Lighting Rod

With the acquisition of closer Francisco Rodriquez, the New York Mets fill their biggest hole by adding a man who holds the single season saves record. Rodriquez also gives the Mets another guy who loves to dance on the field. Something they have not been able to back up. They've fired up division rivals in the process, and it has cost them.

It's About Time! 2

Pedro Martinez will finally take the mound for the New York Mets tonight two months after he went down with a hamstring injury at the start of the season. In the final four months of his 4 year $53 million dollar contract the Mets need Pedro to muster up some of his past brilliance if they have a chance to contend for the National League title this season.

No Way Should Willie Go

With the historic collapse of his team a season ago and the continued subpar play of the club to begin this season Mets manager Willie Randolph has a lot of fans in the big city calling for him to be fired. Especially after he wondered aloud recently if the reason he's being criticized so much in the Big Apple these days has to do with his skin color. If the Mets let Willie go it will be a fools error.

Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel are the only two African-American managers in New York City baseball history. Two weeks before Willie Randolph was fired by the New York Mets WBAI Sports spoke with then Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel about the pressure Randolph was under. Since then, Mets management has replaced Randolph with Manuel as Mets manager. Manuel, who had previously managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998 through 2003, also spoke about his chances of getting a second opportunity to manage a major league ball club, when so many African-American managers before him were denied that second opportunity.

Listen to Samori Benjamin and WBAI program Director Bernard White talk about the firing of Willie Randolph by the New York Mets on the morning it happened. Also hear Samori's report with Mets infielder Damion Easley and Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington about the importance of African-American managers in major league baseball.