By BART HUBBUCH in Anaheim, Calif., and DAVID K. LI in New York
Last updated: 7:36 pm
June 27, 2008
Posted: 4:17 am
June 18, 2008
The Mets callously dumped manager Willie Randolph yesterday - sparking chaos within the club and forcing the front office to explain to shocked fans why he was fired so abruptly.
Randolph had just led his team to a victory over the Los Angeles Angels when General Manager Omar Minaya - who had flown into Anaheim under the radar - called him into his hotel suite and pink-slipped him just before 3:15 a.m. New York time.
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Later in the afternoon - before the Mets, under new manager Jerry Manuel, were hammered 6-1 by the Angels - a fatigued Minaya explained how Randolph, a beloved Brooklyn native who starred as a World Series second baseman for the Yankees, could be dumped in such bush-league manner.
"I know the perception is that the way it was handled, it was disrespectful - maybe," Minaya admitted at Angels Stadium. "The reason it was handled quickly is out of respect for Willie."
Minaya, obviously weary from the cross-country flight and emotional toll of the events, continually babbled that Randolph's ouster was a "tough decision" and "my decision."
After the Mets and Texas Rangers played a grueling doubleheader at Shea Stadium on Sunday, Minaya said he met with Randolph, 53, privately and hinted the ax was being sharpened.
"Willie said to me 'OK, look, let's just get this done. I need to know, the sooner the better,' " Minaya said. "And the sooner the better was last night.
"I looked at him straight in the eye and said, 'Willie, as I told you yesterday [Sunday night], I'm going to have to make a decision and I've made a decision,' " Minaya added.
