Tick Tick Tick Boom

The Mets aren't exactly wowing the public right now, on the field or in damage control. And the deeper that they dig themselves in both respects seems bound to make it a race to which one will wind up causing Willie Randolph be ousted.

I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but it's becoming more and more a prominent subject. What do the Wilpon's like less - a mediocre team costing them a championship pricetag or bad publicity? Right now they've got a chance to roll both tastes around in their mouth.

Take today for example. Off the field Randolph tried to defuse comments he made to The Record's Ian O'Connor in Monday's paper and it wasn't exactly convincing. Talking about the perception of him, he sniped at the Wilpon-owned SNY Network for their camera angles on him and then blamed a subtle racism for the way he is depicted.

Then he gave this explanation:

"I think I mentioned to him about feeling almost racial or whatever, but that was pretty much kind of a tongue in cheek kind of reaction to what I’ve been feeling," he said. "Not that anybody is racist, or this is racist or racial, I’ve known Ian a long time, we were just kind of chit-chatting and talking or whatever. But the wilpons hired me because – not because I’m black – because they can feel like I can do a good job for them. They trusted this team to me and they hired me because they feel like I can do the job not the color of my skin.

"Aagin, it’s been a lot of negative stuff going around here and I’ve been feeling some of that. Again, I was just expressing how I felt at the time, but it wasn’t anything to do with race and I wasn’t trying to bring race into it. I was just talking to an old friend and obviously I probably should have thought more about what I was getting ready to say. I don’t think it’s about race. It’s about winning ballgames, it’s about getting to the way we’re capable of playing and winning."

And on SNY?

"I mean, these guys get paid to do their job and sometimes they’re critical and that’s part of what they do. But, no I’m not necessarily upset with anyone. Obviously if I’m sitting around having a sandwich watching TV at home I’ll flip on our network if I want to find out what’s going on or check on the programming or something like that. But I understand that’s what they do, that’s part of the job of what they get paid to do, so no I’m not necessariy upset with anyone. It’s just there’s so much perception out there about me, that sometimes when you hear it or see it, you kind of shake your head a little bit, well that’s not really me. that’s part of what they do.

"That’s really not an issue. A lot of times when something happens negative they show me, but there’s other things I do that are not shown. It’s not a big issue. I mean, like I said, I can express myself, just like everyone else does. It’s nothing more than saying what I feel. Having said that this is about just winning ballgames and playing baseball, moving forward in the season, a blip into what everyone talks about every day. my main concern is winning games."

He continued on the racism charges: "We live in this country. Race is an issue in this country. Let’s not fool ourselves here. did I say it was racist or a racial issue? No. I just made a comment, almost tongue in cheek or whatever. But let’s get real. We live in a country where racism exists."

But as we said, maybe some of this goes away if the product on the field is performing. Right now as I type this the Mets are losing 6-1 to the Braves and Tom Glavine retired 17 straight Mets at one point.

Does it seem hot in here to anyone else?

Comments

[tom]

Mike Piazza just announced his retirement, perhaps we have found Willie's replacemnt once he finally puts in his foot in his mouth for good.

[ben]

Willie shouldn't have said this. Or at least take positive attitude when it comes to racial relations in this country. This is New Jersey/New York area, not Alabama and Willie should not make excuses for the real reason some fans don't like him: he is a average in-game manager and they haven't won a world series yet. When and if they accomplish that with Willie as the manager, he will never have to worry about racism and hatred, as far as from the fans, in baseball again.

[GravediggerHebner]

I'm going to tiptoe gently past the race issue and straight into the paranoia issue. Willie suggesting that SNY only shows him when something negative happens is absurd. I watch every minute of every game I can and I see him talking with coaches and players, and clapping and patting guys on the butt when good things happen. I really don't know what he's talking about on that topic.

With his recent remarks, it almost seems as if he wants to be fired.