By this time you should know the Brewers hired former Mets manager Willie Randolph as bench coach on Saturday.

Said Randolph: “I’m excited, looking forward to this next challenge and getting to work. I love teaching and I’m passionate about being in the game. … Eventually, I do want to get back to managing. I didn’t really want to wait around. … I thought it was best to make this move.

The Mets were 302-253 (.544) under Randolph, second to Davey Johnson in club history.

With the turnover in managers and Randolph’s numbers, there’s no doubt he’ll get another chance.

Posted under New York Mets

Such promise back then in 2004 when the Mets named Yankees coach Willie Randolph as their new manager. Coincidentally, on this day in 2004 the Phillies hired Charlie Manuel as their manager.

Can an argument be made the Mets acted too hastily with Randolph?

Randolph seemed destined for the Milwaukee job, but that went to Ken Macha. Randolph turned down an offer to coach in Washington under Manny Acta, which probably was a good thing. There could be other jobs.

Posted under New York Mets

Good evening. A lot going on today kept me away from the blog. We have a few items to touch on before we get to Garza vs. Moyer.

-Willie Randolph turned down the Washington Nationals to be a coach. He must have a good feeling about either the Milwaukee or Seattle jobs. He’ll land somewhere.

-The Phillies are feeling a bit miffed because their complete rosters weren’t introduced. They weren’t because MLB and the network, that would be FOX, couldn’t have the time to squeeze that in. Actually, that’s part of the World Series TV experience I enjoy.

Posted under New York Mets

Greetings to all my friends on the West Coast. During the season I’ll call this post “Mets after Midnight.” I had this post before and will do my best to keep it going as to get a dialogue going with you guys two and three time zones away.

I have a good feeling about this World Series. Not so much in the winner, but in that it will be a compelling Series. How did the Phillies leave as many guys on base as they did and still win? Oh yeah, the Rays left a bunch, too.

As far as the Mets go, Mets.Com wrote today that HoJo will be back as hitting coach. That’s not the impression a lot of us had after the season when the Mets were whining about their situational hitting.

Willie Randolph will interview with Milwaukee. Doug Melvin, Milwaukee GM, was once in the Yankee farm system. He knows Willie well. Wouldn’t be surprising if he got the job.

If you don’t want to talk about the game or the Mets’ coaching, don’t worry. This is the message board for you night owls and those on the Coast. And, I’ll answer your questions and address your comments in the morning.

Posted under New York Mets

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on its website today Willie Randolph will interview for the Milwaukee Brewers’ vacant managerial position.

I’m guessing a key interview question would be what responsibility in takes for the 2007 collapse and what he learned.

Randolph has to come out and say the experience taught him to lighten up. It’s no crime to be tense. I always liked Willie, but he kept reporters at arm’s length. That’s OK, most managers do, but Randolph had this sense of being persecuted which wasn’t true.

I think Randolph deserves another chance. He has a winning record that warrants it. I hope he gets the job, and this time I hope he enjoys it.

Posted under New York Mets

Rebuffed once before, Willie Randolph is one of the leading contenders for the vacant Milwaukee Brewers’ managerial position. Evidently, the Brewers place more weight on Randolph’s career winning percentage of .544 (302-253), which is the second highest in franchise history.

Randolph interviewed for the Brewers’ job in 2000 eventually going to Davey Lopes, now a Phillies’ coach.

Given a proper bullpen, I believe Randolph eventually would have been able to win with the Mets. He deserves a second chance.

Posted under New York Mets

On Monday evenings at 7, I will host a Mets Chat Room, where we can talk all things Mets.

Let’s see, there’s who among the Mets’ free agents they should retain, and who out there they should throw money at. … Willie Randolph, once rejected by Milwaukee, is a candidate. … Five days after the Series they must decide on Carlos Delgado.

And, of course, we will preview the World Series.

So, there’s a lot to discuss. I hope you’ll join me tonight and every Monday at 7 during the off-season.

Thanks, JD.

Posted under New York Mets

Joe Torre’s Dodgers trying to stay alive tonight in LA. Torre was roasted for his handling of the bullpen in Game 4, in particular, for not bringing in his closer early in what amounted to a do-or-die game.

Willie Randolph has surfaced the past couple of days. He says he wants to manage again. And, from what I hear, Tony Bernazard is still in it for the GM job in Seattle.

Posted under Talkin Baseball

Former Mets manager Willie Randolph told the New York Post he wants to manage again, but said he’s open to a return to coaching with the Yankees. He’s owed $2.25 million from the Mets.

Said Randolph: “I don’t get a sense much will open up. … Seattle is expected to open after they hire a GM and there is a chance the Brewers will have a vacancy. I will keep an eye on managing. To go back to the field as a bench coach or third-base coach is an option to explore. Let’s wait and see.”

Should Tony Bernazard get the Seattle job, that’s not going to work out for Willie.

I hope Randolph gets another job, but for that to happen, he’ll have to admit he made some mistakes and learned something with the Mets. That’s something he hasn’t done.

Posted under New York Mets

The Mets will announce a contract extension today for general manager Omar Minaya to run through the 2012 season. His current contract runs through 2009.

After Minaya’s deal is announced, the Mets will focus on an extension for manager Jerry Manuel who replaced Willie Randolph, June 17.

Minaya said he took responsibility for the Randolph administration, and although the firing was clumsy, he should receive kudos for making the move when it would have been easy to stay put and hope for the turnaround.

Manuel has the player’s endorsement. Said Carlos Beltran: “I believe he should be back. He’s a great man and he did everything possible.’’

Posted under New York Mets