News: Willie to Stay, writes Newsday
According to David Lennon in Newsday, citing ‘a person close to the situation,’ the Mets will not fire Willie Randolph, when he meets with ownership later this morning.
Additionally, Lennon notes that Minaya still has full autonomy of this team, and so the decision to keep Randolph has been made and carried out by Minaya.
In the Bergen Record, Bob Klapisch quotes a high-ranking official as saying, “It’s Omar’s call.”
…in other words, where omar goes, willie goes, and vice-a-versa…
Also in Newsday, Ken Davidoff explains that Mets ownership is ‘livid about the collapse,’ but ‘will look past its rage’ and give Randolph ‘another chance’ in 2008.
…i have to assume he is on a very short leash, and rightfully so…i like willie, and i think he is the right man for this job, assuming he reverts back to his no-nonsense way of spring training 2005, but nobody gets a blank check, or an open ended ticket…fact is, yes, they played horribly for most of the second half of the season, but he and his team won a lot last season and they won a lot at the start of this season and he has earned the right to get his ship back on coarse…however, if he can’t, and the team does not respond mid-way through next season, i will understand if he’s dismissed, especially since ownership will be less than a year from opening Citi Field at that point…i’ll probably disagree with their action, mostly because i admire willie as a person, but i’ll understand the decision and respect it…either way, i truly believe he earned a second chance, and so i am glad to see he may get it…it’s the right move…
Minaya is scheduled to be a guest on WFAN’s Mike and the Maddog program around 2 pm, during which he will likely announce Randolph’s future with the team.
