Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said last week, "I don't think people should point at John Gibbons. If they want to point a finger at anybody, point at me." Fair enough — Ricciardi was responsible for signing and releasing Thomas, and he also chose Shannon Stewart over Reed Johnson, who is thriving with the Cubs. Rolen, probably the closest thing to a clubhouse leader, is new to the Jays. But Gibbons, a close friend of Ricciardi's, needs to get more out of his team.
One problem with firing Gibbons is that the Jays lack an obvious replacement. If Ricciardi was high on Ernie Whitt, he would not have demoted him from bench coach to first base coach at the end of last season. Bench coach Brian Butterfield managed six seasons in the minors, but all but 35 games were at Class A.
Just as Daniels must bear responsibility for the Rangers' struggles, Ricciardi ultimately could be held accountable for the Jays' failures, even though he has two years left on his contract. His questionable decisions include drafting Ricky Romero over Troy Tulowitzki, spending big on Thomas, Vernon Wells and A.J. Burnett, even trading Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista for Troy Glaus, who later was flipped for Rolen.
But if someone must pay, Gibbons will pay first.
Willie Randolph
The Mets could have fired Randolph after blowing a 7½-game lead with 17 to play, but refrained from making him the scapegoat for an organization-wide failure. Their restraint, while admirable, put them in something of a box for 2008.
If club officials determined that Randolph was not the problem late last season, then it would be difficult for them to say that he is the problem early this season. Yet, even after their addition of left-hander Johan Santana, the Mets again look like less than the sum of their parts.
Like the Jays, the Mets would be best served by a take-charge, Jim Leyland-type who would compensate for their lack of clubhouse leadership. Randolph, fairly or not, is perceived as too passive. He certainly is sensitive to criticism. And his bullpen management is an ongoing issue.
Still, the Mets probably will not even consider firing Randolph unless they fall significantly behind in the NL East. They currently are a half-game behind the Marlins, tied with the Phillies and 2½ games ahead of the Braves, whose pitching is in disarray. Considering their own injuries — Pedro Martinez, Orlando Hernandez, Moises Alou — the Mets can't complain.
Besides, who would replace Randolph? Not Manny Acta, who is in Washington. Not Bobby Valentine, who is in Japan. Bench coach Jerry Manuel, the leading internal candidate and former White Sox manager, probably is too nice a guy to provide a short-term jolt. Again, if the Mets wanted to change managers, their options would have been greater at the end of last season.
GM Omar Minaya has made his share of mistakes, and the Mets would have benefited from the infusion of energy that the White Sox gained by acquiring outfielder Nick Swisher and shortstop Orlando Cabrera, and the Angels gained by signing Torii Hunter. But Minaya, by trading for Santana, catcher Brian Schneider and outfielders Ryan Church and Angel Pagan, practically ensured that the Mets would contend.
With a payroll of $137.8 million, they had better. Or this time — for Randolph and maybe for Minaya — there will be no escape.
