Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Mets Fire Willie...My Take

As those of you who might have read Talk Me In Off The Ledge, you undoubtedly know I was not a fan of Willie Randolph. That being said, I am ashamed of the way my team has handled this situation.


If they had fired Willie around Memorial Day, at the time of "The Meeting", it would have been understandable and justified; if they had released him on Friday after the debacle in San Diego, it would have been justified. Making him get on a plane, after winning two of three from Texas, fly to California, beat the first place Angels, and then fire him after the game is disgraceful.


No man, no person deserves that. The fact that Nieto and Peterson were thrown in as consolation firings is just as ridiculous. Yet, Sandy Alomar is still employed? He is so out of it, it wouldn't surprise me if Nieto had to direct him towards 3B during Mets at-bats.


Jerry Manuel is still part of the old regime, and if the Mets were going to make a break, everyone, including Manuel, Johnson, and Alomar should have went. Start new. Ken Oberkfell? Someone outside the organization? They need something different, not more of the same.


This is a mess, and Willie will be a martyr because of the poor handling of the situation. I can't help but think that Omar was told to fire Willie by the Wilpons.


Another possibility I just heard on WFAN: did Willie fall on his sword when told of Peterson's and Nieto's dismissal?


Stay tuned, there will be more to come...


*** Updated 10:23 ***

I was just thinking how funny this is...last night before the game on WFAN Steve Somers was giving half hourly updates if Willie was the Mets manager. As usual, Schmoozy is ahead the rest!

3 comments:

Mets and music fan said...

I totally agree. The timing would have made sense around Memorial Day. It seems as if Minaya was told on Monday morning, to fire Willie, regardless.

Firing him after the game, after the post-game interviews, after the media left, after Willie left the stadium, and doing it at the hotel, was cowardly timing.

Totally agree about Alomar, Sr. The third base coach has more of an impact than the first base coach. Alomar does a lousy job. Why Nieto ? I guess someone didn't like him. How soon until Peterson is hired elsewhere ?

Manuel is the babysitter. It will be interesting to see if Manuel is tuned out, like a substitute teacher.

Willie should have been fired before Monday's game, since Minaya apparently was told on Monday morning to fire him. I agree that Willie becomes a sympathetic martyr, because the Wilpons and Minaya mismanaged this decision.

Mets and music fan said...

Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post write a blistering column called "Midnight Massacre An Amazin' Act Of Cowardice," that you must read. You'll enjoy it !

Long Island Met Fan said...

Well look what we wake up to a new dawn for the mets.. NO more Willie watch.! Wow ! Well at least they did something. Dont think we will Oberkfel from triple aaa this year. Its manuel team I bet for the rest of the year!