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May 26, 2005
Free Heath Bell (again)
Why in the world is Heath Bell pitching 2 innings with a 9 run lead? [Insert some joke about saving Mike DeJean's 2.06 WHIP for high-leverage situations here] 18 Responses to “Free Heath Bell (again)”Leave a ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment. |
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Better question, Why in the world is Willie Randolph managing a Major League Baseball team?
You know, though it may seem that way, I don’t actually hate Randolph. I’m just completely baffled by some of his moves. Take today, for example. In the 6th or 7th inning, Piazza gets a walk. With the Mets up by nine, you’d expect a pinch-runner, no? Well, not with Willie. Not only does he not pinch-run for him, but he takes Piazza out of the game after the inning is over. Now, if you are putting DiFelice into the game, why wouldn’t you make him, and not your 36-37 year old catcher, run the bases? Was this a brain cramp, or does Randolph believe its sound stretegy for his catcher to risk injury and tire himself in a 12-3 ballgame?
Yes, this is for the most part insignificant, but all these little moves add up. I know I’ll go insane today if Mike “2.06 WHIP” DeJean pitches in a close ballgame because Bell is unavailable.
I know exactly what you mean, Ricardo. I think Willie is a good guy, a stand-up guy, with a good personality and a good attitude. But he’s just not too bright. Or maybe he’s just uncomfortable still and his cognitive processes are impared. But there’s not a single game where he doesn’t make at least a few boneheaded decision. I can’t think of a single cleanly managed game, though those aren’t the most salient categories. And you can say managers always make bad moves, but I don’t ever remember a manager being this obviously situationally inept.
I heard Mike Francesca talk to Randolph on Wednesday and Mike asked him about Heath, Randolph said he likes him and that Bell is never pressured by big time situations. Why this means Randolph doesn’t play him more I can’t figure out. Randolph said so manu nice things about him but what he should do is give him the ball.
Heath Bell looked terrific last night. Granted, the game was a laugher (which im not complaining about)but he was throwing some nice cheddar and just overwhelming the Marlins hitters. Easley boots that taylor made double play ball to basically lose the game, but than he makes a webgem on I believe it was Valent’s smash to second base, thats why you gotta love baseball.
Willie really needs a good bench coach, as he does a lot of important things well:
- He seems to be a players’ manager. He’s a stand-up guy that the players like. Probably learned a lot from Torre here. This is really important. Can’t be underestimated.
- He believes in putting the best 9 out there every day, and doesn’t overmanage. Also very important.
Those are 2 crucial “big” things that he does well, and why I can see him being an effective manager for a while. However, as many on this site have correctly noted he does a lot of the little things wrong. A lot. My hope is that he gets a smart bench coach, and/or learns over time how to manage in the national league.
Bryan beat me to the punch on that point. Sandy Alomar has been in the biz for long enough that he should be all over this stuff. Our 1st base coach is interviewing for the KC job. Do you think the coaches are hesitant to offer advice? Very good point about Piazza Ricardo.
I really don’t understand the support for Willie at all. Sure, he seems like a good guy, that doesn’t excuse from being so ill prepared for this job that he’s still learning after two months. If Willie had been here for a year or more, I think everyone would be calling for his head. He simply shouldn’t need an adjustment period.
And I think that a player’s manager would make it so that results mattered. If his players stunk (Piazza, Ishii, Zambrano, DeJean) they get moved down in the lineup or demoted to the bullpen or demoted to the minors. If they’re good (Wright, Bell, Heilman) they get moved up in the lineup or pitch more important innings.
“Willie really needs a good bench coach”
I think you have it wrong: Willie IS a good bench coach…unfortunately, for the Mets, he is also the manager and he is a TERRIBLE manager.
Tell me, does willie:
- bring in the correct pitchers? (No.)
- write up a lineup card that maximizes the potential of his best players? (Definitely not.)
- make substitutions at the right time? (Obviously not, see post #2 above for one of many examples)
So other than be a good “clubhouse guy” (i.e. bench coach), what does he do well?
I think he’s a more interesting personality than Howe, but it would be a miracle if he lasts longer than Art. This team is FAR more talented and is performing at the same level.
I am as mixed on Willie as anyone here - I really like the guy, and I think he does a lot of positives for this team, but some of his decision are DRIVING ME INSANE!!!! Although, it was nice to see Wright at least in the 6 spot - not perfect, but better than 7th or 8th!
One thing I think we need to give Willie credit for is he keeps this team from panicking - they started 0-5, he kept calm, they surged back. Everytime the team goes into a funk, he keeps the ship steady and the team responds. That is a very important trait.
Honestly, I wish Bowa accepted a job as our bench coach - he is a disaster as a manager (but since the Phillies still suck, how bad was he really?), but he is a helluva good in game decision maker.
I honestly think that Bryan hit the nail on the head - Willie needs a top flight bench coach. Hell - I’m available!
I forgot to write: FREE BOBBY VALENTINE
(seriously. please.)
To Tim in LA: Not to defend Willie, but he’s not the most “obviously situationally inept” inept manager we’ve had. Remember Bud Harrelson? Nice guy, but totally out of his depth. The one that sticks in my mind is a game in Atlanta when he pulled David Cone, who was pitching a dominant two-hitter and had retired about 15 in a row, after he gave up a bloop single in the 7th inning. Replaced him with Jeff Musselman to pitch to a left-hander. The thought process apparently was, “The book says I’m supposed to go lefty against lefty, so . . . .” It didn’t occur to Buddy that the rule might be different when dealing with a dominant right-hander on top of his game and a crappy left-hander. Don’t know why that one sticks in my head; there were a trillion examples.
sure there is not a bit of racism here? the worst manager ever? would you say that about a white manager? would you give a white manager a little more slack? give him more than a month and a half. spare me the hyperbole. i may not agree with everything he has done but has anyone fired a manager after a month and a half? that would be the shortest noose in the history of pro sports. you guys need to take your blood pressure pills. everything is willies fault, everything is rick petersons fault. and everything that is good is good in spite of them.
rangers fired bryan trottier like 40 games into his first stint as coaching…that was hockey though
so strickland signs a minor league deal with houston…can someone tell me how he can be ranked lower than aybar or dejean?? IDIOTS
sure there is not a bit of racism here? the worst manager ever? would you say that about a white manager? would you give a white manager a little more slack?
Who called Willie the worst manager ever? Not one in this thread did. In fact, it seems that people here have mixed feelings about him. As for the racist accusation, well, I dont know what to say. Randolph is the manager for a team that plays in the biggest media capital in the world, criticism comes with the territory and I have to say that most of it is well deserved (Marlon Anderson battting higher than Wright? Using a 40 year old relief pitcher 5 straight days? Come on). Not only that, but Randolph gets a LOT more slack than Howe did, both in the media and among fans, so I really dont understand why you think he is getting the short stick here.
That’s how many Mets reliever to Houston in less than 12 months. Griffiths, Weathers, Wheeler, Franco and now Strickland.
willie’s our herm edwards. luckily, from april to october at least, baseball teams win in spite of their managers a whole lot more than football teams do.