-Jerry Manuel on why John Maine is going to the doctor today
H/T Nick Migliore
5/21/10
My take on Maine / Manuel / Warthen
What a mess. Let me try to sort this out and inject my own opinions on the matter.
John Maine had to lobby his way into starting the game while he was still warming up in the bullpen. After five pitches, Jerry Manuel and Dan Warthen didn’t like what they saw, came out and removed Maine – very much so against his will. Manuel was visibly upset while on the field and in the dugout afterwards.
I thought it was a bit of a quick hook on Manuel/Warthen’s part. Go out and talk to him first, see if he can get through the inning. If not, then remove him. Five pitches doesn’t really seem like enough time, but I’m not a manager or pitching coach.
The Mets announce that he was taken out for precautionary reasons due to his velocity being down and a different delivery.
Again, bit of a quick hook, don’t you think?
Post-game, Maine is none too pleased with being pulled. He says he wasn’t given a chance to argue his case and that all he wants to do is pitch. He also says he feel pain, but so does every pitcher, and that he has no reason to see a doctor tomorrow. He also says he has no idea why he was pulled, etc. etc.
Glad he’s angry about this, but I’m more concerned about the lack of communication. They coaches had literally the whole game to go and talk to Maine, discuss the issues and lay out a plan. Instead, it seems they just let him sit in the clubhouse and stew for three hours. That’s worrying.
Warthen, when speaking to reporters, calls Maine a “habitual liar.” Warthen adds that Maine is a warrior, but that he lies about his health a lot.
I can understand thinking this in your head and discussing this with other coaches, the manager and Maine himself. But to say this to the media? That’s where I have the biggest problem. Yes, the media should be clued in to as much as possible, but when a coach calls out his player and calls him a “habitual liar” it’s both a in-team and PR disaster.
Warthen should not have said that and it likely only makes the possible job of helping Maine that much harder. Frankly, they’re all grown men who should be able to speak in plain terms with each other and try to figure out what’s best for Maine and for the Mets. It seems, though, that they’re unwilling to discuss these topics and look like fools when it’s all “he said / he said / who said what?” talk to the media and to the world.
5/20/10
Did Dan Warthen really just say that?
I am, most literally, appalled right now. I really don’t know what to think about that quote.
Excellent catch by Anthony De Rosa of Hot Foot on this. Wow.
Game Recap: Mets 10 – Nationals 7
This laugher got too close for comfort.
The Good
Rauuuuuuul. On very short notice – or none at all – Raul Valdes entered the game in the first inning with a runner on second. He eventually turned in a five-inning effort, surrendering seven hits and three earned runs, but two scored after he left the game. The line score doesn’t look very pretty, but he pitched in a pinch and did just fine.
David Wright had a nice bounceback night, driving in four runs. He put the Mets on top early with a three-run triple in the first inning, and they never looked back. Well, maybe they looked back a little when it was 10-1 then suddenly 10-6, but still…
Ike Davis went 3-5, just missing home runs twice. He hit two doubles and scored three times. Jason Bay also went 3-5.
Rod Barajas and Jeff Francoeur each drove in two runs. Barajas’ came on a two-run homer in the sixth and Francoeur’s on a bases-loaded RBI single in the fifth. You read that right, the bases were loaded and the Mets got a hit. Jose Reyes even got another hit after that, driving in one.
The Bad & Ugly
John Maine. Out for five pitches, walking the only batter he faced. Dan Warthen, Jerry Manuel and the crew descended upon the mound and pulled Maine after that for “precautionary measures.” He was absolutely fuming in his post-game comments. (More on this tomorrow.)
Bullpen woes. Jenrry Mejia, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez allowed four runs to score and the Nationals to make a game out of what should have been an easy win. Hopefully Ryota Igarashi will join the Mets sooner rather than later.
Jeff Francoeur’s misplay of Pudge’s pop-up. Could have been an easy play near the warning track. Instead, he ran in, lost the ball in the lights/twilight sky and the ball dropped in 30 feet behind him. Funny stuff.
Game Ball
Raul.
On Deck
Subway Series tomorrow night, a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Maine forced to leave due to injury before retiring batter [Update]
Update – 8:20 p.m.: Maine was removed for “precautionary reasons.” Velocity was down and his delivery was not “normal,” according to the Mets.
John Maine was forced out of Thursday night’s game after the leadoff batter reached in the bottom of the first inning. He threw only five pitches.
Maine argued his case to stay in the game with Dan Warthen and Jerry Manuel – the latter of which looked visibly angry at the situation.
No word on the extent of the injury yet.
Finally, a non-hideous hat [Image]
To be worn on Memorial Day, July 4 and Sept. 11.
Well done.
Contest: Jerry Watch
Jerry Manuel is – for all intents and purposes – likely managing his last few hours/days/weeks as the Mets manager. Not only is the team losing, but they aren’t playing very good baseball while doing so.
In an effort to make a fun game out of this, I propose “Jerry Watch.”
Take to the comments and post the date of the day you believe Jerry Manuel will be fired. We’ll work on Price Is Right rules - as close as possible without going over.
(So if you guess June 3, but he is canned on June 2, you don’t win. But if you guessed June 1, and you were the closest, you win!)
Up for grabs are one, two or possibly all three of these wonderful key chains I have lying around my house. Amazing, I know! (There are three in case there is a tie. If you pick the same date as someone, be prepared to split the prize. Other Mets stuff might be included if there is a tie.)
When the day comes, I’ll try my best to alert the winner, so please comment with your e-mail address included so I can shoot you an e-mail so I can send you these wonderful prizes.
Hit the comments and guess the day Mr. Manuel gets his pink slip.
Manuel’s Musing
-Jerry Manuel
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