the rix mix

It was two years ago, during Willie Randolph's first season managing the Mets, that I expressed some concerns about his clubhouse managerial style; undemonstrative, unflappable, even a bit on the glum side. It was late in July. The Mets were blowing games on fundamentals, mostly fielding errors. It must have been eating at Willie the Yankee Second Baseman. The team acted young, inexperienced, & incomplete. Although Atlanta wasn't having a great year, the chances of catching the Braves were slim. But the Wild Card was very much an open question. Why, I wondered, wasn't Willie whipping up underdog fever in these guys by pointing out that if they stopped beating themselves they could be in the playoffs, where it became short series & anyone's game? Why wouldn't he Invoke the Magic? Last year was a skate to the Division Title. They tied the Yanks for best record in the majors but neither team won the pennant. This year they came into the stretch with a 7 game lead - thanks mostly to the Phillies & the Braves stumbling over each other, & proceeded to give it up. The Phils beat the snot out of them. It's like the Mets became so distracted by the bulldozing Yankees that they lost sight of their own approaching finish line. You'd think they're a .500 ballclub playing out the string. Because that's exactly what the Mets are right now. A team without leaders. A team doubting itself.

(Nationals 10, Mets 9. They woke up too late. )

Labels: baseball