In what looks to be the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, Part Dos, after yesterday evening's west coast win over the Angels, Willie Randolph and coaches Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto were fired by the Mets, in the person of one Omar Minaya. Jerry Manuel has been named the interim manager, and I haven't had time yet to look and see who will replace Peterson and Nieto, but I suspect it's the minor league NOLA guys, Oberkfell and what's-his-name.The firing culminated a few weeks of the Mets' "brain trust," and I use the term loosely, being described, alternately, as "amateurish," "unprofessional," "just plain dumb," "inept," and even the dreaded "cowardly," along with the ultimate putdown - "having no clue."
Truth in journalism, I always say. And there are no better examples of that than the terms used to describe the Mets' "brain trust" in the paragraph above.
This is a bizarre turn of events, to say the least. Lots of us advocated, and even suspected, that Willie might be fired after The Collapse; instead, almost immediately, Omar and Fred issued pretty much rousing endorsements of Willie As Mets Manager. Then the season began, and things did not go well for the team. Then the Willie monologue where he made those infinitely regrettable remarks about race vis a vis his job. Then The Huh? Memorial Day Press Conference, where you figured, hey, if Willie was going to get it, he was getting it that day.
And of course, nothing happened.
And now, when the team has won three of its last four games, the bats seem to be heating up, when Willie has seemingly matured and grown into his role, and yes, seemingly has thrived since The Huh?, they drag him out to the west coast, the team wins the game, and then they fire him.Ted Mack would be very proud; very proud, indeed.
It's not that I think Willie is the best manager; I didn't want him hired, and I was certainly in favor of his firing after The Collapse, and even up to a few weeks ago. But I have to admit, Willie showed me something these past few weeks, and I was actually rooting for him to succeed.
And now this.
Ted Mack, move over. You've got competition for the Amateur Hour. The New York Mets, in all of their amateurish, unprofessional, just plain dumb, inept, cowardly and just having no clue glory.
