Steve Phillips sold Fred Wilpon a bill of goods.
Wilpon finally read the invoice and realized that the bill was much too high for what he was receiving: a last-place team playing uninspired baseball, booed by its own fans and ridiculed daily.
So on Thursday Wilpon, the owner of the Mets, made a call that was long overdue. He fired Phillips, making him the first general manager in the major leagues to be fired this season.
Mets fans are shouting "Hallelujah." If they're not, they should be.
Wilpon made the call he should have made two years ago.
This ship has been off course for three seasons, not because of a lack of resources, but because of a lack of judgment. The Mets began the year with a payroll of about US$120 million, which is second only to the Yankees' roughly US$180 million. They have nothing to show for it but a clubhouse of aging stars with big names, big contracts and big injuries. It's all Steve Phillips' fault.
He sold Wilpon on the notion that you had to win with big names in New York, that the fans weren't patient enough to wait for rebuilding, that you had to do it now. Forget the farm system. But Wilpon the owner apparently came to the conclusion that the Mets' salvation was not exclusively found in high-priced stars. Thursday, he made an intriguing observation. He said he knows now that a hefty payroll does not ensure success. "We've learned that painfully."
More than once Thursday he said, "We're going to get younger and more athletic."
Phillips was good as a general manager, but overrated. In fact, he has been overrated throughout his career. He was an infielder drafted by the Mets in 1981 -- ahead of Roger Clemens. Clemens goes for his 300th victory on Friday, and Phillips ends a so-so front-office career with the Mets by being fired.
His journey through the organization was smooth and fast. In 1990, he became the team's administrative assistant of scouting and minor leagues. A year later, he became the director of minor leagues. In 1995, he became an assistant general manager, and in 1997 he became the general manager. He gave Mets fans names: Mike Piazza, Tom Glavine, Al Leiter, Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn and Mike Hampton. But the names didn't consistently translate into victories. His failure to bring in motivated players to the Mets led to his undoing.
He initially chose the right names. But after Phillips cut off contract talks with the free-agent shortstop Alex Rodriguez before the 2001 season, every move seemed to blow up in his face.
So, the Mets are rid of Phillips. Who do they hire?
Brian Sabean of the Giants would be an outstanding move. John Schuerholz of the Braves would be outstanding.
But Omar Minaya is the brilliant move. Minaya worked under Phillips for several years, and as the general manager of the Montreal Expos has quickly become recognized as one of the best GMs in the business. Unfortunately, Wilpon may still see him as the up-and-coming assistant he once was, instead of the talented general manager he is.
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