Jerry Manuel spoke to SNY last night and the topic of Manny Ramirez naturally came up. Here was Manuel’s opinion when asked if he thought Manny’s reputation for odd behavior would be an issue in the Mets locker room.
“Nah, I don’t think so. I don’t have a problem with people that produce in the form and fashion that Manny Ramirez produces. We shouldn’t spend that much time in the locker room anyway. Our job is to be on the field, and Manny Ramirez has proven that he is probably one of the best right-handed hitters of our generation. To have a shot at managing him would be exciting for me. I’ve had Albert Belle, Frank Thomas, tremendous right-handed hitters. I would love to have the opportunity to watch Manny hit every day.”
Manuel said he wouldn’t lobby the Mets front office to go after Manny because he doesn’t feel its his place to tell them what to do.
“From my point of view as the manager, I don’t get involved with [that],” Manuel said, referring to personnel decisions. “Once that player becomes a Met, I get involved from there.”
Manuel discussed a number of other topics, among them Luis Castillo.
“Our job as a staff is to get him back to being the player he was and get him back to being embraced by the team he’s playing for. He has the skills. It’s just a matter of us as a staff getting him to play at the level he can play at. If he can, then we’ll have to do some things to put out there what is the best team.”
On the second straight September collapse.
“It’s always out in the open. We will never get rid of that until we finish and get into the playoffs.”
His opinion on the fact there are 14 Mets playing in the WBC.
“I wish there wasn’t the World Baseball Classic at this time because the core players are the players I need to manage in spring training. Those are the guys you want to make sure understand what you’re looking for and what you want. From the 23rd of March, we’re going to have to do some things to get everybody in line.”
On Johan Santana pitching in the WBC.
“You have to be careful. It’s a real sensitive thing when you’ve played in those countries and see how passionate their fans are … it’s a tough call for him and for the organization. I’m glad I don’t have to make that one.”
Pete Lappin (3)
