There are rumors that Willie Randolph and the Mets front office are at odds. They feel that he did not perform that greatly, that anyone could have took the NL East last year. Now that the Mets are not playing with a sense of urgency, Willie is being set up as the fall guy.
Yes the Mets have slumped hard this year, back in June and then the last month losing 7 to Philly. Could the manager have changed it?
Probably not. A manager makes on the field decisions, and while some people question some of Willie's tactics, a manager does not win games, the players do. Sure the law of probability and statistics say that if Willie pinch hit for XX here with YY and brought in Wagner in the 8th instead of Mota, maybe the Mets would have won this game or that game. An article published in the Wall Street Journal last year said that the manager is responsible statistically for maybe 5-10 games a year. The Mets woes are not nearly that bad.
Willie came to the Mets in 2005 and broke even. In 2006 the Mets won the NL East and it looks like the Mets will win the NL East in 2007 as well. Here are his stats. I say stop making him a scapegoat and let him manage the team.
Regular Season: 267-212
Postseason: 6-4
Experience: 3 years
Posted by Steve in New York