Just when things couldn't get any more ridiculous for the Mets...it has. Watching this team is becoming almost comical. But trust me when I say it is anything but comical to Mets fans. In fact, it is sad and angering to the players and their fans in what was supposed to be a "bounce-back" season.

It was only last week that I wrote a column, "As The Mets Turn", that demonstrated various blunders by the Mets management. Now, they have hit a new low. This team is looking like a true Mickey Mouse operation.

For starters, they are treating Willie Randolph with zero respect. You can't leave your manager dangling the way they have. It's become painfully obvious that Randolph's tenure as Mets manager is game-to-game. Either you want your manager, or you want him gone....but don't base your decision game by game. The Mets have actually turned the sentiment of Mets fans from angry at Randolph, to feeling sorry for him. Most Met fans are in agreement about these two facts: Willie Randolph is a class guy, but Willie Randolph is a terrible X's and O's manager. But all fans agree that Randolph is being dissed by Omar Minaya. In fact, Minaya has now taken Willie's place as the one that Mets fans want to see fired.

And so, now Minaya flies with the team to California, where it is speculated that another loss or two will result in Randolph's firing. He couldn't do that in New York? Why have Randolph or his coaches be fired across the coast? I'll tell you why...because as I stated, Randolph's job status is on a game-by-game basis.

There is also discussion that Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto will be fired, with, or before Randolph. I can understand the logic behind firing Peterson, but what in the hell has Tom Nieto done to deserve the ax? Maybe Minaya will bring back Rickey Henderson, so that this team can really fade into oblivion. And there are mixed reports about Howard Johnson, but what has he done to improve this offense? If HoJo is canned, it would be justified. The talk around New York is that if Randolph is fired, Jerry Manuel would become interm manager. Well, why is he getting off easy in this whole mess that is the Mets? Hasn't he been there as long as Randolph? And hasn't he been one of the coaches whose word Randolph has listened to? I'm not sure how Manuel, who was connected to the collapse of last season, could be any better than Randolph. It appears that Minaya will turn to Manuel because he can relate better to the Latino players on the team. If...and I only state, if (because it seems far-fetched to a degree) that is the reason he becomes manager, then Minaya will have officially made a boneheaded move based on race more so than ability. Manuel's track record is spotty at best.

Now take all of this, and combine it with the way they mishandled the Ryan Church injury, allowed Moises Alou to return before he was fully healthy which resulted in DL stint #3, and a long standing feud between Willie Randolph and Tony Bernazard, and the Mets have a real mess on their hands. And yes...they can be considered a Mickey Mouse operation at this point. We could even point to the signings of John Rodriguez, Abraham Nunez, and Raul Gonzalez in the past few weeks, and it gets even more laughable.

Many fans criticize the Wilpons for not speaking out about the current state of affairs, but let's be real. How often do you hear from the owners of the White Sox, Rays, Cardinals, or any other owner not named Steinbrenner? It's not the Wilpon's place to speak out like that. That's what you hire a team president for. Unfortunately for the Mets, they hired the wrong team president. Minaya needs to go...even before Randolph. It won't happen, but it should. Minaya is perhaps the biggest reason the Mets are in the situation they are in. The Mets need a new GM, they need a new manager, they need a new coaching staff, and they need new players. Other than that...they're in good shape. Mickey Mouse would be proud.



Court Adjourned!