So according to Andy Martino of the NY Daily News the Mets have prioritized that the next GM have the following qualities.
- Toughness: He has to be able to stand up to players and have thick skin when it involves criticism from the media.
- Balance: He has to use both traditional scouting and newer statistical analysis. Sabermetrics?
- Vision: He has to articulate a plan to address the club’s needs immediately and lead them as they enter a new era of financial flexibility as the contracts of Beltran, Castillo, Perez and Rodriquez are about to expire.
41 comments
wannybackstra
9/21/2010-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
Hard to imagine a candidate with all those qualifications would be available.
TRS86
9/21/2010-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Sounds a lot like Towers.
wannybackstra
9/21/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
I would not have a problem with Towers at all. But I think he is more of a scouting guy than a numbers guy.
TRS86
9/21/2010-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Not saying I don’t want it but when did we fire Omar and start the next GM search? Why would Mets officials tell ANYONE what they are looking for in a GM when they still have one? This just seems fishy, all the reports and leaks about who they will consider, who they will not, what they are looking for…
If they actually are leaking these things then it wont matter who we chose because it will still be the same garbage of controversy after controversy.
njstuckintx
9/21/2010-11:58am at 11:58 am (UTC -4)
Well, I think the qualities helisted are similar to one describing water. We’d like our water to be moist, have the ability to become solid around 32 degrees F, be vapor aroung 212 F, etc. etc.
Prismo
9/21/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Additionally, is there any team who *wouldn’t* want these traits in a GM?
“Well, we really want a weak GM who’s easily offended and submits to players’ views 10 out of 10 times.”
“We want a GM with no vision, who signs players based on immediate need, and forgoes any consideration of future seasons.”
The balance of statistical approach and scouting approach is the only one of the 3 traits that could vary from owner to owner, IMO.
njstuckintx
9/21/2010-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
my thoughts exactly.
The only bit of info on the stats vs. old school approach was about the diamond backs, who supposedly were looking for an old school type GM.
Mr North Jersey
9/21/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
Wow your tough.
Prismo
9/21/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
How so? Tough on what/whom?
metsfan4decades
9/21/2010-11:51am at 11:51 am (UTC -4)
It should have included:
‘Has to be well respected and tough enough to stand up to ownership in order to implement that ‘plan’ they want him to come up with.
GravediggerHebner
9/21/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Related to the subject of “newer statistical analysis” I enjoyed this (rough, not verbatim) portion of Francesa’s interview with Cashman yesterday.
Cashman: “Our people assured me when we traded for Swisher that the year prior he had just been incredibly unlucky (the year before they acquired him was the worst full season of his career in many ways). They told me his line drive rates, his contact rates, everything was the same in ’08 as it had been before, just that in ’08 more of what he hit, they caught. So we made the deal and we gave up a lot less than the White Sox had when they traded for him the year before.”
So they used a combination of traditional scouting and newer statistical analysis to identify a player who they could expect production from and bought him low. I can’t point to any example of the Mets doing this kind of thing under Omar. Sure I can find guys they bought low, but they mostly stayed pretty low. Just to get it out of the way I’ll add that R.A. Dickey doesn’t strike me as an example of the Mets using “newer statistical analysis.”
metsfan4decades
9/21/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Read an article recently that quoted Omar as saying back in 2004 something like he doesn’t really get into the ‘new’ stats kind of thing but he’s got guys on his staff looking into it now….
Ceetar
9/21/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
Well, Bay didn’t work out. But he’s one example. The Mets do have those people. How about Angel Pagan? The difference here is Cashman has no problem breaking it down, while Omar often speaks in more general terms. He’ll say something more along the lines of “We feel this guy has the potential to havea good year this year” or whatnot.
I’d argue that Omar has toughness and balance. He does havea statistical guy on the payroll and has stated that he listens to him. he’s tough, as we’ve seen many instance of him being steadfast in negiations, and the media thing is silly, because what Andy is saying is “If I pick on you, don’t strike back” which actually goes against toughness. Omar’s not exactly one to be walked over.
Vision is another story, and one that’s not often fully communicated to the public. and it’s the vision taht needs to be sold to keep his job imo.
TRS86
9/21/2010-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
“The difference here is Cashman has no problem breaking it down, while Omar often speaks in tongues.”
GravediggerHebner
9/21/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
I’m going to withhold judgment on whether Bay’s signing has worked out yet or not there is a lot of contract left.
But I don’t see how Bay, coming off a career best season in HR and RBI, would serve as an example of the Mets identifying a player having a statistically unlucky year and buying low on him.
And Pagan doesn’t serve as an example of this either – when the Mets acquired him it was after his 2nd partial year in the majors which was also the best year of his then 2 partial season career.
I may very well be missing someone but Bay & Pagan aren’t who I am overlooking.
TRS86
9/21/2010-1:19pm at 1:19 pm (UTC -4)
I think the Bay perspective was for him defensively. All defensive stats pointed towards bad defense (of course then they went back and changed the formula to accommodate) and Bay proved to be a very good defender.
njstuckintx
9/21/2010-1:25pm at 1:25 pm (UTC -4)
Did you read how Boras was making the case for Werth getting more money than Bay as worth was a better defender who could play center?
TRS86
9/21/2010-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I did read that he said he was more athletic and could play CF. I expect Werth to NOT get anywhere near what he wants.
fongy2
9/21/2010-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks for the Dickey note….Before the (few remaining) Omar
defenders point to his signing as proof of O’s greatness.
You know the saying about a blind squirrel…………Or in Omar’s
case, un ardilla ciego……..
TRS86
9/21/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
While true, it has also occurred many other times under Omar’s watch. Omar has had problems finishing the team and with a few big contracts. He has not had difficulty finding lightning in the bottle.
fongy2
9/21/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
True….However yet ANOTHER problem I have with Omar
is that he simply doesn’t understand the concept of “Catching
lightning in a bottle”. See: Valentin, Mota etc…
TRS86
9/21/2010-12:53pm at 12:53 pm (UTC -4)
True but here is the problem with that. How do you tell when it’s a revitalized career and when it’s luck? Example, should the Mets bring back Dickey? Obviously 99% of us would say yes. However, how many would blame the next GM if he flopped?
fongy2
9/21/2010-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
Every case,like every person is different. Specificly
with Valentin, 38 years old???, originally signed as
a Bench guy, the next season with a new contract, he’s
gonna be our everyday 2Bman? And be counted on to
do it again?
Mota, career of failure ina big spot, we get him for nothin’
he’s good for a month and blows up again in the playoffs,
is a PED offender, will have to serve a suspention AND
is rewarded with a TWO year deal???…It was during this
time, along with TWO years for Juliuo Franco THAT Omar
began to lose me…..
fongy2
9/21/2010-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Oh….And I almost forgot Duque…..’Nuff said.
TRS86
9/21/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
Elduque was also fine until the picked up option. The problem that Omar had/has is once they do fall off the charts don’t expect them to rebound.
TRS86
9/21/2010-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
How about a 35 year old pitcher with very little success in the minors or majors has a very good season as a minor league call up. And to be counted on to do it again?
Prismo
9/21/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
And that would be the argument against signing Dickey to a multi-year deal, despite the majority of fans wanting that.
If he signs a 1-year deal and isn’t up to snuff, the Mets will hopefully have options in AAA to replace him (Gee, Mejia). But the risk does highlight the need for the Mets to find Santana’s replacement from outside the organization, allowing some of our high-end/near-ready prospects to start the year in AAA.
TRS86
9/21/2010-1:21pm at 1:21 pm (UTC -4)
I think, however, there are some risk you have to take for the good of the team. Is it really going to hurt the team if they sign Dickey to a 2 year deal? Buying out one year of FA? If it fails they are out 3M but if it works they save 10.
fongy2
9/21/2010-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
Not to mention the guys Gung-Ho, Gamer personality which
gains legitimacy by both his status as a second generation MLBer
and as a prior, somewhat productive MLBer himself.
Every Yankee source I’ve seen or heard over the past two
seasons have I.D.ed Swisher’s and Tex’s attituteand approach
to the game on a daily basis to the improvement of the Yanks
in 2009 and 2010. Changing what had become a far too button down team both in the clubhouse and on the field which totally lacked fire.
Ceetar
9/21/2010-1:47pm at 1:47 pm (UTC -4)
Swisher maybe, sure. and Burnett.
Tex is a button down bland guy. he won’t even curse.
metsfan4decades
9/21/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
BTW Matt Diaz was too funny last night. I was watching the game and of course MLB wouldn’t show that idiot who ran on the field. I knew Diaz took him down though b/c they were talking about it. Knew if I looked around I’d find a video about it this morning.
So…how many Philly ball park security ‘specialits’ does it take to down a fan who runs out on the field?
Answer: None. Only need one Brave’s LF.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Matt-Diaz-does-Philly-fan-a-favor-with-safe-but?urn=mlb-271200
stickguy
9/21/2010-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
that was on our local news. Usually they don’t show the person, but in this case, they made the exception.
fongy2
9/21/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
All that sh*t would end quickly if Security was allowed to
Rodney King them!…..just sayin’……….
stickguy
9/21/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Well, Philly is the place with the tazers. since they did not hit this guy, not sure if they got taken away or not.
fongy2
9/21/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
I say lock the doors and give ‘em the Billy Batts treatment!!!
fongy2
9/21/2010-12:45pm at 12:45 pm (UTC -4)
Frankly, at this point I’d take anyone of you to run this team instead
of Don Omar!!!……..Except, maybe TRS….
Mr North Jersey
9/21/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
TRS86
9/21/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
Aw shucks Fongy.
saltygary
9/21/2010-1:11pm at 1:11 pm (UTC -4)
Quote from Jeff at Octobers news conference:
“The Mets Next GM Job Requirements: Toughness, Balance and Vision and that’s why Omar is our man for 2011 and beyond. Oh and BTW payroll will be reduced by another 10 million because you jerk fans didn’t show up. It’s all the fans fault. You want a big payroll then you come and buy some chicken taco’s and a foam hand. I RUN THIS BITCH, JEFFY Out!!!”
saltygary
9/21/2010-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Found a vid off Jeff when he was a kid:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/thechive/videos/200/
stickguy
9/21/2010-1:48pm at 1:48 pm (UTC -4)
well, thanks for that little break in the day Salty…