September 29 New York Daily News "The Mets have several major decisions to make after falling short of the playoffs on the season's final day for the second straight year, but Jerry Manuel will return as manager in 2009 and beyond, the Daily News has learned Manuel replaced fired Willie Randolph on an interim basis on June 16 with the team a game under .500 and led the Mets to a 55-38 record, despite Sunday's 4-2 loss to Florida that left them a game behind Milwaukee for the NL wild card and painfully outside the playoffs again. GM Omar Minaya said he will meet with COO Jeff Wilpon today before any decision is finalized, but several people familiar with the situation say it's a formality that Manuel will have the interim tag lifted from his title. "I think Jerry did a very good job coming into a very difficult situation," Minaya said outside the Mets' clubhouse shortly after the season abruptly ended. "Especially after what happened last year, I thought he was able to get us back to playing . . . better than our team was playing. "I just talked to him and now I'm going to sit down with ownership and give my recommendation as far as what I think of him. But I did tell Jerry the same thing I'm telling you, that I was very pleased with the job he did in getting our team back. And the players will tell you the same thing." Minaya, who strung out Randolph for several days last October after the Mets blew a seven-game lead with 17 to play, added that his preference is to get Manuel's status "resolved quicker rather than later."" --

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