Archive for the ‘Willie Randolph’ Category
Willie Randolph at the time was a Yankee, and didn't have much love for the 86 Mets. However he did have a few guys he rooted for over on the other side of town when the Yankees were the other team in New York, reports David Lennon in Newsday.
Hernandez, Howard Johnson — and now that he's a member of the
organization, many of them are now his colleagues.
Randolph earned six World Series rings with the Yankees. But despite
his pinstriped past, he acknowledges there was something special about
the '86 Mets, and that year still touches the next generation of stars.
David Wright was too young to remember much about the 1986 team, but he's been a student and fan of the Mets from the minute he could pick up a baseball.
David Wright was only 3 years old when Jesse Orosco flung his
glove skyward at the end of Game 7, but his love for the Mets extends
back as far as he can remember, a byproduct of his childhood in
Chesapeake, Va. — a short drive from Triple-A Norfolk. Coming up
through the farm system, Wright has been tutored by some of the '86
alumni. That has brought the history lesson to life for him.
“You hear all of the stories,” Wright said. “Not only did they take
care of business on the field — obviously, they were a great team and
put up great numbers — it just seemed like they had such a close
relationship off the field. They were like a group of brothers. That's
what I admire about those guys.
“They won together, they lost together, they fought together. To
me, they seemed like the ultimate team. You had a lot of different
characters from a lot of different backgrounds, and for everybody to
come together like that and accomplish a single goal, that was the most
impressive thing. Just the way they had each other's back.”
Randolph : Floyd Is Not Even Close To Returning
Posted by Anthony De RosaAugust 13, 2006 at 8:42 pm
13 Aug
Willie Randolph gave an update on Cliff Floyd's injury
left Achilles' tendinitis, “is not even close to playing,'' Mets
manager Willie Randolph said. “The other Achilles is fine. There's
no correlation between the two. We just have to wait for him to
heal. We need to shut him down for a while on the DL because he is
more important to us down the stretch.''
Several of Mike Piazza's ex-teammates on the Mets were excited about his return to Shea, here are some comments from today's New York Post…
Trachsel will pitch carefully to the greatest Mets hitter of
all-time when he steps to the plate tonight, likely to a raucous
ovation from a thankful fan base.
“It's still Mike Piazza,” Trachsel said. “He's still a power threat. He drives in runs and gets a lot of clutch hits.
“All the things you think of Mike Piazza, he's still capable of doing.”
Former teammates still hold the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer in high esteem.
“He did a lot of beautiful things here,” Jose Reyes said.
“Hopefully he gets a nice ovation when he comes back in,”
manager Willie Randolph said. “He's meant a lot to this organization
and the city. And he's having a nice year.”
Willie had more nice things to say about Mike in The New York Daily News.
“He has a champion's heart and know-how,” Randolph said. “When a guy
has been a great player, he has a way of challenging himself to get as
much out as possible. I never thought he was done.”
David Wright expects a huge ovation for Mike.
“There aren't too many (former) Mets who have come back and been
cheered,” David Wright said. “They should be, especially if they did
great things. Mike is one of those and deservedly so. He's done
tremendous things for this organization and for this city. I think fans
will show their appreciation for what he's done.”
Mike's numbers, .297 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI, are good enough to keep him in the upper echelon of catchers in baseball, but as Tom Glavine points out, Mike will always be compared to himself in his prime, which few players at any position can keep up forever.
“His biggest obstacle is that he is compared to himself,” Glavine said.
“He is compared to Mike Piazza in his prime. He's not that player. None
of us are. Compare any of us to what we were in our prime when we are
past it and we're not the same.
According to a report from SI.com, Mets All-Star third baseman David
Wright has inked a six-year contract extension worth a reported $55
million.
SI.com's Jon Heyman reported that the deal will also have an option for 2013 worth 16 million dollars.
Over the next 4 years, Wright makes 23.5 million, the same as Reyes. In the 5th and 6th years, Wright gets 14 and 15 milion, with 1.5 million going to charity. The Mets have a 1 million dollar buyout in 2013, bringing it to 55 million guaranteed. He receives a 1.5 million signing bonus.
If the Mets pick up his option, he gets 71 million.
David Wright was thrilled to be a part of the future of the Mets franchise.
“I never would have imagined something like this when I signed in
2001. I always wanted to be a lifelong Met. I think this is the first
step in that direction,” Wright said Sunday.
“It's a special
feeling growing up as a Mets fan and now knowing — knock on wood –
I'm going to be a Met for the next six or seven years.”
On the heels of his deal with Jose Reyes, just 3 days ago, Omar Minaya locks up the Mets left side of the infield for the forseeable future.
special week for the Mets,” said Mets general manager Omar Minaya.
Willie Randolph was happy to know his two young superstars will no be going anywhere, anytime soon.
“We're fortunate to tie them up and I look forward to watching them
play a number of years.”
Hat tip to El Giacomo, Darkstar and Mets Toot for relaying the news.
Sphere: Related ContentWillie Randolph's postgame comments on Pedro….
“He just made the one bad pitch, threw the ball great, settled in, nice to see him get into the rhythm and groove of things.”
“Thats a good sign, very positive sign to see him throw the ball like that, threw all his pitches, hit his spots for the most part”
“He came in a little bit inside on Jacobs and he made him pay for it, thats the only bad pitch of the night for him”
…and Mike Jacobs made this nice little comment after the game….
For those of you who don't know what Pedro did for Jacobs, check here.
Sphere: Related Content
Lastings Milledge didn't get the start last night, as Endy Chavez was playing right field against righty Ricky Nolasco. Randolph said Milledge's left hand, which was bloodied when he was spiked on Tuesday night, wasn't the reason why. “He's
OK to play,” Randolph said. “I said [Tuesday] to everyone, I'm going to
just pick my spots where I think it's right for the day, and that's how
I'm going to use him.”
From Bob Herzog on his Newsday Blog…
day Monday, wondering whether he would be traded or not. He heard the
rumors, hoped they weren't true and is delighted to be back with the
Mets. “I see it as an opportunity and I see it that Omar [Minaya] has a
lot of faith in me,” said Milledge, who started in rightfield last
night and batted eighth.
Manager Willie Randolph sees it the same way. “Hopefully he's
matured,” Randolph said. “He made mistakes [in his earlier stint with
the Mets] but he's a young kid. They make mistakes. I look at this as a
positive. He knows he's getting a second chance.”
Manager Willie Randolph said the Mets' plan is to use
all six starters over the next six games and weed out one based on how
they do, reports the New York Post.
Here's how the rotation with shape out over the next few days…
Tuesday, July 24th - Tom Glavine vs. Cubs
According to Randolph, whoever doesn't stay in the rotation out of
Wednesday, July 25th - John Maine vs. Cubs
Thursday, July 26th - Off Day
Friday, July 27th - Pedro Martinez @ Braves
Saturday, July 28th - El Duque @ Braves
Sunday, July 29th - Mike Pelfrey @ Braves
Pelfrey, Maine and even El Duque could end up in the bullpen.
“It could be anybody,” Randolph said
Theres a flash cartoon today on Newsday featuring Willie, The Jacket and Omar.
Is it just me, or did your heart skip a beat when Reyes hit the deck at home? I know mine did. I actually feel like Reyes should have gone in a bit stronger, looks like he went in half hearted. Willie said after the game he just got the wind knocked out of him. I'm thanking all that is sacred that he's ok. Reyes returned and finished the game, but went hitless, ending his streak.
Tough loss tonight, which is funny to say when you're up 12 games, but you want to beat the good teams to prove you can win in the postseason and the Red Sox are one of them. Mets will have their two aces up next and will have a chance to win this series, but will face a tough task against Schilling and Beckett.
Soler looked overwhelmed all night. He got in trouble as he usually does in the first and it unraveled from there. The bats never got going, aside from Delgado and Marrero's solo homers. Wright got badly fooled on a nasty curve by Lester. Milledge made some nice plays off the wall but the one he missed scored two and honestly thats a tough task for a guy who just came up to the big leagues.
Get back on the horse and bring Pedro, who loves to step up in the spotlight and he will have a major stage to show his stuff on tomorrow. I hope he does his best to show the Boston faithful what they gave away.
Sphere: Related ContentThe Journal News reports, Willie had mentioned when Reyes sustained a sore wrist that it might
actually help Reyes. Willie remarked that he did some of his best
hitting with some discomfort in his wrists because it helps you wait a
bit on the ball, and not go after bad pitches as frequently.
“I hope that's what it is,” Randolph said. “It's
a great lesson for him. Sometimes you're forced to do things and make
adjustments.
Willie also gave Rick Down his hitting coach credit and Reyes credit for putting the time in…
“I have to give him credit. He's been working really hard with (hitting coach) Rick Down.”
Down's hitting philosophy is to wait for one pitch, and with a player of Reyes' speed, to swing down when he gets it.
“He's an inferno right now,” Down said
matter-of-factly. “The reason for this? He's got talent. His pitch
selection has gotten better, and he's taken a shorter approach.”
Despite the change in approach, Reyes still has the ability to drive a ball if given the opportunity.
Reyes
can still turn on a pitch, which he did on Josh Towers' third delivery
for his fifth career homer to start a game, and third this season.
Chavez, Part Time Player with Full Time Arm
Posted by Anthony De RosaJune 26, 2006 at 2:43 pm
26 Jun
Endy Chavez is usually used as a fill in outfielder by Willie Randolph, but with the injury to Cliff Floyd and the desire by Willie to get Endy some work in between days while resting his other outfielders, Chavez has put up impressive numbers both behind the plate and in the field. Perhaps the most impressive number is his amount of outfield assists. When he nailed Reed Johnson at second trying
to stretch a single yesterday, it was his eighth assist of the season, trailing
only Alfonso Soriano and Brad Hawpe (10 each), both starting outfielders for their respective teams.
The Toronto Blue Jays are generally thought of as one of the better teams in baseball, ranked 6th by ESPN's Power Rankings. Its a good measuring stick for the Mets who play in one of the weaker divisions in baseball. In an article on the Daily News, the Jay's Frank Catalanotto heaped praise..
“That's the best lineup we've faced all year,” Blue Jays outfielder Frank Catalanotto said.
In the same article, Jose Reyes cited Willie Randolph and hitting coach Rick Down's assistance for his improved approach at the plate…
Said Reyes: “Willie Randolph talked to me in L.A. He said, 'Jose, with
your speed, you have to put the ball in play as much as you can.' Rick
Down told me, 'Hey, you have to see the ball longer.' I started to try
to hit the ball the other way. … The last couple of weeks I made a
little change in my swing. A lot of times the pitcher threw me an
offspeed pitch outside and I tried to pull the ball. Now I stay with
it.”
Willie had mentioned when Reyes sustained a sore wrist that it might actually help Reyes. Willie remarked that he did some of his best hitting with some discomfort in his wrists because it helps you wait a bit on the ball, and not go after bad pitches as frequently.
The Mets, speaking from a position of power, take a different approach to the Braves series.
Julio Franco…
“After all that winning they believe in themselves. … I think we believe in ourselves too, though.”
“Every game counts, but the ones against the teams in your division
have a way of feeling different or more important, Maybe it has to do with how well the teams know each other. … I
think we all know plenty about the Braves.”
Willie Randolph…
“Those are the guys we have to go through to be where we want to be, We're looking forward to that challenge.”
“I know the struggles we've had with the Braves in the past, but this
is a whole new team. We have a lot of new faces, We don't have too many guys who were around for the struggles. We're
going into this with a fresh outlook.”
“We've gotten off to the start we wanted. Now it gets down to this: We
have an understanding that the NL East championship is going to have to
go through Atlanta. To be the best, you have to beat the best. They've
been on top for a while. We have all the right tools. If we play good
baseball, we're going to win.”
Sounds like we've got a real battle on our hands, and the Mets seem ready to take on the challenge. Should be an interesting couple of days to say the least.
Recent Comments