Make no mistake about it....90% of Met fans wanted Willie Randolph gone. Willie was booed at Shea when he'd come out to make a pitching change. In fact, he'd get booed when he brought out the lineup cards to home plate before the start of the game. Fans calling in to talk radio shows in New York would rip Willie mercilessly. It was a no-brainer for Met fans, they wanted Randolph fired, and they wanted him fired ASAP. But Met fans aren't stupid...loud and crude, sure...but they're not stupid. They knew that Randolph was a class guy, and a winner, but his ways and tactics simply weren't working. But no fan "hated" Randolph. They didn't like his managing style, but they respected him for his past success. Some of the respect was tarnished a bit when Randolph gave his infamous interview regarding race, but most Met fans knew he was speaking out of frustration more than anything. They were upset, but gave Randolph a pass.

And then, something funny happened on the way to the stadium...following a win, three thousand miles away from New York, at 3AM, Willie Randolph was fired. Suddenly all of those terrible double switches Randolph executed didn't matter...Willie was a victim. All of those times Randolph took out a starter too early, only to have his bullpen blow a lead didn't matter ...Willie was a victim. All of those circumstances that Randolph remained calm while an umpire blew a call didn't matter ....Willie was a victim. Willie Randolph is no longer known as the manager of the Mets who made all of those bad moves and decisions. He is now the poor, disrespected guy who was terminated at 3am, in an embarrassing fashion that put the Mets in a bad bad light. Frankly, they've become the laughing stock of the league...and it happened at Randolph's expense. Even the biggest of Met fans, who wanted Randolph fired in September, such as myself, felt sorry for what Minaya put Randolph through. If Randolph were fired in traditional fashion, Met fans would have rejoiced and looked forward to moving on sans Randolph. Instead, all Met fans were hiding their Met gear and memorabilia in a closet due to the shame they felt in the way a classy and respected former New Yorker was terminated. Hell, he wasn't even terminated.... he was whacked. Paulie Walnuts couldn't have done it any better (or worse).

Met fans love their Mets and they love their players (not named Zambrano). They knew that Randolph deserved better than the treatment he received from Minaya and the Mets. He may have been unpopular due to his managing style, but he was still one of their Mets...and good or bad, you don't mess with one of their own....and a New York guy at that.

So, now Willie Randolph will be remembered as the poor guy who got hosed, and was blindsided by the Mets inept General Manager and equally inept owners. All of Randolph's shortcomings as a manager will be washed away by this ridiculous episode. And for that reason..and that reason only, Randolph should be grateful that he was made out to be the sympathetic figure who got the shaft. This clumsy firing will help erase many of the bad feelings generated by Randolph's low key style that didn't seem to work with this Mets team. Regardless of what happened this past season, Randolph deserves another chance to be a major league manager. He worked hard, and despite the perception, he had the desire to win. But now his questionable moves will be magically whisked away, because his boss fired him in a mistake-filled way that was worse than all of Randolph's mistakes combined. And for that, Randolph should be grateful. Good luck in your next gig Willie.



Court Adjourned!