02-04-2003, 01:27 PM
Quote:i like bobby valentine, i like how he speaks his mindI like that, and that he comes out early, signs plenty of autographs for kids, got involved in 9-11, is intelligent, and yes, actually knows baseball. He was even good enough to be a major leaguer with a lot of promis before his injury, unlike Phillips, who never made it to "The Show", and seems to be living vicariously through his players".
His biggest problem is when he knows something others don't, he lets them know it. Some people aren't secure enough for that. Remember how he told Hundley that he wasn't getting enough sleep? Well, guess what - Hundley has never been the same player since he left. Bernard Gilkey had a problem with Valentine? - well, what has he done lately. Valentine was on record as saying Ishiro would be a great player.
Contrast this with Phillips, who gave away Isringhausen (for Billy Taylor!)and Terrance Long (Kenny Rogers) to the A's, Traded Carl Everett for John Hudek, Traded Melvin Mora & Mike Kinkaid for a couple of months of Mike Bordick who was horrible, Traded Bubba Trammell for Donne Wall, Decided Todd Zeile would be a good first baseman, Traded Kevin Appier (an effective pitcher who Phillips signed for too much money) for Mo Vaughn (who hadn't played in over a year, had a bad contract, couldn't bend over to field, and blocked a possible Mike Piazza to first base move), Picked up Burnitz and his horrible contract, Traded Gary Mathews Jr to Balt for John Bale (who?), put Pete Walker on waivers (who pitched well for Toronto), overpaid Rey Ordonez which kept him here way too long, and treated Edgardo Alfonzo horribly. Not to mention the Alex Rodriguez (I don't even need to talk to him) fiasco.
Art Howe might do ok, but it doesn't excuse Phillips. Or Wilpon who chose Phillips over Omar Minaya, who not only signed Sammy Sosa & Juan Gonzalez (i believe) when he was a scout, but was able to pull off the Colon deal last year.
Fire Steve Phillips
And Jimmy, Bill Mueller, who would have fit in as a part timer at 3rd, signed with BoSox
Mets gotta look long term. Next year Mike Lowell will be free agent, as well as Troy Glaus (I think), and other big timers. Don't need to compound mistakes this year. I'll put up with Wigginton.