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Associated Press:
Mets fire Randolph; Manuel to lead team in interim — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Willie Randolph is out as manager of the New York Mets, fired in the middle of the night 2½ months into a disappointing season that has followed the team's colossal collapse last September.
Discussion:
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Matthew Cerrone / MetsBlog.com:
Opinion: I Feel Dirty — As a Mets fan, I'm embarrassed this morning, and I feel a little dirty. — I understand why Willie Randolph was fired. In fact, due to the time I spend talking to people connected to the team, I am probably aware of why he was fired better than most people.
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets fire Willie Randolph — ANAHEIM - The Mets have fired manager Willie Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto, the team announced shortly after 3 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday. — Bench coach Jerry Manuel has been named the team's interim manager …
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets name Manuel interim manager — Randolph, two coaches let go after win over Angels — ANAHEIM — What took months to develop and weeks to transpire has now become official. The Mets dismissed Willie Randolph and two coaches early Tuesday morning, bringing an abrupt end to the speculation that had enveloped the team all month.
ESPN:
Randolph victim of Mets' circus — The personnel meetings the Mets hold are said by participants to run on for hours, the discussion often turning circular and pointless. And maybe that's when it starts to happen in their organization when they get to the point where the staff members …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Mets Fire Manager Willie Randolph — ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Mets announced early Tuesday morning that they have fired Willie Randolph and replaced him with the bench coach Jerry Manuel. They also fired two of Randolph's coaches, the pitching coach Rick Peterson and the first-base coach Tom Nieto …
Discussion:
Bats, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Deadspin, Baseball Time in Arlington, Faith and Fear in Flushing, Walkoff Walk and iYankees
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Mets' handling of Willie cowardly — Cowards. — That's what the Mets upper management has become. Huge cowards who care more about appearance, public relations and their own personal reputations than the performance of their team. — Fire your manager via a mass e-mail to the media at 3:11 a.m.?
Mike Vaccaro / New York Post:
MIDNIGHT MASSACRE AN AMAZIN' ACT OF COWARDICE — The e-mail was time-stamped 3:14 a.m., Eastern time. In a simpler time, in a different world, maybe the Mets would have succeeded completely in this cowardly purge of their baseball team. Maybe then they would have been able to hold off …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, FanHouse, Hardball, New Jersey Online, Ketchup On Your Ice Cream, YFSF, NY Daily News and Blastings! Thrilledge
William C. Rhoden / New York Times:
After Months of Wavering, Resolution — Hurry, hurry. Step right up. See the saddest show in town. — The stunning news came a little after midnight Pacific time: Willie Randolph, the Mets' 18th manager, had been fired. After months of guessing, of engineering winning streaks and losing streaks, the deed was finally done.
Ted Berg / SNY.tv:
Manuel focus — New skipper deemed ‘fearless’ in Chicago stint — Willie Randolph has been sacked. — Long live Willie Randolph! — It seems like Omar Minaya arrived late to the party, something that has been happening all too frequently. And Omar doesn't just roll in fashionably late …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Mets sign, seal, deliver win for Pelfrey
Mets sign, seal, deliver win for Pelfrey
Discussion:
You can't script baseball
Sergio / New York Post:
A LOOK AT THE NEW GUYS — 54-YEAR-OLD MANUEL TAKES OVER FOR RANDOLPH
A LOOK AT THE NEW GUYS — 54-YEAR-OLD MANUEL TAKES OVER FOR RANDOLPH
Discussion:
NY Daily News
Associated Press:
Hank Steinbrenner Blames N.L. Rules — The Yankees' loss of their ace, Chien-Ming Wang, for up to 10 weeks prompted the team co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner to chastise the National League for playing without a designated hitter. — “My only message is simple,” Steinbrenner said in Tampa …
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Willie Bans / MLB.com:
Cashman looks in-house to help staff — Yankees GM sees Giese as potential replacement for Wang — NEW YORK — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he will look within the organization to find a starter to replace injured right-hander Chien-Ming Wang.
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Bombers Beat
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Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Ricky Nolasco joins Pirate as NL Player of Week — SEATTLE - Ricky Nolasco didn't record that elusive complete game, but his 8 2/3-inning win at Tampa on Sunday was enough to garner co- National League Player of the Week honors. — Nolasco, who is sharing the award with Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit …
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
A-Rod & Pete Rose are text pals! — Alex Rodriguez, needy superstar, wanted another baseball mentor. Pete Rose, hit king and pariah, needed a baseball outlet and a path to baseball legitimacy. Through the magic of text-messaging, the game's best active player and its all-time hit leader/controversy magnet have become e-confidantes.
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Joshua Robinson / New York Times:
A Knuckleballer Is Waiting to Rise — PAWTUCKET, R.I. — Six years after throwing his first knuckleball as a professional — the first of several to hit a batter in the head — Charlie Zink has come to terms with his rare and maddening skill. He accepts that all he can do is aim at his catcher's face mask …
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