The New York Mets played with their usual haze and malaise in a 7-1 loss vs. Cardinals in St. Louis last night.  At least the beleagued patrons of Shea Stadium did not have to witness this first hand.  They could just exersize their option by using the remote.

The New York Yankees meanwhile had a lethargic 2-1 loss vs. the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium.  One run against the worst pitching staff in baseball.

Could these two baseball games be a by product of the Subway Series.  Carlos Beltran shared the familiar refrain after the 3-1 Mets victory on Sunday.  In paraphrasing, he noted that the these games between the intra-city rivals are big for the fans, but just another game for the players.  But are they really big for anyone anymore?

For the first time in years, I did not attend a Subway Series Game this year.  From what I observed, there was noticeably less "juice" in the respective stadiums than in years past .   I am generally not a fan of interleague play.  The natural rivalries like Mets vs. Yankees, the Chicago teams playing, the Freeway Series in Southern California and the Bay Area Series in Northern California make sense.

If there was not that usual "buzz," what was the reason.  Was it the general mediocrity of each of our local nines this season?  Is it since the 2000 Subway World Series, a regular season meeting could never live up to such a monumental event?  This has been my thought since attending the 2000 World Series at Shea Stadium.

Share with the Fox 5 Community your observations of Subway Series 2008.  If you atttended any of the six games, what did you think of the crowds and how they compared to that of crowds from 1997 hence.  Just want to hear from the New York baseball fan regarding the status of the Subway Series as a major New York event.  

I'm Glad i didn't watch last weekends Nascar Sprint Cup Race At  New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The main reason is there was more BLEEP between Kyle Busch and the other drivers on the track. i swear that kyle busch will not be happy until he is the only driver out there. I won't gointo what he did since he does it to almost all the drivers, almost every weekend. and since he prob will do it again next week, it would save me time.  I have to give credit to  Juan Pablo Montoya for taking hime out under caution, even though other racing fans and the others drivers don't think so. If i was put in his postion i would have done the same thing. if i was Mike Helton or any other Nascar Officals, i would have Kyle Busch surspended for a race or two.

The best news to come out of this race weekend, is that Mark Martin is going to make one last run at a Sprint Cup Championship with Rick Hendrick and the number 5 Car. I guess He got tired of the stupidness that goes on at DEI. Even if thats not the case, DEI sure are makeing alot of stupid moves. They are moveing Aric Almirola into the number 8 Car (which use to be Dale Jr's car) Full Time Next Year. This comes after it was said that they may stop running the 01 car next year because they don't have sponsership. if that happens then that would mean that Regan Smith who currently drives that car would be out of a job. i would give the number 8 seat to Regan or have him, split have the Sprint Cup seaon with Almirola. just because Aric Almirola has a good relationship with the crew cheif isn't a good reason to put him behind the wheel full time. they miss the fact that 36 races is alot and that Aric Almirola and crew cheif Tony Gibson, may not have a good relationship by the middle of next season if Gibson doesn't set up the cars the way Almirola likes them. for those of u that don't know Tony Gibson was Paired with Dale Earnhardt Jr back in 2005 and that  turned out to be a horrible thing.  hopfully Martin Truex Jr sees that theres no point in staying at DEI and jumps ship like his old Busch Series Owner.

well i guess thats it for this week, lets hope that next week brings better things. like a Dale Earnhardt Jr victory at Daytona.

Omar:

 You are next,trust me,your lack of good judgement in putting a winning team,signlng a medley of "HAS BEENS" (bunch of old cripples) is catching up fast"THE TRAIN LEFT THE STATION"THE HAND WRITING IS ON THE WALL""THE FAT LADY IS TUNNING UP"

Barring a MIRACLE,"YOU ARE TOAST"

Trust me,when it comes to $,that is all the Wilpons are interested on.They are not your friends,do not be a fool, "DON'T DRINK THE KOOL- AID"

The lousy team you put together can't even play 500 ball,nor beat "THE SCRUBBY MARINERS"

Why don't you go out and sign CHO CHO COLMAN,he can not do any worse and is the right AGE. 

...nothing against or in favor of fox5 just too much inter linking to create my kinds of posts i.e. images,supporting links etc though possible in some manner i would have to redo all posts ,nah.

here this bolgbits subject link plus the cat i hoped/asked for is still non existent here but 5 other sites i asked created such an idea subcategory.

http://akamrx.livejournal.com/1815.html

In this political season, I must invoke a fairness doctrine.  I shared my thoughts in this space on how the environment assisted in engulfing Willie Randolph.

Willie Randolph made comments to Ian O'Connor of the Bergen County Record that assisted in cementing his fate.  The New York Mets had won the first game of the Subway Series and then, before winning handily in the Sunday Night game at Yankee Stadium, he made the poorly timed and ill advised comments that incorporated race, SNY, the organization in general and the fan base.  As an employee of the New York Mets, why would Willie ever make these comments.  He felt they were off the record.  First, he should have insisted that these comments were off the record, if he did not want them to appear in print.  Second, even if you thought this privately, why even discuss it.

This really made me wonder about Willie's ability to understand his position as manager of a New York Mets baseball team.  Willie, a kid who grew up in the Tilden Housing in Brooklyn and is a lifelong New Yorker, never really understood how New York works.  He proved to be thin skinned and did not handle the criticism from the media.  Here is a New York Yankees legend that won World Championships in 1977 and 1978, and was a coach for for four championships from 1996-2000.  His legendary status in New York baseball and all the success therein did not assist him in handling the media crunch that is New York.

Willie was not comfortable with being in the "fish bowl" that is New York.  His mentor, Joe Torre, was a master at media relations.  Willie Randolph never seemed comfortable talking to the media.

In addition, even though the manner in which he was fired has certainly been criticized both locally and nationally, Willie will receive the $3.4 Million owed to him.  Anyone who has been fired certainly would have enjoyed having that to live on over the next two years.  So,  don't cry for Willie.  He will not only be alright, he will be better than most of us.

For any Yankee fan that discusses the handling by the Mets, you must also be fair and discuss the way the Yankees organization handled Joe Torre after he led the New York Yankees to four World Championships, six pennants and thirteen consecutive playoff appearances.  They also wanted to make Joe squirm after the 2006 season following a disappointing loss in the playoffs to Detroit  by firing bench coach Lee Mazzilli.  Lee was made the scapegoat and fired for no reason other than to send a message to Joe Torre.

If  Willie was such a good managerial candidiate, why didn't the Yankees feel he was the successor to Torre.  In fact, he was the bench coach and the Yankees were always indicating that hitting coach Don Mattingley would be the next manager of the Yankees.  Therefore, Yankees fans can discuss the classless and clumsy firing of Willie Randolph, but in the same breath, must discuss the transgressions of Yankee management over the years in this same regard.

When a man is hired to perform a job, he must feel support and confidence from the highest level of management.  New York Mets Chief Operating Officer (COO),  Jeff Wilpon, has never been enamored with Willie, and subsequently wanted him out after the collapse of 2007 when the Mets lost a seven game lead with seventeen to play, as they finished the campaign 5-12.

Willie Randolph was undermined by Vice President of Development Tony Bernazard.  Reporters that I respect have concluded that Bernazard was always in the clubhouse cultivating his relationships with many of the players, especially the Latin players.  Willie was uncomfortable with his continuous presence and made this known to Omar and Tony,  himself. 

During Omar's press conference on Tuesday afternoon in Anaheim, he indicated that "sources" reported that coaches Rick Peterson and Tom Nieto, as well as Willie, may not survive this past weekend.  If this was discussed in high level meetings, who was the "leak?"  Could it be the aforemention individual with these wonderful relationships?  The same person who preferred Manny Acta as manager, instead of Willie Randolph in 2005. 

It is time for Omar to evaluate his staff.   There is certainly enough blame to go around for this underachieving baseball team that dates back over one calendar year.  Equal fault should fall with all areas of the organization including ownership, the general manager, the manager and the players.

If the Mets do not make the playoffs in 2008,  the Wilpons should again start anew, like they did in 2005 when they hired Omar Minaya.  Omar then subsequently hired Willie Randolph.

Willie was part of the equation,  but not the sum of the disappointing parts.  Maybe the collapse and the lackluster play through the first 69 games (34-35) were justification to fire the manager.  What we should all know is that the support system was not there for Willie Randolph.  The Wilpons reluctantly gave Willie a contract extension after 2006 when the Mets lost in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.  They extended the contract through 2009 and he will still receive $3.4 Million.

The nature and circumstances of the firing were suspect.  This firing has the imprints of Jeff Wilpon all over it.  Omar insists he made the decision himself.  Omar,  you do not even know what members of your staff are doing.

Good Luck to Willie Randolph.  Best Wishes in the future.  Hopefully,  you will receive support from your ownership group in your next job and not have to worry about some guy undermining your leadership and authority.

Good Afternoon:

As you all know, Willie Randolph was fired as Manager of the New York Mets. I think that because of the team's struggles all season long with injuries and poor play, that Willie was in trouble. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to fire someone. If they knew that they were going to fire Willie, they should have done it after Sunday's doubleheader. You don't have a man go all the way out to the west coast with the team just to fire him. The Wilpons cannot put a spin on this, no matter how hard they try. By doing this in the bush league manner that they did, it shows that Fred and Jeff Wilpon have no class at all. I wish Willie Randolph success in all of his future endeavors. Willie is a good man who deserved better than what he received from the Wilpons. Omar, I do believe that you will be the next one to be fired by the Wilpons. Your comments are welcome.

Calmax.

    I'm extremely upset to See Willy Randolph go.  I was hoping that everything would turn around for him, but it just wasn't in the cards.  I met him years ago at Lou Pinella's birthday party and found him to be a really nice guy, great smile, great personality, great sense of humor....a really NICE GUY!  They say that 'NICE GUYS FINISH LAST!"  But I don't consider him finishing last, I think he's going out  a champ!  (He'll be back somewhere) 

   I am NOT  a baseball expert, I'm just a loyal fan.  I don't claim to know what it takes to manage a team.  I'm just a fan!  I DO know that it has to be difficult to deal with multimillion dollar atheletes and keep them in line.  I don't know what went on behind closed locker room doors, but I Do think the blame has to be shared by upper management and the PLAYERS!   They seemed to lay down on the job.

   I also think it was a mistake to force Reyes to calm down last year, when he was the SPARK PLUG that ignited the team.  Who cares what the other teams think or say?

   Let's hope the change can produce the championship team we were promised!  Wouldn't it be GREAT if the YANKEES and the METS played one last SUBWAY WORLD SERIES at both stadiums before they're both gone?  ONE BIG LAST HURRAH!!

   It could still happen.  Oh yeah and METS IT WAS totally CLASSLESS and cowardly the way you broke it to WILLY. I hope you're all ashamed of yourselves!

He didn't deserve that!

I feel like I'm about to jinx the Cubs but I really feel like this team is for real this year.  I like this team better than the one that was 5 outs from the World Series.  I know it's very early in the season to be talking about post-season baseball but this team seems to always find a way to win.

They are just about unbeatable at home.  If they win home field advantage they will be hard to knock out.

They hit when it was cold.  That's key in the drawn out playoffs.

Their relief pitching has been very strong.  Marmol and Wood has been impressive in the 8th and 9th.

They won without Soriano.  When he went out for awhile the team kept winning.

Their starting pitching seems to be the only real weak point on this team.  Hopefully a trade near the deadline will add that extra quality starter to the mix.  The other thing is the true injury bug has not hit this team.  If Lee goes down for a considerable length of time it would be bad and if Zambrano's arm gets hurt, forget about it.

Lakers are getting pierced by the Celtics!

Oh yea!! Koby is Maaaaad!! lol  I'm lovin it!! 4th quarter right now!