Bodog Beat

Willie Randolph has been fired as manager of the New York Mets. (AP Images)

Strange things happen in the middle of the night. Things like losing your job.

That's what happened to New York Mets manager Willie Randolph overnight, as he was fired from his post as bench boss just hours after a 9-6 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

Bench coach Jerry Manuel will replace Randolph on an interim basis. While Randolph did lead the Mets to within one win of the 2006 World Series, the team was seemingly cursed from a late-season collapse in 2007 that allowed the Philadelphia Phillies to sneak into the playoffs on the last day of the season.

A preseason favorite to win the NL pennant, the $138 million Mets (34-35) had won two in a row when Randolph was dismissed early Tuesday morning — making him the first big league manager to get fired this season.

The Mets will play their first game under Manuel tonight as Johan Santana (+108) takes to the hill against John Lackey (-118) as the LA-NY interleague series continues. Get all your MLB baseball betting lines in the Bodog Sportsbook today!