Double Trouble: Mets Collapse Again

Last week, I questioned Doug Melvin's decision to fire Milwaukee Brewers' manager Ned Yost with just 12 games left in the regular season, and I stand by my opinion when I say it was a terrible and disrespectful move for the organization. It was a slap in the face to a man who was apart of Brewers' history, and it could have resulted in a costly distraction to players. The Brewers officially clinched a playoff birth yesterday with their 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on the final day of the regular season, but it had more to do with the New York Mets' collapse than anything else. This year, the Mets held a three-and-a-half game lead in the NL Wild Card with 17 games left, and they blew their chances on a trip to the post season due to their second consecutive September collapse. I searched the blogosphere to find some in-depth analyses as to why the Mets won't be playing in October, and I came across two posts that I commented on. The first one was entitled "Torch Song", published by long-time professional journalist and radio broadcaster Jeff Kallman. His most recent post regarding the Mets collapse on his blog titled The MLB Source, presented the argument that the Mets' collapse should not only be attributed to the terrible relief pitching but should also linked to the team's lack of hitting down the stretch. Kallman also argued Johan Santana was really the true ace everyone was looking for, whether they saw it or not. The second post was entitled, "FINAL: Mets Miss the Playoffs With 4-2 Defeat to the Marlins", published by New York Times' reporter Joshua Robinson. The blog can be found NYTimes.com "Baseball" section of the site. This post provided an exciting inning-by-inning account of the Mets' final game and made readers feel as if they were apart of the action. In addition to publishing my comments directly on these blogs, I have also posted my comments below.

"Torch Song"
My Response:

Thank you for writing a well-constructed post regarding the New York Mets’ second collapse in as many seasons. You clearly watched games as more than just a fan and made the judgments in your mind of how the Mets could have done something differently to either win their division or fend off the Milwaukee Brewers and keep their lead in the NL Wild Card. I believe your first paragraph sets a great tone for your post. “This time, [the Mets] didn’t blow a seven-game divisional lead by going 5-12 in their final seventeen … This time, they blew a mere three-and-a-half game divisional lead and went 7-10 in the final seventeen.” I like how your opening paragraph humorously points out this Mets’ collapse this year may not be comparable to last year, but it’s just as sloppy and disgraceful for the organization. One aspect of the collapse I felt you could have expanded on was the horrendous individual work of the Mets’ bullpen. Rather than focusing on the games they blew for ace Johan Santana, which, I’ll admit, I had no idea he could have won between 23 and 27 games this season, I would have liked to see more commentary on the fact that the relievers were all basically lefty of righty specialists and couldn’t get through a clean inning to save their life during September. Once closer Billy Wagner got injured for the Mets in August, their season slowly began deteriorating, and that’s something I feel you left out. In addition, I would have liked to get some of your insight of the upcoming plans for the Mets. Management just signed general manager Omar Minaya to a four-year extension, whether he deserved it or not for putting together two straight teams that have collapsed, and I would like to get your insight to what the organization’s off-season plans might hold to right the ship. Will they go after another big name free agent like a A.J. Burnett or CC Sabathia? Will they make another big trade like they made last season? Or do you think they will they sit tight and try to win with what they have?

"FINAL: Mets Miss the Playoffs With 4-2 Defeat to the Marlins"
My Response:

First off, I would like to thank you for writing a post that was different from any other account I've read about the Mets' second-straight collapse. Reading this post almost felt as if I was at the final game at Shea Stadium, and I could feel the crowd. It was a very fun read, especially because you kept going back and forth between the Brewers' game and the Mets' game. One of the most crucial points you hit on during the third inning of your post was when you wrote, "It already has the feel of a game that will be won and lost by the bullpens, which is never a good sign for the Mets." And eventually, the bullpen blew yet another game during the Mets' dismal September collapse. Reading through your post, I found it interesting that you focused most of your blame for the team's loss today solely on the bullpen, when the offense failed to show up at all. Despite Carlos Beltran's game-tying home run, the offense produced nearly nothing during the team's most important game of the season. Coming into the game, you even pointed out the Mets' opposing pitcher Scott Olsen had little success in his 12 career starts against New York, going 1-5 with a 4.89 E.R.A. The Mets should have put more runs across the board, but they didn't, which resulted in a lot of pressure placed on the relievers heading into the later innings, and they gave up two runs that would ultimately end the Mets' season. One more area I think you could have expanded on were the players' reactions during the game. Because I am reading the recap and not watching the game, I need as much detail as I can get to picture it in my mind. While you did a great job with the fans' emotions, I would have liked to picture the players' emotions as well. Lastly, I have some questions for you regarding Mets' interim manager Jerry Manuel. Do you think he is responsible for the collapse this season? Could he have done anything differently? And, do you think he will be back in 2009?

Melvin's Mistake: Yost Should Still Be Brewers' Manager

With just 12 games left in the season, the Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost last Monday in an attempt to right the ship and put an end to the team's September swoon. All I have to say is what in the world was management thinking? The move was a giant slap in the face to Yost. After 150 games of a long, grueling baseball schedule, the former manager had the Brewers tied for the lead in the NL wild card race. But, apparently, it was not good enough for general manager Doug Melvin. Melvin, however, must have forgotten that Yost led his franchise out of the ruins six years ago. When Milwaukee hired Yost, shown in the graphic to the left, after the 2002 season, the Brewers had just completed their 10th consecutive losing season. Even worse, the team was coming off its worst record in franchise history at 56-106. Yost brought a sense of pride and history with him to the struggling organization. After all, he was the back-up catcher on the Brewer's 1982 pennant-winning team-the last Brewers team to make it to the playoffs-and Melvin said, "He has enthusiasm for the organization and brings a great desire to help us to return to winning baseball," according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It was not until 2005 that Yost truly led the Brewers out of the cellar. For the first time in 13 seasons, the Brewers finished the season at .500. With 81 wins and young emerging stars including J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Prince Fielder and staff ace Ben Sheets, Yost finally had a nucleus of players to build around. Thanks to the addition of young-slugging third baseman Ryan Braun to fit in with the rest of Milwaukee's rising stars, the Brewers became a force to be reckoned with in 2007. But after finishing 24-30 throughout the final two months of the season, the Brewers found themselves in second place at the end of the September, two games back of the Cubs. Another long winter awaited the franchise. Whispers began surrounding the organization that Yost was to be fired. But how could Melvin dismiss his manager? He had brought the most exciting season the Brewer's organization had seen since 1992. Even though his players failed to reach the postseason, the team surpassed all expectations of management and fans.

But 2008 was to be different. The Brewers expected to win for the first time since the early 1980s. Yost led his squad to a 32-30 record by early July, and the team sat atop the NL central standings. But Melvin, feeling his team needed more in 2008, made arguably the biggest acquisition in franchise history, trading Matt LaPorta - Milwaukee's best prospect - and three other minor league players to the Cleveland Indians for reigning AL Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia, shown in the graphic to the right after winning his first start in Milwaukee. "We just felt that we needed to go for it at this point," Melvin said according to the New York Times. "We feel that this is a year that gives us a chance." It was a we-must-win-now move for Melvin's squad. Sabathia, like Sheets, is a free agent at the end of the 2008 season, and he most certainly won't be wearing a Brewer's uniform next season. By giving up LaPorta, Melvin hurt his team's future to contend for a championship now. No one on the Brewer's end of the spectrum can argue with the results of the trade. Up until Yost's dismissal on Sept. 15, Sabathia was 9-0 in 13 starts with six complete games and a 1.59 ERA. But, in what probably seemed like a bad recurring nightmare to management, the Brewers 5 1/2 game wild card lead started decreasing in September, much like the team's division lead in 2007. Melvin could not believe it. He had no idea know what to do and just waged his future to trade for a pitcher that would be with his team for only half of a season. On top of losing Sabathia, Sheets would be gone too. Melvin's window of opportunity was closing fast. He panicked. Following the team's 3-11 record in September, Melvin fired Yost last Monday and in an unprecedented move. No manager had ever been fired so late into the season with his team in reach of the playoffs.

From my point of view, it shows a lot of disrespect on Melvin's part. Yost earned the right to manage the last 12 games of the season, regardless of whether Melvin thought so or not. Also, there is no way an executive can fire a manager, especially in the middle of a playoff race, without feeling 100 percent confident in his or her decision. Melvin said this following the dismissal according to ESPN.com: "[Yost] didn't have the answers for what is going on the last two weeks and I'm not sure I have all the answers. I'm not sure this is the right one, either." Melvin should have been completely sure of his decision and been prepared to defend it. But he did not do either. Melvin named third base coach Dale Sveum as interim manager for the rest of the season, as if that would change the outcome for his team. At least bring in some one new and fiery to ignite a spark for this team. Do not get rid of the head poncho and replace him with his assistant. It will not change a thing. Since Yost's dismissal, the Brewers haven't played much better. The team is 2-4 under Sveum and now stands 1 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the wild card lead. Once again on the outside looking in, the Brewers may have botched their best chance to make the playoffs in the last 26 years. Who knows if Milwaukee would have turned their play around and made a push for the post season with Yost at the helm. The only thing that is definite is Yost is gone and Melvin's window of opportunity is nearly shut.