Willie Randolph says he doesn’t feel any added pressure managing the Mets this season, even after last year’s history-making collapse.
“[Any pressure] is self-inflicted or manufactured by the outside,” Randolph said today at his spring-training-opening press conference, brushing aside thoughts that his job could be in jeopardy.
“I understand the job, what’s expected of me. I’ve been around this town a long time … I don’t feel it (pressure), I really don’t.
“Eventually, if we don’t get the job done or we don’t win, that’s the way its gonna be.”
The collapse — blowing a 7-game NL East lead in the season’s final 17 days and missing the playoffs by a game — did weigh heavily on the manager well into the offseason.
“I wasn’t ready to cut my wrists or anything like that,” Randolph said with a laugh.
“I didn’t start feeling really like myself until holiday time, Thanksgiving, Christmas,” Randolph said. “After holiday time, things just kind of flew by.
“You think back at all the games we let slip away, that we could have won. You beat yourself up about the little things.”
Randolph said he didn’t feel a need to address the team with a motivational speech that appealed to their pride after last year’s failure.
“I already reached out to my players way before this,” he said. “The thing that I love about this team is that we all know we wasted a golden opportunity.
“[There’ll be] no type of speeches or talks. The good part for me is I didn’t have to do that.
“We were the best team in the National League last year and went into a funk. … It’s not like we were too cool for school.”
Randolph specifically mentioned the acquisition of ace left-hander Johan Santana and the health of second baseman Luis Castillo (recovering from an injured knee) as improvements on this season’s club.
“When you look at the team, I think we’re a better ballclub. … I’m optimistic about what we’re gonna do,” Randolph said. “If we get the chance to close the deal and put people away, we’ll do that.”