Our friend Matt Cerrone posted a very interesting tweet from ESPN’s Adam Rubin on Saturday.
While it may be true that Rubin has more axes to grind than a jilted Lizzie Borden, this still is very thought-provoking.
Rubin tweeted a point which perhaps none of us had realized, which may indeed be the reason that the team is apparently considering Josh Byrnes and Sandy Alderson as the final two GM candidates, despite Byrnes’ youth and very mediocre record.
Rubin quite accurately states that the ridiculous contract that the DBacks gave Byrnes is still in force—i.e., if the Mets hire Byrnes, they will be able to pay him much, much less than a similar candidate (or Alderson) could demand.
When combined with Byrnes’ youth, record, and the circumstances of his firing, all of which may suggest a serious eagerness and willingness to compromise on his part to obtain another GM position, this writer feels as though a seriously depressing situation may be at hand.
One can easily feel that Alderson, if hired, would have demanded and received a serious pledge of autonomy from the Wilpons and Uncle Saul. Omar may never have had total autonomy. Many fans feel, after the disappointment of the last few years and the feeling that Jeff Wilpon’s complete lack of serious baseball experience may have had a lot to do with it, that it is time for a wise owner in Fred Wilpon to hire someone with background and standing in the business, step back, reign in his son, and let the new GM completely run the team, as Frank Cashen once did.
Regardless of what one may think of Sandy Alderson, it is very difficult to imagine a scenario where he would accept the Mets’ GM job were he not assured that Jeff Wilpon would stay far, far away from him when any decisions on personnel were being made.
Josh Byrnes, while most certainly being a considerably less expensive hire, is 23 years younger than Alderson. While Alderson’s record can be debated, and it has been pointed out here that his steroid-fueled A’s teams did have just five winning seasons in his fifteen at the helm, they did produce three pennants and one title, and largely gave birth to the modern evolution of statistical evaluation of players now widespread in the game.
Byrnes’ record as GM is decidedly mixed, and includes the abominable Eric Byrnes contract, and trading away players like Carlos Quentin and Carlos Gonzalez. Perhaps most troubling is his record regarding A.J. Hinch.
Hinch was hired to be the DBacks’ manager despite supposedly never managing OR coaching at any level. He lasted less than two seasons before being fired, and there have been rumblings that his relationship with Byrnes was a major reason for his hiring, as well as for Byrnes’ supposed reluctance to let him go.
Overall, the DBacks improved in Byrnes’ first years, winning 90 and a playoff spot in 2007, but have regressed every year since.
Why exactly do the Wilpons think that Josh Byrnes is a better candidate than Rick Hahn? Is someone so young with such a mixed record at his one GM post really the best they can find? Is his relationship with the apparently overmatched Hinch not eerily reminiscent of very similar behavior that was roundly pilloried when exhibited by Omar Minaya?
It is entirely possible that we may soon celebrate the hiring of Sandy Alderson, which would mean the Wilpons will be stepping back and letting Alderson run the show; his signing could also signify less financial constraint than is widely predicted.
However, should the Wilpons pick Josh Byrnes over Sandy Alderson, the fan base has every right to feel as though it has been seriously played. Byrnes’ record is mediocre, he would be a significantly less expensive hire than Alderson, and most importantly, there is reason to believe that his hiring would not signify Jeff Wilpon’s removal from decision-making on a level anywhere near what the hiring of Alderson would virtually certainly mean.
While it has been stated here that a younger, better choice than Alderson probably could have been found, the feeling here is very strong that the hiring of Josh Byrnes over Sandy Alderson would absolutely not be that choice.
11 comments
rustyjr
10/24/2010-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
The thought has crossed my mind – but I have to hive Fred & Jeff the benefit of the doubt whomever they decide to hire
GravediggerHebner
10/24/2010-2:51pm at 2:51 pm (UTC -4)
Very well written and thought provoking as always sir.
I want to be very careful and not mislabel it but do I understand correctly that this corner has recently come out to warn us that Alderson may not be as good as some think he is and is now warning us that Byrnes may be even worse? I feel like I’m choosing between being forced to eat a warm sh!t sandwich or a cold one.
I think both candidates are questionable. I think that Alderson offers more in the way of “look what I can do as a GM!” and Byrnes offers more in the way of “when I grow up I’m gonna be a GM!”
My biggest fear with Alderson is that, like so many free agent signings, the Mets will be paying him to try and replicate his past but his best years may be behind him.
My biggest fear with Byrnes is that he only looked good because he sat next to Theo Epstein.
Related to the autonomy question is the reported but not 100% factually proven thought that the AZ owner was responsible for signing Eric Byrnes to the offending contract, taking negotiations away from the GM to ensure that a player who was more popular with the fanbase than he was good was retained. So I’m not prepared to lay the Eric Byrnes fiasco solely at the feet of Josh Byrnes.
Ultimately I think both candidates are flawed and can reasonably be questioned and doubted, as this space has done thoroughly and well. And ultimately I agree that given the unique circumstances of the Mets franchise at this time that Alderson is the superior choice among the two candidates.
I just don’t think it’s a slam dunk. Both offer pluses and minuses. Only one can be the young guy who boldly makes his mark and leads the team to an unprecedented decade of sustained success. Byrnes may or may not be that guy but there’s only one way to find out. But only one can bring his experience to gain instant respect and restore credibility to the franchise. Alderson is that guy.
Prismo
10/24/2010-3:28pm at 3:28 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t scare me like this Kingman!
I hope the Mets don’t do that, and all signs are still pointing toward Alderson…so I’ll just wait and see. Maybe, given Byrnes’ cheapness, the Mets are hoping they can hire both guys!
stickguy
10/24/2010-5:09pm at 5:09 pm (UTC -4)
I still stick by my 2 headed monster idea, so getting both of them would fit right in. And Byrnes being cheap, combined with Hahn reportedly only moving for the perfect, he is the man, situation would explain why these are the 2 finalists.
njstuckintx
10/24/2010-6:31pm at 6:31 pm (UTC -4)
I endorse this.
I still wanted Terry… :/ sniffle.
stickguy
10/24/2010-5:15pm at 5:15 pm (UTC -4)
And I have it on good authority that it was Uncle Saul on the grassy knoll!
I know that many people would never consider the possibility, but there is also the option that they were blwon away by the vision and ideas that Byrnes brought to the table, and that is why he is here still. And that Alderson came across as less than a vibrant in the moment genius.
So, Byrnes could be hired because he was actually the best overall option, even though if it happens, I am sure there will be an immediate and overwhelming outcry of “Coupons! Meddlers! abandon all hope, ye who enters here!”
And without having been in the room, we have no idea how Byrnes and Hahn did. I know Hahn is the peoples choice, but basically he is like a prospect. Everyone loves him, even though he has never performed in the show ANd Byrens is the rookie or 2nd year guy, that has had his warts exposed.
stickguy
10/24/2010-5:17pm at 5:17 pm (UTC -4)
geez, text box went spastic there. To finish up, a few years ago Byrnes was the hot, can’t miss GM to be that Hahn is now.
and like managers, a lot of GMs are way better at their 2nd stop, after learning some hard lessons at the first.
stickguy
10/24/2010-5:36pm at 5:36 pm (UTC -4)
totally off topic, but just to pour salt in the wound, Philly fans must be lining up on the bridges to get to the jomb rail after the Eagles lost in spectacular fashion, with a massive 4th quarter collapse.
So sad. I need to fire up some condolence Emails to some of my philly fan friends!
fongy2
10/24/2010-8:38pm at 8:38 pm (UTC -4)
Great job Brock except for a couple of points. 1) The D-Back’s 90win season was done using the players and staff already on-board before
Byrnes arrived. 2) Omar didn’t have TOTAL POWER the first few yrs
he was here???..3) I don’t think you can pigeon-hole anyone in any
profession with the vast experience Alderson has in the game.
Who knows what his plan to restructure our Mets will be?…….
I do know though that his experience should have learned him dat
there’s more than one or two ways to do it.
Byrnes experience has shown us that he is not qualified to be a GM
in MLB!…Bad contracts, bad trades, bad drafts and bad choices with
his coaching staff.
B/T/W, tough loss for your Dolfs today my friend BUT your guys really,really hurt our SB chances knocking Aaron Smith out for
the season.
stickguy
10/24/2010-11:27pm at 11:27 pm (UTC -4)
interesting though that there were many reports that the owner(s) were driving the bus on some of moves(such as the other byrnes). So maybe he likes meddling?
metsfan4decades
10/25/2010-12:42am at 12:42 am (UTC -4)
Bottom line: there is no perfect GM out there.
No matter who the Wilpons hire, those that want to find fault will. Those that want to be cautiously optimistic, will go down that road.
I have no reason right now to believe the Wilpons – especially Fred – didn’t mean what they said at that press conference day after the season ended. They understand the fans desire for a winner, they’re going to do everything in their power to accomplish that. It just remains to be seen how well they’ll actually accomplish that goal.
If they make a mistake with the hiring of the GM, I don’t think it’s going to be money that was the driving force behind that mistake.
I’m willing to take a wait and see attitude right now. I’m getting a little tired of the conspiracy theories speculated on by the so called ‘insiders’ to all things Mets. Is it so inconceivable, as Stick suggests above, more went on with all the interviews than we’re ever going to be privy to?
I know one thing though….some aren’t going to be happy with the new GM until the results are in. Which means this speculation will likely go on for some time to come.