ESPN usually keeps their best content from their premier baseball writers as a paid service. Occasionally, they’ll offer up something for free like today’s column from Buster Olney.
Olney talks about how Willie Randolph is in the cross-hairs right now and is managing every day to keep his job. But he also goes on to say that there’s no clear alternative right now.
Read the full story here.
Fox Sports senior baseball writer Ken Rosenthal discusses the National League headlines this week. Included in the discussion are: Eric Gagne, Jim Edmonds, and Willie Randolph’s job security.
New York Mets (20-19) at New York Yankees (20-22) 1:05pm
Johan Santana (4-2) vs. Andy Pettite (3-4)
What to watch: Supposedly the Mets cleared the air in the clubhouse. We’ll see if that lasts. The fans and blogs are calling for Willie Randolph to be fired but Omar Minaya gave him a vote of confidence before the rainout yesterday. Oh… by the way two of the biggest names in pitching over the last ten years are on the mound in this game.
Here’s a couple of audio links from WFAN today. Willie Randolph tries to put on a show of feisty commentary to dissuade us from thinking that he’s too passive. I’m not buying his act at all. Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jon Heyman doesn’t think Randolph’s job is in immediate danger.
The ESPN Baseball Tonight crew talks about the Mets and Yankees underachieving so far this season. Tim Kurkjian says that he doesn’t think that Willie Randolph will be fired soon.
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I don’t think that I need to re-hash the reasons that Willie Randolph may be fired. I’ve posted several times about that here. After the losing home stand against the Reds and Nationals, I think that it’s a foregone conclusion that the Mets front office will fire Randolph soon. I thought that they would wait until the end of May to evaluate him. But now I’m convinced that a change needs to be made. Continue reading “Replacements For Willie Randolph”
Mike Pelfrey took a no hitter into the seventh inning and was terrific for his second start in a row. However, the Nationals Jason Bergmann was better. Pelfrey only gave up one run but Bergmann gave up none.
The Nationals made several great plays in the field including a diving catch in left field by Willie Harris, and Christian Guzman tagging Jose Reyes out trying to take an extra base going to third.
The Mets end their home stand against two last place teams at 3-4. Losing three out of four to the Nationals at home may just cost Willie Randolph his job when all is said and done. The Mets are playing well below their talent level and that’s the manager’s problem. Don’t be surprised to see Willie go in the near future.
The Mets Report 