Mets baseball blog

Manuel has talent to work with in bullpen

One aspect of this Mets team that Jerry Manuel is excited about is the improved back end of the bullpen.

Unlike last September when he made repeated trips to the mound, sometimes on a batter-by-batter basis, everyone knows who will pitch the eighth and ninth innings this season. J.J. Putz gets the eighth, followed by Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth.

What figures to be interesting, however, is the road to the eighth.

Sean Green probably will get the first crack at pitching the seventh inning, but Manuel has raved about the progress made by hard-throwing righthander Bobby Parnell. Continue

Manuel has faith in Delgado

The question has hung over the Mets all spring: Which Carlos Delgado are they going to get this season?

Will it be the Delgado who practically carried the Amazin's on his back the second half of last season, suddenly coming to life with 27 homers, 80 RBIs and a .308 average from June 27 on?

Or will it be the Delgado of the first half of 2008, the one who looked at the end of his once-formidable rope and was whispered to be just days away from being released? Continue

Manuel goes to Church

A smiling Jerry Manuel approached Ryan Church while the Mets stretched Monday morning. The manager then quickly put to rest any chatter about Church potentially being involved in a right-field platoon. Not that Church ever thought Manuel intended for him to consistently sit against lefthanders.

"You're getting ready to be the right fielder for the Mets," Manuel told Church.

"I knew that," Church replied. Continue

Murphy will be starting in left

 Who needs Manny Ramirez when the Mets have Daniel Murphy? That's the message Jerry Manuel delivered yesterday when he revealed that Murphy will get the majority of playing time in leftfield this season, with Fernando Tatis to be slotted in more of a super-utility role.

After so much talk about the viability of a Murphy-Tatis platoon in left, Manuel ripped up those plans on the eve of the Mets' first intrasquad game. The manager also suggested that Tatis could force Ryan Church to the bench on some occasions because he believes that Murphy - despite having only 49 major-league games on his resume - is a more consistent lefthanded hitter than Church. Continue

Manuel is willing to squeeze Manny into lineup

David Wright issued his endorsement last week. Jerry Manuel similarly indicated he gladly would welcome Manny Ramirez into the fold if Omar Minaya andJeff Wilpon reverse course and pursue the free-agent slugger before spring training opens next month.

"A righthanded hitter such as him is a big bonus for any team. It's rare that you get that type of talent, boom, right in the middle of the lineup, that type of guy, and being righthanded, for us that would be a big bonus," Manuel said Tuesday after delivering food on behalf of City Harvest to Holy Apostles Church's soup kitchen in Manhatten. "But that's Omar and the Wilpons, that's their thing. I'm just like you guys are, like the fans are. 'Hey, if you got it, cool.' Continue

Jerry: Selfishness won't be tolerated

Jerry Manuel is vowing to change the Mets ' selfish, stat-first ways. Manuel made that clear yesterday after the Mets formally lifted his tag as interim manager with a two-year contract that includes a club option for 2011. Speaking to reporters in an afternoon conference call, Manuel repeatedly emphasized he will preach a totally different mindset than the Mets are used to when spring training rolls around.

"What we have to establish for me with this team is that the game takes priority over the individual," Manuel said.Manuel, who was 55-38 after taking over for the fired Willie Randolph on June 17, said too many of the team's core players emphasized their own statistics rather than making simpler, more fundamental plays. Continue

Mets make Jerry Manuel first manager at Citi Field with two-year deal

A self-professed "gangsta" will occupy the home dugout at Citi Field next season. Jerry Manuel agreed Friday to a two-year contract with a team option for 2011 to serve as Mets manager after a week of tougher-than-expected negotiations with team officials. The agreement came one day after the announcement of GM Omar Minaya's three-year extension, through 2012. Manuel, 54, led the Mets to a 55-38 record after taking over for Willie Randolph on June 17. Continue

Manuel's job likely is safe

All indications last night were the Mets intend to keep Jerry Manuel as their manager. According to a baseball executive briefed on the issue, it's just a matter of the Mets working out the details with Manuel and announcing a deal. "Nothing has been finalized, but it's looking real good for [Manuel]," the executive said after the Mets' season concluded with a 4-2 loss to the Marlins.

An SI.com report last night reported that team COO Jeff Wilpon already has made up his mind to retain Manuel, who assumed the reins following Willie Randolph's firing in June. The Mets went 55-38 under Manuel after starting 34-35 under Randolph. Continue

Jerry mum on Aaron

If Jerry Manuel had to put together the Mets' playoff roster today, he said hapless reliever Aaron Heilman would "probably" be on it. That by the Mets' interim manager claim appears dubious considering how poorly Heilman continues to pitch and how reluctant Manuel has been in using him lately. Heilman made his first appearance in a week Wednesday and was dreadful, giving up a double and single to the only two hitters he faced in the eighth inning of an eventual 9-7 win over the Nationals. Continue

Manuel shows little faith in 'pen

Something vital happened in the top of the eighth inning of yesterday's double header opener. This happened when the soundtrack of Shea was still cheers and chants of "M-V-P." Here is what happened: Johan Santana went back to the mound.

Here is why it is important: Santana already had thrown 107 pitches. He had not produced a single 1-2-3 frame through seven innings, so those 107 pitchers were particularly arduous. He had to work diligently and craftily to hold Atlanta to 1-for-17 with runners on base to keep the Braves scoreless. Continue