Alas, Randolph's firing was announced from the West Coast, after a 9-6 win over the Angels, which means everybody got their News Alerts about it this morning and now have something to talk about other than working for a few hours. (Which is, of course, the point.)

Jerry Manuel, who was the nice guy manager for the White Sox before Ozzie Guillen came in and started knocking shit around, is taking over on an interim basis, but it's suspected that Ken Oberkfell, the former Cardinals/Braves third baseman who was hired to the staff, will ultimately take over.

As for Willie? Well, we're sure there's a spot on Joe Torre's staff.

Mets Fire Manager Willie Randolph [New York Times]
Why We Love A Managerial Deathwatch [New York Magazine]

Anyway, the ladies lacking clothes say the Mets manager should be axed. It's simply math!

Several NY Mets and NY Yankees can be considered "regulars," and the dancers at the club are unofficial experts on Baseball because they have met so many players from so many teams.

A Rick's dancer has been conducting a poll asking her fellow dancers if Mets Manager Willie Randolph should be let go. The "Dressing Room Poll" results are an approximation from the last week, with about 100 dancers saying that he should be fired, and only a handful saying that he should stay.

Rick's Cabaret Spokesperson Lonnie Hanover said, "The girls have a keen interest in Baseball, and they are entitled to their opinions. The club itself did not participate in the vote."

We love the idea that the cabaret itself is hedging its bets; they wouldn't want to push Omar Minaya in any particular direction. But Omar: A consensus is building!

We didn't run the picture they sent us with the email, because our mom reads this site. Also: We're not Drew.

Luis Gonzalez's three-run double helped first-place Florida move to 30-20; the first time they have been 10 games over .500 since September 2005. Coincidentally, after Mike Pelfrey (2-6) lasted only four innings and dropped his sixth straight start, the Mets are 23-26; the first time they have dropped three games below .500 since September of 2005. Jose Reyes had two homers for the Mets, but also made an error at shortstop in the first that led to two unearned runs. The Mets have lost seven of eight and 10 of 14 overall.

A New York Daiy News poll, "Are you happy that Willie Randolph is still the Mets' manager?," is running 72 percent against him. But hey, unlike the majority of baseball fans in south Florida, at least they care.

• Meanwhile, In The Comments Section. Mets fans are getting restless, and somewhat more creative. Found in the Minor Enterprise comments: The Mets promote 'Bad Baserunning Night' at every home game. This great promotion is brought to you by many of the players, including Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and even David Wright. See professional baseball players that are well-compensated forget all of the fundamentals taught back in Little League, such as: make sure the line drive goes through; never make the first or third out of an inning at third base; and don't attempt to steal a base when you are down by four or more runs. Fans young and old will treasure this promotion and have 81 opportunities to take advantage of it. To add to the festivities, even manager Willie Randolph gets into the fray. His post-game press conferences will be filled with such inspiring remarks such as: "I've seen it all before," "I'm not concerned yet," and "Last year was last year." Yes, fans. The underachieving group of players that you know and love will thrill you inning after inning with uninspired play that is a direct representation of their fearless leader. A clubhouse divided will give you an entire summer of excitement, and give you ample time to enjoy the NFL once the fall rolls around. — NYSportScene

• Phillies 20, Rockies 5. I had two choices last night; finishing the second half of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, or reading the scoring summary of Monday's Phillies-Rockies game. I did the former, because I figured I didn't have enough time for the latter. Instead I perused the box score, which was fun. Especially telling was the Nos. 6 and 7 spots in the Phils' order who got seven hits and eight RBI between them.

• Ranger Danger. The AL East is still safely in the hands of the Rays (who among you are rooting for a Rays-Cubs World Series, just to watch Piniella?), as Tampa Bay beat Texas 7-3 on Monday. Scott Kazmir won his fourth straight start, striking out 10 over seven innings. Eric Hinske had a three-run homer for the Rays, who have won 16 of their past 17 home games and at 31-20 have the best record in the majors. From AP: Tampa Bay is just the second team — joining the 1903 New York Giants — to have the best mark on Memorial Day after finishing with the worst record in the big leagues the previous season (66-96).

• A Brandon Ship! And Brandon Webb (9-2) continues on his pace to lose nine straight after beginning the season 9-0, giving up up 10 hits in a 7-3 loss to the Braves. Mark Teixeira had four RBI.

• Wizard Cat Defensive Player Of The Day. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners. This great basket catch to rob Jason Varitek of extra bases in the fifth is made even greater by Suzuki reaching up to make sure his hat didn't fall off. A fine way to start off our week. Wizard Cat gives this catch: Six wands.

Is this fair? Randolph doesn't seem to have changed his managerial style at all since 2006 as he was being hailed as savior and the perfect, steady hand the Mets needed accoriding to fans that seemed very content to move on from Bobby Valentine's bluster.

With the "racist" comments, the current losing streak, and the rancid smell of last season's epic collapse still being wafted, it may actually take a long, sustained winning streak in order for Willie Randolph to save his job or he'll most likely be back in L.A. next year, sitting on the bench next to Joe Torre.

The thing is, a bounceback in baseball season is entirely possible. Whether Randolph will get a chance to see that happen seems highly unlikely at this point.

Unconfidence Game [NY Post]

Braves in Atlanta, Randolph's Job in Jeopardy [NY Daily News]

Whether it was the Guillermo Mota curse, or just the brilliant prognostication abilities of Steve Phillips, the Mets just finished off one of sports' greatest collapses. (We heard some Yankees fans mocking the Mets last night, but we'd be careful, were we Yankees fans, crowing about somebody else choking.) What in the world happened? Jason Fry of Faith And Fear In Flushing saw something wrong with this team months ago, and his elegy this morning is a must-read.

I never liked this team. Early on, when they were ahead of last year's pace, I was vaguely embarrassed by this. Like a lot of us, I found myself groping for explanations, and worrying about why they left me cold. Was this the ugly side of raised expectations? Of the first stages of hegemony? Was this how being a Yankee fan began? What wasn't to like? But I struggled to warm to them during the spring, and when they stumbled through the summer I stopped fighting it. I let a bit of hard-earned cynicism take over, dissecting fandom like social scientists examine human attachment. I told myself that when they made the playoffs, I'd find myself liking them just fine. But then the second half of September came, with the second horrible body blow administered by the Phillies, the inept handling of the pitching staff, the idiotic displays of temper, and the repeated assheaded baseball. And finally, those horrifying quotes by Delgado and Glavine and Pedro, the astonishing admissions that yeah, the team was bored and complacent. That right there was the end of the pretending that I would change my mind.

And that, oddly, made the rest easier. I will always love the 1985, 1999 and 2006 teams, despite the fact that they never won titles. I was never going to like this one, even if it wound up rolling down the Canyon of Heroes. The 2007 Mets were the smug, self-satisfied hare to the tortoises of Philadelphia and San Diego and Colorado. Badly constructed and badly led, in the end they got exactly what they deserved.

So, is this all for Willie Randolph? On one level, this is a complete team collapse, something 25 (or so) men do together, grasping hands and leaping off the cliff. But we think it's impossible not to hold a manager responsible for something like this. Will Mets fans ever trust Willie Randolph again? How could they? What more evidence could a team need?

I'm OK, And That's Not OK [Faith And Fear In Flushing]

Paul Tagliabue, NFL Commissioner: $8 million
Don Garber, MLS Commissioner: $250,000
Joe Torre, Yankees manager: $6.4 million
Willie Randolph, Mets manager: $630,000
Pedro Martinez, Mets pitcher: $13.25 million
Steve Crampton, Newark Bears pitcher: $9,900 ($450 per week for 22 weeks, plus $18 per diem on road trips)

We bet Rickey Henderson made more money than that when he played for Newark, by the way. ("Pay Rickey!"

Who Makes How Much [NY Mag]