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Monday, June 28, 2010

Jerry Manuel is not a good manager

Only a few weeks ago, Jerry Manuel's firing seemed imminent. The fans were all calling for his head, and they were doing it for all the wrong reasons.

"Look at their record!" they'd chant, as if Manuel could physically manipulate all of the twenty-five men on the roster, as if he was just a man with a chessboard. They had the right ideas, but followed an illogical path to get to them.

Now, these same people shout the same four words, "Look at their record!" to halt any intimations that Mr. Manuel really should be out of a job. They say that the team is winning FOR Jerry, as if the team would dissolve under any other manager. Sorry to break your heart traditionalists, but the Mets are winning simply because they are a good ballclub.

Jerry Manuel should have been out of a job in April, in May, and even now, as the team stands 11 games over .500 and .5 games back in the NL East, he doesn't deserve to continue holding his position. A drunk, blind man given a rifle and an unlimited supply of bullets will hit his target every once in a while. That's just basic probability. If he's lucky and hits the target on the first try, that still doesn't make him a great marksman.

Friday, June 25, 2010

My Endorsement in the Mets GM Primaries



Though Howard Megdal is certainly a strong and admirable candidate for the position of New York Mets general manager, I feel that my blog's endorsement must go to a candidate who we have the utmost faith in. In my opinion, the candidate that best satisfies that need is Alex Cora's vest.

Alex Cora's 80-game vest has been a part of Mets lore since the winter of 2009, when it was included in Cora's contract extension. It's been with us through the hard times (that disastrous series in Philly in early May, Maine's 5 pitch start in Washington) and through the good times (the 8 game winning streak, Jon Niese's 1-hitter). Its presence is felt anytime Alex comes into a game.

So, when you go into the voting booth, write in "Alex Cora's vest". It's the right thing to do. My apologies to Mr. Megdal.