It's all Nieto's fault

Reader Jonathon Neff e-mailed me a pretty hilarious article by Howard Megdal, blaming Tom Nieto for everything that has gone wrong with the Mets. Here's my favorite part:

Most inexcusable is Nieto's shackling of would-be base stealer Ramon Castro, an extra weapon who could have made the difference in New York's one-run losses. The deceptively fast catcher reached base at a .336 clip in 2007 and a .356 rate in 2008, but how many steals did he have to show for it? Zero. Considering his five thefts in 10 attempts for the 1994 Gulf Coast League Astros, as well as his steal in 2005, clearly talent isn't what kept Castro from utilizing his speed. But a quick look at Nieto's playing record, with his 251 games, 619 at-bats and zero stolen bases make it clear that "If I Couldn't Read the Pitcher's Move, No Catcher Can" Nieto simply didn't recognize that the fleet-footed Castro was a double waiting to happen.

Forget Canada, blame Tom Nieto!

And to think I "broke" the news of Neito's move to first.

3:11 a.m.!?!? It makes perfect sense to me

You probably think this is one of those posts blasting Omar Minaya for firing Willie Randolph at some ridiculous hour.

Not so.

The word came out at roughly 3:11 a.m. that Randolph had been fired as manager of the Mets. If you take a step back from your emotions and look at the simple breakdown of the time frame, it makes perfect sense.

The game was slated for a 10:05 p.m. start, Eastern standard time. The game took approximately three hours and ten minutes.

That puts us at 1:15 a.m. EST. The post game locker room shuffle, with the usual talk with reporters probably takes somewhere from 20 to 35 minutes. Allow time for the man to change, and get on the bus to head back to the hotel, probably somewhere around 2 or 2:15 a.m. EST.

By the time they get back from the stadium, a meeting where the actual deed is done must commence. Let's say that meeting started somewhere around 2:45 a.m. EST. Don't forget that Minaya also had to meet with Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto to relieve them of their duties.

An estimate on how long the meeting with Willie Randolph would last, I would venture a guess at something near 10-15 minutes. By that time, the word is out. Give the PR staff a few minutes to do their job and bang out a release and send it through the appropriate channels, and by my watch, we land precisely at 3:11 a.m. EST.

Either way, because they're on the west coast, no story ever makes the papers the next day, not even a report of the game. Would you have rather had Minaya wait until morning, and fire Randolph over breakfast? The story still doesn't make the papers.

Either way, because they're on the west coast, any story from that night isn't going to hit the newsstands for another 24 hours.

My guess of the rundown of events (EST):

10:05 p.m.: First pitch from Jered Weaver to Jose Reyes.

1:15 a.m.: Game ends with Reyes turning an unassisted double play.

2:00 a.m.: Leave for hotel.

2:15 a.m.: Arrive at the hotel.

2:30 a.m.: First meeting is called.

2:32 a.m.: Nieto is relieved of his duties.

2:37 a.m.: Second meeting is called.

2:39 a.m.: Peterson is relieved of his duties.

2:50 a.m.: Third meeting is called.

2:54 a.m.: Randolph is fired.

3:10 a.m.: Word hits the wires.

Sounds about right to me.

Mets fire Willie Randolph

A day that has long been coming, is finally upon us. Willie Randolph has been fired as the head coach of the New York Mets.

Among the other firings, Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto were also fired.

Jerry Manuel has been named the interim head coach. Also, Ken Oberkfell, Luis Aguayo and Dan Warthen have been added to the coaching staff.

Obkerfell was the New Orleans manager, Aguayo was the Mets field coordinator, and Warthen was the AAA pitching coach.

I'm half-relieved the tip-toeing and dance is over. The rest of me is now worried for the future and uncertainty that lies ahead.

[The Daily News has a photo gallery of Willie's tenure as manager]

Early Morning Madness: Happy trails, Willie

I had an entirely different post thought up, but here it goes...

Anyone in their right mind knows the Mets completely botched the handling of Willie Randolph. Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto, as well.

There's no refuting it and it's almost practically a fact. There's nothing more to say on this matter more than "it's over."

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Howard Johnson must be thanking his lucky stars right now that he's still employed.

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I wonder if Gary Carter has made any phone calls this morning.

I think he shot himself in the foot with what happened. I don't think it's a bad thing, what he did, but it was blown completely out of proportion.

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Good luck, Jerry Manuel. Maybe you can just stick around for a while.

Present and accounted for...sir!

Though rumors are still flying that one, some or all coaches might be gone by weeks end, all of the current staff is at the ballpark in California.

Tom Nieto was the man closest to the ax as of late. Yes, because people believe the first base coach is the real problem here.

Early Morning Madness: Seesaw and firings edition

What must it be like to be Robinson Cancel?

You haven't gotten a hit in nine years. You've only tallied eight hits in the majors. You only have five RBI.

Then Sunday afternoon rolls along and you single up the middle, driving in two runs that turn out to be the game winners. With two strikes, nonetheless.

Pretty nice fathers day, right?

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Rumor is that instead of Willie Randolph being the first one to go, it seem that Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto might be the first to be shown the door.

Nieto, I'm completely indifferent to. I don't think he really adds much to the team, but I can't see him detracting much either. The Mets won't be better or worse off either way.

With Peterson though, I think the Mets are making a mistake. With Peterson gone, I think that Oliver Perez will completely unhinge, experimenting with crazy arm angles and pitching mechanics.

If these firings do take place, the staff from AAA would likely get a promotion to the bigs.

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The Mets could be dealing with their manager almost being fired two different ways. On one hand, they could be handling it by not paying it any attention, just going out there and playing as usual. On the flip side, they could be motivated to try and save their manager's job by going out there and giving it 110%.

I'm not calling out players for not hustling or something like that, it's just a different mentality that the player might be putting himself into.

Either way, does it seem to be working?