Mets Skipper Willie Randolph Shown the Door

Mets manager Willie Randolph was fired early Tuesday morning along with pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto.

Randolph had been widely criticized this year following New York's monumental collapse last season. Inconsistency has plagued the Mets and Randolph only made the situation worse, fanning the flames of controversy by insinuating that criticism by the New York media was racially motivated.

The Mets were preseason favorites in the NL east, but currently sit 6.5 games out of first place. Jerry Manuel will manage the team on an interim basis.