Willie Randolph Reflects on His Mets Dismissal

Former Mets manager Willie Randolph expressed disbelief at his firing in 2008, and it seems those feelings haven’t faded away over the years. “I stayed awake at night thinking about it, really,” Randolph, now 71, shared in a recent appearance. “I’ve given this a lot of thought, and even now, I still don’t fully understand why it happened, especially after finding some success in this role.”

He continued by acknowledging the challenges that come with managing in the MLB. “I get that it’s a tough game for everyone,” he stated. “For me, the hardest part was feeling like I couldn’t grow and improve as a manager. Making mistakes is part of learning, right?”

Randolph, who made a name for himself as a five-time All-Star with the Yankees, took the helm of the Mets in 2005. “Being a Met fan growing up here, it felt surreal to finally get the chance after so many years of toil,” he remarked.

In his first season, Randolph led the Mets to an 83-79 record, which was a promising turn after a long stretch below .500. The following year was even brighter, as the team clinched the NL East with a 97-65 record, eventually falling to the Cardinals in a tough NLCS.

However, the good times didn’t last long. The 2007 season saw the Mets poised for another postseason run, but they unceremoniously collapsed, eliminating themselves in a dramatic September fall. Randolph’s tenure faced its end in 2008, marked by a 34-35 start.

After his dismissal, he interviewed for the Brewers’ managerial position in 2009 and then joined the Orioles’ staff under Buck Showalter two years later. Reflecting on his journey, he remarked, “Honestly, it still stings a little. I hoped my experience might inspire more Black Americans to break through in these roles.” He concluded, feeling that he had amassed enough experience to deserve another shot at success in the game.