Mets baseball blog

With Omar Minaya on the hot seat now, Tony Bernazard could get GM job

The political climate that swallowed Willie Randolph may ultimately consume Omar Minaya as well, with VP Tony Bernazard in prime position to assume the GM responsibilities if Minaya is ousted, insiders tell the Daily News. In the Mets' highly political environment, the no-nonsense Bernazard appears to have gained the trust and respect of chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon.

Bernazard, whose responsibilities include overseeing the farm system, has differentiated himself from Minaya by positioning himself as someone who stresses homegrown players - resisting, for example, parting with young pitcher Deolis Guerra in the Johan Santana deal. Continue

Minaya's full autonomy more like fool autonomy

He took the job for the money, obviously, and the title, because not many kids from Queens get the chance to become general manager of a big-league ballclub in New York. In addition, there was one thing, or actually two words, that convinced Omar Minaya the Mets were right for him. "Full autonomy." That's what Fred Wilpon, chairman and owner of the Mets, promised back in September 2004. Minaya wasn't sure he heard right."Full autonomy?" "Full autonomy."

For those who need translation, full autonomy means you run the team. And in this particular case, it also meant Jeff Wilpon, the owners' energetic son, would steer clear, stick to learning the family business at the elbow of his brilliant father, and be thankful he was born rich and privileged. Continue

Minaya is making same old mistakes

The alll-star game is shaping up as potential humiliation in the Bronx for the Mets. Willie Randolph is scheduled to be there as an NL coach, though he might not even be the Met manager any longer. And Cleveland's Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore almost certainly will be there, and so might Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips.

That would be an extreme embarrassment for Omar Minaya. He traded all three in June 2002 for Bartolo Colon. His reasoning then, as Montreal's GM, was that the Expos were under threat of being contracted, so he was willing to make a damn-tomorrow deal. Continue

With aging players, barren farm system, Omar Minaya's rule a reign of error

You are watching the painfully slow demise of The New Mets, the vision Omar Minaya articulated four years ago but built as a house of cards. Since being introduced as GM during the final week of the 2004 season, Minaya has upped the annual payroll roughly $55 million, to nearly $140 million. But as the Mets open a home stand Tuesday against the NL West-leading Diamondbacks, they sit two games under .500 and 7-1/2 games behind the first-place Phillies. Continue

Omar Minaya paying the price

The good news for the Mets is the damage Angel Pagan suffered to his left shoulder flipping over a wall at Dodger stadium Wednesday has been diagnosed as a bruise that leaves the outfielder day-to-day.But if Pagan doesn't go on the disabled list, will general manager Omar Minaya really admit a $2million mistake and walk away from Jorge Sosa in order to make room for other players ready to come off the DL?

Minaya botched the handling of Sosa's contract this winter with another example of overzealous spending on veterans, which is why the Mets face a difficult decision now about how to create room for Matt Wise as they open a three-game series against the Reds Friday. Continue

Omar Minaya: No time for Mets to panic

The Mets might not be the picture of health, but their GM maintains a healthy attitude. Even though his ballclub has been ravaged by injuries this spring, Omar Minaya insists it is too soon too panic. "I myself have never seen so many injuries at one time," Minaya said. "The good thing is it's early in camp. (But) if they're not out there the last week (of spring training)," Minaya added, referring to the multitude of hurting Mets, "then we're talking about a different situation." Continue

Mets have done nothing to improve since collapse

The football season is down to one final game. The groundhog will be out of his hole a week from tomorrow. Pitchers and catchers report in three weeks. Is it still too early to critique the Mets' offseason? In a stunning development, the team that in 2007 brought you the most ignominious collapse in the history of baseball apparently has decided to stand pat for 2008.

New York's Stealth Franchise, the one that flies so deftly below the radar that it could land at LaGuardia without being noticed, has conducted its offseason the way Rudy Giuliani is running his presidential campaign: hoping to win by doing nothing. Continue

Winter growing cold for Omar Minaya

In an offseason when the Mets are learning the hard way that no one finds their top prospects all that attractive, this was the most piercing insult. When they asked the Marlins about Dontrelle Willis at the winter meetings earlier this week, they were told not to bother because he wasn't available.

That would be the same Dontrelle Willis the Marlins were set to trade along with Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers Tuesday. The difference is the Tigers had the kind of prized prospects that are at the root of every big trade or potential trade this winter. In lefthander Andrew Miller, the No. 6 pick in the 2006 draft, and outfielder Cameron Maybin, the 10th pick in the 2005 draft, the Tigers had two of the most highly regarded young players in baseball. Continue

Omar: We have chips left

The Mets dealt one of their biggest bargaining chips yesterday, but they still believe they have plenty remaining to acquire a strong starting pitcher.

The Mets traded Lastings Milledge to the Nationals for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church. The deal leaves the Mets with Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez as their best - and maybe only - position-player prospects, meaning GM Omar Minaya appears more limited in what he can offer for a starter. Minaya insisted that wasn't the case, citing as evidence the fact that teams with starting pitchers who could be traded assured him he has enough to make further deals. Continue

Mets GM Omar Minaya meets with Alex Rodriguez's agent

You don't stand a chance if you don't start with some flirting. So Omar Minaya began the process Tuesday in a late-night get-together with Scott Boras at the GM meetings, hearing the agent's presentation on the value of client Alex Rodriguez, sources familiar with the meeting confirmed.

Minaya declined to offer any details about the gathering, which the Daily News reported two days ago would take place. The Mets' GM continued to suggest A-Rod is under consideration, just as any other player in the free-agent pool. Continue

Omar in A-Rod stakes

The Mets will almost certainly meet with Scott Boras at the GM Meetings to gauge the Alex Rodriguez situation. But as has been the case since the superstar opted out, they're still viewed as a longshot in the A-Rod sweepstakes.

Omar Minaya arrived at the meetings yesterday afternoon, and in a briefing last night admitted to having met with multiple agents already. While Boras was not one of them, the mega-agent is in Orlando and should have a summit with the Mets at some point. But for the team, there are still multiple obstacles to pursuing A-Rod. Continue

Omar Minaya backs Willie Randolph, but not completely

Omar Minaya continued to praise Willie Randolph yesterday ... kinda, sorta. The GM wouldn't go so far as to guarantee Randolph would return in 2008. But Minaya intimated he would offer a positive analysis of the manager of one of the greatest collapses in major-league history to ownership when he presents his winter plan.

"I believe in Willie Randolph," Minaya said during an afternoon address at Shea, a day after an 8-1 loss to the Marlins in GameNo. 162 resulted in Philadelphia's coronation as division champs. "I believe Willie Randolph is a winner. I think he's been around winning. And I also understand that you may not always win." Continue

Willie Randolph, Omar Minaya show united front

Just as winning has a way of covering up the little fissures in any team, losing has a way of making them look worse. This has been true of the Mets the past two weeks as their NL East lead over Philadelphia went from seven games to just two. The airwaves and the Internet have burned with rumors of a disconnect between manager Willie Randolph and upper management.

Fred Wilpon's rare appearance in the Mets clubhouse may take some of the starch out of those rumors and reports. The owner had a closed-door sitdown with Randolph and general manager Omar Minaya to voice his support. Afterward Minaya echoed the show of solidarity to the media in the home dugout.

"As a player and a coach, he's been through a lot. Willie's right at the top of the list. I myself believe that the experience Willie has helps out as we go through (this)," the GM said. "Last year in the playoffs, how he handled those type of games and those situations showed (it). Continue

Omar: No relief in sight

For the record, Billy Wagner's arm is no more weary than Omar Minaya of looking through the same tired pitchers on the waiver wire as his last chance to improve the Mets' bullpen is down to its final three days. "The reality is, nobody's giving you bullpen right now," the Mets GM said yesterday afternoon. "Nobody is getting through waivers." Which is harder, getting a quality reliever through waivers after July 31 or the Mets getting through the seventh and eighth innings?  Continue

Looking for some relief

Omar Minaya is looking hard for a reliever and a second baseman. It is not that the Mets GM does not want a starter, it is just that this is a market in which the starters available are guys like Steve Trachsel and, well, the Mets have done Steve Trachsel.

So Minaya is imagining trying to shorten the game further by adding a Chad Cordero type to work in late-inning unison with Pedro Feliciano, Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner. The rest of the Mets bullpen is too unreliable. Joe Smith, who was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans yesterday, might have hit a wall in his first full pro season, and Guillermo Mota and Scott Schoeneweis represent money poorly spent. Continue

Omar has two Nats in sights

As the trade deadline nears, the Mets are prioritizing a late-game reliever followed by a second baseman - and it just so happens that Omar Minaya's old team has a player at each that the GM has targeted. Minaya drafted and quickly promoted Chad Cordero to the majors in 2003 when Minaya was GM of the Expos (now the Nationals). He would love to reunite with Washington's closer, but the Mets - like just about everyone in the majors - are finding the asking price of Nationals GM Jim Bowden to be exorbitant.

The Mets also have had their eyes on second baseman Ronnie Belliard, who signed a two-year, $3.5 million extension with Washington earlier this week. The Mets were uncertain if that removed Belliard completely from trade discussions. Continue

GM counting on Pedro this year

Omar Minaya made it clear yesterday he expects Pedro Martinez back this season and he expects big things from him too. "I'm counting on him to win games for us," he said. "This season."

Martinez, who had rotator cuff surgery late last season, came through Monday's simulated game well and wants to throw another, probably before the end of the week, before getting into a minor league game. Guy Conti, the bullpen coach and Martinez confidant, said the righty is deciding the next steps, but with some input from the medical staff. "We're not going to make a mistake on this one," Conti said. "He wants to rush. We don't want him to rush. On this we want to be 100% sure of everything." Continue

Minaya doesn't need 2nd deal

The Mets won't make the first move toward a trade for a second baseman - Omar Minaya has other ways to fill the position. The Mets technically have an issue at second because Jose Valentin's fractured right tibia could keep him out for the rest of the season. But Minaya insists the Mets have internal solutions and that he doesn't plan on pursuing trade for a second baseman.

"I'm pretty sure teams are going to call me," the Mets GM said. "I'm going to listen." Listen, but not necessarily deal. Continue

Minaya, Randolph deny rift

Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya sat side by side at the press conference. The issue, though, is whether the Mets' GM and manager are really together. The Mets announced their new hitting coach yesterday, naming first-base coach Howard Johnson to the position to replace fired Rick Down. But Randolph and Minaya had to answer questions about their professional relationship and whether Down's firing has strained it.

Down was fired Wednesday, and Minaya and Randolph disagreed on that call. The GM exerted his authority, with Randolph on Thursday calling the firing "an organizational decision." He also said Thursday he told Minaya: "I said that if you want to make the decision, you're the general manager. You can make that decision." Continue

Omar-Willie bond takes down turn

Brush fires are smoldering in Queens, where the first-place baseball team's two-year honeymoon appears to be devolving into organizational dysfunction. The 2007 Mets have been atop the NL East since May 16 and, after last night's 3-2 victory over the Reds at Shea Stadium, they have won 11 of 18 games, despite sustaining more than their share of injuries. But that wasn't enough to stop GM Omar Minaya from firing hitting coach Rick Down on Wednesday.

This is one out of another decade, out of the other baseball borough, and out of the other owner's compound. It's one that begs the question whether the front office is setting the brushfires or stamping them out. It's a curious decision that raises questions about whether management is panicking following a first-half that didn't go as smoothly as anticipated. Minaya did his best to portray the verdict on Down as an organizational one, stating he consulted Willie Randolph before doing the dirty deed, stressing the "we" pronoun in discussing the move he never quite explained. "I asked Willie for his opinion. When [it's about] a coach, you run it by the manager," the GM said. "It was a decision done with Willie's input. Continue

Now looks like Omar’s offseason was off mark

I think the Yankees are playing well. But how do you know for sure? They have a nine-game winning streak after sweeping Arizona, and Joe Torre says that is “about confidence.” However, it seems they are confident because they are facing National League teams, which is like Kingsborough Community College showing up on your schedule.

It is one thing to devastate the Pirates, who were last good when Barry Bonds was thin and underpaid. But the Diamondbacks arrived as a first-place team and left after yesterday’s 7-1 loss desperately needing one of those Tom Emanski tapes on how to play baseball. The Mets, of course, were devised to rise above the NL. They were supposed to be an AL team in body, soul and lineup. On the brink of the Subway Series, however, they appear worthy adversaries for the Pirates and D’backs, and you wonder how exactly that happened. I have a theory: Omar Minaya had a bad offseason. Continue

Minaya's bargain shopping pays off

You've got to admit, this is quite a nifty concept the Mets have going in the absence of Pedro Martinez, as they inexorably chug, chug, chug their way toward the postseason, the clear class of the National League. Brian Cashman might want to think about borrowing it: Omar Minaya scours the scrap heap in search of wayward pitchers with high upsides, snatches them up and turns them over to Rick Peterson, who refines and applies polish to them and transforms them into gems. We've seen it, starting last year, with John Maine and Oliver Perez, and now we're seeing it again with Jorge Sosa, who has made everyone forget, at least for the time being, the promise of Mike Pelfrey.

Yesterday, the 30-year-old Sosa, whom Minaya signed for $1.25 million as a free agent, had his sixth excellent outing in seven starts since returning from a stint at Triple-A New Orleans and replacing Pelfrey. He stopped the surging Arizona Diamondbacks' eight-game winning streak with 62/3 innings of five-hit, one-run ball. Sosa ran his record to 5-1, lowered his ERA to 3.22 and put huge smiles of satisfaction on the faces of Minaya, Peterson and Willie Randolph. Continue

Oliver just another Omar special

MIKE Pelfrey needs time in Triple A, leaving Omar Minaya's long arms extending deep into the hat again where he found Jorge Sosa (2-0, 2.77), ready to step in for Orlando Hernandez. Depth is never infinite. But the Mets, with the National League's best ERA regardless of the absences of Pedro Martinez and Hernandez, despite having just had to demote a touted 0-5 (6.53 ERA) rookie pitcher, haven't come close to reaching bottom yet, unlike another team with an aging staff in the next borough.

And that's a tribute to the Mets GM, who should have been skipping over the first base line along with Oliver Perez yesterday, soaking up part of that standing ovation the lefthander earned after performing like the top-of-the-rotation pitcher he might yet turn out to be. Continue

Minaya working phones

The loss of Orlando Hernandez to shoulder bursitis was a not-so-subtle reminder to the Mets that it is never too early to shop for starting pitching. The trade deadline still is three months away, but general manager Omar Minaya is not shy about pulling the trigger much earlier on a deal he likes, which is what he did a year ago at this time.

The Mets' rotation, already shaky, had lost the relatively unknown John Maine to a finger injury and rookie Brian Bannister to a serious hamstring strain. Almost two months in, Minaya had seen enough of retreads Jose Lima and Jeremi Gonzalez. That prompted him to call the Diamondbacks about El Duque. Continue

Min at work

Omar Minaya was all smiles yesterday as he walked from field to field on a gloriously sunny day. This is the start of his third season as general manager of the Mets. More than ever, this is his team, and don't dare tell him the pitching staff is too old. These 2007 Mets have the Stamp of Omar on it. "It's getting there," Minaya said. "My team is going to be somewhat about power pitching, speed, players that play the game both ways. I don't like one-way players. I like two-way players."

As for the slam against the Mets that their pitching staff is too old, Minaya did not hesitate to defend himself, saying, "We've got two veterans on this pitching staff, Tommy [Glavine] and El Duque [Hernandez]. Nearly every staff has two guys like that. Boston has two 40-year-olds; I don't hear anybody saying they're too old. San Diego has two 40-year olds; nobody says they're too old. I guess people have to tag onto something. I don't know why they say that. Continue