The Final 9

By WILLIAM C. RHODEN

The five-hour long flight from Los Angeles to New York provides ample time for introspection. Especially if you’re Willie Randolph, now the former Mets manager.

Dismissed from his job after the Mets beat the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in Anaheim, Randolph arrived back home in New Jersey late Tuesday, his head still swimming from being told by Mets General Manager Omar Minaya that he was no longer the manager of the Mets.

In a telephone interview Tuesday night, Randolph said he remained stunned by the dismissal, which took place in Minaya’s hotel room. “I didn’t see this coming,” he said. “When I spoke to Omar the day before I knew there might be some changes, but I got the feeling I was safe.”

Randolph Implies He Was Misled