Rubin reporting that Mets are on the verge of firing first-base coach Tom Nieto and pitching coach Rick Peterson.
What's next? The Mets announcing that they'll be holding Randolph's kids hostage until the team is over .500?
Sources have told the Daily News that principal owner Fred Wilpon and chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon have authorized Minaya to fire Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. Bench coach Jerry Manuel would ascend to manager if Randolph is ousted, while Triple-A New Orleans manager Ken Oberkfell and pitching coach Dan Warthen would join the major league staff. A team insider speculated that Randolph could survive a first round of firings, saying: "I think the coaches are in trouble. That may be the compromise for now."
And Omar won't even guarentee Willie manages tomorrow, according to ESPN.com. The way the Mets are doing this is absurd, and the number of leaks is jarring. Don't let them twist in the wind, either let them go or keep them, period.
I think we should take this moment to bid adieu to Rick Peterson. He was undoubtably part of the team's resurgence in '06, and I feel bad it has to end this way. On the other hand, his defining moment is probably the Victor Zambrano business, so maybe it isn't the worst thing in the world. Still, I can't help but wonder if John Maine would be the pitcher he is with Peterson, and if Oliver Perez would have pitched in game 7 of the NLCS as he did without him.
