The John Delcos New York Mets Report Featuring Mets' commentary, analysis and news.

By this time you should know the Brewers hired former Mets manager Willie Randolph as bench coach on Saturday.

Said Randolph: “I’m excited, looking forward to this next challenge and getting to work. I love teaching and I’m passionate about being in the game. … Eventually, I do want to get back to managing. I didn’t really want to wait around. … I thought it was best to make this move.

The Mets were 302-253 (.544) under Randolph, second to Davey Johnson in club history.

With the turnover in managers and Randolph’s numbers, there’s no doubt he’ll get another chance.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Pat Burrell turned down $22 million over two years from Philadelphia and CC Sabathia is about to turn down over $100 million from Milwaukee.

All signs are pointing toward the Yankees getting Sabathia. They don’t appear to have a ceiling. The same can’t be said about the Mets. They’ll have money coming off the books with Pedro Martinez, Orlando Hernandez and Moises Alou going, but they’ll be giving raises to David Wright and Jose Reyes.

Their payroll last year was $143 million, and I don’t see it going much higher.

We can discuss all of that tonight.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Cole Hamels will be out of the game, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Rays have the advantage for the end of Game 5 tonight. They might have gained a sense of momentum after tying the game, but let’s not forget the Phillies have a rested bullpen.

As the weather becomes a storyline in this World Series, unfortunately we could be hearing a lot tonight and in the near future about the showcase event being played at a neutral site. Yeah, that was me you heard screaming.

There are some things that shouldn’t be considered, and that’s one of them.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

42: Teams to take a 3-to-1 lead in the World Series. Of them, only six failed to go on and win the Series.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Kris Kristofferson sang a song, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” I’m listening to it now. Soft, sad and sweet.

Shredded wheat for breakfast. Heading to the mall to pick up my suit. Moving kind of slow this morning. Long night.

I didn’t think they’d play last night. Great, great game. Last night is why I love baseball. I just wish the people who ran the sport and the televising of it loved it like those who blogged with me last night.

That’s a game everybody should have seen. Too bad much of the country missed it. You have to know there were those who flipped on FOX and flipped it off after seeing a sit-com. Others watched college football. Others just went to sleep. The World Series is your showcase event and people miss it.

I’ll be watching tonight, but before I’ll watch Giants-Steelers.

If there’s anything on your mind before then, here’s your message board. Talk soon. Later, JD.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Retiring Phillies general manager Pat Gillick told Bill Madden of The New York Daily News at the World Series his team’s hatred for the Mets, coupled with the disdain other teams in the NL East had for the Mets, acted as inspiration. Teams just didn’t like the celebrations and their swagger, perhaps sense of entitlement, they’ve had since 2006.

Said Gillick: “If you want to know the best thing we had going for us this year, it was the fact that all the other teams in our division hated the Mets’ guts. It started with Atlanta and all the hostility they had with the Mets through the years. Then Fredi Gonzalez left Bobby Cox to manage the Marlins and he didn’t forget everything that went on between the Braves and Mets. Look what Florida did for us the past two years (beating the Mets two out of the three in each of the last series of the season to prevent them from making the postseason). Washington doesn’t like them very much either, and all those teams seemed to really get up for the Mets.”

Both Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado took the celebrations outside the dugout, but each said they weren’t hurting anybody. In the end, they may have just been hurting themselves.

Hey, it’s not a shot at Reyes, but when an executive of your bitterest rival says the perception of your team is poor, you’d better listen. If the Mets are listening, they should realize Gillick is doing them a favor.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

There are appearances to the delay. Does Jerry Manuel know who he wants on his staff? Is there a conflict between him and Omar Minaya.

The Mets acted decisively in giving extensions to Manuel and Minaya, but are dragging their feet in naming their coaching staff, leaving it up to us to speculate. Many reports had Howard Johnson on the outs. MLB.com, yesterday, had him staying.

Manuel has to know who he wants on his staff, and the odds are those decisions have already been made. Just not announced. Well, why not? There’s not really a good reason. The appearance is indecisiveness, and that’s not what you s

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Every World Series has its storyline, but when was the last time we had a really compelling Classic? Probably Angels-Giants in 2002. Yankees and D-Backs in 2001, for sure.

This one has that capability as it pits two gritty teams, clubs with resiliency to match their talent. Tampa Bay has that karma thing going for it, but let’s not overlook the Phillies, no matter how much you hate them.

They also can make a destiny argument.

Both teams can mash, but the Phillies have Ryan Howard, capable of controlling a Series. The Rays have a young, talented staff, but Philadelphia probably has the best pitcher in Cole Hamels and the dominant closer in Brad Lidge.

I believe the Rays shook the jitters when they blew Game 5 at Boston and hung on to win. They won’t be rattled. I think they’ll prevail in seven.

And if they don’t? Well, I’m happy if it goes seven.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09