Mets GM Omar Minaya find himself at the helm of a rapidaly sinking ship AP Photo/Kathy Willens
The Mets are struggling in the first season in their new home Citi Field. They currently sit fifth in their division 9.5 games behind the Phillies despite having the second highest MLB payroll and six of the top 50 players in the league according to The Sporting News.
The Mets so far are under achieving, and it now appears the wheels are starting to come off.
This week Mets GM Oman Minaya had to fire Vice President of Player Personnel Tony Bernazard after a series of really bizarre incidents. The first was a heated argument with Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, and the second was over an argument with some of the team Double A players about seating arrangements. This second incident ended with Bernazard reportedly challenging the players to a fight.
If that wasn’t bizarre enough at the Press Conference to announce the firing Minaya took time to call out a New York Daily News Mets beat writer for asking for a job. Minaya claimed that the reporter has repeatedly lobbied the club for a player personnel job. The reporter claimed otherwise and Minaya has recently apologized for the incident.
The Mets have a dismal record of 49-52 and if they did not share a division with the Washing ton Nationals they would certainly be in the cellar. All of this while having a 135 million dollar payroll and the likes of Johan Santana, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Rodriguez, and Carlos Delgado on the roster.
The bad record this year, combined with recent failures seem to indicate that the Mets are headed in the wrong direction and that the front office and coaching staff must be wiped out, and built anew.
Whomever Owner Fred Wilpon gets to turn this club in the future they should take a long hard look at one Alan Trammell as its manager of the future. While Alan had an abysmal record as manger of the Detroit Tigers, he didn’t have any talent then, and after a few seasons sitting next to one Lou Piniella he has earned a second chance.
In the end though the Mets are going to need big changes to help right a ship that has strayed so far of course.
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