Manuel off base in criticizing Torre
Jerry Manuel has apparently turned thin-skinned in his final weeks as Mets manager. Calling out Joe Torre, who gave a stock answer to an obvious question about the impending opening, is way off base for the most lame duck manager in baseball.
Torre merely said he was ``curious’’ about the position and would take a call from Fred Wilpon if the phone rang after the season. Wally Backman or Bobby Valentine would and have said about the same thing.
Manuel’s overreaction would make one think Gary Carter had rekinndled his failed campaign. When Willie Randolph was on the ropes in 2008, Carter reportedly said, ``I just want them [the Mets] to know of my availability. I'm only a phone call away because my contract [with an independent league team] allows me to leave the ballclub. I could be in New York tomorrow, if necessary, because if there's anything at the major league level I can leave this job."
Carter was loudly and appropriately scolded throughout baseball for his statements. What Torre said did not rise above the level of a courtesy answer to a reporter’s question.
The Mets can also be blamed for elongating this situation. They either fire a manager and let him stay on too long (Art Howe) or put all the signals out that the manager will not be rehired (Manuel) and leave the rest to speculation. And in Manuel’s case it has been going on for over a year.
Torre was gracious in quickly apologizing to Manuel. It wasn’t really necessary, but that is the way Torre operates. Manuel should keep that in mind if he ever gets another chance to be in the dugout.
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