It's a double-dose of Willie Randolph today. First up was a mid-morning chat with reporters in the media room with a lunch to follow at noon. It's going to be an interesting season for Randolph, who essentially was left in limbo by ownership for 48 hours after the Mets' catastrophic final weekend knocked them out of the playoffs. Randolph still has two years remaining on the contract extension he signed, but GM Omar Minaya wouldn't even commit to bringing him back until he twisted for a few days. For that reason, a fast start will be essential for Randolph this year, and if the Mets slip behind early, it's not crazy to think his job could be in jeopardy by the All-Star break.
Randolph downplayed talk of his job security this morning and said he wouldn't change much in the wake of the September collapse. He still considers his strength the one-on-one communication he has with his players and dismissed talk of tightening the reins this year.
I'm not sure I agree. I think it's time for Randolph to really put his stamp on the team. He put his faith in the players last season and got burned by it. His only recourse now is to be out in front, show a little more fire, and start holding guys accountable. If that means doing it in a public forum, so be it. I didn't see Carlos Delgado standing at a podium after the season having to defend his job in front of his boss, which is exactly what Randolph was forced to do during that news conference he had with Minaya. It wasn't all Randolph's fault the Mets imploded, but he took the fall for it.
Comments (17)
Fire OMAR....fire RANDOLPH
Hey Anonymous...fire Omar and Willie? And hire who? Steve Phillips and Bobby Valentine? Under Willie and Omar, the Mets have the 2nd best winning percentage in a 3 year span in Mets franchise history. You tell me who can do a better job. Go ahead, I'll wait.
Hey Tony V.....What has Omar done but spend Wilpons money on players that first chose to play elsewhere first??? Like Beltran (wanted to go to the Yanks) Like Pedro (who wanted the Sox, but Omar gave him the extra year like a moron.) Like Delgado (wanted to stay in Fla.)
Omar did not help devlope Reyes or Wright.....What has he done for our farm system????
As for Willy......Please.....He will always be known as the Mgr that was part of the greatest collapse in the history of baseball. He has no grasp on how to handle a staff. Espesially the bullpen.
You keep drinking that Met coolaide!!!
Omar did not bolster the bullpen last year....He is not getting an ace this year....The guy BLOWS !!!!
Mets will have one of the worst staffs in baseball next year, and NO RELIEF to back up guys that cannot stay healthy and only go 6 innings!!!!
FIRE OMAR FIRE WILLY !!!!
Other than a few spelling errors and poor use of grammer, FACTS pegged it !!! Wilpon....WAKE UP and get rid of nOMAR !!!
Los Mets look horrible !!!
After watching ESPN most of the day, I've been hearing a lot of talk about a possible Mets-Jays swap. The Mets would get A.J. Burnett but I'm not sure what Toronto wants in return. If it's not too much, I say go for it.
This is being reported on MLB trade rumors:
"Just got an incredible rumor from a trusted New York
sportswriter. Stay with me, because this one's crazy. But rest assured that if the source wasn't good, I wouldn't post it.
Minnesota has initiated talks for a three-way blockbuster with the Twins and A's. Here's how it would go down:
Mets send Jose Reyes, Kevin Mulvey, and Hector Pellot to A's
A's send Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson to Mets
A's send Dan Haren to Twins
Twins send Johan Santana to Mets
Mets get Johan Santana, Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson
A's get Jose Reyes and Kevin Mulvey
Twins get Dan Haren and Hector Pellot
The source says Haren is exactly the type of player the Twins want for Santana, a cheap frontline starter. It's known the Mets would hate to deal Reyes but they would get some value beyond Santana. Billy Beane is happy because he gets Reyes for one more year than he had Haren plus longtime favorite Mulvey. And, he's out of Crosby's contract."
Thoughts?
Yeah! You need less offense with Santana, which is a good thing since you get two .240 hitters with little speed.
Burnett...Oh great he can hang out on the DL with Pedro and Duke....This team is a joke.
mlbtraderumors.com is the biggest bull sh^t site....
No way the Mets trade Reyes....Stop reading tha bs tabloid!
Dear Anonymous:
You make me feel so much better. After all, I was around when Nolan Ryan was traded. I went through the Tom Seaver ordeal.
Suffered through Dykstra, McDowell and Mookie tossed aside.
What about Kazmir! Now, Milledge.
Then look at last year's supposedly minor deals: Heath Bell, Brian Bannister, Royce Ring (who will become a game saver for the hated Braves next year).
But, don't worry, you'll love Crosby at short, batting .240 and stealing 10 bases. And, Dan Johnson, well, he can swing and miss and look pretty doing it.
I hope you're right, but the track record does not instill confidence.
Honestly I would do Reyes for Santana....You win in this league with Pitching and defense....You can then turn around and sign Eckstein to play SS...
Put on wfan....6pm is the baseball report from Nashville !!
Per MLB Trade Rumors:
Billy Beane is disavowing the deal involving Reyes, Santana and Haren. Beane says it's a fabrication.
Shocker....There is NO WAY the Mets are trading Reyes....They have already said this. Do not believe any of the bs on those websites....All fabrication!
Bottom line the Mets will be the same team as last year, yet with an even worse staff.
Omar is horrible !!! He got an "F" by all reports on what he did last year, and will get an "F" this year.
He only brings in Latino players. The way he treated our most passionate player LoDuca is pathetic.....Yet Reyes quit on 1/2 his ground balls, could not hit a lick in the 2nd half, and yet he is untouchable.....Comical!
If we sign Livan or Colon than I will blow my stack. NO ONE want these retreads....They are 5th starters at best....
WE HAVE NO #1.....NO #2....and NO RELIEF !!!
FIRE OMAR TODAY !!! DO NOT LET HIM ON THE COMPANY JET HOME !!!
Let's go Mets?
More like:
Let's Get New Mets !!!!
Jimmy Rollins just predicted the Phillies to win 100 games. We need to make some moves and shut this guy up. I just heard on SNY the Twins may consider giving up Santana if the Mets include Oliver Perez, Humber and Gomez. Anonymous, I'm still drinking the coolaide.
All you people who are bashing the Mets now will be the same people at the end of the season saying you believed in them all along if they win. And let's please stop with the racist remarks. It makes no difference what race the player's are as long as they win. I'd rather have 25 latino, black or japanese guys who win then a mix of guys who lose. There's a reason why there are so many latino player's...they're better! It's hot in DR, Venezuela, PR, etc. All they do is play ball, 12 months a year. Look at the Tigers. Not one white starting position player. All black and hispanic. You think their fans are complaining? I doubt it and I wouldn't complain either if the Mets field the same type of team. This is the future of baseball. Get used to it. Nobody complained when Phillips and Duquette signed mostly white players. Tell me what is the difference? It's just a naive, racist thing to say and it only proves your ignorance if you agree with any of these remarks. This is supposed to be a site for baseball talk...not a discussion on what color skin the player's have or should have. I can't believe how completely idiotic some people are. Anonymous, you say "Let's get new Mets". I say Let's get new fans...starting with you. By the way, you're right, Livan is a #5...and that's exactly what they need. They got like 3 wins from their #5 "dynamic duo" of Pelfrey and Humber this year. Livan would be a significant upgeade to that spot in the rotation. But according to you, that would be a bad move because he's latino. Oh man, not another one!
Tony V, couldn't agree more. waht's really funny is Schneider and Church are not Latin the last time I checked. But, that brought the racists out sarcastically taling about "finally getting white guys". This is NY, about people are only happy when they complain.