MLB

BRONX BACKING

Andy Pettitte, who has known Willie Randolph for years because of their time together with the Yankees, is rooting for Randolph to stay as Mets manager.

“Obviously, I know him well and I wish him nothing but the best, so you never want to hear somebody might lose their job,” Pettitte said yesterday before the Subway Series opener was rained out. “I hope that nothing like that would happen to him or his family.”

Right now there’s buzz about Randolph’s job being in trouble, thanks to the performance of his underachieving Mets. But another one of his former players with the Yankees, Jorge Posada, sent a reminder yesterday that it’s not Randolph – or any manager – who’s the one playing on the field.

He also said Randolph is underappreciated.

“It’s always tough on the manager. He doesn’t pitch. He doesn’t hit,” Posada said. “The same lineup is going to be put out there by the next manager and every five days it’s the same starting pitcher. It’s tough to do the job. People take him for granted.”

Derek Jeter, who has enjoyed a terrific relationship with Randolph over the years, made it clear that doing any evaluating after just a quarter of a season is silly.

“I don’t see how people make such a big deal out of teams 40 games into a season. That always baffles me,” Jeter said. “It’s always baffled me how people write how a team’s underachieving and this and that and you have 120 games left in a season. I guess that’s my reaction to it. Not just ’cause it’s Willie. It’s ’cause it’s anybody.”

Randolph coached for the Yankees from 1994 to 2004. Mariano Rivera called him a “great guy to have.” Both Pettitte and Jeter were also effusive in their praise.

“Just positive. Just always upbeat and just fun to be around. Just a great friend,” Pettitte said. “He’s got a wonderful family. And just a solid individual. You can’t say anything more about him than that.”

Said Jeter, “Willie was fun to be around. He likes to work. He’s easy to talk to. He’s played here in New York. He’s managed in New York. He’s coached in New York. He’s been in the front office in New York. So he’s pretty much been doing everything, so in terms of experience, you really can’t get any more experience, especially in New York City, than Willie.”

– Additional reporting by George King

mark.hale@nypost.com