NEW YORK (AP) -Mets manager Willie Randolph will have surgery on his right shoulder next month, preventing him from serving as a National League coach at the All-Star game.
Randolph plans to have the operation during the All-Star break, which is July 9-11. The summer showcase will be played July 10 in San Francisco, and NL manager Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals had invited Randolph to be one of his coaches, along with Giants skipper Bruce Bochy.
“I had the tremendous honor of being named one of the All-Star coaches but I’m going to have to decline that,” Randolph said Wednesday. “I’m disappointed I won’t be able to go to the All-Star game. I guess Tony will get somebody else.”
La Russa, whose team was at Shea Stadium to play New York, said he was disappointed by the news and wasn’t sure yet which NL manager he would pick to replace Randolph on the All-Star staff.
“I was looking forward to being teammates with him again,” La Russa said.
Randolph played for La Russa on the AL champion Oakland Athletics in 1990.
A six-time All-Star second baseman during his major league career from 1975-92, Randolph still likes to throw batting practice occasionally.
“I’m sure they won’t miss me,” he said. “I’m sure that we have enough guys to hold the fort down.”
Randolph will turn 53 on July 6.
“Just wear and tear, that’s all. Just got to get it cleaned out. Best time to do it is during the break,” he said. “The doctor said it was too bad to wait.”
After the operation, Randolph will need to wear a brace on his shoulder.
“I didn’t want to get it done, really. I’m not looking forward to wearing a brace for a couple weeks,” he said. “Just got to get it out of the way.”
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