Mookie Wilson stood by his comments that the Mets never gave him an explanation for firing him, and they owed him at least that much. But an optimistic Wilson did say general manager Sandy Alderson’s 90-win goal isn’t impossible, and they could make the playoffs.
“We have to stay healthy,” Wilson said Saturday at Words bookstore in Maplewood, N.J. “We’re not very deep. … If all things being equal, guys stay healthy, we have a chance. We have a chance to break into that playoff spot. I’m looking at the other teams in the league, and I’m not seeing anybody that’s lighting up the scoreboard.’’
Wilson, at a signing of his autobiography, “Life, Baseball and the ’86 Mets,” said he wished there were more of his those World Series-winning Amazin’s working for the current team in a baseball capacity.
“I would like to see that. I’d definitely like to see that. The guys definitely have a lot to offer about the game,’’ said Wilson, who wouldn’t hazard a guess as to why the club isn’t employing them, other than to say, “It’s obvious they aren’t there.’’
He was there, working as the first base coach until he was unceremoniously fired after the 2011 season. Unceremonious because he was canned over the phone, without an explanation. Though Wilson admits the Mets aren’t legally required to give him one, there is a difference between have to and ought to, he said.
“Yes, I think they should have. But there’s no law that says they have to,’’ said Wilson, adding that he asked why and got “nothing.” To this day he is convinced manager Terry Collins didn’t want him fired, but acknowledges he has no idea who did.
Wilson did express remorse that the Mets — as a whole, himself included — didn’t do more to help then-youngsters Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry avoid falling into the dangers of fast fame in the city, namely drugs and alcohol additions.
“When I said the Mets could’ve done more, I was including everybody, Everybody including myself, every veteran player. That was a blanket statement,’’ Wilson said. “I didn’t mean for people to think we should’ve been like babysitters. But personally, I thought maybe I could’ve said something. Maybe it would’ve made a difference, maybe not. I don’t know, because I didn’t do it.
“We protected them on the field, but I don’t think we gave them enough information about things off the field. I didn’t intervene. Maybe I didn’t see the signs, didn’t know the signs. Maybe I should’ve.’’