>Who Is Lee Mazzilli and Why Is He The Next Mets Manager?

>As I travel around the New York area telling tales of Lee Mazzilli, I am finding that there are actual adults in their twenties who are big Mets fans and they’ve never heard of him.

Once upon a time there was something called the late seventies. Tom Seaver was gone and the Mets sucked. They were awful. Hopeless. Managed by a guy named Joe Torre that made Jeff Torborg look like a genius in comparison. The only question about every season was whether or not they would finish last or if the Cubs would. Meanwhile in the Bronx, well maybe you’ve heard of Reggie Jackson.

In this mess was a good looking kid from Brooklyn named Lee Mazzilli. He was #16 and the centerfielder. In his most awesome year he hit .303 with 15 HRs and 79 RBI. In post-steroid numbers that’s say 25 homers and 100 RBI in 1998. Amazing? No. But he was all we had. There would be one Met on the All Star team and he was it.

They traded Lee in 1982 but that trade eventually turned into Ron Darling and Howard Johnson, so it’s hard to complain.

In 1986 the amazing did happen and Lee came back and got a ring with the Mets!

You youngsters probably remembering him coaching for Torre’s Yankees for most of the good years, and Lee does have managerial experience with the Orioles.

It’s time for a change in Flushing. Lee works for the organization (the tv network) and is a fan favorite. There is no obvious heir apparent. It’s time to pacify the fans and the cranky bloggers and make the change…to a Brooklyn boy and a fan fave. It’s time for Lee Mazzilli

Who Is Lee Mazzilli and Why Is He The Next Mets Manager?

As I travel around the New York area telling tales of Lee Mazzilli, I am finding that there are actual adults in their twenties who are big Mets fans and they’ve never heard of him.

Once upon a time there was something called the late seventies. Tom Seaver was gone and the Mets sucked. They were awful. Hopeless. Managed by a guy named Joe Torre that made Jeff Torborg look like a genius in comparison. The only question about every season was whether or not they would finish last or if the Cubs would. Meanwhile in the Bronx, well maybe you’ve heard of Reggie Jackson.

In this mess was a good looking kid from Brooklyn named Lee Mazzilli. He was #16 and the centerfielder. In his most awesome year he hit .303 with 15 HRs and 79 RBI. In post-steroid numbers that’s say 25 homers and 100 RBI in 1998. Amazing? No. But he was all we had. There would be one Met on the All Star team and he was it.

They traded Lee in 1982 but that trade eventually turned into Ron Darling and Howard Johnson, so it’s hard to complain.

In 1986 the amazing did happen and Lee came back and got a ring with the Mets!

You youngsters probably remembering him coaching for Torre’s Yankees for most of the good years, and Lee does have managerial experience with the Orioles.

It’s time for a change in Flushing. Lee works for the organization (the tv network) and is a fan favorite. There is no obvious heir apparent. It’s time to pacify the fans and the cranky bloggers and make the change…to a Brooklyn boy and a fan fave. It’s time for Lee Mazzilli

>Mets Police Shocker: Get off Willie's Case

>What? Are you kidding me?

A report that Mets management is unhappy with Willie for the way he managed LAST NIGHT? Of all the nights, last night? Get off the man’s case on this one.

The crux is there is some lame stat that waaaahhhh Billy Wagner isn’t good when he doesn’t start an inning. That ain’t the manager, that’s the player and that means the organization bought a closer who can’t close. You need a fireman to put out fires, not get “LaRussa saves.”

Willie, I’m no fan, but good for you giving Pelfrey a shot, good for you for making the change when the runner got on, and Wags can learn how to pitch in relief.

This story makes me furious.

Fox Sports:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8237716/Continued-gaffes-not-helping-Randolph

Mets Police Shocker: Get off Willie’s Case

What? Are you kidding me?

A report that Mets management is unhappy with Willie for the way he managed LAST NIGHT? Of all the nights, last night? Get off the man’s case on this one.

The crux is there is some lame stat that waaaahhhh Billy Wagner isn’t good when he doesn’t start an inning. That ain’t the manager, that’s the player and that means the organization bought a closer who can’t close. You need a fireman to put out fires, not get “LaRussa saves.”

Willie, I’m no fan, but good for you giving Pelfrey a shot, good for you for making the change when the runner got on, and Wags can learn how to pitch in relief.

This story makes me furious.

Fox Sports:
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8237716/Continued-gaffes-not-helping-Randolph

>WWJD?

>

Catching up from a busy day and our night at the Stadium. Good job as always from lohud.com which asks the below about Torre. Willie should not think three wins and a dopey orange jacket are going to make us forget that on Monday we were waiting for “the machete.”

Was kinda cool to see Joe get the ovation…and I liked how he tipped his cap in a “thanks” but not arrogant kind of way. Anyways…what would Joe do?
The question, of course, is whether things would be different under Torre. No one can ever know for sure, but could Torre have prodded Carlos Delgado into more production the way he did with an aging Tino Martinez in 2005? Could he have done for Carlos Beltran what he did for Bernie Williams? Could he have put out the fires in the Mets’ locker room the way he did with Kevin Brown and Gary Sheffield, keeping his team together even as they shared space with players who were often divisive?
I’ll add – could have gotten Pedro to bother to show up on opening day? Could he get OverReyes to keep his head in the game? Would he accused SNY of a conspiracy? Would he think fans were anti-Italian if we booed when they were in 4th place? Good questions all. Click the link.