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Yeah they won tonight, but at this point one win isn’t going to stop the Willie Watch.
Conflicting reports Thursday and Friday have Willie staying through the season or gone by Monday, depending on which source you read.
On ESPN.com Thursday, Jayson Stark, who must be a fan of The Mets Police, wrote:
“The Willie Watch seems as if it’s back on in Flushing Meadow, now that the glow of the Mets’ brief seven-out-of-nine tear has been obliterated by the five-game losing streak they finally ended Wednesday. But don’t be so sure that Randolph’s axing is going to arrive before the next No. 7 train.
GM Omar Minaya repeated again Tuesday night that Randolph is safe. And he’s not just blowing PR fog. According to one baseball man who speaks regularly with Mets management, Randolph is “not going to get fired. Period.”
GM Omar Minaya repeated again Tuesday night that Randolph is safe. And he’s not just blowing PR fog. According to one baseball man who speaks regularly with Mets management, Randolph is “not going to get fired. Period.”
Not that there isn’t nonstop debate about the manager’s status, a debate that reverberates around all levels of Shea Stadium. Not that there isn’t constant second-guessing of Randolph’s bullpen usage or his often-dispassionate style of player relations.
But the fellow who has to make this call, Minaya, isn’t giving in to that talk. Minaya “has made his decision,” said the same baseball man. “And the decision is, this is Willie’s team. And he’s not going away.”
Then again, though, neither is The Willie Watch — not if his $138-million baseball team doesn’t click into gear in a hurry, at least. “
But the fellow who has to make this call, Minaya, isn’t giving in to that talk. Minaya “has made his decision,” said the same baseball man. “And the decision is, this is Willie’s team. And he’s not going away.”
Then again, though, neither is The Willie Watch — not if his $138-million baseball team doesn’t click into gear in a hurry, at least. “
On the other hand, over on SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote on Friday:
“A Mets official indicated that nothing was expected to be decided today regarding Randolph’s status. But that doesn’t preclude something from happening later this weekend. Sources indicate his hold on the job is shaky, at best.
Should Randolph be fired, bench coach Jerry Manuel will take over, sources told SI.com“
Should Randolph be fired, bench coach Jerry Manuel will take over, sources told SI.com“
Meanwhile, FoxSports.com reported on their site on Thursday that Willie’s job was “day-to-day”
So who to believe? Omar may be loyal, but he has to answer to the Wilpons. The worse this team does, the more his job is on the line as well. I don’t like Omar, but he’s not an idiot. If the Mets lose the next 2 games over the weekend, Willie will be gone.
