Who is Luis Aguayo (and Why is He Crushing Our Hopes and Dreams?)

A small stirring from deep in the recesses of my brain began to emerge after Happy Endy was thrown out at the plate for the second time in the game.

The camera caught a closeup of Mets third-base coach Luis Aguayo and it hit me like a ton of bricks....I knew this guy!

Oh sure, the signature beard was gone and the uniform looked different, but the disguise wasn't fooling me!

It was 1987, just a year after the 1986 Mets made history and brought Mets fans the "joy of Joys" during the greatest year of baseball any Mets fan could remember.

Yes, 1987...we thought the dynasty would live on, how could it not?

I will tell you how: Luis Aguayo!

Luis Aguayo was a journeyman utility infielder who could barely hit his weight. He spent the majority of his career with the Phillies, yes Mets fans, the Phillies.

Before 1987 he had amassed just 18 homeruns in parts of 7 seasons. And then it happened--Luis Aguayo found his inner Kingman and started hitting homeruns.

It didn't last long my friends, oh no, it only lasted a season. Somehow, someway little Luis Aguayo hit 12 homeruns in 209 at-bats for those damn Phillies in 1987.

And now for the clincher--his last homerun of the year, on Sep 30th in the 10th inning off Jesse Orosco, eliminated the Mets from the pennant.

Done, gone, sayonara, hasta lasagna, finito, go home. The Mets finished second that year, and Luis Aguayo sent us packing.

Cut to last night. "Our" third base coach, and former Philly, once again crushed our hopes and dreams, albeit only for one game, by sending Happy Endy to the plate twice from third with almost no chance of success...no outs and the cleanup hitter due up.

Did I mention Luis Aguayo also played for the Yankees?

You'll fool me longer Mr Luis Aguayo...Met Nation is on to you!

All kidding aside, let's get them tonight my friends...one game at a time.

Wilie Randolph Fired

The wait is over, Willie Randolph has been fired. Also fired were pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto.

As firings go, this one was handled with little class, suspect timing, and poor communication. The obvious question being, why make those guys travel across the country to win a game and get fired right after?

Moreover the Mets have won 3 of 4, and played some of their best baseball of the year.

Ken Oberkfell, Dan Warthen and Luis Aguayo will join the team’s big-league staff.

Oberkfell had been the manager of the team’s Triple-A New Orleans affiliate, while Warthen had been the pitching coach, and Aguayo the team’s field coordinator.

According to an AP report, Minaya and Manuel will address the media before Tuesday’s game in Anaheim at 5 pm EDT.

Name	Years managed	Record
Willie Randolph	2004-08	302-253
Art Howe	2003-04	137-186
Bobby Valentine	1996-2002	536-467
Dallas Green	1993-96	229-283
Jeff Torborg	1992-93	85-115
Mike Cubbage	1991	3-4
Bud Harrelson	1990-91	145-129
Davey Johnson	1984-90	595-417
Frank Howard	1983	52-64
George Bamberger	1982-83	81-127
Joe Torre	1977-81	286-420
Joe Frazier	1976-77	101-106
Roy McMillan	1975	26-27
Yogi Berra	1972-75	292-296
Gil Hodges	1968-71	339-309
Salty Parker	1967	4-7
Wes Westrum	1965-67	142-237
Casey Stengel	1962-1965	175-404