By Ken Davidoff, Newsday, Melville, N.Y. Jun. 23--In his first expansive public comments since the Mets fired Willie Randolph a week ago, team CEO Fred Wilpon defended the team's actions and proclaimed happiness with the job performance of general manager Omar Minaya.

By Ken Peters, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ANAHEIM, Calif. - Once he decided to fire Willie Randolph, New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya caught a flight to the West Coast, went to the team hotel and waited to deliver the news in person. "Eye to eye," Minaya said Tuesday.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ANAHEIM, Calif. - After weeks of speculation that his job was in jeopardy, Willie Randolph finally got fired by the New York Mets while most fans were sleeping.

After weeks of speculation that his job was in jeopardy, Willie Randolph finally got fired by the New York Mets while most fans were sleeping.

New York Mets Manager Willie Randolph was fired early Tuesday and replaced with team bench coach Jerry Manuel. The Mets, in a news release which made little mention of Randolph, also said pitching coach Rick Peterson and first-base coach Tom Nieto were relieved of their duties.