Note: Randolph on Perception last Friday
For what it’s worth, Ian O’Conner’s column in the Bergen Record is not the first time Willie Randolph took a shot how he is portrayed on television.
On Friday, May 16, while talking to WFAN, Randolph said:
“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 of me, that’s 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, DO-ING NOTH-ING. 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, the perception that is out there is unbelievable.”
…obviously, i would expect people at SNY and the Mets to be upset with these remarks, as well as with the comments he made to o’conner…what i can’t understand is why he thinks it is smart to a) blame the media, which is always the easiest scapegoat, and which will only come back to bite you, but b) to blame the media outlet that is owned by the same people who pay his salary…
…i do not assume to know who is right in this situation and who is wrong…that said, he made this assertion twice, once on friday to WFAN and once on sunday to o’conner, so he clearly believes it…so, true or not, it’s the idea he subscribes to and it clearly suggests he is paranoid and growing more defensive than he normally is…and that helps nobody…
…what’s worse, tomorrow’s newspapers will likely be flooded with this story line again, which means it will still be on talk radio, and willie will likely have to discuss it again prior to tomorrow’s game…
…i could care less, either way…i just want the team to win…
…if there is a silver lining, it could be that while the media and willie are getting it on, the players are free to just play baseball and not be bothered…
