Rhoden: Don't fire Randolph for Mets' collapse, etc.

Oh, please.
Because Randolph is black and Rhoden is black ... there could be no other reason for Rhoden supporting him remaining as manager?
How about common sense?

 

Sure there could. But Rhoden plays the race card so often, the black -on-black support is the first thing one thinks of.

And in a parallel universe, wahb parker put the collapse squarely on Willie Randolph this morning on ESPN's "I love me some Dana Jacobson Cold Pizza"

 

Ahem. It's called "First Take" now.

 

This is not a race issue. It's about whether or not Randolph is the cause of the Mets' collapse. He wasn't the cause but played a big part.

 

As in "First, take this Dramamine. You may now begin viewing."

 

Mets pitching simply went south after 9/12. They had an off day 9/13; were the starting pitchers secretly replaced w/Folger's crystals that day in an effort to see if anyone noticed?

17 games prior to the meltdown, here's what the pitching staff gave up:

3, 13, 2, 1, 1, 3, 7, 7, 4, 2, 1, 1, 11, 3, 4, 9, 6 = 78

After: 3, 5, 10, 12, 9, 4, 8, 6, 2, 6, 13, 10, 9, 3, 7, 0, 8 = 114

That's 11 out of 17 games where they gave up six runs or more.

Mets actually scored five more runs in those 17 games than they scored in the previous 17.

Culprits
* Glavine -- ERA was 3.88 after strong performance in extra-inning loss to Philly on 9/14. Afterwards, 17 ER in 11.1 IP, 0-3 record for the Mets. ERA winds up at 4.45. Was he pitching hurt?
* Oliver Perez -- Didn't make it through five innings in two of three starts after 9/13. Did dominate FLA in one start, though. Still, putting too much of a burden on a mediocre pen (nothing there besides Heilman and Wagner).
* Injury to El Duque -- sidelined from 9/11 to 9/26, Mets have an inadequate replacement in Mike Pelfrey. Despite 5.23 ERA, Pelfrey gets TWO starts down the stretch for Mets. He wins one, loses one, going 5 innings in both and further taxing the pen.
* John Maine -- Nutted up on 9/29, but too little, too late. Went 6 IP, 4.1 IP, and 5 IP in three prior starts. Mets pen running on fumes.
* Pedro -- Pitched well, but Mets lost his two best games. And again he went 6 IP, 5 IP, 7 IP. Bullpen breaking down with every pitch.

Perhaps Randolph panicked w/starters, yanking them at soonest sign of trouble. No confidence in them can do that, but it's not like the pen was The Nasty Boys. Mets starters were barely making it through six innings in almost every game post-9/13.

Further blame assigned to:
* Jose Reyes -- .213 avg in final 17 games despite collecting 17 hits and 10 walks. 2-for-5 in SB attempts.
* Carlos Beltran -- similarly, posted .243 avg in final 17 games despite 17 hits. Stopped walking as well, only 5 in last 17 games while striking out 17 times. Stopped running also, just 2-for-2.
* Carlos Delgado -- injured thru 9/19, performed well for final nine games, then season typefied by broken hand when HBP in finale.

 

"But Omar never has a second cup of fail at home."

 

And see TSP's above post for a great explanation as to why.

 

Why apply common sense to Rhoden? Could there be a rational reason to support Randolph's return as manager? Yes, absolutely. Could Rhoden find it? Not a fucking chance.

The raison d'etre of William Rhoden is to argue the racial angle of everything. He's not an honest broker.

 

William Rhoden will be most pleased with Omar Minaya's decision today to retain Randolph.

And you know what? I think it's a good call.

I believe Rhoden will be less pleased with the jury's verdict in the MSG/Isiah case.

Just a wild guess.

There are any number of 'bitch' jokes which could be made here, all of which I will refrain from making.

 

Not a bad decision by Minaya.
Please see "City of San Diego v. Smith et.al. in re: Schottenheimer" for relevant precedent.

 

Difference is Marty's team at least got to the dance.