Chapter 22: Changing of the Guard

All right, now that the political season is effectively over, on to more important things: baseball. Willie Randolph is going to be named the new Mets manager today, and I think it's about time. The guy was known to be a smart baseball man when he was a player. If my recollection is correct, Baseball Digest predicted back in the 1980s that he would be a manager. So why has it taken so long?



I have no idea. I'd hate to think it was because he is black, but it wouldn't be the first time that's happened. The man proved he can play in New York. He's been criticised after big games as a third base coach for sending guys home where they got nailed by 10 feet and he weathered those storms. He'll be harangued as Mets manager when the media thinks he's made poor decisions. That's part of the job.



The only thing I've heard against him from Mets fans is that he's a Yankee. I understand that, but so was Casey Stengel when the Mets were created and Mets fans loved him. So was Dallas Green when he became Mets manager, and he wasn't run out of town for that. (He was run out for other reasons, but it wasn't because he had been a Yankees manager.) And Yankee fans got over Joe Torre having begun his managerial career with the Mets. I think Met fans will get over Randolph's pedigree. What matters is that he develops a winning team. He's got that history, so I believe he'll achieve that as manager. Good luck, Willie. Now go out and make them win.