Let me start by saying that I am not an African American, so I have no idea what Willie Randolph is feeling. He's certainly entitled to his opinion. But I will respectfully disagree with his assessment.

In a recent interview with the Bergen Record, Willie Randolph criticized Mets network SNY and questioned whether race has factored into the fans' dissatisfaction.

"(SNY are) the artists, I'm the canvas," Randolph said. "They paint the picture the way they want to. ... Why (isn't) SNY shooting me when I'm ready to go down the dugout clapping my hands and patting guys on the butt, schooling them during the game? I'm on the top step every game. "Why don't you show that side of me so people can say, 'Wow, jeez, Willie's fiery'? ... You watch any manager in baseball, you see him look like a bump on the log sitting there. They don't move, they don't talk. I'm as animated and as demonstrative and as involved and as intense as any manager in baseball."

Well, let me tell you Willie, that we see you clapping your hands and urging your team on. Guess what...it takes more than that to be a winner. And sure, we saw you school Jose Reyes alright...and he hasn't been the same player since that "schooling". As for the "bumps on a log", who cares what they do if they win games? You're not winning games.

Randolph hinted at a racial double standard regarding coaches, managers and team executives - specifically in New York. "Is it racial?" Randolph asked. "It smells a little bit. I don't know how to put my finger on it, but I think there's something there. "Herman Edwards did pretty well here (as coach of the New York Jets), and he won a couple of playoff (games), and they were pretty hard on Herm. Isiah (recently fired New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas) didn't do a great job, but they beat up Isiah pretty good. ... I don't know if people are used to a certain figurehead. There's something weird about it."

Way to go again Willie...playing the race card. I may not be African American, but I do stand as being accused, therefore I will address those claims by Randolph. The fans are hard on you because you don't know how to manage a bullpen...not because you're a minority. The fans are tough on you because you don't teach your ball players proper fundamentals ...not because you're a minority. The fans are tough on you because your lineups don't conform to the performances of your players...not because you're a minority. The fans are tough on you because you have never attempted a suicide squeeze, making your team predictable...not because you're a minority. The fans are rough on you because you rarely implement a successful double-switch...not because you're a minority. The fans are tough on you because of situations like today, where you had a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, and you inexplicably pull your ace after four innings and just three runs allowed, taxing your bullpen for the doubleheader...not because you're a minority. Adding to a resume of screw-ups today, aside from pulling John Maine early, against Tom Glavine in the first game of a doubleheader, Randolph started left handed Brian Schneider rather than Ramon Castro, who has caught Glavine for three seasons and knows him, and who has a .350 lifetime batting average against Glavine. Instead, he started Castro in the second game against a right-handed pitcher. Why not have the left-handed Schneider play against the right-handed pitcher and have a right-handed Castro hitting against a left-handed Glavine?

Randolph seems to forget that the fans and media were much tougher on Art Howe than they are now with Randolph. Art Howe was target number one, and I seem to recall him not being African American. The fact is, Met fans will never complain if you're a winner...regardless of color. New York was the first city to have a black player. New Yorkers loved Willie Mays, Doc Gooden, Daryl Strawberry, Cliff Floyd, Felix Milan, Willie Montanez, Pedro Martinez, and every other minority who has played well for the team. New Yorkers are passionate about winning, and they'll turn on anyone not carrying their weight. New York, more so than most other cities does not have racial tensions that you find in other cities. Trust me, I have lived in the North, and I've lived in the South, and New Yorkers embrace diversity.

As for bringing up other black coaches....bad examples to use Willie. Herm Edwards has poor clock management which led to losses. He also seemed to lose focus as the season wore on. Isiah Thomas...did you really bring him up as part of your defense Willie?

I will always believe that Willie Randolph is a good and decent guy who is just in way over his head. I don't buy the crap about him being a Yankee, and not being a true Met because of that. That's hogwash and has no bearing on the job Willie does as Mets manager. Some Met fans still resent Randolph for that...and they're fans with an IQ under 50. BUT...even those fans are upset with Willie for being a former Yankee...not because he's African American. Those fans, as misguided as they are, are prejudiced based on team allegiance...not racism. Others blame Randolph for being too low key. That's his personality, and he can't change that. Those excuses are also ridiculous. It is the poor double switches, poor lineups, poor bullpen management, poor teaching of fundamentals, and poor baseball strategy that will cost Randolph his Met managerial job soon. But I can assure you Willie...I have the utmost respect for you as a man and a person, and I respect your background and heritage. But I think you should be fired because you're not a very good manager...and for no other reason. And now that you've accused Met fans of being racist without being justified, it will be even more difficult for you to succeed and win the fans and New York press over. If you want to keep your job, start winning and no one will care about your controversial claims of racism. Otherwise, best of luck with your soon-to-be job search.



Court Adjourned!