Tick ... tick ... tick
Not sure when the Willie Watch became official, but if I had to guess, I'd say somewhere between the comments he made to The Record's Ian O'Connor before Sunday's game in the Bronx and his belated attempt at an apology. The Wilpons were more angry with Randolph for those comments than anything else that happened before then, and it certainly didn't help his case when the Mets suffered a four-game sweep at the hands of the Braves.
How soon could Randolph be fired if they choose to go in that direction? Probably not until the Mets return home from this weekend in Colorado, but the heat has definitely been turned up with general manager Omar Minaya dropping into Denver for this series. The Mets had long planned to hold staff meetings after Memorial Day to address the Mets' deficiencies to this point, but now they could have another purpose -- to axe Randolph and announce his successor.
It also looks like Minaya will survive -- for now. It appears that Randolph's future will hinge on Minaya's recommendation to ownership, according to a person familiar with the situation, and that evaluation could come any day now. It only makes sense that Minaya might want an up-close look again this weekend before have to make any decisions.
I know it's a little late in the day, on a holiday weekend yet. But if you're behind in your Mets reading check out the ugliness from last night in Atlanta as well as the not-so-stunning news that Moises Alou is back on the DL. Also, today's Mets Insider discusses how a few Mets handle the media, and why they don't get into the same trouble that Randolph did earlier this week.
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (13)
I agree...Willie has managed his last game at Shea. He will be axed as soon as series ends in Colorado....so who will succeed him????
Willie Randolph cannot motivate anyone on any team because he never gets angry. You need a manager that can stir up some emotions. A perfect example of his in-ability to get mad was Delgado's homerun that was ruled foul against the Yankees. He SHOULD have been angry enough to be ejected, but since he didn't complain, the bench coach took over his role. Willie Randolph should be fired from the Mets, and instead they need a Lou Pinella type manager.
Willie may be a fine man but he simply is not the right coach for the Mets. He should have been let go halfway through last year - it was that obvious from the up and down Mets. He's trying to be Joe Torre without the players Joe had when he could be "Joe Torre" and they'd respond. Those players left the Yanks years ago and so Joe also had to go. Wille's Mets are not Joe's Yanks and his style wil not make it here with these players. Communication is key and there is none. As a fan, I have no idea what he is thinking and I have to figure his players are just as baffled. There is no unity on the team. It looks like about 10 different cliques.
I feel bad for Willie but he did it to himself, The great colapse and now this. George would have canned his but weeks ago. They need someone to look at these highpriced primma donnas and get them in gear
I feel it's time to make the change before this team falls further behind. Willie has lost the clubhouse and has now the Wilpons furious over his racial comments. You have a ballclub who should of won it all in 06 but didn't, a team who collapsed in 07 and a team who is 1 game under .500 in 08. At what point do you make a change? I don't think there is a need to see what happens in the series with Colorado. What are 3 games going to determine? If the Mets win 2 out of 3 , so what! They will come home and lose 6 out of 9. Willie might be a nice guy but he isn't the right manager for this team. This team is a bunch of underachieving ,unmotivated group. You need a manager who will keep these players on their toes and instill in their heads that if they don't play hard or perform hard they will sit. I still think they need to look at Showalter or maybe John Sterns.
So far the season has gone south instead of north. Could Randolph be fired? Yes and No? He did not help himself with the comments he made, and the team playing as poorly as they did against Atlanta. But if there was ever a defining moment why the Mets are what they are. Is Sunday when Randolph didn`t even go nuts over a bad call.. Most times Managers get them thrown out just to ignite their players. I think Randolph is so low keyed that the team has accepted the Ho Hum Performance. The Mets either have to tell Wille show His emotions or resign.
Well, if you don't like Willie Randolph there is enough ammunition out there to remove him from the manager position. However, it was the Mets brass who interviewed and hired this guy and one simple remark relating to a his view point is absurb--even if the remark was out of character or inaccuracte.
The owners need to release the GM and remove themselves from baseball operations. However, as in any business industry, you can't fire the CEO or COO for making bad decisions. Maybe the Met's board should fire the Wilpon's and the GM for making horrible baseball decisions. Oh--that's right, a board in baseball would be the fans and the fans are confused because NY media is not objective and from my latest sources are on the Mets payroll. God bless America!!
Omar has put together the WORST TEAM MONEY CAN BUY.....HE has depleted our fram system. HE has given Castillo a 4 yr deal......HE signed Alou....He traded Bannister, Nady, etc.......We have NOT ONE clutch player on this whole miserable roster....Wright and Reyes are soooooooo over-rated it is scary....Delgado is old.....Beltran is a wimpy joke.....Schneider doesn't even lay the tag down last night, Marlon Anderson cannot get to pop ups, Beltran kicks the ball around, Wright does not cove third on a bunt, Castillo is HORRENDOUS !!!
This falls on the GM FIRST......FIRE OMAR TODAY ..... Let the new GM bring in the mgr. he wants !!!
The Wilpons are a bunch of losers....They are all in front of the cameras when the team is doing well, and now they hide along with OMAR....
TRADE REYES TODAY !!! Trade him and rebuild the farm !! The Red Sox got better after trading Nomar and after they fired their GM......MEts must do the same..
Write letters, post on blogs, call wfan, call espn.....tell them we MUST .......FIRE OMAR FIRE OMAR FIRE OMAR FIRE OMAR !!
the Mets free fall all ponits to Omar.
I echo the anonymous blog on May 23, at 21.51!!!!! so on target
All I need to say, which by the way...I should have a column or be on Sports Center myself... Carlos Gomez!!! Manaya had to keep Martinez and insist the Twins take Gomez... right hand hitter...faster than Reyes and a gold glove outfielder with a rocket cannon of an arm. Oh, and let's not forget he is only 21!!!!...Hmmm bet we could have used him! Please feel free to repond...
It's become a sad joke. Every time they win a game it's all,"maybe now they'll turn it around". Then they go out & disappoint yet again. How many times will Met fans allow themselves to be fooled by this sorry bunch?
Everyone's been bagging on Willie (justifiably) yet I don't hear nearly as much venom directed towards Peterson. He's done an even worse job than Randolph. Perez, Maine & Pelfrey have not shown any real improvement & the bullpen is a farce. It's a shame & a waste of valuable young arms full of potential.
Whoever posted anonymously at May 23, 2008 21:51 is on something. The Mets have a great team. Alou is a veteran outfielder, he may not have the best defense but he does come through on offense. Castillo, another veteran, is fairly fast, good defense, and occasionally good offense. I agree that hes not the best person in this mets roster, but if they didn't have him, who would they have on second?? We are in desperate need of infielders, and he fits the role fine. Wright and Reyes, are overrated sometimes but have A LOT of potential. They are young players, they cant be blamed for their managers ability to motivate them. If the Mets had better coaching every player on this team would be better.
This is sad that i, a 14 year old kid, have more common sense about baseball then some people on this blog.
Whoever posted anonymously at May 23, 2008 21:51 is on something. The Mets have a great team. Alou is a veteran outfielder, he may not have the best defense but he does come through on offense. Castillo, another veteran, is fairly fast, good defense, and occasionally good offense. I agree that hes not the best person in this mets roster, but if they didn't have him, who would they have on second?? We are in desperate need of infielders, and he fits the role fine. Wright and Reyes, are overrated sometimes but have A LOT of potential. They are young players, they cant be blamed for their managers ability to motivate them. If the Mets had better coaching every player on this team would be better.
This is sad that i, a 14 year old kid, have more common sense about baseball then some people on this blog. Feel free to e-mail me about my comments, i would really enjoy having an actually conversation about the mets.(just say in the subjects mets blog or something to that effect)