In most sports, the person in charge of the team is called Coach. Coaches are a combination of motivator, evaluator and tactician. Football coaches run “Programs”, Basketball and Hockey coaches have “Systems” but what do Baseball Managers have? Well, they “manage”.

Baseball managers do more managing of personalities and keeping players happy than doing much tactical maneuvers. Sure they have to know when to go to the bullpen and when to go to the bench but it’s not like they are re-inventing the game or spending nights pouring over film to get an edge on their opponent. In baseball, your edge is your next days starting pitcher.

In his book “Evaluating Baseball’s Managers” (MacFarland) Chris Jaffe writes the ultimate book on the effect of baseball managers on their team’s success and failure. Jaffe uses a combination of statistics and in depth analysis to examine the role of mangers through out the history of baseball.

Jaffe takes each team in MLB and focuses on the role of managers who have worked in full seasons for their team. Jaffe was kind enough to send me an excerpt of the Mets managers in the book.

Jaffe makes the case for Casey Stengel never having players of talent until he was hired by the Yankees. Before his success in the Bronx, Stengel struggled in the NL with Brooklyn and Boston, to the point where he went to the Pacific League to run the Oakland Oaks to redeem himself.  Gil Hodges falls in a similar category as Stengel where he didn’t have much talent with the Washington Senators but was perfect for an up and coming young Mets team. Davey Johnson is portrayed as an underrated skipper and Bobby Valentine being the most active manager as it pertains to in game moves and the use of his 25 man roster. Jaffe makes the case that Art Howe and the Mets were not and should not have been a match as Howe was more suited to running a club of younger players and also suffered the stigma of being portrayed as a puppet of Billy Beane as seen through the pages of Moneyball.

Jaffe has taken on a subject that has not been fully represented. This book will appeal to both the stat head and the fan of the written word.

After reading the excerpt on the Mets managers, I look forward to picking up a copy of Evaluating Baseball Mangers just for the sections on Joe McCarthy, Connie Mack and the immortal John McGraw.

First, shut the fuck up about injuries. In public anyway.  I hate to be redundant here but does Omar and the rest of the short bus management team have a plan? If they do can we here about it or see it in action because right now I don’t if the organization is pro active or just sitting with a pat hand? Do they have a handle on the rehab of the injured players and a time table for their return? I doubt it very much. Just reading the reports from St. Lonesome on John Maine makes you shake your head and wonder what the fuck is going on here? 

If they are pro active it’s going to be tough to land what they need, a starting pitcher and a big bat as just about every team other than the Nats, A’s and maybe the Indians could be ready to deal right now.  So if you want Adam Dunn, Nick Johnson, Matt Holiday or Victor Martinez they could be had but ask yourself this, what do the Mets have that they can get back what they need ?

I tell you this if anyone wants Fernando Martinez they can have him. To say I’ve not been impressed is an understatement. F-Mart is like the girl you chased throughout high school to go out with you and when you finally land that date you find her company is underwhelming. The biggest factor in the kids favor is, he is only 20 years old and has time to blossom but after this audition in the big leagues he looks like Alex Ochoa to me.

So would you trade Bobby Parnell? As good as Parnell had been we have to remember he’s a reliever and it’s suspect if he will ever be more than a reliever and that’s not a knock as it take at least three pitchers to finish a game and Parnell has closer potential so I would be ready to deal Parnell. Ryan Church? Who wants him? Daniel Murphy? A little tougher to deal but if I go with my head and not my heart he’s not untouchable. In fact is there really an untouchable in the farm system? Is there a player who the Mets feel could not be used in a deal? Besides Bradley Holt I can’t see any.

So if I’m Omar Minaya I’d be ready to strike now that the Phillies are wounded and playing uninspiring baseball (Mets bloggers favorite Marco Scutaro walked in the 6th inning of yesterday’s Jays-Phillies game and ran to first and kept running as no one was covering 2^nd base and was credited with a stolen base. Larry Anderson on Philies radio flipped out calling out Ol’ Cholly to reams his team after the game ) before Ruben Amaro goes out and fortifies his team.

J-Man is a cool cat but how would I love to see him go all Dennis Green or Jim Mora during one of press conferences. I’m going to the WFAN  Breakfast with Jerry Manuel at the Hard Rock Café on Tuesday I hope to get J-Man’s ear for a minute or two. Should be fun!

Love this quote from Johan Santana on The Jacket acting like a yenta on the radio talking about Johan’s knee:

 “How did he know that my knee hurts?” Santana said before last night’s interleague series opener with the Orioles. “That’s the question that I have. You guys tell me, how did he find that out?  Because it is crazy. Not even the trainers know. Not even me. I didn’t know my knee hurts. Just put it that way.”

Okay, I’m convinced his knee is fine.

Dave Cameron at FAN GRAPHS did an analysis of Johan’s velocity this season and it seems it’s not the factor we are to believe it to be

The announced attendance at Camden Yards last night was 20, 626 but it looked as if there were maybe 15,000 ass’ in seats and of those 15K half were Mets fans.  Inter league play has reached it’s expiration date let it die a natural death.

Joel Sherman is 1000 % right that when you compare former Highlander and all around piece of shit Mel Hall being convicted of sexually assaulting a 12 yr old girl and Sammy Sosa’ name coming out on a list of positive test for steroids  it’s incredible there is more angst toward Sosa that a child molester. People need to get a grip.

Can we just release this fucking list of the dopers and get all the hand wringing and chest banging out of the way? Yes we know the era of the mid 90’s to 2003 will be known as the Steroid era and we all know the moralists out there who have never ever done anything to gain an edge on an opponent or co-worker are all up in arms. I know I’m supposed to get all hot and bother by players “cheating” (I still can’t figure that one out) but I’m not so can get move the fuck on already.

Ben Shpiel spoke with J-Man on the one year anniversary of Willie Randolph and the 3 AM Rub Out and Manuel taking over the Mets.  I like Warlord Jerry but he does some things that irks me like talking out his ass when it comes to Murphy and Church and the fact that this team is fundamentally retard when it comes to playing baseball is his responsibility and he never takes it, I like the job he has done so far in his year as skipper but I feel that anything short of an NL Pennant he will be relieved of his duties as I can see the wheels in motion for Bobby V the Sequel in 2010.

Hard to rate the first appearance of Fernando Martinez as the kid went from Buffalo to a plane trip to NYC to $iti Field in a matter of hours so you can just imagine the type of out of body experience he was going through but at least we know that he will be stationed in right field for at least the next two weeks so we can gauge him better by then.

From what I ‘ve read about Wilson Valdez he is all glove no stick which is fine as the Mets need to shore up the middle of the infield and all he cost was money. Being that it’s Johan against the Nationals tonight does Valdez get the start over Ramon Martinez tonight? I’d say so.

I better see Daniel Murphy at first base tonight. The kid can’t get out of his slump sitting on the bench.

Ollie Perez did nothing in Buffalo last night that would rush his return back to Flushing. The one thing in OP’s favor is that Tim Redding has been underwhelming to say the least .Interesting that the Mets have not announced the starting pitcher for Sunday game in Florida as with the day off Thursday they could skip Redding and go with Livan.

Great post by Ken Davidoff on his evaluation of Omar Minaya. I don’t want to say Minaya is an enigma but my mood on him changes almost weekly. Omar handling the DL infuriates me. Omar the talent evaluator is a plus in my book. Omar the public speaker makes my ears bleed. Omar the dumpster diver is without peer. When it comes time to seal the big deal, even the most anti Omar detractors will agree he has always closed the deal which brings me back to Daniel Murphy.

I really like Murphy and I want him to show what’s in that bat of his and the fact that he looks so comfortable at first base has me hoping he will break out with some big hits . J-Man and Omar need to sit down and decide to either let Murphy play everyday at first for the next two three weeks and then decide if he stays at the big league level or goes to Buffalo. As I say I like Murphy a lot but this is the big leagues and if it’s a question of the league having caught up to Murphy or the fact that he has been scared by playing left field then the brain trust has to make the determination if Murphy is THE GUY for first base or if he’s not and go out and make a deal for a big bat.

Was last night THE GAME? Most seasons there is THE GAME, THE GAME you look back on when the season turned around, (or GULP went down the drain) THE GAME they do documentaries about, THE GAME that books are written about, Yeah THAT GAME.

For all the problems with empty seats, obstructive views and figuring out whether to eat at the Shake Shack, Mama’s or the Taqueria, last night was the first REAL Mets game of the $iti Field era. Yesterday on his bloviating radio show, Mike Francesa railed against the New Highlander Stadium that there was “no juice in the building” and the overpriced seats in the front row are unoccupado, well, Mets fans hold your heads high as the same can not be said about you at $iti Field last night.

Now I wasn’t there but on SNY it came through my TV like the crowd was totally into the game and why not, in the fine tradition of Seaver, and Gooden we now have the newest must see, can’t miss a start, starting pitcher in Johan Santana. If the Skill Sets are thinking of erecting a statue of the The Franchise outside $iti, they better save some bronze for The Franchise II, Santana.  

Why did J-Man take Santana out after 7 innings? I know his spot came up in the order with Sheffield on 1^st and 2 outs but the Putz was not available and Santana had only threw 101 pitches, in the 7^th he threw just 9 pitches (6 K’s) and the Mets took the lead and he was on extra rest, the adrenaline rush from the crowd would have put him over the top. God forbid he would be allowed to pitch a complete game and shut out our most hated rival. I don’t know about you but when I saw Feliciano come in to pitch the 8^th  I started think about the puke bucket.

I think the reason Jason Werth Mackey Sasser-ed the ball in right that arrived there due to Pedro Feliz error in the 7^th was he couldn’t tell if Delgado was running or standing still.

Enjoy your trip to purgatory Ollie.

Mike Vaccaro is my hero. It’s all about the FUNDIES. The most frustrating aspect of coaching is showing a player something and the player not able to execute it. I have kids with great arms that pitch for me but trying to explain the mechanic of pitching they just can’t grasp it. I’ve simplified it by just asking that they land on the ball of their front foot and bend they knee. When the do that they throw a low strike and look back at me in amazement. But on the next pitch, they go right back to the bad habit of landing on their heel and the ball flys right out of the strike zone. UGGH!

Nice to see Jon Niese get the start over Ken Takahashi. Niese’ record is nothing to get excited over (0-2  6.55 ERA in 5 starts) but it could be a factor of pitching for a very bad Buffalo Bisons team. One encouraging number for Niese is his 25/8 K/BB so maybe moving up with the big club will help him.

Not only does Denis POTVIN SUCK but he’s out of work as well. Hey Fishstick fans your boy is more associated with the Florida Panthers than he is if the soon to be KC Scouts LOL. 

To Endy Chavez, thank you for The Catch and for your outstanding defense please take this section of the Shea Stadium Left Field fence as a token of our appreciation

To Joe Smith, I am very sorry to see you go and I’m sure you’re not to thrilled either but your young and maybe some day we will be reunited. Keep those sinkers low in the strike zone. Sorry but I have to go I have Tobi Stoner on the phone. “Tobi good news Smith is gone looks good for you to make the big club”

To Jason Vargas, I had high hopes for you young man after seeing your rebound performance in the AFL in fact it touted you as my dark horse candidate to step up and thrive in the new revamped bullpen and my prediction may come true except it will happen in the annomitity of Safeco Field.

To Mike Carp, all the best as a fringe ML’er

To Ezequiel Carrera and Maikel Cleto, Hasta la vista los muchachos.

Welcome J J Putz you of the blazing fastball and outstanding K/BB ratio you have the potential to be part of the best 1-2 bullpen punch in baseball. Not only that at 6’ 5’’ 250 you’re one big Putz; a Shvantz (I’ll stop with the putz jokes) so if all those teams in the division want to “Bring the Hate” well bring it on as we have no fear because we have a big Putz (really I’ll stop with the jokes) and fear no one, oh and thank your parents for naming you Jason Joseph Putz and not Shilmazel (seriously I’m done with the jokes)

Sean Green looks like Bison material and Jeremy Reed is at best a 5^th outfielder who is better hitter than Chavez and very good defender as well. How could you not like this deal for the Mets and Omar is not done yet as it looks like he really wants to bring Ollie Perez back in the fold as long as Agent Boras and OP don’t get stupid with contract demands. If the Mets offer 3yr/$36-38 mil with 4^th year option and Team OP turn that don’t he’s an asshole. The guy resurrected his sorry career in NY and now with a fortified pen plus the fact if he turns down this deal,  Randy Wolf will grab it so it’s in Ollie’s best interest to sign on for another hitch in Flushing.

Any word from the greatest hitter to wear dreadlocks? Cover those cards Omar. 

If you didn’t get to listen to our Pro Baseball Central show last night click on the link on the top right hand side or click here to listen to the podcast as we went over K-Rod CC and other options that the Mets are looking at.

Last but certainly not least, I was a bit embarrassed this morning as I was riding the Staten Island Ferry to work. Now normally when I sit down to peruse the newspaper the first thing I do is go to the back page and look for Mets news. But this morning the front page of the NY Post headline and picture had me in a state of drool. A picture of a naked Jennifer Aniston with the words “JENNIFER ANISTON’S SEXY NUDE PHOTO SHOOT” PICS AND STORY ON PAGE 3. I torn that newspaper open to page 3 and there was the lovely Jennifer in all her bare ass splendor. For the next 20 minutes of the ride I was fixated on that photo. I was oblivious to anyone around me. What wonderful visions I had in my head of Jen and I on the beach in St. Croix and her whispering in my ear “baby let’s go back to the room, the Mets are on and Johan’s pitching” but then this nasty voice woke me from my dream state to say “WHITEHALL TERMINAL ALL A SHORE” Damn it, no no I can’t leave now me and Jen are going to watch the Mets game in our room NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Now that’s not the embarrassing part. As I tried to get my bearings a woman about my age or little younger just gave me a look like I was some dirty old man as I guess having my eyes riveted to a beautiful woman is a crime. I was ready to tell her she was a jealous old jelly ass but she looked like she could beat the shit out me so I kept quiet.

I don’t know if I’ll post anymore today I have to finish reading the Post. “Coming Jennnnnnnnnn”.   

Think of how many rag armed pitchers have stepped on the Shea mound over Heilman and none of them with anything close to the talent of Heilman and I’m surprised he kept quiet this long.

As Megdal points out the free agent market for starting pitching will be insane especially if CC Sabathia stays true to his word and plays on the West Coast, the Highlanders and Red Sox will throw money around like they were hedge fund managers. I’m sure Sabathia will be getting phone or text messages from Derek Lowe, AJ Burnett and Ollie Perez to please take that Angels offer so they can’t become filthy rich.

So what would be so bad with keeping Heilman and Niese in the 4-5 spots and taking a flyer on Freddie Garcia or signing Jon Garland and spending that money saved on a payout or sweetener in trading Gimp Castillo and signing Orlando Hudson?