the meaning of "mandate"

[ferret]

Ortiz
As the Astros play out the final games of the 2009 season, general manager Ed Wade and his front office are planning for 2010. Manager Cecil Cooper has a mandate to watch rookies Chris Johnson and Tommy Manzella, who could man the left side of the infield opening day.
Sure, the Astros want to win down the stretch, but the priority is to see Norris, Paulino, Johnson and Manzella....
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6624752.html

Bullshit, Ortiz periodically has problems with the meaning of words.  In this case "mandate" is misinterpreted, here's what Cooper said

"I'm going to explain to them (Tejada, Blum) that these kids need some exposure and it might cost a little bit of playing time," Cooper said. "It won't be a lot, but they will have a chance to get their feet wet."
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090907&content_id=6840760&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

Wade, in the exact same language

“We want to win as many games as we can,” Wade said. “We want to finish on a high note, but at the same time try to take advantage of the opportunity to see Bud Norris and Paulino, (Yorman) Bazardo and some of the young position players, not to make definitive judgments on them but give them opportunities to get their feet wet and sort of experience what being in the big leagues is all about.”
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6624752.html

On why Tejada is still playing regularly, Zachary Levine of the Chron could only mumble,

Cooper "Tejada has some things that he's trying to accomplish too, so you've got to be mindful of that.”

Tejada didn't speak publicly about any individual goals beyond just playing hard the last two weeks .
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6628597.html

Vic Feuerherd, casual Astros observer and  a contributor to MLB.com., sees exactly what's going on

"We knew the main reason (Manzella was called up) was so that he could see what goes on around here and get used to this," Cooper said.

Another reason Manzella is watching and not playing is shortstop Miguel Tejada, whose rejuvenated offensive showing this season has been one of the Astros' bright spots. Tejada is aiming to hit .300 for the first time in three years and the fifth time in his career.

"He's trying to accomplish things," Cooper said of Tejada, "and you have to be mindful of that."

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090920&content_id=7063416&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

A .300 average will come in handy when Tejada is negotiating his free agent contract.  The crow hop and glove pat before every throw will not.

[Houston]

To Ortiz, a "mandate" is when he and Richard Justice go out for beer after the game.

[Fredia]

well find out what tejada is using for his youth potion and pass it around

[Limey]

To Ortiz, a "mandate" is when he and Richard Justice go out for beer after the game.

Rimshot

[Jose Cruz III]

well find out what tejada is using for his youth potion and pass it around

That might get the whole team suspended.