NEW YORK, NY – The two New York teams had some interesting experts chime in their views on the Post Game Show this past week. After the Mets got shellacked by the Pittsburgh Pirates, SNY host Gary Apple had retired Met Jose Reyes by his side to offer his views. Reyes let New Yorkers who were watching know that the Mets are right in the playoff hunt, and there was no need to panic. He also informed the viewers what goes on in a players-only meeting.
Over on the YES Network, retired pitcher Dellin Betances analyzed what the mindset was on the Yankee players after another loss. Meanwhile, down on the field, both teams employed coaches who never had a pro at-bat or threw a pro pitch. The insight that both Reyes and Betances provided was very informative to the fans watching, unlike what’s going on down on the field, where the blind are leading the blind.
On a nightly basis, regular analysts like the Mets’ Todd Zeile and the Yankees’ John Flaherty talk about the mindset that’s going on inside a player’s head. After all, they once wore a uniform themselves, and who better to ask than an ex-player.
The same goes for the broadcast booth with the Mets’ Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling, and the Yankees’ David Cone and Paul O’Neill. On a daily basis, they all make the fans more knowledgeable, while down on the field the coaches are twirling their thumbs and trying hard to look like ex-ballplayers.
Steve Cohen and Hal Steinbrenner need to tune into their respective stations and listen to the knowledge that their alumni provide. They need to seriously realize that what’s missing from their ball clubs is experienced coaches who preach situations and know how to work the fungo.
The time is now to get rid of the whole ANALytic mentality and bring back “ol’ skool” baseball.
