Tag Archives: Array

Oct 23

Quote of the Day: Gillick: Hatred for Mets spurred Phils.

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Gillick: Hatred of Mets spurred Phillies.

Gillick: Hatred of Mets spurred Phillies.

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.

Oct 23

Commentary: Just name the coaches.

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Manuel: All smiles when he was hired. What's he thinking now?

Manuel: All smiles when he was hired. What's he thinking now?

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

Oct 22

Talkin’ World Series Baseball: Game 1.

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World Series Chat

World Series Chat

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.

Oct 22

What if?

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Kazmir: What if the Mets won that trade?

Kazmir: What if the Mets won that trade?

It goes without saying the Scott Kazmir trade was disastrous for the Mets. But, imagine for a moment, the trade worked and Rick Peterson was able to fix the very damaged Victor Zambrano.

Let’s say the Mets turned it around in 2004 and made a run at the playoffs. They were four games under .500 at the time of the trade and finished the season 20 games under. That brought the end of Jim Duquette as general manager and ushered in Omar Minaya.

Would Minaya have come if the Mets finished that season as a competitive team? With Minaya came Pedro Martinez, then Carlos Beltran, then Carlos Delgado. It’s interesting to wonder what might have happened had Zambrano panned out.

We all know what happened with Kazmir.

Oct 21

Gooood Morning: Scanning the headlines and asking your favorite WFAN voice.

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The FAN and Mets extend contract.

The FAN and Mets extend contract.

Lots of good discussion last night in Mets Chat Room. We’ll keep it up every Monday night in the off-season and, of course, we’ll talk during the World Series.

Woke up this morning with these items:

-The Mets and WFAN have re-upped their contract. It was a no-brainer. This is as good a time as any to ask who is your favorite and least-liked WFAN personality.

-Joba Chamberlain got into it with after being heckled by a Red Sox fan in a Nebraska strip club. Evidently, he was missed Crash Davis’ lecture that day. The papers said the Yankees would give Chamberlain “a second chance.” Really?

-The Yankees and Dallas Cowboys are in bed together. Legends Hospitality Management, a name that indicates a believe they are better than everybody else. It’s about concessions and merchandising sales. I’m waiting for the day when they merchandise oxygen.