Mets owner confesses he botched Randolph's firing

Wilpon says he should have had the GM wait rather than do it after a California night game. Mets general manager Omar Minaya (left) talks with team owner Fred Wilpon, who says he mishandled last month's firing of manager Willie Randolph. NEW YORK -- New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon said Wednesday that he mishandled last month's firing of manager Willie Randolph. General Manager Omar Minaya should have waited until the morning after the Mets beat the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on June 16 to dismiss Randolph instead of making it public at 3:18 a.m. New York time, Wilpon said. “I know I screwed up,” Wilpon told reporters at SportsNet New York's Manhattan studios. “I should have said, ‘Wait a second.'” New York (53-47) is 19-12 since Jerry Manuel replaced Randolph. The team, which was 61/2 games out of first place... [read full story]