Here's what Gary Carter said Friday [1] when asked on Sirius Satellite Radio about his interest in the Mets' managerial job, still occupied as of Friday by Willie Randolph:
I just want them to know of my availability. I'm only a phone call away. I could be in New York tomorrow… You know my enthusiasm, and hopefully I would be able to bring that to maybe help turn that ballclub around… And if you look at Willie's record, it is right around .500 since June of last year.
What Gary Carter meant to say:
Davey Johnson did not last past Memorial Day in 1990 when his record was around .500 at the end of May, right? We all remember George Bamberger was replaced in June in California.
On Saturday, Gary Carter sought to clarify his remarks [2] on WFAN:
I'm not trying to undermine anybody. I like Willie Randolph. I don't know why this has become such an issue. [Sirius] asked me, “Would I be interested?” Well, how would I not want to be interested especially when it was mentioned on ESPN? The Mets know that I'm available and it wasn't like I was trying to reach out or anything. When I called Jay Horwitz, I just said, “What's goin' on, is this true to fact that there's a possibility of Willie being relieved?”
What Gary Carter meant to say:
Yesterday I was discussing the Mets' managerial history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the replacement of both my former manager and Mr. Bamberger in May 1990 and June 1983 and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had managerial replacements by early June. That's a historic fact. The Bambergers have been much on my mind the last days as I am bidding on eBay for a couch that was once sold at Bamberger's [3], and I regret that if my referencing that moment of trauma for our entire fan base, and particularly for the Bamberger family was in any way offensive. I certainly had no intention of that, whatsoever. My view is that we have to look to the past and to our leaders who have inspired us and give us a lot to live up to, and I'd be honored to hold George Bamberger's seat at Shea Stadium in the borough of Queens and have the highest regard for the entire Bamberger family.
I'm no expert, but I don't think this is the way for Gary Carter to get the Mets to nominate him as manager — or even bench coach.