There was also a report that Tony Bernazard is talking Minaya out of getting Kevin Millar because Millar was a replacement player 14 YEARS AGO! Are we serious here? I am beginning to believe that the real problem with the Mets lies with Fred and his special boy Jeffy. Both seem to be clueless on how to run an organization.

Continued gaffes not helping Randolph’s cause
By Ken Rosenthal

Updated: June 12, 2008, 10:25 AM EST

Even on a night when the Mets won, manager Willie Randolph lost.
Randolph made two more decisions Wednesday night that drew scrutiny from Mets management, according to major-league sources.

The decision on whether to fire Randolph rests with general manager Omar Minaya, and his status has become almost day-to-day, sources say.

The Mets chose to retain Randolph during a meeting on May 26 in which he met with Minaya, owner Fred Wilpon and his son, Jeff, the team’s chief operating officer.

Since then, the team is 8-8, and it had lost five straight games before defeating the Diamondbacks 5-3 on Carlos Beltran’s two-run walk-off homer in the 13th inning Wednesday night.

The Mets had taken a 3-0 lead into the ninth, but the Diamondbacks tied the score on a three-run homer by Mark Reynolds off closer Billy Wagner on a 3-2 count with two outs.

For Randolph, that was the fateful inning.

First, he allowed second-year right-hander Mike Pelfrey to start the ninth after Pelfrey had thrown 110 pitches.

Then, after a leadoff single by Stephen Drew, Randolph summoned Wagner, even though statistics suggest that Wagner is far better starting an inning than when summoned in the middle.

Since the start of 2007, Wagner has entered games 84 times at the start of an inning, but only seven times in the middle.

He is 44-for-50 in save opportunities when starting an inning, according to STATS, Inc. His ERA in those situations is 2.05 ERA, and he has allowed six homers in 88 innings.

When entering in the middle of an inning, Wagner is 3-for-6 in save chances. His ERA is 7.11, and he has allowed three homers in 6 1/3 innings.

Those statistics do not excuse Wagner for allowing the three-run homer by Reynolds. But Randolph’s choice of Wagner in the middle of an inning — combined with his decision to start Pelfrey in the ninth — left him open to second-guessing.

According to the New York Daily News, Randolph apparently was prepared to pull Pelfrey for a pinch-hitter in the eighth, but the pitcher talked him out of it.

“I started to go up there to hit, and they told me I was done,” Pelfrey said. “I was kind of mad at the time because I wanted to stay in the game and I wanted to keep pitching. He came up to me and said, ‘You want this?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I want it.’”

Pelfrey had not pitched into the ninth in any of his 28 previous career starts, and had worked at least seven innings only three times. Randolph could have lifted him after the eighth, or even the seventh, and Pelfrey still would have had reason to be happy with his outing.

Instead, Pelfrey allowed the leadoff single to Drew, and the inning crumbled. The Mets rebounded, but Randolph remains an issue, as does management’s indecisiveness on his status.

“The players have the look of, ‘Hurry up, let’s get this over with. If you’re going to fire him, fire him,’” says one rival scout who saw the Mets this week.

“There’s not the desire to save the guy’s job. They realize the guy is going to go. It’s like, ‘Hurry up, let’s turn the page.”

Last night killed me…

I’m still emotionally drained from last night. I feel so bad for Mike Pelfrey who came within a heartbeat of Mets immortality. I guess you could say I just wrote an ode to “what could have been” this morning on my own blog.

Despite DWs issues with RH he is 10th in RBI and is on pace to match his #s from the past 2 yrs accept BA.

He is struggling w/the slider. he should hit a few first pitch FB. That will keep the picthers more honest about throwing one down the middle on the first pitch.

The last time Wright’s BA was over .300 was on April 23.

And, finally, you shouldn’t be comparing 25-yr-olds with their career averages: They’re still in the process of establishing themselves, still on that upward career arc. If anything, they should be looking to surpass career averages until about age 30.

He, DW, and Reyes are not the problem. No production out of 5,6 holes w/Alou and Church out is the problem.

If 06 #s are not good enough I don’t know what to tell you.

on changing managers…...the mets FO looked back to see if there was actually evidence that changing managers made a difference…..statistically it does not.

Get over that Willie played for the Yankees (if that is your beef)...

on Pelf…...it finally looks like he is not afraid to throw the ball over the plate….hope it continues and the Mets find a way to get him some wins…he could be 5-5 right now.

Nobody is perfect…..but his timing this week has been bad.

His last 2 outings his slider has been flat and his FB command has been poor. It won’t last.

You know the Mets have problems when your spouse starts going Metrodomus on you about how they are doomed when they have an early lead.

Besides the gas prices, I didnt even want to go San Diego last weekend because I thought they would loose.

I will never give up on the Mets. I still think something is going to click for them soon probably after the ASB. I certainly do not go out of my way to listen to them on the radio.

By the way if anyone watched COX 96 can relate when I say Tony Gwynn and the other guy are the most boring baseball announcers I have ever heard. Poor Tony, what a nice guy (man has he put on the weight).. but the two of them make baseball hurt to watch. No wonder why no one goes to the San Diego games. This whole series made me really appreciate the three stooges that the Mets have calling their games.

We also get the Angels games here for from FSN (which hopefully they will be showing those Met games)..Lets just says those announcers are not much better. It’s a good thing those Angels a playing well.

Finally we get Dodger baseball. I forgot that dudes name but he really needs a sidekick..It’s almost like listening to golf..”I did not think anyone even watched golf anymore.” But that guy talks and talks and talks..it’s exhausting just to listen.. Don’t get me wrong he pulls out the strangest baseball facts about a player I ever heard. Without these random facts about each player, this dude would seriously be hurting. Props to who digs those up. After watching a Dodger game I feel like I have a Doctorate in the 20th Century History of Baseball.

That being said… Wagner is still a dumb redneck… and he owes Pelfrey his fricking soul for blowing that game tonight….

I bet you were on the debating team in college. I am wasting time arguing with you.