 Friday, May 23, 2008
Tipping or Turning Point, Part 1
It's hard to draw too much from a single baseball game. But, Thursday may have been the tipping point for Willie Randolph and a turning point for Joe Girardi.
The Mets lost their fourth straight at the dreaded Braves. More importantly, Willie Randolph is on the hot seat after his racial reference remarks. He apologized to the fans and the Wilpons but they won't return his calls according to ESPN 1050 AM.
I am not African American so it is difficult to me comment on how Willie's perception of the public. However, I care most about winning and losing, NOT black and white. I don't want to win, but need to win. It consumes me and I am a nervous wreck from April through October.
I never thought of Willie as an African American but one of my favorite Yankees who happened to be African American. I am rooting for Willie to pull through this crisis but his issues are bigger than race. They are the following:
(1) Lack of Leadership: Who is the leader of this team? Is it David Wright? Carlos Delgado? Jose Reyes? Will someone please assert themselves as the leader of the team.
(2) Lack of Discipline: Even after a team meeting, Billy Wagner continues to spout off on teammates. Granted, he can back it up with a stellar performance but it puts more pressure on his teammates. Baseball is a sport where you fail more than you succeed. Putting more pressure on yourself and others causes more grief and hardship.
(3) Injuries: Moises Alou, Pedro, El Duque, Ryan Church, etc. Heck, my right hamstring tightens as I write this.
Bottom Line: I unfortunately join Steve on the "Willie Watch". The Wilpons should give Willie through the end of the season. Willie has earned the right to right the ship. Mid-season managerial changes rarely work.
As always, I am here as a counselor on the Yankee and Met Crisis Hotlines (which is a large part of this blog).
Posted by a nervous Tank on the Willie Watch in NY.
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