Randolph Survives Historic Collapse
Despite the Mets' late-season collapse, Willie Randolph will hold on to his job.
Oct. 2, 2007 — -- The Mets' historic collapse won't cost manager Willie Randolph his job.
Mets general manager Omar Minaya announced at a news conference Tuesday that Randolph would return for the 2008 season.
"After thinking about this, I have decided that Willie should continue to manage our club," Minaya told reporters, according to Newsday. "As the GM, it was my decision to make."
Randolph thanked Minaya for the vote of confidence and reflected on the Mets' collapse.
"It's been a tough couple days for me," Randolph said, according to Newsday. "The way the season ended was unacceptable, and as manager of the ballclub, I take full responsibility for not getting it done."
The Mets manager said he wasn't thinking about his future with the team past 2008.
"I'm not concerned about my security. I came here to help this team win a championship. I'm a New Yorker, I'm passionate and I live and die with this team every day. I'm here to win, that's all of my focus," he said, according to Newsday.
New York went 5-12 down the stretch in one of the most stunning and colossal collapses in baseball history.
"We blew it," Carlos Delgado said Monday as several Mets packed up for the winter.
An 8-1 loss to Florida in the season finale Sunday -- with Tom Glavine getting chased after just one out -- allowed the Phillies to win the division title by a game when they beat Washington.
The talented Mets were left out of the playoffs, making them the first major league team that failed to finish in first place after owning a lead of seven games or more with 17 remaining. New York, which had that margin on Sept. 12, also matched the largest lead blown in September.
"It still doesn't feel like the season is over. It feels like we should be playing today, but we didn't make it," pitcher John Maine said.
In a town where the Mets often struggle to take headlines away from the crosstown Yankees, the not-so-Amazin's owned the tabloids Monday -- for all the wrong reasons.
The back page of the New York Post blared: "CHOKED TO DEATH." The front page of the Daily News read: "FROM CHAMPS TO CHUMPS."
