We’ve sort of ignored this story for a couple days, just it seemed too silly to believe. But Willie Randolph, the embattled manager of New York Mets, popped off recently to one-time TBL interview subject Ian O’Connor on the subject of race and coaching in New York. In a candid interview, Randolph ripped SNY (the team’s network), and chided fans who have been booing the Mets since the season opener. Then, he some racial beef off his chest:

“I don’t know how to put my finger on it, but I think there’s something there. Herman Edwards did pretty well here and he won a couple of playoff [games], and they were pretty hard on Herm. Isiah [Thomas] didn’t do a great job, but they beat up Isiah pretty good. … I don’t know if people are used to a certain figurehead. There’s something weird about it. I think it’s very important … that I handle myself in a way that the [African-American managers] coming behind me will get the opportunities, too … .”

We’ve actually got zero beef with anything Randolph said. Herman Edwards did a fine job with the Jets until the fans turned on him for various reasons (most of them unreasonable, but you can’t expect anything less from those guys). Fans are quick to point out his poor clock management skills, yet refuse to accept that he guided the Jets to the playoffs three times in five seasons, and he actually won two playoff games. Without getting into an entire song and dance about his last season here, the Jets labored through numerous injuries at all the significant positions and went 4-12 before he wisely bailed on an injured-plagued team for what he thought were greener pastures in KC.

Randolph? He’s actually had a similar tenure in New York to Jim Leyland’s in Detroit. In 2006, Leyland guided the Tigers to the World Series, where they were pummeled by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2006, Randolph and the Mets reached the NLCS, but they lost in terrific game seven at home to the Cardinals. Both teams followed that up by missing the postseason; the Tigers finished a distant second to the Indians, while the Mets suffered an epic collapse and narrowly missed the playoffs.

This past offseason the Mets added the best pitcher in baseball, Johan Santana; the Tigers shook up baseball by dealing for one of the best young hitters in the game, Miguel Cabrera. The Mets have started slowly, and are 22-21, just 2.5 games behind the Marlins in the NL East. Detroit? It had one of the worst starts in baseball, and is now 18-27, good for the worst record in the American League, already 6.5 back of the White Sox. Leyland is damn near losing his mind.

Have Tigers fans been calling for Leyland’s head? Have Tigers fans been booing since opening week? This is more about insufferable, idiotic Mets fans than anything else. At the risk of breaking out the broad brush – Mets fans seem to be a clueless bunch, full of unreasonable expectations, and too much penis envy for the Yankees. Get a fucking clue, people. It’s mid-May. The Mets are in the hunt; the Tigers probably aren’t. Is Randolph the reason Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado aren’t hitting? Is Randolph the reason Pedro’s arm is shit? Is Randolph the one who signed Luis Castillo?