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New York Mets fan Wayne Noble of Syracuse, N.Y. expresses his sentiments about Mets Manager Willie Randolph as the Mets face the Rockies in Denver on Sunday.

The Rockies’ lineup included four players who started the season at Triple-A: Smith, Jonathan Herrera, Ian Stewart and Omar Quintanilla, plus two players who aren’t normally starters in Scott Podsednik and Ryan Spilborghs.

“That doesn’t mean anything, they are ballplayers,” Mets slugger Carlos Beltran said. “I know there’s a lot of players in different positions that we didn’t know, but that doesn’t mean anything, they are capable of playing here and they won.”

Back home, Randolph will get a chance to explain to Fred and Jeff Wilpon his recent comments about his portrayal on Mets broadcasts in which he raised the issue of race, Minaya said. Randolph has apologized for his comments.

“I think it’s over,” Minaya said Sunday. “Once Willie apologized, that’s it.”

Asked if the owners needed to say anything to Randolph about his comments, Minaya said: “I don’t think so. We need to move forward and focus on getting the team better.”

Minaya said he took Randolph and his coaching staff out to dinner after Saturday night’s victory. He also said he appreciated Randolph’s attitude when the manager joked about his boss’ arrival in Denver by saying he spotted Minaya sharpening his machete.

“I’m a believer of being in a good mood and staying positive,” Minaya said. “Be yourself and be positive. “I’m pretty sure he was joking. For me, joking about things, that’s baseball.”

None of the Mets were smiling as they trudged out of Coors Field for their flight home, having lost a series to an injury-riddled team that’s 20-30.

As they left, Beltran said the Mets aren’t fretting over Randolph’s fate.

“What happens in the front office, there is nothing we can do about it,” he said. “We just need to continue to come to the ballpark and play hard and try to win ballgames. Whatever happens, happens. We’re employees here. We just need to basically forget about this road trip, it was a horrible road trip for us.”

Notes: The seven combined hits matched the lowest output in Coors Field history. ... Smith is 6-for-14 in nine regular-season major league games.

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