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Sources: Mets VP for player development Tony Bernazard challenges Binghamton Mets to fight

BY Adam Rubin

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, July 22nd 2009, 4:00 AM

alg_jerry.jpg Simmons/News Tony Bernazard (l.) keeps shirt on as he shares laughs with Jerry Manuel and K-Rod, unlike when he erupts on B-Mets.

WASHINGTON - The Binghamton Mets clubhouse nearly turned into a scene out of WWE Raw recently, when VP for player development Tony Bernazard removed his shirt and challenged the Double-A players to a fight during a postgame tirade, multiples sources told the Daily News.

Bernazard particularly went after middle infield prospect Jose Coronado, using a slang term associated with a woman's anatomy, a source indicated. The confrontation happened about 10days before the All-Star break, according to insiders.

"That's an all-timer if true," an AL official said upon hearing the account, which was corroborated by multiple people with ties to the Mets.

GM Omar Minaya acknowledged Bernazard spoke to the B-Mets in a "stern voice," but said he had no knowledge of the scope being portrayed.

"I know he did have a team meeting with them," Minaya told the Daily News. "It was not a 'you-guys-have-been-great meeting.' I know he spoke to them in a stern voice. But as far as what he was wearing, what kind of shoes he was wearing, I don't know anything about that."

While the 52-year-old Bernazard's actions were over-the-top no matter what the motivation, alleged underage drinking on the team apparently was one motivation for the eruption, an organization source said. Still, sending players to counseling rather than challenging them to a rumble might have been a more appropriate course of action.

Binghamton went 1-6 during an early July home stand against New Hampshire and Erie that coincided with that tumult. Three of the defeats came by at least seven runs. The team's longtime Double-A affiliate entered last night with a 36-58 record, in last place in the Eastern League's Northern Division.

"It's ridiculous that anyone in a professional baseball environment thinks it's acceptable," a friend of several B-Mets said about the treatment of the players.

The shoddy treatment of people in the system has led to mocking of the VP behind his back.

The News reported Tuesday that Bernazard, one of GM Omar Minaya's top lieutenants, recently erupted at the organization's manager of baseball operations. During a game at Citi Field, scouts took their customary seats in a row behind home plate. Bernazard showed up during play and wanted a seat occupied by a D-Backs scout. Bernazard's deputy, already seated in the row, suggested to the Mets VP that he wait until the half-inning ended, to minimize the disruption. Bernazard ripped into his deputy with a profanity-laced tirade as scouts and patrons watched in disbelief.

With John Harper

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What good things has Bernazard done for this organization?

It seems we hear too much about this guy, and all of it is embarrassing.

As to the GM and manager, that can wait until season's end.Those decisions don't have to be made immediately or hastily. And with the Wilpons' cash flow issue, they won't be.

But as to Bernazard, that kind of unprofessionalism and rank stupidity are grounds for immediate firing. Like "pack up your junk and LEAVE NOW!"

And bigger-as to his stated role of Player Development VP, all of the Mets prospects 1. mostly suck and 2. think it's beneath them to run out grounders and popups. It's inexcusable that the farm system seems to turn out players chock full of bad attitude and poor work ethic. And that's been the case since Minaya took over.

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As to the GM and manager, that can wait until season's end.Those decisions don't have to be made immediately or hastily. And with the Wilpons' cash flow issue, they won't be.

But as to Bernazard, that kind of unprofessionalism and rank stupidity are grounds for immediate firing. Like "pack up your junk and LEAVE NOW!"

And bigger-as to his stated role of Player Development VP, all of the Mets prospects 1. mostly suck and 2. think it's beneath them to run out grounders and popups. It's inexcusable that the farm system seems to turn out players chock full of bad attitude and poor work ethic. And that's been the case since Minaya took over.

=D>

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It's almost August; The Yankees are in first place. The Mets are flopping like a half dead carp in the dirt and grass.

One team obviously can overcome adversity. The other thinks it's an excuse to go through the motions. And the fact that the Mets can't sell tickets tells you all you really need to know without buying any vowels from Vanna.

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I've been a Mets fan since 1962, and, obviously, I've seen a lot of bad seasons in that time.

The early 60's, the Doug Flynn years, Coleman and Saberhagen, I thought I had seen it all. Just goes to show you, never assume anything.

I can take the bad teams and the injuries, but this Bernazard crap is just too much. Let's forget about the off-field stuff for a second and consider the job he's done as VP of Player Development. It's pretty obvious that the farm system is barren, and for that alone, he should be canned. Throw in all the BS with the minor leaguers and his seat being taken and that pushes me over the edge. Now I hear he had a shouting match on the team bus with K-Rod. Hopefully that will be the end of this clown.

In all my years of Mets fandom, there is only one person I've hated more. M. Donald Grant after June 15, 1977.

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