With a 3-0 lead over the Diamondbacks on June 11, Randolph allowed his starter, Mike Pelfrey, to start the ninth inning after a brief conversation with Pelfrey that convinced the Mets skipper to let him go after the shutout. After Pelfrey issued a single to the leadoff batter, Randolph pulled him in favor of Billy Wagner. This is where the critics pounce. They point out that Wagner is dreadful when he enters a game in the middle of an inning rather than starting an inning, citing a higher ERA and a couple homers allowed in those situations. But the fact is that almost all relievers have worse numbers when entering in the midst of an inning. The reason they usually enter in the middle of the inning is that runners are already on base. Plus, Wagner’s record in that situation comes in a very small number of innings. Looking for a trend there is like being sure you saw a smile on a dog. It may be something, but it’s probably not. When Wagner subsequently surrendered a game-tying three run homer, the second-guessing flooded in.

The New York media criticized Randolph for allowing the Pelfrey to start the ninth, pointing out that the young righty was nearing 100 pitches. Well, if major league pitchers can’t throw 100 pitches and hold a three-run lead needing just three outs, then what are they paid for? Randolph, who cut his teeth playing behind horses like Ron Guidry and Tommy John, can’t be blamed for trotting Pelfrey out there in that situation. Lost in the after-the-fact criticism is the confidence Randolph was instilling in his young hurler. No doubt Pelfrey will store that away in his mind and grow as a pitcher knowing his manager trusted him to close it out.

Regardless, Randolph went to the bullpen anyway, so it wasn’t the decision to keep Pelfrey in the game that led to the three-run jack. It was the case of Wagner serving up a batting practice fastball after falling behind. Explain to me how that has anything to do with Randolph, and I’ll jump into the pack who want to see him axed. Sadly, when the Mets won the game on a walk-off homer latr in the game, most of the headlines focused on Willie’s managerial moves.

Say what you will about Silent Willie, he’s a good, solid major league manager. You can pin plenty of blame on him for the Mets historic collapse at the end of the 2007 season, but critics are just looking for reasons to slam him now. Despite all this controversy, the team is just 6 1/2 games out of first place.

Whether or not GM Omar Manaya fires Randolph, he’s not the culprit in New York. The mediocre play of his team is.