By this time you should know the Brewers hired former Mets manager Willie Randolph as bench coach on Saturday.

Said Randolph: “I’m excited, looking forward to this next challenge and getting to work. I love teaching and I’m passionate about being in the game. … Eventually, I do want to get back to managing. I didn’t really want to wait around. … I thought it was best to make this move.

The Mets were 302-253 (.544) under Randolph, second to Davey Johnson in club history.

With the turnover in managers and Randolph’s numbers, there’s no doubt he’ll get another chance.

Posted under New York Mets

Pat Burrell turned down $22 million over two years from Philadelphia and CC Sabathia is about to turn down over $100 million from Milwaukee.

All signs are pointing toward the Yankees getting Sabathia. They don’t appear to have a ceiling. The same can’t be said about the Mets. They’ll have money coming off the books with Pedro Martinez, Orlando Hernandez and Moises Alou going, but they’ll be giving raises to David Wright and Jose Reyes.

Their payroll last year was $143 million, and I don’t see it going much higher.

We can discuss all of that tonight.

Posted under New York Mets

Good evening. A lot going on today kept me away from the blog. We have a few items to touch on before we get to Garza vs. Moyer.

-Willie Randolph turned down the Washington Nationals to be a coach. He must have a good feeling about either the Milwaukee or Seattle jobs. He’ll land somewhere.

-The Phillies are feeling a bit miffed because their complete rosters weren’t introduced. They weren’t because MLB and the network, that would be FOX, couldn’t have the time to squeeze that in. Actually, that’s part of the World Series TV experience I enjoy.

Posted under New York Mets

Greetings to all my friends on the West Coast. During the season I’ll call this post “Mets after Midnight.” I had this post before and will do my best to keep it going as to get a dialogue going with you guys two and three time zones away.

I have a good feeling about this World Series. Not so much in the winner, but in that it will be a compelling Series. How did the Phillies leave as many guys on base as they did and still win? Oh yeah, the Rays left a bunch, too.

As far as the Mets go, Mets.Com wrote today that HoJo will be back as hitting coach. That’s not the impression a lot of us had after the season when the Mets were whining about their situational hitting.

Willie Randolph will interview with Milwaukee. Doug Melvin, Milwaukee GM, was once in the Yankee farm system. He knows Willie well. Wouldn’t be surprising if he got the job.

If you don’t want to talk about the game or the Mets’ coaching, don’t worry. This is the message board for you night owls and those on the Coast. And, I’ll answer your questions and address your comments in the morning.

Posted under New York Mets

On Monday evenings at 7, I will host a Mets Chat Room, where we can talk all things Mets.

Let’s see, there’s who among the Mets’ free agents they should retain, and who out there they should throw money at. … Willie Randolph, once rejected by Milwaukee, is a candidate. … Five days after the Series they must decide on Carlos Delgado.

And, of course, we will preview the World Series.

So, there’s a lot to discuss. I hope you’ll join me tonight and every Monday at 7 during the off-season.

Thanks, JD.

Posted under New York Mets

The foregone conclusion is CC Sabathia will sign with the one of the Coast monsters, either the Yankees or Dodgers. The Mets will make agent contact, but aren’t believed to be big players. Then again, they weren’t supposed to be players for Johan Santana, either.

However, Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin said today in a conference call that the Brewers will try to retain the lefty who put them in the playoffs.

Sabathia, who was 17-10 with a 2.70 ERA, will command big bucks which lead to the conclusion the Brewers wouldn’t challenge the market.

“At least we have a chance, whereas before, we wouldn’t have any chance with a pitcher of CC’s caliber,” Melvin said. “I do feel we will make him an offer, and at that point, it will be in his court.”

Posted under New York Mets

Interesting report last night on Fox when after Shane Victorino’s slam against Milwaukee in which which he raised his finger in the air as he rounded the bases.

Prior to the next game, teammates taped to Victorino’s locker the photo of him running the bases and wrote ‘J. Reyes’ above it.

A slap at Reyes? Of course it was. But, if this irks you, blame Reyes, for it is stuff like this that upsets other teams enough to put the Mets in their sights. Reyes is a good player with the potential to be great, but he’s been given a free reign for the most part about his celebrations and behavior.

Reyes provided the motivation to the Florida Marlins for the season finale in 2007, and undoubtedly inspired teams against the Mets this year.

Posted under Commentary

On the day the Mets extended Omar Minaya through 2014 (counting the two option years), their nemesis, the Phillies, took a commanding 2-0 lead in their NL Division Series with Milwaukee. Philly is looking pretty good.

I watched part of the LA-Cubs game. I’ve always liked Joe Torre so I’m happy for him considering how tacky the Yankees were in pushing him out. I had a good working relationship with him when I covered the Yankees, and when I was taken off the beat he called to wish me well.

He didn’t have to, but it made me proud because it showed he respected my work.

I also have a good friend who works with Tampa Bay, so I’m pulling for his team in the AL. Don’t know what I’ll do if they meet in the Series.

My take on the Minaya extension is it was a no-brainer. Sure, the Mets fell short a second straight season, but the truth is they are better now than they were when he took over. There’s no doubt Minaya made some decision that backfired, but he’s also added players that brought them this far.

I understand the frustration, but the Mets remain a contending team. There’s a lot of pitching work that needs to be done, but with the right acquisitions they can get back to the playoffs. This is not a hopeless situation they are in.

That’s about it from me for today. I think I’ll watch some of “Tombstone,” before calling it a night. I’ll answer your comments and questions in the morning. Good night all.

Posted under New York Mets

With Milwaukee winning last night in the ninth to keep the pressure on, the Mets are faced with another must-win game tonight. Oliver Perez, who has pitched well in big games before for the Mets, will start against a team he hasn’t faced in over three years.

The NL East is still within their grasp, and far preferable to the wild-card. Remember, if it comes down to just Mets and Phillies for the division, the Mets win based on head-to-head. However, for that scenario to apply, the Brewers must fall completely out of wild-card contention.

Do you remember how horrible David Wright looked last week in Washington? He’s turned it around. His two-run hit last night might be one of the most important of the season.

Posted under New York Mets

Johan Santana will be going for his eighth straight decision tonight. He’s also pitching to keep the Mets from falling all but out of the NL East race and to keep an edge over Milwaukee.

It will be all but impossible for the Mets to overtake the Phillies, especially if they lose and Philly wins. A Mets’ loss and Milwaukee win makes the wild card tight.

Posted under New York Mets