Randolph, coaches could be on the way out in Queens

[Lil Bit Special]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/06/13/heyman.randolphupdate/index.html

Willie Randolph's status as Mets manager is extremely tenuous now. General manager Omar Minaya is seriously considering changing managers and at least a couple of the team's coaches, sources told SI.com.

A Mets official indicated that nothing was expected to be decided today regarding Randolph's status. But that doesn't preclude something from happening later this weekend. Sources indicate his hold on the job is shaky, at best.

Should Randolph be fired, bench coach Jerry Manuel will take over, sources told SI.com.

Minaya and other club higher-ups met Thursday to discuss the deteriorating fortunes of the team and what can be done about it. Minaya is considered extremely loyal by co-workers and has been Randolph's strongest supporter for weeks. As one Mets person put it, "Willie's his guy.''

However, Randolph's detractors have become more vocal in recent days, and there seems to be a general feeling that something major needs to be done to reinvigorate the club, which trails the first-place Phillies by 7 1/2 games and has lost lost six of seven after a brief surge.

Mets people believe they can't start completely anew and would prefer to at least employ someone who's witnessed the first portion of the schedule up close. Manuel, a former Manager of the Year with the White Sox, would be given the rest of the season to turn things around.

Minaya is also weighing other changes, which could include removing hitting coach Howard Johnson and pitching coach Rick Peterson, sources indicate. Some organization people believe sweeping changes must be tried.

Triple-A New Orleans pitching coach Dan Warthen would be a candidate to take over for Peterson.

Randolph's contract runs through 2009 and calls for him to be paid $2 million this year and $2.25 million next year.

Foxsports.com reported yesterday that Randolph's status was "day-to-day."

[Lil Bit Special]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spwillie0614,0,3674850.story

A source confirms Mets manager Willie Randolph has until the end of this weekend's series against Texas to turn the team around. (Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan)

Willie Randolph doesn't have much longer to save his job as Mets manager.

"He's got the weekend," a person familiar with the situation said.

The Mets, having lost six of their last seven games -- all of them in heartbreaking, nerve-wracking fashion -- are close to firing Randolph and replacing him with bench coach Jerry Manuel, Newsday has confirmed.

Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson and pitching coach Rick Peterson are both also in serious trouble. SI.com reported today that Mets general manager Omar Minaya was "seriously considering" the change at manager and coaches, while foxsports.com reported yesterday that Randolph's job status was "day-to-day."

The Texas Rangers will come to Shea Stadium tonight for a three-game series. It's not clear precisely how Randolph can save his job -- say, if two wins in the three games would keep him in the manager's office. But a poor weekend will likely result in the firing of Randolph.

The Mets are 31-34 today, residing in fourth place in the National League East, seven and a half games behind the division-leading Phillies. Despite the offseason acquisition of Johan Santana, who has pitched well for them, the Mets haven't been able to shake off the collapse with which they concluded the 2007 season, which put them out of the playoffs.