The Associated Press reports that he Mets have fired manager Willie Randolph, as well as pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto. The team announced it shortly after 3 A.M. EST on Tuesday, how nice of them…

Bench coach Jerry Manuel has been named the team’s interim manager, while Ken Oberkfell, Dan Warthen and Luis Aguayo will also join the staff.

The announcement came despite the Mets’ 9-6 victory against the Angels only hours earlier. The Mets upped their record to 34-35, but it wasn’t enough to save Willie.

Randolph’s career as manager of the Mets ends with a 302-253 record, the second-highest winning percentage in franchise history, trailing only Davey Johnson. Randolph was the first manager to be fired in MLB this season.

Jerry Manuel, 54, takes over the team on an interim basis, a team that is one game under .500. He managed the White Sox from 1998-2003, and was named AL Manager of the Year in 2000 after leading the White Sox to an American League best record of 95-67.

Dan Warthen, who was serving as Triple-A New Orleans’ pitching coach, takes over for Rick Peterson. Warthen rejoined the organization after spending the previous two seasons as the bullpen coach for the Dodgers.

Ken Oberkfell, a former major-league infielder, has managed the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate the past four seasons. He previously managed the Binghamton Mets (AA) of the Eastern League after leading the St. Lucie Mets (A) to the 2003 Florida State League championship in his second season in the Mets minor league system.

Luis Aguayo was the Mets field coordinator, overseeing minor-leaguers at the Port St. Lucie complex. The Mets did not immediately reveal job descriptions for Oberkfell or Aguayo.

Steve Popper of The Record writes,

The 9-6 victory seemed to provide a salve for the Mets troubles. But it was brief. When the trio returned to the hotel Omar Minaya was waiting, providing the news that had lingered for weeks – Randolph was out as manager and Peterson and Nieto were fired, too.

The Mets have scheduled a press conference for 5:00 P.M. EST this evening, at which time Omar Minaya will officially make the announcement.

*** This was handled terribly by the New York Mets. I believed the team needed a shake-up, but why did they let him fly to California when the decision could have been made after Sundays game? It was just another of the many disrespectful ways that Willie was treated during his time as Mets manager.

Willie was never given the luxury of choosing his own staff, had a general manager who was too chummy in the clubhouse with his players, but having him work without ever getting an assurance that he had a job the next day was the ultimate insult for a guy who gave it his all.

Despicable! To do this in the dark of night while the fans slept only further illustrates how unprofessional this organization is. The Mets have failed to show any class and it is moves like this one that give everyone the perception that they are a second class franchise in this city. You are what your actions say you are.

The "Willie Watch" is officially over. We wish him luck in the future.