Wilpon: Omar is back next year

The mysterious Mets owner Fred Wilpon has spoken. In a one question interview with the New York Post, he was asked about Omar Minaya's future with the team. "Am I going to bring Omar back next year?" Wilpon said. "Absolutely. That's a fact."

While that may not be the thing Mets fans want to hear, at least it provides stability and no longer raises the question as to who will be leading the Mets. Maybe.

If you remember, Wilpon said the same thing about Willie Randolph, just two days before he was fired. But, I'm going to take Wilpon's word on this one.

When asked about Wilpon's comments, Omar Minaya remained coy, but said that if he's coming back, so is manager Jerry Manuel. "Jerry is my guy," Minaya said. "We work well together."

Marchand: Omar could be reassigned, not fired

Andrew Marchand of ESPN 1050am wrote a very interesting blog article about Omar Minaya's future with the Mets. He says that Omar Minaya could be reassigned to "a vital role in player personell." He says that Minaya and Assistant GM John Ricco could essentially become "co-GM's" with Ricco becoming the "front man with the media."

Very interesting. Not sure if it would work though...

Minaya goes to Buffalo

Omar Minaya visited Buffalo today, the Mets AAA minor league affiliate.

He held a 15-minute media session to discuss the Bison's ongoing season. He stated that the Bison's play this season has been unacceptable (bye bye Ken Oberkfell, hello Manny Acta?) and that he will make the AAA team better through the "free agent market."

He also announced that Adam Wogan has taken over running the minor-league system in the wake of VP Tony Bernazard's dismissal. Wogan worked as farm director of the Montreal Expos/Washingont Nationals from 2002-05.

Is being formerly employed by the Expos/Nats a job requirement to work for Omar Minaya?

Rubin defends self in today's Daily News

In today's New York Daily News, Mets beat writer Adam Rubin defended himself against the allegations made by Mets GM Omar Minaya. Rubin, who broke the eye opening stories of ex-VP of player development Tony Bernazard, was accused by Minaya of having an ulterior motive. This all happened during yesterday's coverage of the Bernazard firing, and to read coverage of that, read the blog I wrote yesterday.

Here's some highlights from the article by Rubin:

"Everything I wrote about Tony Bernazard - bombshell stories that appeared in the pages of the Daily News over the last week - is accurate."

"What I have done, and what Mets COO Jeff Wilpon acknowledged later yesterday, is ask Wilpon for "career advice." My question: Is it even remotely feasible for a baseball writer to get into an administrative job with a team - any team - down the road and what would I need for that to be achieved?"

"Wilpon once invited me to his office at Citi Field for an advisory session. I never took him up on it."

Rubin goes on to say that he got many of his stories directly from minor leaguers and their families.

Bernazard dismissed, Adam Rubin dissed

Today the New York Mets dismissed Tony Bernazard from his duties as Asst. GM and VP.

Here is blow-by-blow coverage of the press conference:

• Omar Minaya said the investigation was done by the Human Resources dept.
• Minaya said he met with Bernazard on Sunday to discuss the report.
• Minaya said he recommended to the Wilpons that Bernazard be fired.
• "This was a difficult decision to make" -Minaya.
• Minaya states that all the public records about Bernazard are "not exactly how it went down."
• Minaya said that he was shocked at some of the things in the Mets HR Report.
• Minaya says: "I have a lot of respect for [Tony Bernazard] him."
• Minaya said he was not aware of the Bernazard issues until the Daily News report.
• "Is Tony the most friendly guy in the world? No." -Minaya
• Minaya says Bernazard's role will be filled within the organization...for now.
• Minaya said that he is satisfied with the job Bernazard did.

This is where it gets ugly.

• Omar Minaya said that Daily News reporter Adam Rubin (who brought the Bernazard allegations to attention) lobbied for a player development position within the organization.
• Minaya seems very fired up and tense; almost argumental.
  
• Adam Rubin appears shocked and shaken.
• Rubin questions Omar and calls what he said "despicable."