Says Mike Bauman.

Bauman, a national correspondant for MLB.com, offers an interesting perspective as he’s not a observer of the Mets on a daily basis. But I think he’s right.

The question is not whether Johan Santana is good enough to merit the largest pitching contract in history. The question is whether the New York Mets are going to be good enough to fully benefit from Santana’s presence.
In a real-world sense, nobody deserves $137.5 million over six years unless he or she is discovering a cure for cancer. But in a baseball sense, this is what the market allows Santana to make, and it is not his fault for being able to make it.

Good job by Bauman puting the money in its proper perspective. Here’s more:

Is it money well spent for the Mets? It is impossible to know that three months into a six-year deal. But this much is certain: Nobody would spend that kind of money for a pitcher to perform on a .500 team. The Mets obviously expected much more of themselves this season, but at the moment, with the mathematical midpoint of the season one game away, they are 39-41.

If the Mets are unable to put a better line-up on the field beyond David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, Santana’s career may parallel that path taken by Steve Charlton. The current sum of the parts are not good and play just well enough to play .500. It was on display during last night’s loss to Andy Pettitte and the Yankees.

While there is clearly no shame in being bested by a big game legend as Pettitte, the Mets have no such luxury. They cannot waste Santana’s starts and allow him to get beat by a run at home. Santana has now gottem the loss in four of his last five starts. His last win was on June 1st against the Dodgers at Shea. That June 1st win was the only one among six June starts by Santana the Mets were victorius.

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1. With all the golly gee willipers about Carlos Delgado’s 1st game heroics, nobody has mentioned that he put those numbers up as a DH and in an American League park. He was 0-2 with two BB’s in the night cap at Shea – while playing 1st base.

2. If you are a good ballclub, you don’t get shut down by Sidney Ponson on a Friday night at Shea against the Yankees.

3. Mike Steffanos calls out Omar Minaya and focuses on the frailties of the farm system.

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by the great reporting of Toby Hyde and Mark Healy.

Thanks to Metsblog for providing the links and being the final word.

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…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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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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…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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Today’s NY Post article implies that Tony Bernazard worked behind the scenes to undermine Willie Randolph. These thoughts are not new. Here’s part:

.

Randolph had spotted Manuel having a lengthy conversation on the field at Shea Stadium last week with Mets VP of player development Tony Bernazard, a known Randolph detractor. Randolph grew concerned Manuel was serving as a mole to the front office and he confronted Manuel about the meeting. Manuel denied anything nefarious in his face-to-face with Randolph.

But Randolph was fired on Monday night and his suspicions about Manuel widened after watching Manuel’s introductory press conference to become interim manager, because Manuel was so explicit about the areas in which he would separate himself from Randolph.

It is Randolph’s burgeoning belief that Manuel might have been pointing to just these areas as a way to knock Randolph and campaign to be his replacement.

Speaking before last night’s game against the Angels, Manuel confirmed his on-field chat with Bernazard but strongly downplayed it.

This is rough as Randolph is accusing Manuel in a conspiracy. However, Randolph was understandably jumpy about anyone speaking with Bernazard.

The role of Bernazard within the Mets power base is being brought into question by the NY Post. Bart Hubbach and Joel Sherman had their names on the article and it was indicated at the end that Mike Vaccaro had contributed. The Post’s Kevin Keernen mentioned Bernazard’s meddling in less than positive light. This constitutes that majority of the Post’s writers who cover the club.

When the Post attempted to ask Bernazard about this, his response was curious in its over reaction.

Bernazard was much less open about the incident than Manuel when approached by The Post on the field before last night’s game.

“I don’t have to answer for these rumors and assaults on my character,” Bernazard said, refusing to let a reporter even finish the question.

Bernazard then asked a team public relations official to escort the reporter away from him as he returned to the clubhouse.

Tony Bernazard protests too much methinks.

This will be an interesting angle in reporting. Bernazard’s nastiness with the reporter and dismissal won’t deter the Post from advancing it. It will probably only encourage them.

UPDATE: This from Ken Davidoff of Newsday

UPDATE: Another terrific take by Mark Healy. A must read

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