I like Jerry Manuel.  Not to say that the team would be doing any better today if Willie was still in charge, but looking at what he brings to the bench, and the new aura they are playing with, I like what I see.  He is encouraging unity, and discipline and looks very much in charge out there.  He also handles the media with a sense of ease and relaxation.  At least for the moment, despite being 500, he looks like he is having fun out there.  I like the blend of humor, authority and brains.

My first impression was a between-innings interview he gave back in 2006.  I Blogged:

They had a great in-game interview with Jerry Manuel last night.  I never heard him speak before and I had no idea how intelligent, articulate and baseball-wise he was.  He made some excellent points and articulated them with class and perspective

http://happyrecap.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/2006/8/3/2194696.html

 

Good luck Jerry.  We are in the thick of it and our Right Fielder is due back next week, but we'll need some real leadership skills to get to the promised land in October.   You seem up to the task.

The Mets won a thriller last night and I am happy to say I was at Big Shea on a beautiful night for baseball, and that I stuck it out for the full 11 innings.  It was a sweet reward watching Angel Pagan single Jose Reyes home in the bottom of the 11th after over 4 hours of battle.  I had snuck from Loge section 6 to the seats right behind home in the 10th, and had a great view of the play (see below).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RCb86pixls

John Maine looked great, Aaron Heilman, not so much.  I am not worried about him....it was a bad outing for a good pitcher. Scott Schoenweis turned boos to cheers with a gritty 11th inning performance.

Nelson Figueroa goes tonight and I relaly liked theway he looked in spring training.  I think he'll be a very good fill-in for El Duque (I prefer to think of him as Hernandez' replacement, not Pedros).  He had good stuff, a smooth consistent delivery and what looked like excellent control.

It was very cool to see Citi Field looming behind the leftfield fence first hand.

Its great to send the Phillies packing with a series loss to mull over on the bus home.  See ya!

An Eteranl Optimist, my attempt to Rally the Troops unfortuantely fell short   more »

...whats it gonna take for Willie to bail on him?   more »

Ankiel...a feel good story possible gone bad...   more »

Looking back at my early projections....   more »

The Swagger was back...   more »

As Maxwell Smart would say, "the old Walk-balk-bunt-balk" play... works every time.   more »

No more...PLEASE!!   more »

Looking at the situation through the eyes of a Braves fan...   more »

Two differet takes on the same excellent result...   more »

Theres nothing better than knowing your team "has your back", even if you can be there to watch that night...   more »

Friday night was just another day in the office for the 2007 Mets ....   more »

Yowzer, this kid has some stuff....   more »

2 and 0 and done with pizaz   more »

With workman-like precision and little wasted motion, the Mets came to Busch last night and made quick work of the Cardinals...   more »

Letting go of the heartache of ’06 will not happen overnight, but knocking around the hated Cardinals was a good way to start.    more »

Speaking my piece the evening before Opening Day....   more »

In Each of the last 4 years, my friend Dave and I make an Pilgrammage to Binghamton to see the newest Met prospects play.  We've seen Lastings Milledge, Mike Jacobs, Royce Ring, Victor Diaz and, for the opposition guys like Hanley Ramirez and Jon Lester. 

Last year we saw probably the most exciting player we've seen grace Keyspan Park in Broome County...Carlos Gomez.  He's got a great swing, speed and tremendous grace.  Here is a video of Gomez singling and then stealing second and third.  Harrisburg Manager John Stearns is not pleased by the call and you will see another ex-Met, 3rd base coach and Manager Juan Samuel positioning himself perfectly to view the play.

Gomez is starting the year in AAA in all prboability and younger phenom Fernando Martinez should be patrolling the outfield in Binghamton.  Can't wait.  See you in July, Fernando!

Video of Carlos Gomez

 

 

A lot of people are saying Omar dropped the ball over this winter, I applaud him for his restraint...   more »