Two Guys Sports
Bruce BostwickRandolph Finally Gets the Axe
June 17th 2008 13:51
It made perfect sense. The Mets waited until the team had won two in a row from an American League powerhouse to fire manager Willie Randolph. I am curious as to when a .500 record through about 70 games became the breaking point. To me that leash is way too short, even in New York, and on a team with a $138 million payroll. Even George Steinbrenner gives his managers (yes even Billy Martin) closer to 90 games, rather then 70.
Randolph had been the Mets manager since November 2004, and was previously Joe Torre’s bench coach. In his first season as manager the Mets went 83-79, then in 2006 Randolph’s Mets tied the crosstown rival Yankees at 97-65 for the best record in baseball, also winning the N.L. East for the first time since back in the Davey Johnson days (1988). His overall record as Mets manager was 302 – 253, and his team’s have finished 3rd, 1st, and 2nd in his three full seasons.
Pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto were also relieved of their duties with the franchise. Bench coach Jerry Manuel will take over as interim manager. Manager of the team’s New Orleans Triple-A club Ken Oberkfell, Zephyrs pitching coach Dan Warthen, and Mets field coordinator Luis Aguayo will all be joining the big league club to help out. Manuel does come with some experience, he managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998-2003, a span in which he led his club to a league best record of 95-67 in 2000. The same year he was named Manager of the Year.
Randolph had a contract through 2009 and will earn $2 million this year and still has $2.25 million for the 2009 season.
I would be surprised if Randolph is out of work for very long. He has been an assistant GM, a third base coach, a bench coach while with the Yankees, and of course this stint as manager with the Mets. He was trained by and worked under and around some of the best, and will be successful somewhere. I wonder if Joe Torre has called him already to offer a job.
Willie Randolph is no longer a Met. Where will he land now?
Pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto were also relieved of their duties with the franchise. Bench coach Jerry Manuel will take over as interim manager. Manager of the team’s New Orleans Triple-A club Ken Oberkfell, Zephyrs pitching coach Dan Warthen, and Mets field coordinator Luis Aguayo will all be joining the big league club to help out. Manuel does come with some experience, he managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998-2003, a span in which he led his club to a league best record of 95-67 in 2000. The same year he was named Manager of the Year.
Randolph had a contract through 2009 and will earn $2 million this year and still has $2.25 million for the 2009 season.
I would be surprised if Randolph is out of work for very long. He has been an assistant GM, a third base coach, a bench coach while with the Yankees, and of course this stint as manager with the Mets. He was trained by and worked under and around some of the best, and will be successful somewhere. I wonder if Joe Torre has called him already to offer a job.
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