They made a move that bloggers, fans, and the media were calling for, and all they get is grief. They called a meeting two weeks earlier to discuss the issues, now they are attacked for a “circus” event. They took the dramatic, message-sending step of firing three guys Monday night at midnight, including a manager that I admire and have always supported, to get a jolt into the team, and they get no praise…instead, the move is roundly criticized for taking place at midnight in California, for involving earlier conversations with Jerry Manuel, for being somehow cowardly, for “humiating” Willie.

I think it was a good move, it was done reasonably well, Willie was not disrespected kin the process, he gets the big paycheck and a flight home. He will go down in Mets history as a good (though not great) manager, who mostly won games and maintained an even keel, but who could not spark a championship. It was time to add the edginess that the team needs, more grit and hustle. We will know soon enough if Jerry Manuel can add that, and i really hope so. But all the retching about Omar and the Wilpons and cowardice and the mis-named “3 am massacre” is debilitating, distracting.

Play ball!