According to Andy McCullough and the always reliable Star Ledger, Jerry Manuel’s option will not be picked up and Omar Minaya will no longer be GM. http://www.nj.com/mets/index.ssf/2010/10/mets_dismiss_manager_jerry_man.html
The team apparently has left open the possibility that Omar might remain in another position.
The losing and two consecutive terrible years have apparently finally struck the Wilpons; change is now upon us.
The following days and weeks will surely see dramatic changes in personnel on and off the field.
Here’s one voice guardedly cheering these moves.
Let’s wait and see who the new bosses are before being too sure they will be different (and more independent) than the old bosses.
46 comments
Dirtysanchez
10/4/2010-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
Well…offseason is off to a good start
Mr North Jersey
10/4/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
Lately a Dirty sighting is like a “BigFoot” sightings. Quick where is that print screen button.
Dirtysanchez
10/4/2010-1:41pm at 1:41 pm (UTC -4)
HA!
Been a little tied up with “other” little priorities
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-12:07pm at 12:07 pm (UTC -4)
The next GM will benefit from Omar’s prospects. Anyone can sign the big free agents. I commend him for not trading away the young core. However, he failed to put solid players around the core. Thanks Omar.
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
anyone can spend a lot of money on big name FAs, but it still takes intelligence to know when to stop bidding, and how to bid on in the first place. Otherwise you end up with ollie and slappy!
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
looking at the spyder feed, it seems that Ricco is the interim GM for the moment. I guess that makes sense, given he was assistant.
As to Omar, I am still curious to know if the rumor that he can’t be reassigned without his consent is true (so that he could dcline to be, and still collect his 2mill).
I do think that the new BB leader guy (whether it be a 1 or 2 man operation) should get to decide on everyone in the FO. Including ricco and omar. No holdovers. Unless of course your last name is Wilpon or Katz, in which case you get to keep your patronage job through nepotism!
I am currently voting for an H&H tandem. Hart to fix the organization, and Hahn (that how you spell it? THe dude from the white sox) for GM and grunt work guy.
metsfan4decades
10/4/2010-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
SNY who is covering this story live, did report Ricco is the GM in the interim.
Omar will address the media live shortly, which SNY will cover.
They’ll also be covering the 1330 news conference by both the Wilpons.
This should be interesting, but wonder what more can be said? The previous post with the official word from the Jeff says it all. It was short, to the point and professionally done, IMO. Now let’s back up those words with actions, Jeff….
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:22pm at 12:22 pm (UTC -4)
13:30? I guess you really are in the navy.
Prismo
10/4/2010-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Actually, if memory serves me 4D was/is a member of the US military in some capacity. Or worked for them…or something.
Mr North Jersey
10/4/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
NAVY!
Prismo
10/4/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
Yes…the navy is in the military.
Mr North Jersey
10/4/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
it is? LoL
njstuckintx
10/4/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
100 men go out to sea…
50 couples come back…
metsfan4decades
10/4/2010-12:34pm at 12:34 pm (UTC -4)
Opps, sorry. And yes, so used to writing emails/documents indicating all times as military time for over 31 years, it’s almost a habit…..
Prismo
10/4/2010-12:18pm at 12:18 pm (UTC -4)
Minaya’s out of the organization.
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-12:19pm at 12:19 pm (UTC -4)
Adam Rubin tweeted Omar won’t stay with the Mets.
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
probably the best thing all around. He should be able to land a scouting type job elsewhere, or maybe he will just relax and enjoy his 7 figure salary for a year of doing nothing!
fongy2
10/4/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Very good day to be a Met fan!
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
Merry X-Mas!
njstuckintx
10/4/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Sad that it’s the day the season is over, prior to the playoffs starting…
Mr North Jersey
10/4/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
Minaya said if GM wants him back he wouldn’t rule out coming back.
Mr North Jersey
10/4/2010-12:25pm at 12:25 pm (UTC -4)
LoL Minaya asked what does he think went wrong?
He replies “well 1st of all we didn’t win”.
Really Omar?
Prismo
10/4/2010-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
LOL. Good for him.
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
that was pretty much # 2-99 also.
I somehow don’t get the impression that Omar will burn down the house on his way out the door, but it would be nice (for us, of course) to get an honest persepctive on exactly how meddlesome and controlling Paris really was.
Mr North Jersey
10/4/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
Minaya says he can look for work elsewhere if he chooses.
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
probably means his contract was only for GM/VP. Unless the Wilpons were nice, and just paid him off with no strings attached.
I suppose you could consider that hush money too.
Mr North Jersey
10/4/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Eddie C on the Wfan rite now
metsfan4decades
10/4/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Omar just on. Have to give him credit – he obviously was prepared for this. It was emotional but he handled himself very well.
He said that he did discuss the possibility of staying in the organization but ‘to be fair, right now it’s best that we leave things as is. ‘The new GM should have the say in what his org. looks like. When/if the time comes, we’ll discuss a possibility of me on the staff but for now, we’ll leave it as is’. He said they left the possibility on the table but ‘let’s see what the new GM’s plan will be going forward. I will not be involved at all with the search for the new GM’.
When KB pressed him further he said, ‘I won’t be working in an office, that’s for sure.’ Chuckling he said something about not missing the commute on the GW. He said he’s a baseball guy and he’s sure he’ll continue to work in the industry for some team and some time but for now, will be spending time with his family.
He admitted ‘change is needed’, and he totally agreed with the Wilpons that change was needed. Obviously he seemed to me it was mutual on both sides it was time to part ways.
He went on the say, the ownership is fully committed to a winning team, both the business side and baseball side. ‘They are trying and will try everything they can to bring that here for the NY Met fans.’ He thanked all for their support both the organization, and the fans. He said ‘keep the faith, keep on believing. It will happen’.
He went on to thank the media as well. He seemed almost relieved, was smiling so this obviously wasn’t a surprise to him and as I said, was well prepared to address the media this morning.
**************************************
Consensus was, as Bobby O put it, ‘a very classy man saying a very classy goodbye’.
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
interesting read.
and it makes me realize that all the blog/media focus was on what would the Mets do, and would they keep omar on. Assuming pretty much that he wanted to be kept on.
From reading this, you get the sense that he was in a job/role that was not particularly suited for him, and that frankly he probably did not want to be doing. Maybe he kept it for the paycheck (been done many a time!), or out of loyalty to the Wilpons.
But in any case, he actually seems relieved to be out from under the burden, and I don’t sense it was just because of the constant speculation.
Many of us have had jobs that we hated, and felt happy to finally move on from. And if that is the case here, this is a win win, in that it is better for Omar, and better for the Mets.
who knows, if Jeffy was too invloved, maybe it really was because Omar couldn’t or didnt want to handle everything?
I guess we shall find out soon enough.
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-12:41pm at 12:41 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t think he didn’t want to be G.M. I think he said it was his dream job. It’s probably more that he’s tired of not winning.
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
didn’t sound that way, esepcially with the comment about not working in an office. GM is really tied down all the time I imagine (like any big boss responsible for everyone and everything).
actually, it could easily be that this was his dream job, until he got it and it turned out not to be what he expected.
but, at this point, doesn’t matter. Time to focus on the next guy.
And at least Omar left some talent in the farm system and on the mets roster for that new guy.
njstuckintx
10/4/2010-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
If you do think about it, he did leave this team in a pretty good situation, long term. The short term (1-2 years) is going to tough, but not horrible. And will some proper planning, years 3 and on should be good with the kids being all growed up and such.
njstuckintx
10/4/2010-12:42pm at 12:42 pm (UTC -4)
Definitely handled himself well on the exit. I do wish him well.
TRS86
10/4/2010-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
Nice job Omar.
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Kevin Burkhardt suggested bringing in a guy like Terry Ryan, former Twins G.M., who has experience and can groom the next G.M.
stickguy
10/4/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
I am warming up to the 2 headed monster concept.
the Sr. guy gets to fucus on cleaning out the dead wood in the FO and organization as a whole, and keeps Jeff/Fred marginalized in the background.
The new GM can then focus on player moves and the roster (ML and MiL) for now.
If 1 guys comes in and tries to accomplish everything at one time (a full remodel, and the day to day work) he may get stretched way too thin.
This is almost exactly the situation that Gillick came into in Philly.
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
Gillick and Amaro were who Burkhardt was thinking of.
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
Wonder if Adam Rubin will be on the short list.
TRS86
10/4/2010-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, I am gonna bet… NO.
stickguy
10/4/2010-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
how about Megdal? He ran a whole campaing and everything.
saltygary
10/4/2010-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
WOW! I figured Manual wouldn’t get a new contract but Omar gone is a total shock. He has done so much to this team like bringing in Beltran and Pedro to show the Mets can sign respectable players. Getting some great young talent in the farm. The amazing Johan trade and sign.Yea maybe the Ollie contract was a little excessive but this guy has done a commendable job. Total shot in the dark.
TRS86
10/4/2010-1:09pm at 1:09 pm (UTC -4)
Hard to tell if you are being serious Salty.
Prismo
10/4/2010-1:14pm at 1:14 pm (UTC -4)
There were a number of posters who seriously thought the Mets would retain Omar in the GM role for another year. I won’t name names…
CaseStreet
10/4/2010-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
me
metsfan4decades
10/4/2010-1:23pm at 1:23 pm (UTC -4)
I truly don’t remember if I had any thoughts on Omar remaining with the org in another capacity but Omar’s statements today made sense.
This isn’t like me losing my job and being offered a lifeline in the company to keep a pay check b/c I need it. Omar has plenty of options and heck, for all I know maybe never needs to work again.
I can understand him leaning towards not coming back to the Met organization right now. It’s probably been increasingly stressful since 2007 – whether it was directly his fault or not – and for all we know, maybe the Wilpons were getting in the way of what Omar wanted/didn’t want to do and the chance to flick that weight off his shoulders might have been like a godsend to him….
saltygary
10/4/2010-1:29pm at 1:29 pm (UTC -4)
Just screwing around trying to get flamed. Always listen to your gut on my posts.
Anyhoo if he wasn’t fired I was prepared to put my head through the window. Supported his hiring but he fell apart and needed to go.
I think it was North who put together the list of all his moves? It really showed how devastating Wainwrights curve was. It changed Omar’s approach because of how close the team was and he over-reacted and I firmly believe it changed the mentality of the team and made them afraid to lose.
Oh well sad day that we have to be excited about people getting fired.