Â
Filip Bondy from the Daily News
The Mets thought otherwise. Minaya attacked our guy, Adam, who owned this story from Day 1. Minaya went after the messenger, tried to wreck his career. It isn’t going to come down that way, though.
“This was a well-reported, well-researched, exclusive story, and it’s a shame that the Mets deemed fit to cast aspersions on our reporter instead of dealing with the issues at hand,” said Martin Dunn, deputy publisher and editor-in-chief at The News. “We stand by Adam 1,000 percent.”
Only one man got fired Monday. Their guy, Bernazard.
Â
Jay Greenburg of the New York Post
Certainly he and his newspaper have benefited. The Mets may be fourth in the National League East but they lead the majors in leaking, whispering and character-assassinating.
Â
Wallace Mathews from Newsday
The Mets are the only organization in professional sports that can call a news conference to announce it has killed the Wicked Witch – and wind up running over Toto instead.
Â
Ben Shpigel of New York Times
Three and a half months into a season marked by bile and buffoonery, the Mets added to the chaos Monday, when they turned a news conference announcing the dismissal of a high-ranking executive into an almost surreal confrontation with a reporter who regularly covers the team.
94 comments
stickguy
7/28/2009-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
I just love the Mets. They are just so much fun to follow.
Big surpirse that the rest of the press (who privately, and some publically, supposedly can’t stand Rubin) are all up in arms and full of themselves). Man, the sports media takes itself way, way too seriously.
So Omar made a dope of himself. That is not really new (or news). And Rubin did get outed for something he did, no matter how he sins it.
Bottom line, I only care about the team. This is all just background noise that should fadfe away, but you know that the only access we have to the team (the media) will continue to grind this ax until you want to puke.
A nice 10 game winning streak would be a nice diversion!
This is going to end up being like Anna Nicole or John and Kate. Something of minor interest, that the Media will continue to beat into the ground, followed by even more beating of the media for beating the story too hard!
anyway, I only care in as much as it impacts Omar’s ability to focus on making the moves by the deadline to make the team better, but I guess if he gets paralyzed, it might work out (keeping him from making a boneheaded Kazmir type deal).
stickguy
7/28/2009-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
Oh, I did like wallace mathews quip. Wonder who he stole it from?
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Well first of all, I would take what Bondy or any other reporter has to say at face value considering they are defending “one of their own” and will see what Minaya said as unfair criticism. I will say that Omar is clearly in over his head at these press confrences, he is horrible dealing with the media in a formal setting and in this day and age, that is a big part of the job. Whether or not that rises to a fireable offense, I’m not sure, I don’t think that it does. The product ont he field should be the final arbiter of that decision.
That said, while the setting was probably not the right place and he was unable to properly articulate what he meant, I’m not sure his concerns were totally unwarranted. I mean, here you have the beat reporter of the team speaking to the GM and the owner about how to get a job in player development while he is still covering the team. I’m not journalist, but that seems to me like a conflict of interest. How is he going to credibly and accurately report on the team when he is getting “advice” from the front office on how to break into player development. At the very least, he should have made his aspirations known to his readers or spoke with someone from another team, not the one he is supposed to be covering.
All in all though, it was a debacle as per usual, but excuse me if I’m not as offended as Mr. Rubin. I think the reporter doth protesteth to much.Well first of all, I would take what Olney or any other reporter has to say at face value considering they are defending “one of their own” and will see what Minaya said as unfair criticism. I will say that Omar is clearly in over his head at these press confrences, he is horrible dealing with the media in a formal setting and in this day and age, that is a big part of the job. Whether or not that rises to a fireable offense, I’m not sure, I don’t think that it does. The product ont he field should be the final arbiter of that decision.
That said, while the setting was probably not the right place and he was unable to properly articulate what he meant (much like my interview a few months back), I’m not sure his concerns were totally unwarranted. I mean, here you have the beat reporter of the team speaking to the GM and the owner about how to get a job in player development while he is still covering the team. I’m not journalist, but that seems to me like a conflict of interest. How is he going to credibly and accurately report on the team when he is getting “advice” from the front office on how to break into player development. At the very least, he should have made his aspirations known to his readers or spoke with someone from another team, not the one he is supposed to be covering.
All in all though, it was a debacle as per usual, but excuse me if I’m not as offended as Mr. Rubin. I think the reporter doth protesteth to much.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Ooops, sorry about that.
stickguy
7/28/2009-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, it is some level of conflict of interest. And he knows it, that’s why he is trying to deflect the discussion.
If it was a “real” paper, probably a firable offense.
Heck, if he was the financial reporter, it could be indictable!
dentulous
7/28/2009-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
“that Bernazard was a foul-mouthed, ill-tempered little cuss with a Napoleon complex and two last-place minor-league clubs on his resume.”
hehe
mrbill
7/28/2009-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
It’s not a surprise most reporters will come to Rubin’s defense… While I think omar shouldn’t have said what he said about him, I see where he’s coming from. The problem is when you can’t express yourself properly, what you are trying to say comes out in the wrong way. This is exactly what happened.
Rubin needs to RELAX! Omar didn’t say he printed the articles to get Bernazard fired and get his job.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
For once I agree with you. Watching the press conference it looked a little bit like Rubin got caught with his hand int he cookie jar and was very embarrassed and lashed out in an attempt to defend his good name. Anyway you slice it, I think he was unproffesional as well.
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
yup, Omar wasn’t saying Rubin wanted Tony’s job, but that the stories may have been some sort of retribution for not getting him a position in player development. A far fetched idea, for sure.
metsfan4decades
7/28/2009-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
Stick: why do we need a 10 game win streak for a ‘little diversion’? A 10 game win streak for the Mets SHOULD be the story. Instead, the off the field antics constantly seems to be the story.
Anyone notice that no one has heard a peep from ARod since his return? I’m thinking it’s not because the media is having too much fun reporting on the NY Mets this year, but rather someone finally got through to ARod about keeping a low profile if he wants to help his cause at all since the announcement of his steroid use. Maybe the Mets should seek out his PR firm and hire them….
mrbill
7/28/2009-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
The media is not talking about Arod steroid use because the team is winning.
metsfan4decades
7/28/2009-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
Maybe, but I’m not talking about just his steroid use. Whether it’s a failed marriage, dating women way older, kissing himself in the mirror pictures, etc. etc., ARod always seemed to invoke ridiculous behavior off the field. You never saw those stories concerning Jeter. This year though, he’s been behaving himself, or so it seems. Giving money away to charities have been the only stories I’ve read about him lately. As I said, very good PR. The Mets, not so much….
mrbill
7/28/2009-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
You are right.
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
Either Omar is a complete idiot or a mastermind.
dentulous
7/28/2009-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
bottom line is that Omar should not have thrown that tid bit about Rubin. The press conference should have been about Bernazard period. What else could he have been implying when he mentioned that Rubin had been lobbying for a job other than he tried to bring Rubin down. If he had a concern about rubins ethics/reporting bring it to his editors or the head of the papers with the evidence. Now we get bad press and another distraction from the team when they have begun to play well.
Omar showed his true colors yesterday. He did not want to fire his friend. And that is despicable in and of itself considering what his wacky friend had been doing. After all Bernazard did, Omar did not want to fire his friend and took it out on Rubin. That is the story and that is pathetic. Bernazard deserved to get canned but clearly Omar is not interested in the good of the team, he is only interested in keeping his friends employed no matter how poor of a job they do. I hope Omar gets canned for this. Inexcusable.
mrbill
7/28/2009-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
This circus benefits Jerry Manuel… it keeps the focus away from him and the team. Minaya on the other hand, is under fire.
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
would’ve made sense if Omar created this circus earlier in July, not when the Mets are winning.
mrbill
7/28/2009-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
3 days of winning… lol
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
it’s been a while. lol
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
agreed 100%…definatly takes attention from the on the field situation and brings it to Omar vs Adam. I dont know if that was engineered that way but as the end result….which is the back page story
tatis hitting a pinch hit grand slam
omar vs adam
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
I would have posted Adams own response but he was not accurate in his telling of the account. Omar did not say Adam wanted TONYS job but rather A job in player development. Even so, he is still calling into questions adams character and that is not cool…especially since he was just doing his job and was telling the truth. I(like adam) dont see where this would have helped him get tony’s job anyway. Omar was bitter and angry that he had to fire a friend and that adam pushed his hand. Had there been no rubin reports, tony would still have a job. The Mets would have brushed it under the rug. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and everything comes to light one way or another. This had to happen and i think for the better. Adam was doing his job and it was wrong for the mets to try and deflect this situation onto him. Very unprofessional and i am curious to know if the wilpons have the cojones to ante up and axe omar…
dentulous
7/28/2009-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
that is what a lot of people overlook. Omar and Jeff did not want to fire their “friend”. Regardless of all the wrong he did, they were still going to keep him around and that is disgusting. That to me is the biggest indictment against the FO. Omars emotions running wild showed this. He put his friendship above the good of the team. That is not the makeup of someone I want to be the GM of the team.
mrbill
7/28/2009-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
Everyone sees this.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
If Omar thought Tony B was his friend than he really is stupid, cause it was so obvious that he was about to do what he did to Willie to Omar and stab him in the back.
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
Omar firing not likely. Though, he’s prob on a very short leash. Interestingly, Omar calling out Rubin makes it harder for Rubin to report on the Mets and Omar, especially.
So maybe, that was Omar’s intent all along. To make it harder for Rubin. Cuz Rubin was already saying Omar’s job wasn’t safe despite the Wilpons’ vote of confidence.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-10:11am at 10:11 am (UTC -4)
It’s unlikely that Rubin wanted Bernazard’s job, but could you imagine a scenario whereby he goes to Bernazard for “advice” or for a job in the sticks at the bottom of the orginization and Tony B was, keeping in character, a total jerk and told him to screw off. rubin comes back and says, “Oh yeah, watch the power of the pen.”
Keep in mind that this issue in Binghamton happened like a week or two before the all start break. How come it took so long to get to press? There may be perfectly good answers for these questions, but now that we know what we know, I think it is fair to say that Rubin crossed an ethical line. That is not to excuse Omar for bringing it up in the setting that he did, but Rubin has skin in thsi game as well.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-10:22am at 10:22 am (UTC -4)
Im sure tony isnt the only ahole that adam has ever met. Rubin im sure stepped on alot of toes with his reporting and i understand omar and some F/O personell being upset because adam brought it front and center for the media and forced their hand. That anger however is no excuse for what they tried to do to adam and this story. All they had to do was a 5 minute press conference to announce they let tony go…thats it. Omar sounded bitter and angry with his accusations of adam. From what i can tell(since they had the perfect opportunity to deny the reports and didnt), all of adams reporting was true….so why try to slander the guys name. Taking down tony was not going to help his odds of getting a job with the mets or anywhere else so why do it? There was no upside to this because there was probably 0 chance adam gets tonys job. I dont know, it just came off as petty to me.
fongy2
7/28/2009-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
We already know
Omar is petty.
See:The cutting of Julio Franco &
how one of Willies boys
had to be taken
out at the same
time.
There's Always '09
7/28/2009-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
By the way, I’ve been on this guy for a long time, but let’s give a shout out to Castillo. If there was anyone in the lineup to drive him home, he would have some very impressive numbers right now. Wonder if he will be moved to the leadoff spot if/when Reyes returns.
metsfan4decades
7/28/2009-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
I’ll just be happy if Jerry doesn’t do something stupid like move him to the 8th spot (re: beginning of season) when Reyes gets back.
Castillo is very quietly hitting .300. True, most are singles but he gets on base. My opinion it should be Reyes then Castillo batting one/two. Perfect table setters.
fongy2
7/28/2009-10:46am at 10:46 am (UTC -4)
Maybe this will make
Castillo attractive
enough that someone
else might want the
last 2 yrs of his insane contract!
That would be nice.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
lol…i gave him some love in the MUA’s later on today but hellz yea luie is doing his thing.
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Love it! Support Your Second Baseman!
Kingman 26
7/28/2009-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Amen, and from TA09!!
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Great, now I have Yankees fans stopping by to laugh at the Mets Circus.
BTW, anyone go to the Hall of Fame inductions? I’m wondering if the Mets showed up for Rickey. Apparently, the Yanks did.
GravediggerHebner
7/28/2009-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
Gotta love Yankee fans.
“When 26 world championships, making the post season for 13 of the last 14 years, being in first place and winning 9 of your last 10 games just isn’t enough.”
fongy2
7/28/2009-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
It would be nice to
hear one,just one
yankee fan admit
they cheated.
THAT their last “dynasty” was
steroid fueled.
Kingman 26
7/28/2009-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Wow, have been away since Thursday and what another HUGE, steaming pile of nonsense, on all accounts.
Why shouldn’t Rubin be called out? He totally SHOULD be.
If an NYT reporter or Fox news reporter covering a potential scandal at GE or Boeing was sniffing around the boardroom asking how “one gets in the defense business” OF COURSE it would be a gigantic conflict of interest!
These guys are JOKES and shams…Heyman and his lazy overheard drivel, Olney and his made-up stories, and Rubin–covering a scandal in player development while asking about getting a job there?
And Rubin had the temerity to act embarassed and call Omar despicable?
I do not have all of the facts yet, but while Omar (and/or the increasingly horrible-looking Wilpons) looked like a bully trying to shift focus in the press conference, of course Rubin is a pathetic little jerk.
And the funniest part is Jeff Wilpon talking about people calling him to ask how to get in the business–that’s easy! Have a father who owns a team!!
fongy2
7/28/2009-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
Nice post!
Well stated!
You could have mentioned
the media/conflict/scandal
involving GE/NBC&”carbon credits” but OK.
Those who read alredy know
journalism while sick for
years now,died in the last
couple years.
Kingman 26
7/28/2009-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Thanks Fong…I definitely do think that Omar is looking worse all the time now, but how can Rubin think he is above reproach for lobbying for a job with the team he is covering, and in the department he is exposing?
Does the word “ethics” even exist in corporate American anymore? Rhetorical question; I know the answer….
GravediggerHebner
7/28/2009-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
What makes this situation so much worse is Omar’s lack of ability to form coherent English language sentences.
Had he somehow been able to say: “No Adam, I’m not saying you tried to bring down Tony so you could take his job, what I’m saying is I know you are interested in possibly working in player development so when I saw that almost all the negative reports in the press about Bernazard were coming from you, it gave me pause. I had to look more closely at the situation. That’s all I’m saying. You know what I’m saying?”
But he was/is completely incapable of that. We’ve had Presidents that couldn’t form a coherent sentence, so I realize it can be worked around, but in this instance for this general manager it added to the problem.
Kingman 26
7/28/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
Agreed 100%….in true 2009 Met fashion (or lack thereof) both sides looked really pathetic.
Of course Rubin’s parasitic brethren will stand by him, but he looks–to me–to be on the same level of the pathetic as Omar this fine morning.
Joe R
7/28/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
How by asking what it takes to get a job in baseball. The sport he probably loves and covers everyday? I really believe it was that innocent on Adam’s part. Even Jeff said he has had beat writers ask what it takes to get in the system. I mean reporters have leaped into front officer positions and even gone on to own teams.
Joe R
7/28/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Agreed totally. I dont even think Omar believed the 2 were connected. He just couldnt explain why he blurted that out and in doing so dug a deeper and deeper hole by lashing out to defend his initial point which WAS TRUE. He prob saw the report and said Oh its Adam lets check and see if this is entirely true…
fongy2
7/28/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
You’re
right on HebBUT
it really
hurts the politicians who cant communicate.
The only
positive is that atleast
it makes it easier
to see through what omars doing.
Thats what I meant in my post lastnight that case took such offense to.
GravediggerHebner
7/28/2009-11:56am at 11:56 am (UTC -4)
A combination of my own desire not to bring political discussions to this forum and my having read your exchange with Case last night is why I just said “Presidents” and didn’t name names.
I have political thoughts and feelings but I like to use sports as my escape from those things that really matter. I hope my statement was benign enough politically, that was my intention.
fongy2
7/28/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Not on any level chum.
One of the reasons that
I now love small town/rural America.
Mom&Pop stores/
shops.
You’re friendly
theyre friendly
treat them with
respect and you
get the same back.BUT,on just about
every other level from small biz to
giant corps,
its everyone
for themselves.
I’ll tell ya,
in the last few
yrs,away from
the hustle and
bustle,I’ve really had my
eyes opened.
Kingman 26
7/28/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Oh, I agree with that 100% absolutely and positively.
GravediggerHebner
7/28/2009-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Kong at the end there when you mention “the funniest part” are you talking funny “peculiar” or funny “ha-ha?”
Because if it’s funny ha-ha, to me that’s the ONLY funny part.
Kingman 26
7/28/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
LOL! I guess I think it is both peculiar and dripping with unintended irony, AND ha-ha funny.
As someone once said, I am sure we will look back on this someday, laugh nervously, and change the subject….
Joe R
7/28/2009-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
I would agree but it appears Adam had all the facts down and everyone is saying there is nothing wrong with inquiring about what it takes to get involved with a team on that level. Also there isnt anyway he would expect to get a job within the organization by getting a guy fired especially being that Adam had no experience in the jobs he was inquiring about. I believe Omar probably saw the reports and said OH Adam wrote this stuff let me check the validity and I believe Adam probably inquired about what it takes to get a job. I think Omar was just nervous and didnt even really mean to connect the two directly. Yes both were true but Omar during his nervousness and anxiety mentioned the 2 together unfortunately and then had to defend his words immediately. I really chalk it up to Omar being a lousy public speaker and being way to nervous.
Either way it was Omar’s mistake and Adam appears to be in the clear imo
Kingman 26
7/28/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
I think they both need a change of scenery….how can you sniff around for a job with the team you are covering? And did Rubin ask lots of teams, or just the one he covers?
And while he almost surely was not trying to get Bernazard canned to get his job, to me it is still a textbook case of conflict of interest…it does not look good.
fongy2
7/28/2009-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
In addition to Omar being pissed at how
public all these stories became.
Look,mes think Omar,the Wilpons AND
Rubin all look bad here BUT that doesnt
excuse Tony B.
His type of Mgmt through fear no longer
works for the most part.It certainly doesnt work for the likes of a Tony B.
If it was a Parcells
or Frank Robinson whos
resume is prettt thick
thats one thing.AND
even with them or their type its iffy
BUT Tony B.??C’mon!!
What in his background
indicates that he should be taken seriously when hes ranting and raving and
threatening?
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
Omar being Omar
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
The way i look at it..i dont know how you would spin omars allegations properly with PR but omars demeanor when he was firing at adam played alot into peoples interpretations. Yes omar did not say that adam wanted tonys job but this is what omar did say:
“adam lobbied tony and me…for A job in player development. When i saw the reports i had to take a step back and really look at them”
Its no secret that omar was trying to twist the motives for these reports on some hidden ajenda or vendetta that adam had toward tony. Its funny that the job that omar mentioned adam was tryign to get advice on getting into to just so happens to be what tony does. Omar left alot of strings out there but did not want to go on the record as saying it. His implications plus the anger/bitterness that omar said it with i think backfired on him and made him look petty and unprofessional. Again if thats how the mets felt i have no idea how thye would PR that but the went about it in the WRONG way.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
Per Rubin:
“But instead of focusing on the horrors Bernazard inflicted upon Mets farmhands and team employees…”
Yeah no hyberbole or any axe to grind there.
Horrors, really Adam????
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Well according to rubin alot of people did not care for tony and many were happy that he put the truth about him. Apparently minor leaguers,scouts,personell,employees,parents all did not like tonys demeanor and thats what he mean i think
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Dirty, by all accounts, Tony B was a jerk and a disaster, and should have been fired, but this language is totally over the top.
He goes on to write that “The minor-leaguers Bernazard oversaw lived in fear of losing their jobs because they were constantly told they were disposable. How do I know? They told me.”
Uhhh, what is the problem here exactly. You mean to say that minor leaguers should feel as though they have total job security? If they aren’t getting the job done, then there are thousands of kids who would take their spots in a minute.
Again, this isn’t to justify or defend Bernazard’s actions while he was employed by the Mets, but let’s be fair here. It looks like Rubin is more interested than finding a job other than the one he already has, this opens him up to some criticism.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
well while nobody has job security, dont you think its a little bit unprofessional to keep reminding your employees they are disposable…what kind of conductive working enviornment is that? Thats all adam was saying and i cant disagree with him on that.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
how did he look more interested in finding a job other than doing his own. He has covered the mets since 2003..just like im sure EVERYONE does, especially a guy in adams positions..WE NETWORK. We try to find a way to better our lives and thats all that adam did. Besides i still dont understand how tonys firing would help his chances. I doubt he would be considered qualified to handle that job anyway. Also he did get advice from jeff but he continued to be a beat writer…do you think by exposing tony that would get his foot in the door…cmon give me a break. Adam did his job and the mets are mad at him for it. He brought tony up front and center and the mets could not justify his actions. The mets DID NOT have to fire tony but they did…wonder why that is?
fongy2
7/28/2009-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
Again,how many corporations with
a billion dollars plus in assests
would have a guy like Omar running
things? And those who have,what have
been the results?
Mr North Jersey
7/28/2009-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
1st let me start off by saying that I have felt Omar Minaya did not deserve to lose his job based on
what has transpired on the field the last 3 seasons.
I also want to say that I have never disliked
Adam Rubin or for that matter anyone at the Daily News in fact I have been an avid reader of their paper
for over 24 years.
Now I want to say that what happened yesterday has people taking sides and for the life of me I can not understand
how there is a right side when in my opinion both sides are wrong before I tell you why here are the keynotes to the
Press Conference then to the press conference before the game with Jeff Wilpon and lastly Adam Rubins conference.
——-Minaya’s Press Conference Highlights——-
01. Omar Minaya 1st says “HE” made a decision after the investigation of Tony B
02. Minaya says “HR” started investigation b4 actual reports were out in the newspaper.
03. Minaya says “HR” presented him with the facts on Sunday July 26th
04. Minaya met with Tony B on Sunday July 26th and showed him the results of investigation
05. Minaya says after meeting with Tony B. he had to make his “recommendation” to ownership that they had to let Tony B go.
06. Minaya on Monday July 27th told Tony B that based on “interpersonal value issues” he had to let tony b go.
07. Minaya says the public reports are not exactly how they happened.
08. Minaya when asked admitted to being surprised by some of the things in the report.
09. Minaya gave praise to Tony B for being a “Talented worker” and a “Hard working baseball man”
10. Minaya said he doesn’t regret giving Tony B access to ownership and the Major League clubhouse.
11. Minaya said Tony B was not the most friendly guy in the world but Tony cared for organization.
12. Minaya said he was completely satisfied with Tony B’s job performance.
13. Minaya said the investigation into Tony B was expedited by the reports in the newspaper by Adam Rubin.
14. Minaya said he “scuffled with it” and said he had to think about it and had to do a thorough investigation
when the reports came out by Adam Rubin because for the last couple of years he (Rubin) had lobbied Minaya and
Tony B for a player development position.
15. Minaya said because of Rubins report when they expedited their investigation they found out other things that
had happened involving Tony B.
16. Minaya says he takes “Full Responsibility” for not knowing about what was going on with Tony B.
17. Minaya when asked said he is not trying to say Adam Rubin was trying to take down Tony B.
18. Minaya said he was going to review and make some changes internally based on what had transpired.
19. Minaya said he never had a reporter write stories about an area of the team in which he was trying to get a job.
20. Minaya said that the rumors about Tony B. having a special relationship with Jeff Wilpon is not true.
21. Minaya stated that Rubin over the years has said not only to Minaya but to others that he (Rubin) wanted to work
in the Front Office.
22. Minaya when asked said he is not suggesting that Rubin had a personal stake in writing the story.
23. Minaya said it was “His decision” to let Tony B go.
24. Minaya said he was disappointed at some of the things the reports showed.
——-Jeff Wilpon & Minaya’s Press Conference Highlights——-
1. Minaya apologized for raising issues about Rubin in not the proper forum.
2. Jeff Wilpon said he asked Minaya to look into incident on the bus plus some of the other incidents that happened.
3. Jeff Wilpon said the had been doing an investigation about 2 or 3 weeks prior to the incident at Binghampton.
4. Jeff Wilpon said Minaya’s Concerns about Rubin’s conflict of interest did not come up till Monday July 27th
after the press conference.
5. Jeff Wilpon admitted to having a conversation with Rubin about career advice and felt their was nothing wrong with that.
6. Minaya said he does not regret what he said only regrets saying it in that forum.
7. Jeff Wilpon said after the press conference Minaya went to Jeff and they had a private conversation as to what was going
through Minaya’s head at the time during the press conference.
8. Minaya says he plans to “possibly” reach out and talk to Rubin about this incident.
9. Minaya said that the fact is when you see stories coming up that were 6 years, 4 years, 2 years, or a long time prior it
made him say what is going on here.
10. Jeff Wilpon said Omar Minaya came with a recommendation to ownership and they agreed and backed his decision to fire Tony B.
11. Minaya said with making the difficult decision to fire Tony there was a lot of emotions going through him as far as how the
different stories that were coming out.
12. Jeff Wilpon said both he and Minaya were both hurt because they were friendly with and liked Tony B. but that he had to be let
go because he was not living by the values that Minaya believes in and that the organization believes in.
——-Adam Rubin Press Conference Highlights——-
1. Rubin said he asked them (Mets F.O.) if you ever hear about jobs that are suitable in baseball how do you get them.
2. Rubin said Jeff Wilpon in the past has invited him to sit down and talk about what he (Rubin) had asked him about but he never
took him or anyone else up on it.
3. Rubin said he never asked Minaya directly for a job in baseball.
4. Rubin said he never asked anyone directly for a job in baseball but rather how do you go about getting a job in baseball.
OK now if you read what was said a few things become abundantly clear.
A. Minaya really did have a friendship with Tony B
B. Tony B. was not well liked by many
C. Minaya clearly felt that Adam Rubin was bringing up stuff that while true were in some events old news and had to wonder why a
reporter would bring up these stories now and had to ask if Rubin asking for a job in the past had anything to do with it.
D. Rubin in his own words admitted to asking for advice on how one goes about getting a job in baseball.
Is Minaya right for bringing Rubin up in that forum without 1st discussing it with ownership?
- No, it is unprofessional it is as simple as that.
Did Tony B deserve to be fired based on Rubin’s stories?
- No, if the F.O. was aware of Tony not being well liked and having personnel issue’s and according to Minaya some of what was
already being reported was old news than why fire him now?
I’ll tell you why very simply put the team’s terrible play to go along with fans disgust with bad organizational decisions
dealing with player injuries forced them to throw Tony B into the fire in hopes of showing fans and the media that they are in
control of the situation and have an idea of what they are doing.
I know it sucks right?
Is Rubin a victim here?
-No, Rubin never thought Minaya’s sadness at having to fire Tony B would never cause him to do the unthinkable and call out Rubin’s
ethics even at the cost of the backlash Minaya was sure to receive and possibly his job for not clearing it with ownership 1st.
By Rubin’s own admission he said he never asked anyone directly for a job in baseball but rather how do you go about getting a
job in baseball.
Now I don’t know about you but to me Rubin is trying to walk a thin line there and I do not believe Minaya
would just fabricate a total lie like that.
Did Rubin cross the line by discussing how one gets a job in baseball?
To me no but by all accounts it is not condoned in the professional media to do this. I mean if Rubin said he was ding a story about
how one gets a job in baseball i guess it would be ok but Rubin never said that and he had ample time to do so. One does not ask about
how to get a job in something unless they want to get a job in it and it is apparent this is what Rubin was doing. So to me Minaya’s
statement about Rubin Lobbying for a job has some merit.
In the end to me Minaya, Rubin, are both wrong in this for the above mentioned reasons.
OK i don’t think I have ever vented so much but thanks for allowing to get my thoughts on paper.
Joe R
7/28/2009-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
Wow you typed all that??
Mr North Jersey
7/28/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
I know can you believe it?
LoL
Joe R
7/28/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
The bottom line and the answer here is the term Omar used. If it is what it appears, Adam asking a question that we all do everyday than he is innocent on all accounts. If Omar is telling the truth and he used the term lobby’d, or however you spell it, for a job than Omar is justified in calling him out. Maybe not at that forum but somewhere. Omar didnt say it once or twice. Omar said lobbying for a job several times. If Omar isnt exaggerating that is a whole dfferent issue.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
lmao…YOU HIRED! Your representation is required immediatly in the case of
OMAR MINAYA
VS
ADAM RUBIN
lolll….but no seriously
I think people are trying to make alot of nothing. Adam did what we all do…he tried to better his life and used his postition to inquire about doing so. I dont see anything wrong with networking. My issue is that
1)all of adams reports were confirmed true so its obvious he did not have a vendetta or ajends with tony. I can understand in that arguement of conflict of interest if the stories were fabricated or stretched out a bit but all of it was true
2) THE METS DID NOT HAVE TO FIRE TONY. Obviously OMAR himself(according to the PR bit) thought he should be gone….why….for the reasons stated in adams report. Omar came across petty and bitter..for what…because adams story expedited your “investigation”. Adam brought up facts from 2-3-4 years ago…why NOW are they investigating. If tony was soo good at his job, why did he need to get fired?
I agree that given the teams play it may have put a brighter spot light on this issue than if the team had been in a better position but facts are facts. Adam did his job on the team that he covers and now theres conflict of interest and all this bs. Hopefully the team has the distraction it needs to take pressure off them and just let them play but still doesnt change what tony did and what adam reported. Thats my take
Joe R
7/28/2009-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
Omar just cant speak. That is the issue. Both statements, Adam asking about a job and Omar thinking to himself Oh it came from Adam let me check this out, are probably true. Omar just couldnt explain himself and dug a deeper hole by trying.
Joe R
7/28/2009-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
Omar just cant speak. That is the issue. Both statements, Adam asking about a job and Omar thinking to himself Oh it came from Adam let me check this out, are probably true. Omar just couldnt explain himself and dug a deeper hole by trying.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s the thing Dirty:
Let’s take Rubin at his word, that all he did was ask for advice from the management. This still puts him in a sticky ethical bind. Say El Jeffe gave him a few really good tid bits on how to parlay his experience into a job with a major league club, how can Rubin then walk out of that office and continue to objectively report on the day in and day out of the team. Maybe he can, maybe he can’t, but that is the problem here.
You talk about networking in the “real world”, but that is totally different here when talking about a member of the press. Who knows, maybe Wilpon wanted to speak to Rubin and give him advice in an attempt to sway the way he reported future issues. A member of the media has no place in networking with the very subject he or she is supposed to be reporting on.
It’s like a Washington Post reporter covering the White House and at the same time trying to get a job in the administration. Isn’t that a conflict of interest? Shouldn’t the public be made aware of such a conflict of interest so that they can make up their own mind?
trs86
7/28/2009-1:33pm at 1:33 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
But adam never said that he wanted to get a job with the mets…thats omar talking. That is exactly what omar was trying to say in the new conferance but obviously did not come out the way he wanted. He wanted to make it “appear” as if adam’s reporting was a conflict of interest because he was “lobbing” for “A” job in development. From what i gather, adam was only wanted to know how to get out of the beat writer line of work and use his knowledge of baseball through his journalism to score a job in baseball. I understand the conflict of interest arguement but how did adam enhance his chances for a position im sure he is unqualified to get in the first place. Not to mention all of his reporting was true.
trs86
7/28/2009-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
But Dirty you know he wanted a job with the Mets, that is not really in debate is it?
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
if you want to play the speculation game then yes. Omar is speculating that adam had an ajenda with his reporting on Tony and adam is speculated to have wanted a job with the mets which only apparently omar knows about. Jeff did not say it was a job with the mets.
trs86
7/28/2009-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
But come on Dirty, you know he wanted it with the Mets. There is no way he would have wanted it with anyone else.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
why not? If he couldnt get a job with the mets he was going to just give up. Adam was asking an OVERALL approach to get into a desk job with a baseball organization..not the mets. Im sure since he has covered the mets so long he would have a preferance to go there but from what i hear from adam and jeffs conferance, it was not specifically about the mets…all apart of the speculation game.
trs86
7/28/2009-1:56pm at 1:56 pm (UTC -4)
Again, you just should not ask people that it is your job to cover.
Mr North Jersey
7/28/2009-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
It has nothing to do if his reporting was true it has to do why it was reported to begin with. all these Tony b stories for the most part came from Rubin so it is human nature that if you have someone that by all understanding is an ass then maybe he was an ass to Rubin when rubin approached him about gettting into player development according to Minaya and maybe Rubin decided to go after him in the paper to not get a job but to make him look bad. is that so far fetched?
trs86
7/28/2009-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
Its just you can’t ask someone about help changing jobs into their field when you are supposed to be an independent coverage of them.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
I agree that the ultimate veracity of his stories is not really the issue. The issue here is motive, or potential motive. Remember that this happened a while back, who knows how long he (Rubin) knew about it or how long he sat on it. I would also add that there are probably countless stories, even in today’s day in age, that are true, but aren’t always reported. Maybe not as much as the old days, but I bet that thsi still happens to some degree.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
ok so ill ask you straight up. Do you think that adam had an alterior motive to writing his report on tony? Even though
a) he never specifically asked for a job on the mets(jeff did not mention this)
b) all of it was true
c) adam has covered the mets for 6 years now and perhaps more with his minor league work
Dont be an omar…do you think he was motivated to write that piece and get tony fired? Or was he just doing his job and bringing the mets dirty laundry to light?
trs86
7/28/2009-2:10pm at 2:10 pm (UTC -4)
No, all Omar said was that he had to investigate because he knew Rubin wanted a job. When he first heard the report he took it with a grain of salt basically.
Basically, Omar is an idiot and there is more to the story.
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-2:54pm at 2:54 pm (UTC -4)
Do I think that Rubin wrote the story with the motive of getting Bernazard fired? Probably not, but I also can see Omar’s POV. If I were in his shoes, knowing that Rubin has inquired about getting a job in the front office, I would at least take a second and say to myself, “Hmmm, is there anything more to this?”
Now, I think that was what Omar was trying to say, but as we all saw he failed miserably, but I don’t think there was malice on his part to ruin Rubin’s career. I think he was just trying to connect the dots and again, he shouldn’t have done so while thinking aloud at a press conference.
But, in answer to your question, no, the story was prob not written with the intent to get Tony B fired (he did enough on his own to deserve that).
udontmesswthejohan
7/28/2009-1:46pm at 1:46 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah look, I don’t think he was asking for Tony B’s job, but still, I don’t know, something just doesn’t sit right about it.
Omar was wrong for raising the issue in the way taht he did, but Adam is also wrong here. I guess I’m just a little upset that he is painting himself as such a huge victim.
I think we both agree that Tony B deserved to be fired…I think everyone can agree on this.
trs86
7/28/2009-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
Yup, It was just not the time or place. Omar should have went privately to Adam and then to the head of the paper.
Omar was just angry because he felt his hand was forced.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
i agree
my main issue is apparently everyone is up in arms about adam inquring on how to get into a different line of work and him continuing to cover the team. From what this sounds like, it happened ALONG time ago and adam has been covering the Mets for quite some time now. How is it ALL OF A SUDDEN his morality comes into question and theres a conflict of interest…why..because he did some investigative reporting? Im sure there are many journalist that did investigative reporting on the mets but everyone wants to hang rubin out for something that happened a very long time ago.
trs86
7/28/2009-1:58pm at 1:58 pm (UTC -4)
My thing is the POTENTIAL. So Adam goes to the Mets and says I have a story on Tony that I am going to release if you don’t get me a job….
Again, that is most likely not what happen but it is still something that could happen.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Well..thats omars thing too lol. If that was the case than omar should have just said thats what happened instead of this witch hunt and who said who that could potentially cost adam his job. I know the daily news “said” they are behind him 100% but like you said, people are playing up the “potential” of his motives where he may have been innocently doing his job as a reporter/journalist. Thats my point, he was doing his job and because he did, it made the mets look bad…so what do they do…lets manipulate and twist a certian event to discredit adam for making it hard to keep our friend employeed. Im sorry, maybe im a little biased because of a similar situation at a previous job but i dont like people who mess with other peoples jobs w/o ledgitamte reasons. The mets did not have to fire tony but they did. There had to be a reason for it? Adam did his job…thats it.
trs86
7/28/2009-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, I just think there is more to the story. Omar messed up but there is more to the story.
Mr North Jersey
7/28/2009-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Dirty you do agree that Rubin doing what he did (asking for tips on how to get into baseball) could be viewed as a conflict of interest?
If you listen to the media by all accounts this is something that should not be done.
I mean we are also speculating that Rubin only asked for tips on how to get into baseball rather than asking the Mets for a job in their Front Office.
dirtysanchez
7/28/2009-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
and im sure we wont get the full story jerz. To answer your question however no. I do not think taht asking for advice on how to get a better job from someone with knowledge about the field you want to persue(owner of a baseball franchise) is grounds for a “conflict of interest” when covering the team. Imo one thing does not have anything to do with the other. Adam had inside scoops, post games, pre-games, interviews…reporting. Why all of a sudden the motive of him doing his job comes into question is beyond me. But tahts just my POV
Mr North Jersey
7/28/2009-2:43pm at 2:43 pm (UTC -4)
I agree to me its not a conflict of interest but I am only saying that those that are in the field suggest this is not condoned.
CaseStreet
7/28/2009-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Wow, you should’ve made this a separate Post. Nice analysis.Rubin said he never spoke to Minaya or Tony B. about a job. Who’s lying?
Mr North Jersey
7/28/2009-2:14pm at 2:14 pm (UTC -4)
It is agreed that what happened yesterday was a big event right?
It was something that in the least if you are a Mets fan made your Front Office look how do i say it “Not Good”?
So today all that cover the Mets and even those that don’t have chimed in on what has happened.
All that is but the so-called Official Blog of the Mets.
From them you get this
“On one hand, I think Rubin is an amazing reporter; one of the smartest people covering and thinking about the team; he has inspired and motivated me”
“On the other hand, in so many ways, and on more than one occasion, Rubin has made it known to me and people I work with that he is not fan of what I do… or at least how I do it.”
“In other words, it is difficult for me to comment on this issue between Rubin and the Mets, because I have my own positive and negative personally-involved feelings about both sides.”
What does this have to do with what happened yesterday? I mean is he saying because Rubin didn’t like what he does if he says something Rubin will say your only saying it because of what I said about what you do?
Who cares what Rubin thinks this is a personal opinion one is making right not a declaration of fact.
How about an opinion on Minaya? Is he not 1st a Mets fan? Does he not think his followers want to know how he feels about how Minaya has handled things?
He goes on to say:
“I realize these sort of off-field issues are fun for talk radio hosts, and for fans who call in to their shows. Similarly, it gives fan-only bloggers the chance to spout off about who is right and who is wrong and who is an ‘idiot,’ who should be fired and who shouldn’t, all while knowing nothing about beat reporting, running a baseball team, and knowing nothing about the personalities involved in this story – and that’s OK, in some ways this is what we do.
“Fan-only bloggers”? “In some ways this is what we do”? Am I missing something is he not a fan only blogger does he not give his opinion on what is going on with the Mets even though he has no knowledge of nothing about running a baseball team?
Can it be he dare not bite the hand that feeds it or go after the media also without fearing a backlash to getting plugs for his site? This coming from someone that says he can write whatever he wants. I am not so sure that holds true anymore but I have been wrong before.
trs86
7/28/2009-2:29pm at 2:29 pm (UTC -4)
That is what you get for reading the old guard for anything more than information.