success within the organization. Here’s my take on the possible candidates:

Bobby Valentine
The Mets manager from the end of the 1996 season through 2002, Valentine has proved he is capable of bringing rejuvenation to the franchise, but the question is at how high a price it would cost this time around? Bobby V. is a New York guy with a New York attitude and exercises the underdog persona that the Mets fan base can cling to. On paper, the teams he brought to the playoffs in ’99 and 2000 were very ordinary. However, he got the most out of his rosters and put a scrappy, competitive, and excuse-free product on the field. There has been a lot of speculation about how interested the organization is in bringing Valentine back to Queens. We have reason to believe that Mets people were in his ear when he bowed out of the Marlins managerial candidacy earlier in the season. Continue reading “Mets’ Managerial Possibilities for 2011”

On Deck: May 29 Dodgers-Mets

Los Angeles Dodgers (26-26) at New York Mets (25-26) 7:10pm

Brad Penny (5-5 5.32) vs. Claudio Vargas (1-2 3.93)

TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets, winners of two in a row, suddenly appear to be alive after two months of slumber. The second place Dodgers and Joe Torre are in town for four games. The Mets usually have Brad Penny’s number, but shouldn’t take him for granted. He’s still a big right handed power arm. Claudio Vargas is auditioning to keep his job when Pedro gets back next week. We’ll see if Willie keeps the same or similar alternate lineup that he’s won with the last two nights.