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10/5/10

CUTNPASTE: - Bob Mandt, Trading David, Mets Employees, What Went Right... and Finish The Job

Bob Mandt:



mlb  - The Mets lost again on Monday; Bob Mandt died. His passing made a dark, dank day at Citi Field sad and uncomfortable. What follows is a slightly updated version of the story I wrote for this website, advancing the club's honoring Bob and recognizing his many contributions to life at Shea Stadium. I liked him. I miss him. -- Marty Noble



photo by Mack Ade
Trading David:


mlb tnerId=rss_nym - Whether or not to break up the core -- that is, to trade away third baseman David Wright or shortstop Jose Reyes -- has been a point of contention surrounding the Mets since their four-year streak of missing the postseason began in 2007. Some have argued that because Wright and Reyes have never reached the levels of superstardom once projected for them, trading them could spur progress. Others have contended that Wright and Reyes are not the problem. COO Jeff Wilpon offered his take Monday on Wright in particular, indicating that although he could not picture operating without Wright, he would be open to trading the longtime third baseman if the team's new general manager recommends it.




photo by Michael G. Baron
 Mets Employees:


nj.com  - Six Mets contracts expire on Nov. 1. They belong to members of Jerry Manuel’s staff, and all are scheduled to meet with assistant GM John Ricco in the coming days. Hitting coach Howard Johnson and bullpen coach Randy Niemann, a pair of organizational stalwarts, will remain with the organization in some capacity. Bench coach Dave Jauss and first-base coach Razor Shines will likely not return. The final two, third-base coach Chip Hale and pitching coach Dan Warthen, were well-liked within the clubhouse, but their ties to the organization are tenuous. It appears they will receive at least a chance to remain with the team.




photo by Michael G. Baron
 What Went Right:


mlb  - What went right: Dickey went right. Very right. Signed in the offseason to a Minor League deal after the Twins designated him for assignment last summer, Dickey dedicated himself to the knuckleball and, at the age of 35, set personal bests in nearly every meaningful pitching category. Called up in late April, Davis gave the Mets a jolt at first base, ranking among the National League's rookie leaders in home runs, RBIs and walks and becoming the team's first standout defensive first baseman since the days of John Olerud. Backing up Gary Matthews Jr. on Opening Day, Pagan quickly established himself as a viable everyday outfielder and a future candidate to usurp the starting center-field job from Beltran, perhaps as soon as next season. Appearing in every spot in the batting order, Pagan jolted the Mets with his rare combination of average, power, speed and defense. ...




photo by Mack Ade
 Finish The Job:


espn  - Finish the job, Wilpons. Don't stop at general manager Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel. It was the right call to fire both Monday after a second straight losing season in Queens. The Mets, for all the money spent and talent, should have been better. Not just this year, but the past five years. And if you are serious about making the Mets relevant again (was 1986 really 24 years ago?) and giving fans a reason to go to Citi Field in 2011, you must clean out that clubhouse, too. We're not talking about wiping down with Pine-Sol or spraying Febreze on everything. The Mets need to be fumigated, stripped bare and built from the ground up. There is no patch job here.

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