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Willie Randolph talked with WFAN’s Mike and the Maddog today, and
had the following to say…
…whether he should be going out to argue with umpires more than he does…
“Oh, man, those guys have no clue. Well, I guess people look at what they see and they think that’s the way it is. First of all, I do get on umpires. If I see a play that I think is really one sided I’ll go out and argue every time. Some times, you know, just for the sake of arguing, that to me is totally overrated…I respect umpires, I don’t believe in going out and showing any one up just for the sake of show…Listen, I back my team every day. And, look, they don’t show me on the bench when I’m tripping from the dugout, you know, you don’t see that part of me. You don’t see me walking up and down the dugout, rooting for my guys, teaching them, pushing them, prodding them to get going. They only show me when some one gives up a hit or makes an error, and they show my face and I’m not going to show my players up. So, that’s the perception you get from me, is what they show when something goes wrong. Outside of that, I’m as animated and as much in the game as any manager in baseball. You look in every dugout, guys, and you see some managers sitting there like a bump on the log. They’re just sitting there, DOING NOTHING. You look at me, and I’m the total opposite. I’m on the top step, I don’t hide in the dugout, and I’m up and down doing my thing, pulling for my players. So, that perception that is out there is unbelievable.”
…about leadership, and whether the team has or needs a leader…
“There are different types of leaders, you don’t have to be a rah-rah guy. You can’t always be Lenny Dykstra. Sometimes guys just play and lead in their own way. I think we have some leaders on our team. Beltran played hurt last year a lot, that’s a form of leadership. So, yeah, I think it’s overrated at times, but I think that when you have a team that’s good you have a combination of different kinds of leadership…They’re not your typical kinds of rah-rah, gung-ho, in your face kind of guys…I do not think out team (needs a guy like that). We have guys who play with a certain demeanor. Okay? That is sometimes mistaken for being passive or not gritty or not tough not getting after it, that is so unfair, because our guys care. They play hard. They work hard every day. When you’re losing every one looks like they’re not doing as much.”
…if he is aware of some reporters and some fans requesting that he be fired…
“Listen, I’m a human being, I live in this town, I remember when talk radio first started…yes, it does sting a bit, because you think about where your heart and soul is and what you’re trying to do as far as winning, and no one likes to hear that stuff. But, believe me, guys, I understand that goes on with the territory. I am not concerned with what people feel about me because I’m here to do a job. Would you like to be liked, like most people? of course. But, believe me, when I’m on the field, when I’m out there leading my ball club, that does not enter my mind…It’s unfortunate that people who don’t understand the game, or who know what we’re dealing with, are calling for people’s livelihood. That’s really unfortunately, when you can call for some persons livelihood when you have a family and people who depend on them, but that’s a way the game has changed and it’s really kind of sad.”
Randolph also talked about Billy Wagner’s comments, and his players talking to reporters, among other things.
To listen to Randolph’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
I’d be agitated if I was about to lose my job also.
Maybe Willie should show 1/4 that fire in a game situation.
You know, I understand his “stoic warrior” mindset and all but there IS a big PR element to the job at times, especially here in NYC as he should well know.
willie has to go- if he were a ceo he would have been gone last year
atleast the mets have a chance at 500 to move forward with asomeone like hojo
we need a pinella
players need to act like they care and the booing will stop
Man as much as i hated Willie the manager, I always had respect for Willie the man. Not anymore. This loser is trying to guilt us into letting him off the hook. Like he wouldn’t have ANOTHER million dollar bench coach job waiting for him with the yankees or the dodgers the minute he got the boot.
Cry me a [Chipper] river, Randolph. A much higher percentage of my small salary goes into Mets merch + tickets. Its time for you to go.
There’s always welfare, Willie. Ask Latrell Sprewell.
took the words right outta my mouthh…
where is that kind of FIRE during games…
its BS, he gets agitated for MIKE & THE PUPPY but for HIS PLAYERS hes a shell in the top step with his arms crossed…
“get into a rythom, i know my guys, a good little rythom….”
rhythm?
Hookt on fonikz wurkt fer mee!
It’s interesting that he says that he would get annoyed if the manager didn’t come out to defend him on a called third strike. Where were you the other day to protect Alou on that 3rd strike that was low and outside? If Moises had known that you would have his back, then maybe he wouldn’t have gotten thrown out of the game. I recall a game last year when Marlon Anderson got called out on a bs third strike against the Phils and he went nuts and got tossed. Not only is Willie clueless but he is delusional.
must be “a good little rythom”
learn to spell the word dude.
While I’m not a fan of Willie the Manager, I’ve never had a problem with Willie the Person. And Willie the Player was fantastic. I could never even try to take that away from him.
But today on that segment he came off more whiney than angry. I have a feeling that 24 hours after he’s gone, even if it’s at the end of his contract, he’s going to blame the fans for just about everything. We know it’s your livelihood. Why are you fighting for it on a talk show?
All I could think to myself during the segment was “You keep telling us what you’re gonna do. Just go do it.”
Maybe this series… I haven’t lost hope. Something’s gonna have to give one way or another. We might as well win.
and WOW i didnt notice, i only caught that now..your completely dead-on…wow hes digging his hole.
“It’s unfortunate that people who don’t understand the game, or who know what we’re dealing with, are calling for people’s livelihood. That’s really unfortunately, when you can call for some persons livelihood when you have a family and people who depend on them, but that’s a way the game has changed and it’s really kind of sad.”
Makes me think of A Bronx Tale. Does Willie Randolph care if I can’t pay my rent? There’s no crying in baseball. Sorry, but he took the position. He doesn’t care if one person in the stands loses their job. He doesn’t care about your family. You really are not obligated to care about his. It shouldn’t come down to that, but this is really just a major guilt trip and it stinks of desperation.
when he was saying that…i was thinking “wow, what a moron”
they guy has millions, his family is safe
and honestly there isnt one fan who asked for him killed or banished from public, i dont know what he was gettin at… everyone is only saying he should get fired for doing a poor job, and thats an example of life…happens everyday…no results/ no job…. thats life… in his case he has the benfit of having alot of money…which sadly 90% of other cases ppl arent so lucky. so for him to say that….IDIOT
I know a lot of people have mixed feelings about Ruben Gotay. But one thing we know for sure… Willie had a bottom line when he talked about what Gotay could contribute to the club. And he may have been right. But at no point did he ever express any concern about the dude being able to pay his bills. So why try to play that card when it’s HIS job on the line?
EXACTLY.
honestly, humility and being humble would save him alot more grief…but honestly after what he said on MIKE && THE angry PUPPY i hope he gets fired sooner
hard to feel sorry for a struggling manager who made close to 3 mill a year for 3 yrs, and made alot more as a playerr…
I feel for Wilie. He is our guy. He’s the manager of the Mets, but I can’t help wondering if maybe he just doesn’t have the team to win it, or if he does, it won’t be as one sided as we thought.
So far this season we lost;
1. Pedro. Pedro was expected to get 25 starts, this year, maybe he gets 20 this year.
2. Moses Alou for the first month of the season.
3. Aaron Heilman, is far from the player we thought he was. He is more like Schoweinweis, then Schoweinweis.
4. Delgado isn’t becoming what we hoped he would, he is who we feared he was.
5. Castillo, is a just a shell of himself. We have 3 1/2 more years of that. Where is Gotay?
6. Beltran, isn’t playing like the MVP we thought he would become ala Jimmy Rollens.
7. Nelson Figeroa was a nice story, and even deemed by some as a hidden gem. Well, we did find out he was not the gem we were lead to believe.
8 Sanchez is coming along slowly, but not as quick as we would like.
So, what do we do? Fire Willie because he can’t get water from a stone? If we do fire Willie what do we do? Get;
1. Get Backmen. He is managing in an Independent league. How famiiar is he with our current roster? He will have a learning period that right now will cost us valuable games.
2. Get Valentine. Maybe while he was here he was misunderstood, but he knows the game but he will not come here from Japan where he is a celebrity.
3. Jerry Manuel - He’s the bench coach, so he already provides a lot of input, much of the same as far as I’m concerned.
4. Howard Johnson maybe, but he was hired to be the hitting coach, and if the team isn’t hitting in key spots, doesn’t he need to get part of the blame? So, why reward him for ineffectiveness.
5. Ken Oberkfell don’t know him, nor his managing style, but are we hoping to catch another Davy Johnson, ‘86 time capsule?
Or maybe we need to look at what maybe available, since we are at the bottom of the league in homeruns, and average with runners in scoring position.
On a positive note, thank goodness for;
1. Ryan Church
2. Brian Schneider
3. Billy Wagner
4 Joe Smith
5. John Maine
6. Johan Santana (?)
So, what should we do?
I was recently reading a report that said that if the Rockies continue to fall out of the play-off race, then maybe at the trading deadline Holiday can become available. Especially, after next season he becomes a free agent and he will be paid really well, especially since his agent is Scott Boras. Do we make a trade for the OF, or do we bring someone up from the minors?
Taitis is here, have him play 1st base for production.
Mike Carp is doing real well with the B’Mets.
Rubin Tajada seems to be playing a pretty good 2nd base for the B’Mets as well.
We go onto this weekend series with the Yankees stung, and we have had our scabs reopened, but if we have a very good series against the Yankees like take 2 of 3 in Yankee land, us Met fans could be a little bit more optimistic, but on the other hand we lose 2 of 3 we may want more than Randolph, we may want Miniya too. For giving extra years on contract of a superstar who’s star is fading. Like Degado, Martinez, and maybe just a bad contract to Castillo, when we had Gotay, and he could hit and run.
So, Met fans its not the end of the world yet, but the signs are point south. Have hope, and faith, but for me not being in the playoffs at seasons end isn’t one of them.
Hey Willie for you it seems like everything is “overrated”
How about wining is it overrated too???
Willie’s act has gotten old. He knows how to talk the talk, but he hasn’t shown he can walk the walk.
The state of the Mets isn’t totally his fault. Omar deserves his share of the blame, as do the players. But at some point you have to say “The Buck Stops Here!”
It’s time for this team to start winning or Willie needs to go.
Please Willie, he’s making it sound like he won’t be able to put food on the table if he is fired. The fact of the matter in this whole thing is Willie should never have been hired to manage this team in the first place.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
shakespeare…wow…gold star for you
is this a joke? i’m sure the randolph family will have food on the table when he still gets paid every dime he is owed. after all he isn’t feeling the pinch of exploding ticket prices.
now i personally want him gone. that sort of arrogance can’t be conducive to leading a group of even richer, impressionable young men.