Bob Raissman seems to appreciate Jerry Manuel’s personality.
(In the New York media market, winning over the media is vital. If they dislike someone, they can gang up and create extreme pressure to get that person out of New York. It looks like Manuel has figured this out, and is willing to have some fun with the media.)
Manuel seems to be the sum of a couple of parts. Part philosopher. Part comedian.
This should be evident to anyone listening to the laugh track provided by notebooks and microphones who interview Manuel in these early hot-seat days. Like on Friday night, after the Mets hung a 7-2 loss on Colorado.
An inquiring mind wanted to know if Manuel's hitting "philosophy," which includes early batting practice and special hitting instruction, has quickly "translated" into a positive for the Mets.
"Three years," Manuel chortled in response. "Jeff and Fred (Wilpon), I need three years to get that right."
The line brought the house down. The only way Manuel could have gotten a bigger laugh is if he attached the financial terms of the three-year deal he was seeking - with a smile.
Shticking and moving ain't going to win baseball games. Yet, in the wake of the botched firing of Willie Randolph, the Mets organization's image is on life support. What better way to resuscitate it than having a front man who can communicate. Someone relaxed (so far). Someone who does not come off defensive (yet). Someone capable of putting an original verbal twist on winning - and losing.
(Manuel’s sense of humor has been a big part of the media relaxing, and printing friendlier articles about the Mets. I am amazed that the Mets couldn’t predict the reaction, after Randolph’s firing, and did not consult with public relations people, before firing Randolph, in the manner they did.)
Now they know Manuel is not as stoic as Randolph. They now know he's not a graduate of Joe Torre's University of Monotone. Nor does he follow the highly predictable script of Joe Girardi. Unlike laid-back Art Howe, Manuel has a pulse. And a style.
This style, not solely dependent on the seamhead lexicon, has already been mentally challenging to some in the media. Like Sunday, when Manuel referred to Shea Stadium as "fertile ground," that "sometimes has fertilizer," which is "a good thing."
Not seeing the humor, or reporting the fact that Manuel prefaced his remarks saying he wasn't comparing fans to fertilizer, the New York Post took him to task on yesterday's front page while "reporting" an "angry" Manuel had "ripped" fans.
Anyone listening to Sunday's WFAN pregame show knew Manuel's sense of humor did not register on the Post. Nor did the light-hearted tone of his comment. Manuel was in a philosophical mood - and not taking himself all that seriously - when he delivered the "fertilizer" line, again, in a one-on-one with Ed Coleman.
"Shea Stadium is a fertile ground. And in a fertile ground you need some fertilizer," Manuel said laughing. "... and if you can survive in New York (what) a beautiful plant you can be."
Coleman: "We'll see if you have a green thumb."
See, getting Manuel requires a sense of humor and an ability to see shades of gray. Maybe that's why Matt Drudge had a problem with Manuel's use of the word "gangsta." Or why some folks did not comprehend his use of the word "she" when referring to Jose Reyes, which did cross a line that, unfortunately, is still safe to cross.
That's just the way it's going to be when a guy takes a "creative" approach. Manuel will go a bit further to make his point. On Saturday night's postgame, he over-emphasized the toughness of a player while describing Brian Schneider's pinkie injury.
"(Schneider) got beat up tonight, man," Manuel said. "He could have been in there with Tyson or somebody tonight."
The final days of Randolph produced TV drama on SNY well worth watching. Verbal gyrations will take Manuel only so far. That's no grand revelation. Still, in the current climate, the Mets need a manager who can deliver the word.
(Manuel’s personality has been a refreshing change. It’s created goodwill, and a grace period. Next step – improve upon the 3-3, .500 start)
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