A Nice Article on Willie

[Timberwolf]

Dan Graziano, the national baseball writer for the Star-Ledger, wrote a great piece on Willie yesterday in the paper. I agree with what Graziano had to say in this piece. Throughout the season, I have been citing how Willie has been able to motivate his players and get the players to play hard every game this season which is something his predecesor has hard time doing in his two forgettable years with the Mets. Willie seems to know what he is doing which is something Art Howe never did. Sure Willie has had lot of blunders at times, but which manager does not make mistakes. Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox, and Mike Scioscia are great managers, but they have made plenty of mistakes as managers. That happens. I will say this for Willie. At least, he cites his reasoning to his strategy which is something most managers don't reveal.

Mets got a keeper in Willie. He is well-respected by other players from other teams and by his peers. He definitely should get Manager of the Year votes this season.

He has done such a great job that Willie got the best Subway toasted sandwich over Joe Torre in the recent Subway commercial that is aired in the tri-state area.

http://www.nj.com/mets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1125812717245330.xml&coll=1

[Cyberlibrarian]

I cannot tell you how many people I know think he's a lightweight and/or a nitwit. I firmly believe the main reason they hate him is because he was a Yankee and isn't ashamed of it. It's hard to find someone who hates the Yankees as much as I do, but I am more than willing to cut the guy some slack. He was never someone I hated when he was a Yankee. In fact, I rather respected the way he played the game -- with grace and class.

[Timberwolf]

Keep in mind those same people rip Bobby Valentine and Davey Johnson back in the day. I know Valentine constantly got ripped on sports radio and at the games where fans would call for his firing in 1997. It's when Valentine left, everyone appreciated him even more after the inept Art Howe era. Mets fans are just never satisfied. I know I should not call them out since I am no different from them based on my bashing on the Twins, but what did they expect out of the Mets this year. Just because they signed Pedro and Carlos does not mean they were not winning the NL East. That bullpen has been shaky all season and I had my doubts on the pitching which has been better than I expected.

All Willie or managers for that matter can do is prepare his team. That's all. Outside of that, it's up to the players to go out and perform in the white lines.

The fact he is a Yankee probably galls most Mets fans. With that said, I just think they like to ride on a lot of people when they are struggling. This is the same group that booed Mike Piazza in his first month as a Met to the point Piazza seriously considered not coming back as a FA. How about when they booed Armando Benitez on Opening Day two years ago in introductions? At least, Willie is mature enough not to let those stuff bother him.