tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post5687502159820316433..comments2024-03-28T17:57:21.603-04:00Comments on Mack's Mets: Reese Kaplan -- Don't Let The Door Hit You...Mack Adehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730548449011685243noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-83881962541403112872015-02-19T19:42:03.675-05:002015-02-19T19:42:03.675-05:00Re: "playing hard "; Did anyone notice t...Re: "playing hard "; Did anyone notice that while the Braves and Marlins mailed it in and tanked in September, the Mets played hard to the end and passed both to finish 2nd in the NLE? How "unmotivated " is that? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-48364600429376057662015-02-18T18:35:30.649-05:002015-02-18T18:35:30.649-05:00This is definitely a make or break year for Collin...This is definitely a make or break year for Collins. Hopefully a make or break April & May.<br /><br />If May passes by and the Mets are under performing there really can not be any more excuses made. <br /><br />Hopefully Alderson & the Wilpons will at last refuse to allow another "throw-away" year.<br /><br />bgreg98180https://www.blogger.com/profile/05641039400307113366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-66092882907924308042015-02-18T17:26:12.953-05:002015-02-18T17:26:12.953-05:00@James Preller
Andrew Brown was absolutely on fir...@James Preller<br /><br />Andrew Brown was absolutely on fire and Collins did what he usually does -- buries the guy from AAA until his bat cools off in order to give ABs to Bobby Abreu and Eric Young, Jr. <br /><br />He has done this time and time again to younger ballplayers. Take a look at Wilmer Flores who was hitting a mere .323 and Collins sat him on the bench to play the .200 hitting Ruben Tejada. <br /><br />On Collin Cowgill, don't tell me you forget his proclamation that he was the starting CFer and then 2 days later benched him for good? He was used this year out in Oakland and hit effectively in the .280s most of the year as a role player until a late season slide saw his numbers tumble. Still, at .250 he'd have been an All-Star on the Mets roster last year considering what the team got out of the LF position. That one was more a case of Collins' habit of saying one thing and doing another. <br /><br />Reese Kaplanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993445356545875409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-17049833415899820162015-02-18T16:41:22.920-05:002015-02-18T16:41:22.920-05:00James -
I am pretty certain that Alderson hired ...James - <br /><br />I am pretty certain that Alderson hired Larussa after Larussa was fired by the White Sox - Alderson took over as GM of the A's in the early 80's - right after the Billy Martin mess.<br /><br />Many folks forget (or didn't know) how young he was when he became a GM. <br /><br />Alderson was also in San Diego as the CEO when they hired Bud Black - not sure how much he was involved in that. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05107443295708283998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-77094757337685345202015-02-18T15:38:44.844-05:002015-02-18T15:38:44.844-05:00Ask Collin Cowgill and Andrew Brown?
Come on, ge...Ask Collin Cowgill and Andrew Brown? <br /><br />Come on, get real. I'm not a fan, but you can't blame Collins for everything. He's been managing inferior talent for the most part.<br /><br />Lew: Alderson inherited LaRussa and encouraged him to beat it . . . and replaced him by hiring Art Howe.<br /><br />Let that sink in. He doesn't want the hassle of a strong manager. Meanwhile, over in Chicago, Theo Epstein moved mountains to bring in Madden. Very different philosophy over there. James Prellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01342728812342563278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-56874596272215214512015-02-18T13:28:34.189-05:002015-02-18T13:28:34.189-05:00On a sad note, Terry Collins has left the Mets spr...On a sad note, Terry Collins has left the Mets spring training complex to return to Michigan to be with his family for the death of his father, Loren "Bud" Collins who was 95. Our thoughts go with the Collins family at this time. Reese Kaplanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993445356545875409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-67103080832524205862015-02-18T12:40:43.752-05:002015-02-18T12:40:43.752-05:00Whether or not the players like the manager is irr...Whether or not the players like the manager is irrelevant. Do they respect him? Are they inspired by him? Do they play hard for him? Do they feel he's got their backs? <br /><br />Go ask Andrew Brown, Wilmer Flores, Matt den Dekker, Collin Cowgill and others how much their manager supported them. Reese Kaplanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993445356545875409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-22778768926297362762015-02-18T12:21:55.434-05:002015-02-18T12:21:55.434-05:00I don't debate whether Collins is in control o...I don't debate whether Collins is in control or not;however, I do stop short of blaming him for the results of this under talented, under supported team (over the past several years).<br /><br />I cannot waste my time inspecting the reasons that a 74 win team wins 74 games... I spend most of my time trying to understand WHY a major market team is managed like The Buffalo AAA franchise.... that has NOTHING to do with the Bench Coach.<br /><br />BTW---"other than losing", the team seems pretty "happy" with Collins--- Personally, I'd like my BIG STAR to be LESS Happy.eraffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06493607580550078769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-47767951937325674082015-02-18T11:06:16.151-05:002015-02-18T11:06:16.151-05:00I disagree that Collins wasn't the right guy f...I disagree that Collins wasn't the right guy for the past few years - he just is the wrong guy now and Sandy should have used last year to get rid of him.<br /><br />Collins - despite his comments to the contrary - is good at developing young players - he got this job because he was doing a very good job overseeing the Mets' minor league system. <br /><br />I would have hoped that Collins could have improved his game management the past few years or improve his overall manager style - but he has failed and continues to make the same baffling decisions and silly mistakes. <br /><br />The fact that the Mets have underperformed their Pythagorean record last year should have been a reason for Sandy to suggest that they move on. <br /><br />The only thing I will say is that the only thing that makes sense is that the players actually like Collins. <br /><br />Alderson has been around baseball a long time and worked with some fantastic managers (LaRussa, anyone?); so clearly he knows a bad manager when he sees one. <br /><br />Why on earth would he risk the success of the team (along with his reputation and job) by sticking with a bad manager? <br /><br />The only things I can come up with are 1) Sandy buys the stats that say mangers have a small actual impact on W-L record; and 2) the players like playing for Collins. <br /><br />I think if the players complained or were unhappy - he would've made a change. <br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05107443295708283998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-70970960078932894242015-02-18T11:01:04.911-05:002015-02-18T11:01:04.911-05:00What I said is that Collins' apologists say he...What I said is that Collins' apologists say he has no control -- that it all comes from the front office. I find it hard to believe it's Sandy Alderson deciding to burn through three relief pitchers in the 7th inning to three consecutive batters. I then said Collins is a "Yes man" -- someone who will not waver from what he is told to do, unlike a Wally Backman type. They are not mutually exclusive thoughts. Reese Kaplanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993445356545875409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-79184798670201897772015-02-18T10:48:18.445-05:002015-02-18T10:48:18.445-05:00I'd like to add one more thing. I think the re...I'd like to add one more thing. I think the research of Collin's history is pretty interesting and well done. Troubling to say the least. But, you start the piece by saying it strains credibility that Collins is paid a million bucks and does not control his lineup card. You finish by saying Collins has no options other than be a good corporate yes man. Which is it?IBfromWhitePlainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15210963705183083513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-32450658443978648092015-02-18T10:40:23.469-05:002015-02-18T10:40:23.469-05:00Sorry, I don't buy Joe Morgan's hatchet jo...Sorry, I don't buy Joe Morgan's hatchet job criticism. Name me one manager who isn't on the top step of the dugout gnawing on something to try to keep calm when he's watching his team blow a ballgame. There's no such animal and if there was, the fans would be calling for his scalp for being to laid back and not caring enough. It's always amazed me how little Joe Morgan has to offer as far as baseball insight. <br /><br />I'm not a big Collins fan. If he's not on a short rope this year I'll be pretty disgusted with upper mgmt. But, baseball history is also full of guys who got it right eventually. Let's hope that's the case here too.IBfromWhitePlainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15210963705183083513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-45401124033773758632015-02-18T10:16:09.639-05:002015-02-18T10:16:09.639-05:00That's the subject of another column -- Sandy ...That's the subject of another column -- Sandy Alderson's judgment. Toy poodles are easily controlled, too. It doesn't mean they should be entrusted with great responsibility. Reese Kaplanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12993445356545875409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-21830375982460999112015-02-18T10:07:15.258-05:002015-02-18T10:07:15.258-05:00Sandy hired him, then extended him, fully pleased....Sandy hired him, then extended him, fully pleased. Collins is easily controlled.<br /><br />You are going after the wrong guy.James Prellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01342728812342563278noreply@blogger.com