You Turn Your Back for a Second and Then What?

I realize I have not been keeping up with the blog. I know. Have gotten some private comments about it. I apologize. First, you should know that I have been watching everything from here. Every last thing. Reading before I go to bed (extremely late, mind you this is Buenos Aires where you have dinner at 11 pm), getting up a bit before my Spanish class to make sure I miss nothing. Really, I promise.

As for Willie, you know I always liked him. A Brooklyn boy, a good ball player, a good guy. But I totally get why he was given the axe. When things stink, the smell eventually leads to the top. And in my mind this is not limited to Willie... Omar and the Wilpons also need to take a hard look in the mirror. The last couple of weeks of public bullshit, the hemming and hawing, the soap opera like dramas that have enveloped the team certainly don't help. I don't now about you, but blood in the water doesn't bring me any day to day relief.

I will say this... I like what Manuel is doing. Sometimes tough love is needed. And with the benign neglect of the last regime, maybe the hands on approach is what we need.

Now that you've gotten my two cents on the most pressing issue in Mets baseball, I have to figure out how to talk about politics and my trip. Hmmm.. well, the President of Argentina recently proposed an increase in a tax on farmers. And boy, the farmers are pissed... so pissed that there was a massive protest (which I checked out). There was a concession, with the President agreeing to let the Congress debate the tax. But a la a situation we are all familiar with, a concession does not mean victory. It only means wait and see.

Day to Day

Well... they did it last night. Won a game, that it. Beat the fish 5-3 with Johan getting it done, a good defense to back him up, a bullpen that held it together and stiff bats with 9 hits. Oh and a nice double steal to boot.

Yes, it was a victory. A victory that was nearly as hard fought as the Democratic nomination. But are the Mets Hillary or Barack? That we'll know in the coming days and weeks. I suppose that Willie has been given a reprieve. For today. Jack Curry in the Times has it right - Willie, like the Mets, is day to day.

Someone Else to Kick Around

Oh Mets. What can I say? The only thing that changed since I last blogged about you is that you are no longer clinging to .500... you're officially under .500 and are closer to competing with the Nats than with the Braves. You dropped three out of four against the Rockies. Something is outta whack.

Charges of racism (in a game that is more integrated than most workplaces or communities in America it should be noted) by Willie, our star players looking like Mitt Romney (over-hyped and under-performing), and of course the hitting. Or lack thereof.

My two cents on the Willie thing - I said last month that it might be time for him to go. I don't know if that will solve the problem immediately but there is something wrong at the core if a team built like this can't get things going. Sometimes those who are the most gifted are the most lazy laziest, which is why leadership and guidance are critical. I fear those things are missing and is that is precisely what is holding us back.

And it looks like tonight will be no different than the last couple of days. Another loss; I suppose the Marlins is an excuse. Clearly the boys aren't playing up to their potential, but in this case the perception fueled by the media have become the reality. Joe Girardi must be a happy guy - everyone is so busy trashing the Mets that the end of a five-game winning streak is probably not a contender for the sharp tongue of tomorrow's NY Post.

Is Willie's Time Up?

Now, I love Willie Randolph. Love. Seriously. An exceptional player. A Brooklyn boy. But this team has so much talent, has spent so much damn money, and has so much opportunity. Last night's loss against the Braves was not just the bullpen or the starting pitching, but slopping fielding and lost hitting opportunities. It's a serious funk. Benching Carlos D isn't a bad idea, but I wonder if that's just throwing the wrong man overboard.

Sometimes when things start to feel Titanic-like, you've got to look around and make some changes. More fundamental than a new player here or letting go a manager coach. Hillary Clinton did it by dumping Patty Solis Doyle, who was a longtime, very loyal staffer. McCain did it by dumping the Bush crew last year. And look at where we are now.

After last year, after this type of start, I just wonder if a complete change of atmosphere is needed for everyone in Mets nation. I'm not screaming in New York-ease, "Get him the fuck out" but maybe it's an option to consider. There, I've said it.