Even after the Mets advanced to the 2000 World Series, Bobby Valentine said his career with the team would end with him being fired.
Yesterday, Valentine’s prediction came true. Owner Fred Wilpon and GM Steve Phillips canned Valentine after the $102 million Mets finished last in the NL East.
Wilpon and Phillips anticipated playoff games at Shea, but with the seats empty this October, Wilpon announced Valentine wouldn’t return next season. Wilpon will still pay Valentine close to $3 million for next year.
Valentine’s dismissal is likely an indication that Phillips won’t mimic the massive offseason changeover of last winter. The Mets hope a new manager will change their fate.
“I grew to like Bobby Valentine as a person, but unfortunately in baseball that’s the way it is,” said second baseman Roberto Alomar, one of several new players who failed to live up to their billing. “Somebody had to take the hit.”
Phillips will be in charge of the search, but Wilpon will make the final decision. Wilpon indicated he favors a big name. Among those already being mentioned are Buck Showalter, Felipe Alou, Lou Piniella, Dusty Baker and Jim Leyland.
Now that Phillips has gotten what he wanted for years – Valentine’s dismissal – he must watch his back. If the Mets, who finished 75-86, don’t make the playoffs next season, Phillips, in the final guaranteed year of his contract, is expected to have a day like Valentine did yesterday.
“It came as a surprise,” pitcher Michael Bacsik said. “Everybody wanted to put this season behind us. I don’t think the season could’ve gone any worse.
“All I’ve seen is the bad. And it’s bad in New York when you’re not good.”
Valentine showed up yesterday at Shea for a 10 a.m. meeting with Wilpon. About an hour later, he left without his job.
Besides the won-lost record the past two years, Valentine’s downfall was that he and Phillips could never play nice in the sandbox together. Valentine didn’t have confidence in Phillips’ baseball acumen and Phillips always wondered what Valentine said to the press.
Yesterday, Wilpon and Phillips both tried to downplay the friction, even stressing that it was purely Wilpon’s decision and that Wilpon didn’t consult Phillips. Wilpon, though, already knew Phillips would agree with the move.
“There is more to get out of the players,” Phillips said.
As the Phillips-Valentine soap opera leaves Shea, Phillips vs. Jeff Wilpon moves to the forefront. Fred Wilpon’s son and Phillips haven’t been on good terms.
Jeff – with the Wilpons now taking full ownership of the team – has an expanded role in the organization. He will assist Phillips in this search. Ultimately, Jeff could be the one to push Phillips out the door.
Valentine’s day came yesterday morning. His more than six-year tenure will be remembered mostly for the 2000 World Series appearance and controversy.
The long list includes his “five-loser” comment, the fake moustache, saying he should be fired at the end of ’99, a near fight with Bobby Bonilla, Whartongate, and his conflicting comments about this year’s marijuana report.
When Valentine arrived, the Mets were in the midst of six straight years without a winning season. In 1997, Valentine’s first full season, the Mets won 88 games. They qualified for the playoffs in ’99 and the World Series in 2000, but they floundered the past two seasons.
Throughout this year, Wilpon reiterated that both Valentine and Phillips would work through their contracts. He said his mind changed late last week.
“Primarily, the performance the last two months, I just felt it was something I had to change my mind about,” Wilpon said.
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF BOBBY V
Aug. 26, 1996: Becomes 16th manager in Mets history, promoted from Triple-A Norfolk to take over for Dallas Green. Goes 12-19 remainder of season.
July 17, 1997: Wins power struggle with GM Joe McIlvaine when co-owner Fred Wilpon fires McIlvaine.
Aug. 21, 1997: Claims Pete Harnisch is depressed after kicking chewing tobacco habit after 13-year addiction.
Aug. 31, 1997: Says Todd Hundley doesn’t get enough sleep, needs more rest and is too much of a night person. Hundley reminds Valentine he hit a homer previous Friday night and a grand slam previous Saturday night.
October, 1997: Team finishes 88-74, first above-.500 record since 1990.
May 27, 1998: With acquisition of Mike Piazza, Valentine moves long-time catcher Hundley to left field.
Aug. 27, 1998: Valentine boots Hundley out of left field; Hundley feels betrayed by team.
October, 1998: Team finishes 88-74, first back-to-back winning seasons since 1989-90.
June 5, 1999: Following eight-game losing streak, reads in a newspaper report that pitching coach Bob Apodaca has been canned, and, upon arriving at Shea, discovers that GM Steve Phillips also fired batting coach Tom Robson and bullpen coach Randy Niemann. Mets go on 70-38 run to win NL wild card. Defeat Diamondbacks, then are eliminated by Braves in six-game NLCS.
June 9, 1999: Is ejected during 12th inning of 3-2 loss to Red Sox for arguing call. Later returns to dugout looking like Groucho Marx, wearing glasses and a fake moustache. Is fined $5,000 and suspended two games.
October, 2000: Defeats Giants and Cardinals to lead Mets to first World Series since 1986. In first Subway Series in 44 years, Mets lose to Yankees in five games.
February, 2001: Wins Thurman Munson Award for charitable work.
August, 2002: Loses 13 straight home games, first NL team to have winless month at home.
Sept. 21, 2002: Mocks what it would be like hitting fastball while high after allegations of drug use on team surfaces.
Oct. 1, 2002: Fired after 75-86, last-place season. Leaves Mets with 536 wins, second in team history to Davey Johnson (595).