TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Randolph Hopes To Retain Coaches

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 17, 2008

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Willie Randolph emerged from the visiting manager's office at Angel Stadium on Monday, looking a little tired and wearing a gray T-shirt that read "Property of the New York Mets."

That he is - for now.

But nobody seems sure how long Randolph will remain the team's manager, or whether his coaching staff will stay intact. Randolph's job appears to be in jeopardy, while reports Monday indicated pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto could be fired soon.

"If you believe what you read I guess, or whatever, that's a possibility," Randolph said. "But they're here, they should be here, and that's my main concern. No one's said anything to me. In New York, you hear things all the time, so you just take it with a grain of salt and just get it from the people that know. And no one's really said anything to me about it, so that's the way I look at it.

"It's hard," Randolph said. "I mean, these are the guys that I brought here. Those are my guys, and they work hard every day at what they do. So you don't ever want any speculation about them losing their jobs. I think it's unjustified. It's not comfortable, but I know that that stuff is out there all the time. So I don't let it affect me."

New York entered Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Angels 33-35 and languishing in fourth place in the NL East, 6 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia.

Struggling Mariners Fire GM Bavasi

SEATTLE - The Mariners have fired General Manager Bill Bavasi, as Seattle lags along with the worst record in baseball after starting the season with playoff hopes.

Bavasi was fired Monday morning. Vice president/associate general manager Lee Pelekoudas will take over his duties.

Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln said in a release that new leadership was needed in the GM position.

Bavasi was in his fifth season as Seattle's GM, only once turning out a club with a winning record. That was last year when Seattle won 88 games.

Armed with a $117 million payroll, Bavasi put together what many believed was a playoff contender for 2008. But the Mariners have underachieved from the start and entered Monday night with a 24-45 record.

RED SOX: David Ortiz had the cast removed from his left wrist and replaced by a removable splint, an encouraging sign for Boston's slugger.

Ortiz suffered a partial tear of the sheath that surrounds his tendon while swinging during a game against Baltimore on May 31.

RANGERS: Released right-hander Sidney Ponson and activated minor-league pitcher Thomas Diamond from the 60-day disabled list.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT