To recap:

[There were] revelations that a raging Bernazard tore off his shirt and challenged the Double-A Binghamton players to a fight and called one of them a derogatory word referring to the female anatomy.

I’m sorry, but that’s completely unacceptable for a senior member of a pro team’s front office to engage in that sort of behavior. Was it not acted upon because Minaya a) hoped it wouldn’t get out into the news, b) really likes Bernazard and/or c) thought it was just “boys being boys”? What if Bernazard did this in a bar? In a strip club? In the supermarket? Would a change of location make it any more acceptable? No. It’s not the sort of image and leadership one would expect from a 52 year old vice president of a professional team anywhere.

Except it’s not the first run-in Bernazard has had lately:

All-Star closer Frankie Rodriguez confirmed this afternoon that he exchanged words on the team bus last week in Atlanta with Bernazard, the club’s embattled vice president of player development.

“Yeah [it happened], but I’m not going to talk about that,” Rodriguez told The Post before tonight’s game here with the Nationals. “Not going to get into it.”

Another player, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Post today: “That guy [Bernazard] is crazy. No one like[s] him.”

Oh yeah, and this incident:

These incidents have been common knowledge around the Mets for days – as was the ugly, very public exchange Bernazard had with Diamondbacks scout Carlos Gomez in the box seats behind the plate during a recent home stand at Citi Field. For Minaya to say he’s “investigating” the matter is either an insult to our intelligence or an acknowledgment that all of this despicable behavior by his assistant is somehow news to him.

In the confrontation with Gomez, Bernazard screamed at the scout for sitting in his seat and angrily demanded him to move. Then when one of his own baseball operations men attempted to intercede, suggesting that they wait until the end of the inning for everyone in the scouts section to shift seats, Bernazard went ballistic and began cursing at his own man in front of all the other scouts.

All three incidents within the last month. So, NOW Minaya wants to investigate? Weeks later. What a joke! It’s exactly this sort of look-the-other-way, head-in-the-sand leadership that the Mets need to excise. I don’t mean to pile on the freight train that’s gathering steam, but I’ve already got my ticket and I’m on board.

Time to clean house. I don’t care if Minaya has a 3 year extension yet to begin. The time has come to start over. They need to do what the Mariners did after their disasterous 2008 season: Hire a talented replacement with experience in scouting and player development (who doesn’t challenge his minor leaguers to a fight while shirtless).

“We believe Jack [Zduriencik] is the best person to provide a new approach and to lead our baseball operations. He has a proven record of recognizing talent, both on the field and in the front office,” [said Mariners' President Chuck Armstrong]
[...]
“Jack is extremely well-respected throughout baseball,” Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said. “His track record in recognizing and developing young talent in Milwaukee was instrumental in the Brewers’ steady improvement over the past several seasons. I am very excited about the passion and leadership he will bring to our organization.”

This is what the Mets need to do. Zduriencik has the Mariners contending once again (50-44, would be leading the AL Central, but stuck in 3rd in the AL West), and even managed to find a buyer for Yuniesky Betancourt. GENIUS!

Bernazard needs to go IMMEDIATELY. Minaya after the season ends. And if the new GM (Kim Ng, anyone?!?!) wants to oust comedic genius Jerry Manuel, so be it. Just make the change already. This cast of misfits ain’t gettin’ it done.