Shades of Sarah Palin 'round Citi Field today, as Mets management sought to blame the circus around now-ousted VP Tony "Talk to My Naked Chest" Bernazard on the media, specifically Daily News beat reporter Adam Rubin. You almost expected embattled GM Omar Minaya to borrow Palin's line about American soldiers riskin' their lives so that reporters could be makin' things up. It was that bad in Metland today, a descent into bizarre adolescence that brought us back to the days of Saberhagen's bleach bottle and Vince Coleman's firecrackers.
Amazin' Avenue's Sam Page had the hideous details:
In his press conference addressing the Tony Bernazard firing, Omar Minaya made a very explicit insinuation that Adam Rubin of the Daily News, who first broke the story of Bernazard's tantrums against Mets' minor leaguers, had an ulterior motive. Minaya stated that Rubin had lobbied for a job in the Mets organization. As user dcrockett17 pointed out, Rubin seemed to be the source of all the anti-Bernazard material, but regardless, this call-out looks like a seriously bad move by Minaya. Whether or not Rubin had another motive, Minaya is creating unnecessary controversy and definitely risking his job.
Rubin allegedly called Minaya "despicable" during the press conference and said he only inquired with Fred Wilpon about how to break into the industry. He went on to say, "I don’t know how I’m going to cover the team now… To make this type of accusation is obscene."
It's just the latest sad chapter in a season that finds the once-contending Mets mired six games under .500 and out of the running for the post-season in the year when they opened their shiny new $800 million replacement for Shea Stadium. As Chervokas just messaged me, this latest episode is "Dolanesque embarrassing." Phew. That's pretty tough. But well-deserved, alas. To gauge the pulse of despair on the Mets side of the baseball tracks, I turned to Twitter for company. Rough crowd:
I feel Omar is going to lose his job over this...what do you guys think?
Mets' Minaya losing control
So It’s Rubin’s Fault Bernazard Was Out Of Control?: Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but WTF?!
Adam Rubin just sold me a beer and two hot dogs, AND he wiped my seat dry! Thanks, Adam! Great hire, Mets!
The Mets really may be the worst team money can buy. I'm looking at their payroll right now: 2 mil for Alex Cora? 4.9 for Schneider?
Most surprising aspect of yet another #Mets mess: learning that they have a HR department.
Daily News now sponsoring the Mets PR Blunder of the game.
Quote a day for the Mets. As Ron Darling just said on TV: "It's an awful day in Metland."
Darren can't believe the Mets management did what they did today.....threw a reporter under the bus
Where have you gone....Willie Randolph?
Note to self: Don't ask anyone at Citi Field for career advice. Never ever ever ever ever.
Ah, don't worry. I hear George "The Stork" Theodore's rehab in Port St. Lucie is really coming along.
