…and now we know just how much.
H/T to Ballbug again.

As the blogger Fifth Outfielder notes, Heilman’s appearances mirror that of Scott Proctor. Among relief pitchers, only Heilman has logged more innings than Proctor over the last year. Its certain that Heilman’s work load increased last season with Duaner Sanchez being unavailable. But it was clear that Willie Randolph – like Joe Torre his mentor with Scott Proctor – was wearing out Heilman.

The bullpen’s demise last season put far too much on Heilman. It seemed that Heilman was having to pitch in every game the Mets had a chance to win. We are seeing that relievers are often overworked and have noticable downturns in performance. Its must be fair to say that mental strain that comes from the responsibility that both Heilman and Proctor have had to bare will manifest itself at some point to either injury and/or ineffectiveness.

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I’m never sure what to do about these sorts of things from second hand reports from sources with I’m unfamiliar. This was picked up by Ballbug, a notable clearing house for baseball articles.

If indeed the B-Cyclones Ike Davis and some of his teammates acted as they did without any provocation by the writer its a problem. A couple of points should be considered:

1. Younger players are not used to female reporters being in the clubhouse while they are dressing as major leaguers.

2. Protocols and schedules aren’t as clear for media to enter minor league clubhouses as they are in the majors. No media relations liaison was likely present to serve as a go between. So the reporter – and a young female one at that – certainly was a fish out of water in a clubhouse that appeared to have no club management, coaches or the manager present.

3. She clearly should have gone through someone with the ballclub or waited until they left the clubhouse. She certainly should have been escorted. The manner in which she introduced herself seems dubious.

4. The account being published is that of the reporter’s superior or colleague.

5. The comments to the post are interesting.

6. Still, the catcalls and condecension were immature, unprofessional and unacceptable. When players are in uniform they represent things bigger than themselves. The same is to be said when they are traveling together.

7. To summarize, the incident reminds of the controversy that came from Keith Hernandez’ on-air comments to the presence of the female message therapist in the San Diego Padres dugout. Both are examples of women slowly being introduced to what has been for over a century a man’s world. There’s likely to oil and vinegar seperations from time to time.

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…provides someone familiar to playing in New York, although he appears to a similar player to Fernando Tatis. If the Mets don’t release Trot Nixon when Ryan Church comes off the DL they will have both more experience – and more power on the bench. This is something they’ve lacked for a few seasons. As Minaya curiously said Phillips is in the outfield mix, perhaps they are preparing for a season without Moises Alou. We may well also be seeing the Mets allign alternatives for Carlos Delgado’s departure.

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The NY Post’s Frank Isola’s Sunday piece which lumped Jeff Wilpon with two other second generation owners of New York teams – James Dolan and Hank Steinbrenner – was to least the least unfair.

Both Dolan and Steinbrenner put in little, if any, time which would prepare them for the power they would hold. Jeff Wilpon, in comparison, grew up a baseball player and did so until playing a brief stint as a minor leaguer in the Montreal Expo organization. During the late 1980′s and early 90′s – my time with the club – Jeff spent his time as an observer. And an unassuming one at that. He was purposefully detached and asked good questions. Recall he served as Omar’s assistant when Minaya first arrived. His father helped prepare him and groom him for the place he is now in a process that was 20 years long.

When is it wrong for a father to bring his son into the business anyhow? Nonetheless, unlike Steinbrenner and Dolan, there was a clear path of advancement for Jeff Wilpon to CEO that spands parts of three decades.

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It seems that Brian Runge baited Carlos Beltran and that Manuel correctly came out to protect one of his best players with the umpires. I thought that Manuel would look do this early as Willie never would. Once I thought last season he needed to do it with David Wright but he didn’t. It often seemed the umpires had the Mets and Randolph cowared.

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A very sad day for anyone whomever has been around Plummer. Always smiling and joking, Jimmy will be missed.

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Several sources, including the NY Post are ripping Jerry Manual today by clearly misquoting him. Some are inferring Manual’s use of the term “fertilizer” is meant as a slap at booing Mets fans. No, he’s not. Fertilizers are applied to prompt growth. Even during Manual’s measured explanation he somehow knew some moron somewhere would misquote him. Well they have. Manual means that the booing will harden the Mets and make them improve.

UPDATE: Accoring to Matt Cerrone of Metsblog, Mets fans understood Manual

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………notes the club is actually beginning to relax. They’ve been relieved of the burden of carrying around Randolph’s impending firing.

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I cannot link anyone anyhow, but the media is showing ignorance by slamming the Mets about the way they’ve treated Ryan Church. They have to stop.

We have three grades we apply subjectively to athletes who have sustained concussions. One, for those who become disoriented and confussed. Two, who suffer unconciousness and recover withing five minutes. Three, who are unconcious for longer than five. Understandably there is great flow between these assessments.

Virtually all iinformation that health care providers have regarding patients who have sustained concussions comes from the patients themselves. Ray Ramirez and Mike Herbst were dependant upon Church for their assessment. Concussed athletes are confused and often uncertain of previous incidents. Assessment of symptoms are always sketchy.

These factors are among the many that facedf Ramirez and Herbst when they as cared for Church.

These things folks – concussions – are still mysteries to health care providers. Essentially the Mets acted prudently by bencing Church. Media condemnation is unfair.

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…in his hiring of Wayne Krivsky, most recently the GM of the Cincinnati Reds. Krivsky, whom worked with Minaya in Texas, will be a major league scout.

By now Minaya must be weary of Tony Bernazard and his manipulative ways. And with Adam Rubin’s piece in the NY Daily News indicating Bernazard has ingraciated himself so much with the Wilpons that he is considered the heir apparent to his job, he has more evidence. Krivsky will be an honest broker and a new voice of reason in meetings.

When there are leaks in information getting out – both to the media and to players – an organization becomes dysfuctional. One or two people had an agenda to stir things up to get their way. Willie Randolph knew this was at work and its why he understandably became paranoid.

If it true that Bernazard uses some players in the clubhouse to spread rumors and get complaints about the manager and his coaches to broaden his power and influence, its something the Mets cannot let continue.

Clearly this situation existed last season and the clearest indication came when Rick Down was fired early last year. The whispering campaign continued and it cicumvented both Randolph’s authority and effectiveness. It must have been something to see during last season’s monumental September collapse.

NOTE: Thanks to reader Luis Venitucci for pointing out my linkls are working. I’ll try to fix it.

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