" Will he be our saviour ?"
I’ll tell you one thing, even though I am still reveling in the misery of both Yankees and Phillies fans – I am getting quite impatient with the Mets slow moving process of hiring their next GM. Trust me I know that by taking their time they will hopefully select the best candidate for the job whether it is Sandy Alderson or Josh Byrnes, it is just I am getting tired of reading the same post mortems on the Yankees season . Who would think that they would get this much press after a ” disappointing season” (sarcasm)?
If I had the ear of Fred or Jeff – even Uncle Saul I would persuade them to jump on Alderson. I feel that the man is overqualified for the job which is a good thing. I would rather hire the man who is always the smartest person in the room than a guy who is the equal to my opposition. In the case of Josh Byrnes he strikes me more of a corporate yes man. Word was leaked out yesterday that the Diamondbacks ownership went behind Byrnes’ back and signed Eic Byrnes to that horrendous contract extension which strikes me that Byrnes might not have a high level of autonomy if he gets the Mets GM position. The other thing that I am wary about is the fact that Byrnes is still owed money on his Diamondback contract, and that the Mets would only have to pay him a small portion while Arizona picks up the rest of his salary. I hate to be cynical but if the Mets do hire Byrnes I feel that their motivation will be more financial than that he’s the best option for the job.
Today Aldersonwill meet with Mets ownership for his second round of interviews. I hope that he has a plan ready to implement , and will wow Fred and Saul . Maybe Bud Selig will put a call in afterwards to prod Fred and Jeff to gently twist their arms and give Sandy the job. If he does it will be the best thing he has ever done as the commishoner of baseball.
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Today would have been the 74th birthday of original Mets infielder, Elio Chacon (1936) .
Middle reliever from the ’02-’03 teams, Jaime Cerda is 32 today (1978) .
Sadly on this date, two members of the Mets family had passed away. Mets General Manager from ’70-’74, Bob Scheffing in 1985 and relief pitcher from the ’67 team, Bill Graham in 2006.
New York Mets traded reliever,Dwight Bernard to the Milwaukee Brewers for pitcher, Mark Bomback on October 26, 1979.
New York Mets traded pitcher, Wally Whitehurst, outfielder, D. J. Dozier and and catcher, Raul Casanova to the San Diego Padres for shortstop,Tony Fernandez on October 26, 1992.Fernandez was one of the premier shortstops of that era. Too bad he hated being a Met and just like Richie Hebner, he played like it .He would be traded later that season to the Blue Jays for washed up outfielder Darrin Jackson.
Second baseman, Carlos Baerga granted free agency on October 26, 1998.
Mo Vaughn wishes that Grace Jones would do the Watusi on his back in stiletto heels !!!
74 comments
kingman 26
10/26/2010-8:37am at 8:37 am (UTC -4)
Hmmm, you think if they hire Byrnes it might be because he will be MUCH cheaper and MUCH easier for the Wilpons to control and out-maneuver, huh?
I wonder how many people will call YOU a “conspiracy theorist?”
I agree 100% Rusty, because you are RIGHT!
metsfan4decades
10/26/2010-8:42am at 8:42 am (UTC -4)
I’d be surprised if money had anything to do with it. If it did, why interview Alderson at all knowing he was going to come with a higher price tag? If a cheap GM was their priority, I think we would have seen a different set of candidates.
I don’t get the feeling that they’re dragging this out – yet.
Most companies select those they want to interview from resumes and do it. Then they usually narrow it down to those that warrant a second interview. So far, that seems to be the path they’ve taking.
Now….if they don’t make up their minds between the two this week, then I’ll start to wonder just what the heck they’re doing.
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:03am at 9:03 am (UTC -4)
C’mon!….Is it really hard for you or anyone to believe ownership
would bring in Alderson to interview just for the show of it???
Unlike Ceeter…And a few others, I’m NOT fine with”whoever they
bring in”. If they hire Byrnes, what was the point of firing Omar….
who despite his failures, still has a better resume than Byrnes.
And Ceet is more worried about the Manager and players???
Who do think is gonna be responsible for making THOSE moves?
At this point, Alderson really is the only choice as far as I see it.
metsfan4decades
10/26/2010-9:12am at 9:12 am (UTC -4)
If Alderson was brought in to interview ‘just for the show of it’, why bring him back for a second interview?
I’m still thinking Alderson was selected as a candidate – and is getting a second interview – b/c he’s in the running as the next GM.
As Ceet commented, if all the Wilpons were worried about was money, Omar would still be GM.
Ceetar
10/26/2010-8:47am at 8:47 am (UTC -4)
The cheap option was keeping Omar.
Josh Byrnes maybe would demand more autonomy having been burned in the past. Comes in saying “Look, this was a bad situation for me to be in. I’m not going to deal with that stuff again.”
I’m fine with whoever they hire as GM. It’s the manager/players that concern me. I don’t think it’s easy to say one GM is better than another easily. We don’t know what they’d do, only the Wilpons do. If Josh sells a better plan? fine.
rustyjr
10/26/2010-8:52am at 8:52 am (UTC -4)
I do agree with you Ceet – I just hope my line of thinking is wrong. Byrnes just really hasn’t in my opinion have as stellar a track record as Alderson
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:08am at 9:08 am (UTC -4)
No Omar was not an option. But Byrnes on the cheap would be
a nice slight-of-hand by ownership. That is if we hadn’t been fooled
so many times before……..
Ceetar
10/26/2010-9:18am at 9:18 am (UTC -4)
They’re not delusional enough to think people care about who the GM is once the games start. The fans won’t come in April if they found the second coming of Jesus to GM the team.
The GM needs to be selected on the plan he sells for the future, not as much his past record. It’s the results I want to see, not the guy pulling the strings. A lot of the options for players and acquisitions are known, and presumably the candidate that gets hired has the best plan for acquiring the best players needed.
It’s presumptious to think we “know” who the best choice is, without having listened to their sell.
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:25am at 9:25 am (UTC -4)
O.K. BUT looking at the resumes of Byrnes and Alderson
it would seem to be a pretty obvious choice.
TRS86
10/26/2010-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
Honestly I think both of these guys can be successful. The “conspiracy theorist” be damned to me whomever the Mets choose I will trust that they did it for the betterment of the team. I have no reason to suspect otherwise.
rustyjr
10/26/2010-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
We have no choice but to trust their judgement – whether we like the finalist or not . Lets just be happy that it’s not Alaird Baird
TRS86
10/26/2010-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
It’s just I don’t get where all of these theories that the Mets would do something that could damage their team because they are cheap came from. I have seen nothing pointing towards the Wilpons being cheap in who they employee both in staff and players. Unless you are using the draft and lack of activity in a dead year as your only evidence.
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
Really???….Talk about naive. And sorry, no offense.
rustyjr
10/26/2010-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
Who is that directed towards fongy ?
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:09am at 9:09 am (UTC -4)
TRS…..
TRS86
10/26/2010-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
Really? Explain how fongy? What moves have they made or not made that show that the owners care more about saving money than the team?
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:55am at 9:55 am (UTC -4)
C’mon!……Do you want my fingers to cramp???
kingman 26
10/26/2010-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
LOL!!
But your Steelers stole one from my Fish!
Still, we will do you the favor of taking care of CIN and BAL the next two weeks.
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
Please do!
kingman 26
10/26/2010-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)
We will!
We played a really good game, and really, except for one quarter against the Patriots, we have not played poorly all year.
3-0 on the road, and 0-3 at home, but against 3 of the best teams in the NFL.
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
I’d sign for just takin’care of Balt.
Also my friend, your Dolfs couldn’t have had a better
chance to put my Steelers in a bad situation the first
5mins of the game. you’ve got to get a TD or two
on those first two turnovers!
i do agree though that we got a hell of a break with
the call at the end. Like I say all the time though,
in all sports…Good teams find a way.
Your QB is gonna be good….Not Tom Brady good BUT
good enough to be a playoff-contender type QB/leader
for a long time……Just not THIS season!
Too many good teams in The AFC, Steelers,Ravens,Pats,Jets,Colts,Tenn,And it’s still early BUT it looks like The Chefs are in good shape to win
The West….So how can The Dolfs make the playoffs???
Plus your secondary, except for Bell isn’t good.
kingman 26
10/26/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Agreed all around as usual!
Also, when we scored to make it 17-15 Steelers, why in the world not go for two there?? I cannot get that. And we lose by one. Even if we miss it, we still go ahead with a FG, and if the Steelers’ next score is a TD OR a FG, us not making it does not have much relevance, as we’d be down by 5 or 9.
And yes, Henne is much better than expected, our secondary has problems, and scoring just two FG after those early PIT turnovers killed us.
Overall, we may have a tough time making it, but our schedule gets much easier in the last 7 games, other than the Jets and NE.
But probably, we win 9 or 10 and barely miss.
Nice talking to you and have a great day!
TRS86
10/26/2010-10:34am at 10:34 am (UTC -4)
Figured so.
metsfan4decades
10/26/2010-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
So many are circling the wagons again with the money thing and the Wilpons.
If the Mets hire an inexpensive manager, do many think that’s an indication of being ‘cheap’, or more an indication of they’re rather spend the millions on the players and/or drafts and think a non Bobby V type could manage this team just as successfully?
metsgirl31
10/26/2010-9:19am at 9:19 am (UTC -4)
I agree the money angle is a non-issue. It doesn’t make sense for them to go the cheap route just to save money when, if that option turns out to be the wrong one, they will just lose money. Its like they would be shooting themselves in the foot. I think they are trying to make the best choice. I don’t have any reason to believe they wouldn’t want to do that.
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
Not me. I’ve always been one to defend Mr.Wilpon re:Money AND
with the state of the economy and team I’d understand fully NOT
throwing crazy money at a Lee or Werth type FA. I also don’t
have a proble with anyone Alderson would chose as Mgr…..As long
as its not Art Howe….BUT Money CANNOT play a roll in hiring our
nexy GM…..We simply must hired the most experienced and qualified person.
metsfan4decades
10/26/2010-9:26am at 9:26 am (UTC -4)
Agree with both metsgrl and fongy.
As metsgrl put it ‘they are trying to make the best choice’…..’trying’ being the operative word here. I can only hope between the three of them (Fred, Jeff and Sal) they get it right.
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Agreed bach at cha!
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
I agree with this.
If they’d just hire both and Batman and Robin, that’d solve everything (and cost more money too).
stickguy
10/26/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
money certainly comes into play when running any team. You really can’t just run around like a teenage girl with daddy’s credit card at the mall, spending wildly with no regard for paying the bills (or in the case of a business, turning a profit).
That being said, in the big scheme of running a team, the GM salary is relative petty cash. So hard to see the difference in salaries being a significant factor, since it probably amounts to the cost of a cheap bench or BP guy.
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
maybe in the end the Wilpons will bring in Byrnes to work under Alderson???
rustyjr
10/26/2010-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
Not a chance
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
I doubt it, but whole endorse it wholeheartedly. I do not need Byrnes to be “GM Jr.”, but if he was added to Alderson’s staff of advisers, that’d be a large plus.
TRS86
10/26/2010-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
Here’s my problem. To what extent are we going to take this money theory? Why is it the end all be all?
If the Mets hire Byrnes, it’s money.
If the Mets hire Wally, it’s money.
If the Mets keep Warren, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t sign Lee, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t sign a big FA in a bad market, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t sign a veteran 2B to replace Castillo, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t release Oliver Perez yesterday, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t fire Willie, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t fire Manuel, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t hire Bobby V, it’s money.
If the Mets don’t get to the playoffs, it’s money.
If the Mets are not as good as the Yankees, it’s money.
Blah, blah, blah…
fongy2
10/26/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
What theory???….Again, no one here is sayin’ Mr.Wilpon is cheap
BUT the economy, Madoff, bad contracts and attendence hasn’t
hit him in the pocet???
kingman 26
10/26/2010-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
It’s like Kevin Bacon’s character at the end of Animal House—remember, when everything was disintegrating around him, he frantically kept yelling “Remain calm! All is well!”
metsfan4decades
10/26/2010-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
Just gotta chalk it up to that no matter what the Wilpons do here, there will be a percentage of Met fans that won’t like it and will accuse them of ‘cheaping out’. Just no way around that.
O.K., maybe I haven’t had enough caffeine yet but who is Warren?
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-10:08am at 10:08 am (UTC -4)
warthen? maybe?
kistics
10/26/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
Warren Moon!
Prismo
10/26/2010-10:06am at 10:06 am (UTC -4)
Which is less likely – all of the above being about money, or none of the above? It’s not always so black and white.
rustyjr
10/26/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
So true
kingman 26
10/26/2010-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
Blah, blah, blah…sure is right.
No one ever said anywhere near all of these issues are about money.
But signing Lee and big free agents are not money-related issues? Ollie’s not about money? Wally would not cost many more millions than Bobby V and this has no relevance to a team where spending shrunk for the first time in quite a while, and attendance was dramatically down?
Who ever said than Willie or Manuel were about money? Or that the Wilpons’ spending keeps us from the playoffs? If we had also signed Holliday AND Lackey we would not have sniffed the playoffs in 2010.
And who’s Warren?
Earl Warren? Warren Cuccurullo? Warren G??
Prismo
10/26/2010-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
Warren Buffett I think.
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
Warren Sapp?, Rick Warren?, Warren Buffett?, Warren Harding?
Now THERE was an underrated President!!!
kingman 26
10/26/2010-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
Plus, some say that Harding was poisoned, maybe even by Mrs. Harding!!
Prismo
10/26/2010-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Warren Peace?
(I crack myself up!)
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Warren Drugs? Mrs. Reagan?
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
………And that really is the most important thing!!!!
rustyjr
10/26/2010-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Warren cuccarullio ? She gave me VD !
kingman 26
10/26/2010-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
Vinnie Colaiuta!
Tony Carboni!
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Pasta Carbonara???…..Ummmm!!!!
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
Whoa! When was the last time it was called VD?
It’s amazing what’ll occupy the masses when there is nothing to report other than “maybe Sandy on Friday” and “monetary conspiracy theory”.
kistics
10/26/2010-11:16am at 11:16 am (UTC -4)
I’m probably missing out on your joke, but not knowing anything, this just sounds wrong on so many levels LOL!
TRS86
10/26/2010-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
My point still remains that how do we know if or how much money impacts these decisions? Could it be that they make some of these decisions because they believe they are the best for the team AND they are cheaper as a bi-product?
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
Could be ALL OF THE ABOVE.
TRS86
10/26/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
Possible. But again why is it that when the Mets make a decision that people don’t like they automatically scream money?
Prismo
10/26/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Madoff?
TRS86
10/26/2010-11:05am at 11:05 am (UTC -4)
Considering the reports from both the Mets and outside sources saying that they did not lose money and it did not affect daily operations why is there a rush to believe otherwise? Is it that people need a reason for bad decisions and are trying to justify them? I have yet to see a move made since Madoff that blatantly says we have no money and are going to be cheap.
Prismo
10/26/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Well what were they going to say?
“Madoff hurt us pretty badly and it’s going to have a significant effect on how we run the Mets organization. Don’t expect payroll to increase for the next several years until we recover!”
TRS86
10/26/2010-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
Why say anything?
Again, I don’t see one single move that blatantly says we have no money and refuse to spend money. Yet every time a move is made or not made people scream it’s about money. Could be, could not be. Who the hell knows or cares? Just get me a winning team.
Prismo
10/26/2010-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
They had to say something.
The media was already circulating rumors that Madoff would lead to less Mets spending, and an organization that is very much dependent on public perception can’t just stay silent.
I’m playing devil’s advocate a bit, but really…we just don’t know anything. I don’t think we, as fans, can truly know whether or not money is an issue in any of these areas, and if Madoff or something else may be related.
TRS86
10/26/2010-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
I agree so why is it however that as soon as a decision is made that someone does not like it’s because of money>?
kistics
10/26/2010-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
I believe Madoff thing had very little impact on Mets finances as any smart business minds will try to separate all parts of their businesses as much as possible.
However I believe large contracts, lack of attendance, and poor performance are limiting the Mets ability to spend on big time FAs (at least this offseason).
I agree with TRS that money is probably not the main factor in many of the Mets FO decisions listed above, but I’m sure money is one of the many factors just like any business decision we would make.
TRS86
10/26/2010-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
Agreed. Obviously if money be damned perhaps they would go out and sign Lee. However, because they do not it’s not because they are cheap and only care about money.
kistics
10/26/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Warren Moon?
fongy2
10/26/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
Good one!
TRS86
10/26/2010-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
Warthen, got mixed up in my rant.
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/10/alderson-favored-for-mets-gm-job.html
So… maybe Friday?
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Hopefully!….No reason to drag this out any more!
metsfan4decades
10/26/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
This.
Unless they do the unthinkable and decide at the 11th hour that they don’t want either of the 2 final candidates and start over….
rustyjr
10/26/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Shhhhhh!!
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Really!
GravediggerHebner
10/26/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
Hey the anniversary of Mark Bomback’s acquisition. His name was my 1st Metsblog screen name. Those were the days…
fongy2
10/26/2010-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
We did love those ex-Brewer prospects back in the late 70s!