Start packing Willie

Remember to check out our homepage my team rivals,as well as our NY Giants coverage!

The New York Mets extended their losing streak to five last night as they lost in thirteen innings to the Colorado Rockies, 6-5.

Billy Wager, the same Billy Wagner who routinely bashes teammates in the media, blew his second save of the season. Aaron Heilman gave up the winning run. But these are footnotes. The real story is the fact that this may very well be the final days as Mets manager for Willie Randolph.

GM Omar Minaya decided to make the trip; "Our team is not playing well," Minaya said, explaining his visit after a four-game sweep by the Braves dropped the Mets under .500. "Sometimes as a general manager you have to see how the team is playing. This is one of those situations where you always leave open the possibility of visiting the team and seeing the team." Sure. Could it be that you were sent there by Mets ownership to fire Willie on the road?

The sad thing in all of this is how the Mets players didn't step it up for their manager against a weak team like the Rockies.There are certain times when a team has to say "tonight we WILL win no matter what." Obviously, the Mets seem not to have players that feel that way.

While I have been critical at times of Willie Randolph's managerial style and decisions, I also feel he has had to deal with the hand dealt to him by Omar Minaya. Who can say that Minaya has built Willie a Championship quality team? If, or when, Willie goes, does the attention then shift to Omar Minaya? It has to. This debacle is not all Willie Randolph's fault.

If Willie gets fired, who will replace him? It doesn't make sense to can him just for the sake of doing so. There has to be a plan in place to make this Mets team better. In my opinion, that doesn't just involve Willie, but also Minaya and several of the Mets players. This team is too old, too injury prone, too poorly schooled in the fundamentals of the game, and frankly, too lacking when it comes to heart and hustle. At least it appears that way to me.

Truth is, for the New York Mets, there is no quick fix. While firing Willie Randolph might make some people feel better, don't expect that move alone to change the Mets fortunes.