Manuel, Minaya Given Vote of Confidence Despite Team’s Struggles

The Mets are having a season to forget: They’re 44-48, they’re nine
games behind the Phillies in the NL East, and the only thing standing
between them and last place is the dreadful Washington Nationals.

But despite the team’s troubles, GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel won’t be looking for new jobs any time soon.

According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Mets owner Jeff Wilpon told both men that he is committed to them now and in the future.

Manuel confirmed the report to the Associated Press later in the day, telling the AP that, “There was a conversation that did take place that was encouraging.”

Manuel
is signed on to be the Mets’ manager through 2010, while Minaya signed
a three-year extension last season that will carry his contract through
2013.

Though the team has been a tremendous disappointment in
its first season at Citi Field, the Mets have injuries to blame more
than the men in charge. Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado have all spent a great deal of time on the disabled list, giving New York very little offense firepower behind David Wright.

It’s gotten so bad that, with Gary Sheffield
out of the lineup due to hamstring soreness (leaving the team with just
three bench players), Manuel recently speculated that he might have to
use pitcher Livan Hernandez in the infield. He wasn’t joking.

The Mets are 22nd in the league with 384 runs scored, behind even the lowly Nationals.