Read: Willie is on the Hot Seat
According to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, Willie Randolph is among six managers who are ‘on the hot seat,’ i.e., men who could potentially be fired this season.
Rosenthal writes of Randolph, among other comments:
“Anything less than a postseason berth - and maybe a first-round playoff triumph - could endanger both Randolph and GM Omar Minaya…Randolph did not deserve to be fired after last season. His lack of outward passion drew criticism, but if he had shown more emotion, he might have given the appearance of panic…
“Strategy often is less important than personality; Charlie Manuel’s greatest strength with the Phillies is his knack for keeping the team positive through periods of adversity. Tough-minded players help; the Phillies possess a certain swagger. Randolph’s most accomplished position players, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, are not leaders…
“No one in the Mets’ clubhouse could rescue a sinking Jose Reyes last September; Pedro Martinez laments that he was absent for too long last season to assert himself in September. Perhaps Martinez, Santana and third baseman David Wright will help the leadership void. One thing is certain: Improved pitching would make Randolph look a lot smarter.”
…as i have said before, if the Mets play sound baseball and live up to the talent of the team, but just get beat by a better club, i think willie will survive, regardless of whether his team makes the post-season or not…however, if the club flops around, plays uninspired and falls short at any point in the season, he’s toast…and justifiably so…
