July 30, 2009, New York Mets player and manager reaction to Omar Minaya for Metro NY Newspaper

US – Thursday, July 30

Published 22:59, July the 29th, 2009

Jerry Manuel didn’t address the Omar Minaya drama with his team.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Brushing it off

Mets playing through off-the-field drama

MLB. Perhaps the most interesting aspect in the post-Omar Minaya meltdown was how it affected the Mets.

Or, more accurately, how it did not affect them.

“We kept ourselves out of the middle of that. We’re worried about the Colorado Rockies. Who’s pitching that day, pitchers are worried about the hitters. We really haven’t concerned ourselves with things we can’t control,” David Wright said.

For six weeks, the Mets’ focus was often on the multitude of injuries and their inability to generate offense.

Starting with last weekend’s series in Houston, the Mets have seemed to adopt Alfred E. Neuman’s “What, us worry?” attitude.

It has served them well in the fallout of Monday’s melodrama.

“I haven’t talked with any of them about that. That’s out of our power. We’re here to play on the field. We have to continue to stay focused on the field and get back in the race. It was probably interesting, but it did not have an effect on the team,” said Jerry Manuel.

During Minaya’s tenure as GM, he has fired former manager Willie Randolph, along with Tony Bernazard.

DENIS GORMAN

July 29, 2009, Omar Minaya fallout story for Metro NY Newspaper

US – Wednesday, July 29

Updated 05:20, July the 29th, 2009

Minaya’s baseball moves already had him on thin ice. This PR disaster could be the nail in the coffin.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Not sorry enough

Mets boss apologizes for GM’s outburst, but says Minaya stays

Jeff Wilpon owned up to his general manager’s mistake yesterday. Still, that mistake wasn’t big enough to cost Omar Minaya his job.

Wilpon, the Mets chief operating officer, said Minaya made a misstep at Monday’s news conference when the GM singled out a reporter while announcing the firing of vice president of player development Tony Bernazard. Minaya acknowledged the mistake soon after and made a sincere apology to the organization. That seemed to be enough for Wilpon to give the embattled GM a vote of confidence.

“We feel bad about that and we’ll overcome. It didn’t go to our values and [Minaya] didn’t do the right thing. All I can do is apologize for that, and I think Omar will do that at the right time, as well,” Wilpon said before the Mets' 4-0 win over the Colorado Rockies. “Omar’s our general manager.”

For now, at least. The public backing came a day after Minaya challenged the motives of a Daily News reporter, saying he “lobbied” for a job within the organization. Couple that outburst with the talent Minaya has fielded on the diamond, and he could soon be following Bernazard out the door.

“Ownership is not happy with the direction right now,” Wilpon said. "I couldn’t believe what was happening when it was happening [on Monday]. I don’t think a lot of us could believe what was happening when it was happening. [Minaya] was just very angry and out of his usual mode of dealing with the media.

"He’s really hurt by this, guys. He was shaken today.”

It apparently didn't shake the Mets, who are playing their best baseball of the season. After taking the first two games of the series, the Mets (48-51) are 5 ½ back of Colorado (54-46) for the NL wild card. Surprisingly, the sparkplug has been an offense that had for most of the season redefined stagnation. In the last 14 games, the Mets have scored 58 runs, an average of 4.36 runs per game. The keys have been Luis Castillo, David Wright, Daniel Murphy and Jeff Francoeur, who have meshed to give the Mets a balanced top-to-middle of the lineup. Last night, the quartet finished 6-for-12, three runs scored and three RBIs.

“This team is not built for shootout-type ballgames. If we can continue this, where we put ourselves with runners in scoring position frequently and come through every now and then we’ll be (OK),” said Wright, who went 1-for-3 with a RBI and a walk. The third baseman also made a fantastic catch in the sixth.

Starter Mike Pelfrey (8-6) scattered seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five but walked three and had to work out of two bases loaded jams. However, manager Jerry Manuel was pleased with the big righty’s performance.

“When Mike starts out in the mid-90s, it makes it difficult for the rest of night, especially if he has command at 94, 95,” Manuel said. “I think he’s made significant improvement in that area (with baserunners) and we’re starting to see the same stuff when he’s in the stretch as he (has) when nobody’s on base. That’s a very good sign for us.”

Staten Island native Jason Marquis (12-7) took the loss for the Rockies.

DENIS GORMAN

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/07/29/04/5721-82/index.xml

http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20090729/1/15/

July 28, 2009, Omar Minaya firing Tony Bernazard story for Metro NY Newspaper

US – Tuesday, July 28

Minaya said the club’s investigation into Bernazard started before the reported incident in Binghamton earlier this month.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Minaya the maniac

Mets fire team exec.; GM loses control, calls out reporter

Next story

Here are a few ways Omar Minaya can get this story to go away:

1 Trade for Roy Halladay: Give the fans something bigger to talk about.
2 Ask his team to start winning: A crazy and foreign concept for the Mets.

3 Go shirtless: That seems to be the dress code.

From Bernazard to the bizarre. A season that has been an unmitigated disappointment took a turn for the worse yesterday.

The Mets finally fired vice president of player development Tony Bernazard, who had reportedly showcased some outlandish behavior as of late. Mets general manager Omar Minaya, who made the announcement before the team's 7-3 win over the Colorado Rockies, was just getting started.

Minaya then dropped a bombshell allegation against Daily News beat writer Adam Rubin. Minaya implied that Rubin, who broke the story of Bernazard’s tirade with minor league players, wrote the story so Bernazard would be fired and he could take his job.

“You have to understand this. Adam has, for the past couple of years, has lobbied for a player development position. He has lobbied myself, he has lobbied Tony. So when these things came out, I had to think about it,” Minaya said.

“Over the years he said a number of times that he would like to work in the front office.”

Rubin, who has covered the team since 2003, denied any wrongdoing.

“I’m floored. I don’t know how I’m going to cover the team,” Rubin said. “I would ask him how you would go about pursuing a job in baseball. But that was the extent of it. It’s so deplorable that he would dreg that up like that.”

It’s now Bernazard’s turn to pursue a new job in baseball. Stories surfaced about Bernazard’s behavior during the Mets’ 13-day road trip following the All-Star break. He reportedly ripped off his shirt and challenged the Double-A Binghamton Mets to a fight in the clubhouse after a game.

Another report said he had to be separated from closer Francisco Rodriguez on the team bus while the two exchanged angry words.

“There were issues that were interpersonal value issues,” Minaya said.

The GM said that the organization was going to fill the opening internally. Bernazard had an unusual amount of freedom within the organization. He was close to COO Jeff Wilpon and was often in the clubhouse. Minaya implied that the next VP of player development would not have the same access. The GM noted that he was disappointed as to the investigation’s findings, but that he did not lament hiring Bernazard as he was a “big part of (the Mets’) success.” Minaya hinted that there were other incidents uncovered in the investigation, but would not go into specifics.

“Based upon what I saw in the report, there were issues there were issues, interpersonal value issues with our staff (and) some (incidents) outside the organization,” Minaya said. “It was a difficult decision to make. That being said, I felt that for this organization (being) where we are today that I had to let Tony Bernazard go.” Later, Minaya emphatically stated that it was his “decision to let Tony Bernazard go.”

Heated words

Minaya and Rubin had a tense exchange during the news conference. Rubin asked the GM if he was “alleging that (Rubin) was trying to tear Tony down to take his job, is that what you’re saying?” Minaya said, “No, no. I’m not saying that. All I’m saying is that when you wrote the report, that in the past you have lobbied for a job.”

In response, Rubin asked, “If I were interested in working in player development somewhere in the major leagues at some point in my life, how did it impact this situation at all?” A stammering Minaya replied, “I said because when the reports came out, I said ‘Who is writing these reports?’ But in the back of my mind, you have told me and you have told other people in the front office that you want to work in player development.”

DENIS GORMAN

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/07/28/05/0116-82/index.xml

http://www.readmetro.com/media/archive_pdf/20090728_NewYork.pdf

July 9, 2009, Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Mets game story for Metro NY Newspaper

US – Friday, July 10

Mets hang on

Gary Sheffield helped the Mets take an early lead last night.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

MLB.

Of course, there was one more high wire act.

On a night better suited for a team of demolition experts, it would have been wrong to end it any other way.

Two on, one out in a one run game. One groundball later, two weeks worth of pent-up frustration manifested itself in an emotional release.

“It became a great challenge for us (to win this game). It was a big win for us. We needed to win a game,” said Jerry Manuel after the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Dodgers last night.

Having been shutout in consecutive games and having only scored 22 runs in the previous 11, the five spot was about as welcome as water in the Sahara.

The shutout streak ended in the second when Luis Castillo scored Jeremy Reed with a two-out RBI single. Reed, Brian Schneider and David Wright added RBIs. Wright also went 2-for-4, scored twice and looks to be out of a slump that dates back to last weekend’s series in Philadelphia.

The much-maligned Daniel Murphy had a 2-for-4 night and made a sparkling defensive play in the seventh, following a ball that had bounced off the first base bag and making a behind-the-back throw to a covering Bobby Parnell to get Mark Loretta on a close play.

Starter Oliver Perez (2-2) threw 108 pitches in five innings to earn his first win since April 15. Dodgers manager Joe Torre, warned his club and reporters before the game, “If Perez is on his game, he’s tough.”

In his first start since May 2, Perez scattered four hits and two runs but walked seven. Afterward, he offered an interesting assessment of his outing.

“I did everything I could. Sometimes you are going to have those kind of games. You are going to have almost perfect games. The key is the starting pitching and (making the) important outs,” Perez said.

Perez worked out of self-inflicted jams in the third and fourth innings. With the bases loaded and the game tied at 1, he was able to get Andre Ethier to line out to Wright to end the third. After the Mets broke through for three runs in the top of the fourth, Perez induced a 5-4-3 double play after the Dodgers had cut the Mets’ lead to 4-2 after Rafael Furcal drove in Matt Kemp.

“When you play really good defense, you have a chance to win,” Perez said. “You have to make sure you get the important outs to get out of innings. The key was that I got the important outs and the bullpen did a tremendous job.”

Relievers Bobby Parnell, Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green and Francisco Rodriguez went the final four innings to help the Mets earn their first win since last Thursday. The foursome held the Dodgers to four hits and two runs.

In the ninth, Rodriguez, pitching for the first time since last Thursday, gave up a solo homer to Manny Ramirez. He then sandwiched walks to Casey Blake and Russell Martin before getting Andre Ethier to ground into a 6-3 game ending double play.

“You have to tip your cap. I made a quality pitch and he hit it out. Got to give him credit,” Rodriguez said about Ramirez’s eighth homer of the season. “I think my release point … I don’t think I feel like I’ve been as sharp as I have been earlier in the year. I have to find a way to work on my mechanics and start pitching better.”

http://www.ny.metro.us/us/article/2009/07/09/05/3722-82/index.xml

http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20090709/1/17/

DENIS GORMAN

July 10, 2009, Los Angeles Dodgers-New York Mets game story for Metro NY Newspaper

US – Friday, July 10

Livan a letdown in series finale

1 No fireworks: The Mets entered Thursday with a league low 50 homers. The Reds aren’t as power-packed in years past, having only hit 77 this season.

2 Fizzling: Fernando Nieve won his first three starts after he was called up on June 6. In Nieve’s last two starts, though, he has been creamed for 17 hits, seven runs — six earned — and seven walks in nine innings. The Mets have lost both games. He takes the hill against Bronson Arroyo (8-8) Friday night.

3 Tough times: Think the Mets are getting blasted? Earlier this week, Cincinnati lost two games by a collective score of 32-2.

MLB.

The good vibes lasted until Rafael Furcal’s leadoff ground rule double.

And with that, it was time for déjà vu at Citi Field.

For yet another night in what very well may be yet another forgettable season, the Mets were outmatched by an opponent. In the series finale against their ancestral forefathers, the Mets were trounced by the Dodgers, 11-2, Thursday night.

“They’re a very good team. Those guys don’t have many holes. When you fall behind quickly, it’s going to be a long night,” David Wright said of the Dodgers (54-31). “You have a room full of guys who have been in some tough times before. It’s a trying time, of course. It’s challenging for us to get this thing turned around, and we’re confident that we can do this.”

Starter Livan Hernandez (5-5) was bludgeoned for eight runs on 11 hits in four innings. Former starter-turned-long reliever Tim Redding gave up three runs on six hits in the final two innings.

In the last six weeks, Jerry Manuel has often pointed to the starting pitching as one of the few constant positives for a team that has constantly specialized in dull baseball. However, in the last 13 games, Mets starters have a 2-10 record with a 6.78 ERA. The last time the Mets (40-44) had starting pitchers earn wins in consecutive games was June 24-25 against the Cardinals.

“We have to think about all options at this point. We can ill afford to say, ‘This is going this way and this is going that way’ and stay with it,” Manuel said of the rotation. “This is a league where you have to perform. When that’s not happening, you have to figure out a way to make it happen.

“Over the break, we’ll decide what the rotation is going to be. We haven’t decided that yet. We’ll just have to take a good look at it and decide which direction we’re going to go.”

For a team whose general manager all but admitted that it will be unlikely that he makes a major trade deadline acquisition, it seems an impossibility for this team to compete for anything but a high draft position if the starting pitching does not improve its performance. Manuel said that in the unlikely event that changes are made to the starting rotation, it will come from within the farm system.

Every Dodger starting position player had a hit in Thursday's game. Manny Ramirez went 2-for-2, drove in two and scored twice. All Ramirez did in his second series following the 50 game suspension was take extended batting practice off of Mets pitching. He finished 5-for-11 with six RBIs, three runs scored, two walks and a homer in the three games. Teammate Matt Kemp was impressive as well, going 8-for-11 in the series.

“They put (balls) in play. They put them in play. They put them in play. It’s tough to overcome,” said Manuel.

Gary Sheffield and Ryan Church drove in the Mets’ only two runs. Randy Wolf (4-3) scattered seven hits and two runs over 6 1/3 for the win.

http://www.ny.metro.us/us/article/2009/07/10/04/1738-82/index.xml

http://www.readmetro.com/show/en/NewYork/20090710/1/14/


DENIS GORMAN

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