30-minute meeting between GM Omar Minaya and manager Willie Randolph.Coincidence?
I don't think so.
I believe Minaya told Randolph to move Church there, against Randolph's wishes. Church went into the two-hole on Tuesday, April 15. Since then he has gone 8-21, driving in two runs, scoring nine, and raised his batting average almost 20 points. The Mets were 5-0 in those games. Obviously, he enjoys hitting second in the batting order, and even was quoted by the New York Post as saying: "I love it," Church said. "I've been getting some pitches that I've been able to do something with."
Great. Super. We found out #2 hitter for the rest of the season.
Not if Randolph has anything to do with it.
Luis Castillo was moved from eighth in the order (where he landed after getting bumped out of the second spot) back up to batting behind Jose Reyes for the finale in Philadelphia. Is it any surprise that Castillo failed in a huge spot in the top of the ninth inning as he was unable to get a fundamental bunt down to advance runners, and when he already had two strikes on him, was unable to even make contact and hope something happens. Instead, he waves at a slider inside and makes the first out of the inning. The Mets were unable to score and therefore lost the game.
Why in the world would you mess with an order that has won you five straight, and has seen the new #2 hitter bat .380 and score nine times is beyond me. Only Randolph will know.
Hopefully Minaya has a little sit down with the manager before Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs, and sets the record straight.