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

It’s been one day, but the first impression is a good one on Jose Reyes’ return. Reyes, who didn’t play after May 20 with a severe hamstring injury, took part in baseball activities yesterday and reported no difficulties.

Reyes, played catch, fielded fielded grounders, did agility drills and took batting practice, all without a peep from his hammy.

“The last five weeks I’ve been feeling very good,” Reyes told reporters. “It’s different when you do it on the field. It makes me feel normal now.”

In a recent thread I wrote Reyes was the position player the Mets needed most to bounce back. He’s the one who jumpstarts the offense and gives the team an energetic spark.

Incidentally, the other day former Mets manager Bobby Valentine, now at ESPN, said Reyes should be batting third instead of leadoff. I don’t like it. Let Reyes come back in surroundings he’s comfortable with, which is leading off.

Posted under Mets News, Mets News & Features/2010

Davey Johnson is back in the majors, hired as a front office adviser to GM Mike Rizzo. One of his specialties is recognizing and working with young talent. That would be minor league players. That would be a Mets’ weakness.

This would be about a lost opportunity. If the Mets are really serious about strengthening the ties with their past, Johnson would have been a good place to start. Johnson had previously worked with the Nationals before under Jim Bowden. You would think the Mets would have kept tabs on his baseball interests just in case.

All this talk about bringing Bobby Valentine back? How about a little love for Johnson, who managed the Mets’ last championship team? Valentine has a core group of media in his corner, but not Johnson.
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Posted under Uncategorized

I am so bored with this Bobby Valentine talk and those lamenting him interviewing with Cleveland because they want him back with the Mets. Cleveland might not happen, but neither will Mets, The Sequel.

Valentine had his run with the Mets and fizzled out. Maybe it was the Valentine-Phillips chemistry, who knows? But, the Mets got as far as they were going to go with the Valentine and then regressed.

It’s not that I dislike Valentine, but when it comes to baseball, love the second time doesn’t always work. The expectations are too high and rarely attainable.

I don’t know if Jerry Manuel with a healthy team will put the franchise back into contention, but we will find out. In the interim, good luck to Bobby in his interview with Cleveland and wish him well. But, give up the ghost already, he’s not coming back so stop living in the past, which by the way, was ringless.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

One of the most interesting things I’ve read lately in the papers and on the blogs has been the slow drumbeat for the return of Bobby Valentine as Mets manager. All these people who should know better, who blast the Mets for repeating their same mistakes over and over again, are clamoring for them to return to the not-too-distant past in bringing back the flawed Valentine.

Why?

Can you really go home again? Can you reheat a souffle? Can a torn relationship be made whole again? Experience tells me probably not. Valentine had his chance, and in 1999 and 2000 had playoff teams that fizzled out. Yes, they reached the World Series in 2000, but after blowing Game 1, they were essentially done.

Could Valentine without Steve Phillips work? I doubt it. Valentine is a lightning rod for controversy and in much the degree of Billy Martin, a quick fix. He energizes at first, but then things regress. He does not sustain.

As bad as Jerry Manuel was this year, it must be remembered the team was in first place until injuries sacked the season. We can’t say with certainty the Mets would be in the playoffs had they stayed healthy, but they were headed in that direction.

Manuel definitely has shortcomings, but the season was so hideously fractured by injuries it would have been unfair to not give him another chance. Remember, it wasn’t Manuel’s fault the Mets didn’t have the reserves to bring up from the minor leagues or to make a trade.

Yes, Manuel should have handled some things differently, but the argument can be made many of his mistakes were made because he didn’t have any other options. I’ve not been shy in listing what I didn’t like, but looking at things objectively, I can see his reasoning.

Given the same situation, I don’t believe Valentine would have been any better. I’m not sure anybody could have been any better.

For those wanting Valentine, it must be remembered no championships were won during his tenure, and that reaching the World Series was in large part because they didn’t have to face the Atlanta Braves in the playoffs that season.

From what I remember about the Valentine Era is there was always a controversy. There was always a distraction. Valentine was constantly at odds with somebody, whether it be his general manager, a player or somebody in the media. Valentine liked to play people off of each other and the clubhouse was about taking sides on one issue or another.

Those wanting Valentine either have short and selective memories, an agenda, or don’t know what they are talking about.

In the long run, we’ll need 2010 to see if Manuel is the answer, and odds are he’ll get a short leash because of the impatience that comes from being in New York. But, the Mets have been there and done that with Valentine.

A return to the past would not be good for the Mets’ future.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine told The Associated Press the Chaba Lotte Marines will not offer a contract extension after the 2009 season, the final year of his four-year contract.

“They just wanted to go in a different direction,” said Valentine. “They wanted to change things and I certainly understand that.”

After winning the Japan Series championship in 2005, but the team finished in fourth place this past season and did not make the playoffs.

OK … we all know Valentine won’t sit still. So, where do you think he’ll end up? I can see him with the Yankees if Joe Girardi doesn’t get them back into the playoffs following their winter of free spending.

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09

Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine told ESPN he would be interested in returning if the club can’t re-sign Jerry Manuel.

In an email response to the question of his interesting in returning, Valentine wrote: “I am working for a team that needs me and wants me as their man. I love it here, but I am an American and love great challenges. I was a in a Met uniform in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000, and would love to be there in the next decade.”

Valentine, who managed the Mets to the 2000 World Series, is currently managing Chiba Lotte.

Well, would you like Bobby: The Sequel?

Posted under New York Mets 2008-09