Hat tip to Hot Foot reader RS Janis Jr. for the video.

Newsday’s Mets beat writer David Lennon will be answering questions at 1:00 p.m.

There was some fight in the Mets last night but not the kind that shows on the scoreboard. It was the kind of feistiness Mets fans had been yearning for from Willie Randolph but instead it came from the new man at the helm Jerry Manuel. Some will say all the bluster and no runs means absolutely nothing but I disagree. Pulling some emotion out of tranquil players like Carlos Beltran might light a fire that this team so desperately needs.

It may be wishful thinking but reality is tough to deal with right now so let me wish. I enjoyed seeing Beltran show that type of emotion and I like the reason he did it. Beltran explained:

“I just told him what I felt about that pitch and he came out to challenge me,” Beltran said. “But what he (umpire Brian Runge) did to Jerry was what got me ejected. I told him I thought that was weak. It’s the first time I’ve been so angry in my career. If I get punished for my actions so should he.”"That’s a weak move that he did. And being able to bump the (manager) to throw him out of the game? That’s brutal. That’s brutal.”

Manuel was tossed because he wanted to stand up for his player:

“I thought Runge was kind of baiting Carlos when he took his face mask off and began dusting off home plate as he was talking to him,” Manuel said. “Carlos is a quiet guy. I felt (Runge) did step into me. I know I didn’t step into him. “I think what instigated Carlos to continue was I think he saw the contact and I don’t think he appreciated that,” Manuel said of Tuesday night’s incident. “That’s what he said to the umpire after I left. He expressed that wasn’t a good thing to be doing and didn’t seem proper.”

Even Jose Reyes liked what he saw out of Beltran and his new manager:

“We fight for each other,” Jose Reyes said.

So, I am choosing to take something positive out last night. There are plenty of opinions flying around about the Mets and I hear and I read a lot about intangibles, chemistry, that sort of thing. Things that are hard to measure. So, lets hope that last night was one of those ‘things’, a spark or a sign that this team, like Reyes said will ‘fight for each other’, maybe that fight started last night. I sure hope so because only being happy that the rest of the NL east lost last night isn’t cutting it.

Hat tip to the Daily News for the quotes and AOL for the video.

Hat Tip to SL-INC for the pic.

When the news first broke that Willie Randolph was fired at 3am eastern time one of the first things that ran through my mind was the now infamous 3am Hillary Clinton political ad. Well, I guess I am not the only one because the always diligent folks over at SSNN attended a press conference where ex-Mets manager Willie Randolph told ‘reporters’ that he was disappointed in the response he received when he tried to get in touch with Barack Obama.

“After Omar [Mets GM Minaya] fired me at three in the morning, I needed to talk to someone,” Randolph said. “I called Barack, but it went straight to his voice mail. It got me thinking – maybe Hillary was right. I can certainly attest that Mrs. Clinton is more reliable when it comes to 3 AM phone conversations.”

Randolph went on to say that he would be willing to help Obama out with his campaign if he apologized:

“Hell, I could even manage his campaign – I’ve got experience with that. Just know that I’m not the best at holding commanding leads.”

For more on the Randolph press conference go to SSNN. Also, even though the pic has nothing to do with this story doesn’t that dude who attended yesterday’s game look like Andy Samberg of SNL?

Today the NY Post misrepresented Jerry Manual’s ‘fertilizer’ comment and it’s great to see them taken to task by Hot Foot’s own Anthony De Rosa, Mets Blog’s reader’s and now on national cable TV by Countdown’s Keith Olbermann.

George Carlin On Baseball and Football.

Hat tip to Bugs and Cranks for video

Ball Girl Makes Incredible Catch!

Hat tip to Gary Grund for the video.

If you believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, DON’T CLICK THIS LINK.

The duo that many love to hate may be calling it quits after almost 20 successful years together in sports talk radio. Neil Best of Newsday is reporting that ‘industry sources’ say WFAN’s Mike Francesa and Chris Russo won’t make it to see their 19th anniversary, Sept 5. and that they may have already done their last show together.

Francesa had no comment about the story but Best has some quotes from Russo:

“That is news to me,” he said. “I have not heard that… That is fascinating information.”…”The only thing I can say is I am signed under contract for another year and a half. I don’t think WFAN is going to let me out of that… I wish I had leverage like that.”

Best writes that the reason for the breakup is ‘multi-faceted’ but the relationship between the two is ‘one element in the drama’.

Best has more on this story and some quotes from WFAN Operations manager Mark Chernoff… Aside from their usual disagreements I did notice something a bit unusual. Approximately two weeks ago they had a golf author on and Mike started to thumb through the book and ask questions. Chris said “oh, that’s the book you were reading yesterday, well I’m lost.” It gave me the impression that Mike purposely kept Chris in the dark about the guest and the book. Since I have no big interest in golf I did not stay tuned. But this incident stood out enough for me to remember and to tell a friend.

Bart Hubbuch of the NY Post’s Mets Blog is reporting that Jose Valentin has called it quits for the remainder of the season.

The 38-year-old infielder called the team Friday night from Triple-A New Orleans and said he plans to take the rest of the season off.

Valentin, cited chronic pain from elbow and neck injuries for his decision to depart the Zephyrs.

In other injury news Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting that Angel Pagan may need shoulder surgery and Fernando Martinez is scheduled to return from his hamstring injury tomorrow.

Eddie Coleman was a guest of Chris Russo’s today on WFAN.

Eddie was asked if the now infamous Tony Bernazard is with the team and speaking with the media.

“He’s here (in Colorado), we haven’t talked to him as a group but he’s here to be talked to, he hasn’t held a press conference though.”

Eddie spoke regarding media reports of Jerry Manuel backstabbing or politicking for Willie’s job.

“I don’t think Manuel was trying to get Willie’s job…Willie felt that people knew stuff that he didn’t know but I don’t think Manuel’s is that type of guy.”

Eddie detailed some of things Manuel plans to implement.

“The next obstacle is Carlos Delgado, two things Manuel has stressed is resting guys and fluidity in the line-up and I think if he’s not hitting, he wont be in the line-up.”

Eddie gave some insight regarding players and their reaction to the change.

“I think the players know it’s on them now…they are associated with the collapse and now the slow start.”

Eddie’s opinion of Manuel.

“I like Jerry I think he’s a good man, he’s a good manager, he’s a guy who can motivate this bunch and more important he thinks he can.”

Eddie also said he spoke to Tori Hunter, now with the Anaheim Angels, and Hunter said this is the time of year where Johan Santana ‘really starts to kick it in’.

Read more of Eddie C’s take on what’s up with the Mets at his blog, which has been updated today, on WFAN.com.

With Mets VP Tony Bernazard taking a beating in the local media of late he seems to have plenty of allies in the Mets organization. Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting that ‘insiders’ are telling him that Bernazard could actually replace Omar Minaya if things don’t turn around.

VP Tony Bernazard is in prime position to assume the GM responsibilities if Minaya is ousted, insiders tell the Daily News.

Rubin goes on to write that Bernazard has the trust and respect of Jeff Wilpon. Jeff especially likes Bernazard emphasis on homegrown players.

The reports that Bernazard is a bad guy are abundant but the ones that I’ve read aren’t very specific. Eddie Coleman of WFAN the other day told a story of Bernazard sitting in the dugout with Jerry Manuel while Willie Randolph was throwing batting practice. Chris Russo and Mike Francesa agreed with Eddie that there was something wrong with that. Now, I don’t claim to know or understand the correct etiquette but some of this stuff should be explained further. If someone is a bad guy and a backstabber then specific incidents should be easy to sight. Seems like the media may have focused on a fall guy here and it might be a bit unfair.

Billy Wagner spoke yesterday from Anaheim to Michael Kay of ESPN Radio in his weekly spot.

What is your reaction to Willie losing his job?

“I hated seeing it happen because I can’t help feeling that I was responsible, not doing my job as consistently as I could of done. It just stinks that your manager is critiqued on how his players are playing, when guys are going through a tough time and stuff and the manager is kind of look down on and when we are doing well he looks like a genius. I know it’s part of the game but you hate when that happens.”

Is it Willie’s fault that the team is a .500 team right now?

“Well, I don’t think so. If I get three more saves and were above .500. I can’t really put anything on Willie I think he’s done some of his best coaching when we’ve struggled. He’s put guys in situations and we just haven’t performed. I really feel bad that it came down to him.”

How did you find out about it? Did you go to sleep thinking Willie was the manager?

“I didn’t find out until this (yesterday) morning, when I came out of the elevator, the reporters where there and they were like did you hear about Willie? I said no I hadn’t but with all these cameras here its pretty obvious. I’ve never been in that type of situation, with that much media exposure, I was a little shocked at that but I guess you could see it coming. Speculation was out there, the team really didn’t know what was going on.”

Do you think Willie and this team has ever recovered from last year?

“I don’t think the team feels that effect. I don’t think we’ve ever said we blew a seven game lead so we’re not gonna play well. We know we have the talent and we know we are a good baseball team. I think its, we got off to a slow start and when some guys get going then another part of the team goes down. When the starting pitching was struggling the bullpen was strong. When the bullpen was struggling the starting pitching was strong, just things haven’t worked together. I really don’t think it has anything to do with last year or Willie.”

Reports say that guys who got in late had a ho-hum reaction to the news, Was there something about Willie that some on the team didn’t like?

“Not that I know of. When you’re the manager you don’t have to be liked. You just have to be respected. That’s why we play the game, its to be respected. Your manager is not there to hold your hand and make you like him. Willie was a very personable person, he and I, we had our ups and downs but we always got along. I knew where he stood and he knew where I stood. We communicated better and better the longer we were together. The more he got to know me the more he knew what was best for me. He was easy to talk and it was easier to know what he expected from me…He’s the manager, you’re the All-Star, you’re the player, its up to you to play the game. Sometimes you get put in a situation that isn’t favorable or difficult but if you consider yourself one of the best, you have to go out there and get it done.”

“Willie’s got that competitive fire, like old school. He wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s very passionate about his job, about the game. His expectations for his players is high and I think players of this day and age may not have that same passion, like the guys may have had when Willie played…I am old enough to have watched Willie play and you look at the back of his bubble gum card and you know he was a great player. When you talk about that kind of player, guys in our clubhouse are hard nose and they go after it, but it was definitely a different era.”

Do you feel sorry for him today?

“Sorry,..no I don’t feel sorry. I hate that he was put under the microscope because of our teams shortcomings. But the greatest managers ever have been fired and so going through this, the type of person he is, this will only make him a better manager and make him a better person. He’ll look back and see what he could of done better or he’ll just look back and reflect and when he gets his next job there will be things he will improve on.”

What do you think of Jerry Manuel?

“I think when you go from bench coach to manager a lot of things change. As a bench coach your kind of the buffer, the in-between to say everything is alright, keep working hard. Now he’s the head honcho, it’s not about hey it’s ok, its about go get the job done.”

John Delcos of The Journal has a list of all 20 draft picks that were signed by the Mets today. One of those 20 was Southpaw Jim Fuller, who the Mets selected in the 21st round. David Pinto of Baseball Musings went to see Fuller pitch and provides this video of the young hard thrower.

For more on Fuller go to Baseball Musings.com