The Judgement Judges

By now I need not rehash the three-ring circus known as the New York Mets front office. Actually, it now seems the Wilpon’s administrative wing could be more accurately referred to as the rear office.

Firing Bernazard? Good move, Omar. Attacking Adam Rubin? Bad move, Omar. I think we’re all in agreement on these things. That is, if you’re not including Omar or the Wilpons in “we.”

Why? Well, in the firing phase of the main circus event, both Omar and Jeff Wilpon made it clear they both had deep respect for Tony Bernazard and considered him a friend. So, one must ask, what could possibly lead one to consider as deeply respected a man who himself exhibited, from all accounts, absolutely no respect for those under his watch? Either poor Tony has been judged harshly during years and years of chronicled questionable behavior, or those who ultimately wielded the axe have to have their own judgment questioned by virtue of their chosen bedfellows. How do you even begin to express your deep respect in the same breath as you terminate that person’s employment based on their behavior? It’s like saying you admire a person who has been convicted of DWI for their ability to hold their liquor.

The next breach of judgment is Omar’s decision to single out Adam Rubin as though he caused Bernazard’s actions. Adam Rubin was not the voice in Tony Bernazard’s head guiding him through what seems to be years of bizarre behavior. Adam Rubin was merely the messenger. Omar might consider that shooting the messenger may not be the best career strategy for someone who’s calling press conferences.

The upshot of this all may actually be coming to light, as it’s now been reported that the Wilpons have expressed that Omar’s days may be numbered. They should be. Even in apologizing to Rubin, Omar defended his actions, and it later became somewhat clear that the apology was given from a child who’d been taken to the woodshed. Magnanimity is obviously as foreign a concept for the stammering GM as maintaining a positive public image seems to be for the club as a whole.

Be all this as it may, I’m certainly capable of believing that everyone can have a particularly bad moment within an truly unfortunate day as part of a really crappy week. For that, I’m more than capable of mustering forgiveness for a man who may, at some point – maybe Thursday during the 3rd press conference in 4 days – appear to be truly repentant. Omar was upset, and chose the wrong place to vent and the wrong person to spew venom toward. I can forgive that moment of irrationality if I’m convinced of the contrition.

But Omar himself needs to have history reviewed and needs to now be judged by his actions and performance in total. He may be due forgiveness for some trades he’s made that didn’t pan out wonderfully for the team. Who of us has a flawless crystal ball? If we are to believe his convoluted reasoning, he may be due forgiveness for flying to the west coast to fire his manager at 3AM in what had been, until this week, the greatest Mets media fiasco since the club’s inception. Maybe Omar should have these sorts of “big bads” tempered by some achievements, such as bringing Johan and K-Rod to Queens. So grading by big plusses versus big minuses, Omar can be judged to be right in the middle. Mr. 50%. The Wilpons may be alright with that sort of grade for their GM, but after weighing all the considerations no one in their right mind can defend Omar as the best man for this job by virtue what should be considered the grandest tipping point on the New York baseball scale of good judgment:

Oliver Perez’s contract.

Omar simply doesn’t deserve more chances. These laughing-stock weeks have allowed the window to be opened for him to be judged by the judgments he’s made. The Wilpons are being judged precisely in that same manner by every fan who considers buying an expensive ticket to a home game. Right now, the Wilpons are also failing miserably. Right the ship, cut your losses, clean your slate and get back to performing well both on and off the field. What’s been going on these past few years is shameful, and responsible ownership needs to make responsible judgements to fix that.

Just to be clear, I’ve never asked anyone about getting a job in baseball. And if the Wilpons had any public relations and crisis control skills, Adam Rubin would be starting his job as Director of Corporate Communications on Monday.