Mediocrity, meet the Mets. Willie Randolph’s club is now 22-22 after Wednesday’s 11-4 pounding at the hands of the Braves. In case you’re counting (and you can be sure that Mets management is), that is three straight and six of nine despite having the NL’s highest payroll. It’s inexcusable, which is why the Fire Willie Watch is in full swing. Randolph isn’t in hot water just for the Mets’ record, though. While he apologized Wednesday for his remarks on race and feud with SNY, those are controversies sure to linger. The Wilpons aren’t talking, but they are said to be just as furious as many of the team’s fans about Randolph’s ill-advised and unfair rant.

Getting a healthy Pedro Martinez back would obviously help Randolph’s cause, but that has been delayed indefinitely after Pedro’s ailing father had a seizure Wednesday in the Dominican Republic. As well as relaying the Pedro news, the notebook has injury updates on Moises Alou and Ryan Church.