The Final 9

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets owner Fred Wilpon is praising Willie Randolph's performance as manager but agreed with general manager Omar Minaya's decision to replace him last week.

"I think Willie did a good job. I think that the results the last say 14 months were not up to what we thought it had to be," Wilpon said. "What Omar finally decided was that he had to make that change."

Randolph was fired on June 17 with the Mets at 34-35. New York has gone 3-2 under new manager Jerry Manuel.

"Obviously, we've been playing well in the last few games," Wilpon said.

Wilpon said Minaya made the initial decision to fire Randolph on Sunday, after a doubleheader split against Texas. After speaking with ownership, Minaya made the final call Monday.

Mets owner Fred Wilpon: `Willie did a good job'....