On Monday December 13th 2010 NY Mets GM Sandy Alderson was a guest on Mike Francesa’s “Mike’d Up” radio show on 660WFAN. The interview lasted a little over an hour and during it Francesa asked Alderson a ton of questions and even some fans had a chance to pose a few of their own that mostly revolved around this upcoming season and money.
If you listen to it there are a few things that will stand out. Like it or not the Mets payroll will be around 130 to 140 million and there are no plans to increase that payroll for the start of the upcoming year. The other thing is that Alderson can handle his own one on one against Francesa so much so that toward the end Francesa knowing Alderson withstood all that Francesa had thrown at him replied jokingly to a “thanks for the workout” comment Alderson said by saying “I was in the holiday spirit I took it easy on you”.
Here are some of what I felt were the better exchanges between the two and what in my opinion tell you what you need to know about the upcoming season.
Francesa: Is it more of a consolidation year or is it a year that you think your going to try and compete and what does that mean exactly? Do you have no money to spend? Do you have a little money to spend? How are you going to go after framing and building this team from here forward?
Alderson: 1st of all we have made some acquisitions, not big time acquisitions not headline acquisitions but people we felt could help us and help us to achieve what we want to achieve in 2011 which is to compete in and compete for the playoffs. They haven’t been overwhelming moves but they have been moves that sort of more subtle and pointed than headline grabbing but we also have a lot of time between now and the beginning of Spring Training so I think that until we’ve kind of flushed out everything were going to do. It’s a little premature to say that we are giving in for this season.
Francesa: Can you spend no money? Can you spend some money?
Alderson: Well were spending some we already have spent some.
Francesa: Your acquisitions so far are a catcher
Alderson: Right
Francesa: Who I don’t remember what you paid you have to tell me. Off the top of my head I don’t remember the contract.
Alderson: A little over a million.
Francesa: OK, and one reliever.
Alderson: Right, a little over a million plus incentives a couple of years.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Francesa: How many starting pitchers do you think you have in the fold right now that you think you can go to, go compete?
Alderson: Comfortable?
Francesa: Yes
Alderson: Four
Francesa: You feel four right now?
Alderson: Yeah.
Francesa: And who would that, obviously Pelfrey. You feel the knuckleballer?
Alderson: Yep.
Francesa: Niese?
Alderson: Niese.
Francesa: Gee?
Alderson: Gee.
Francesa: So you feel all four of them you can go with?
Alderson: Look, we need to have probably six, seven going into Spring Training that are competing for those five slots. We probably, Ideally you probably want to have seven eight. So there is no question we’d like to lengthen that out. We’ve got Misch we’ve got you know Mejia but we don’t really want to push Mejia. Misch may be a long man he may not fit in the rotation. So were still looking. So there’s no question we want to add some starting pitching . We want to add some people to the bullpen. We’re not happy with the bullpen either.
Francesa: But starting pitching I mean finding a starting pitching who could step into a rotation anywhere is either a trade or highly expensive. Are you under severe restrictions here this year?
Alderson: No, I wouldn’t say were under and any restrictions in terms of what I been told you could only spend x amount of money.
Francesa: They haven’t given you any?
Alderson: No
Francesa: There’s been nothing specific?
Alderson: No. On the other hand whatever I do were going to end up in the 135, 140 million range. Which is what top five?
Francesa: And where are you now though? I mean how much does that leave you? You know that doesn’t leave you a lot of wiggle room.
Alderson: No
Francesa: Unless you unload some guys.
Alderson: Right
Francesa: Can you still see unloading guys as a possibility before the year starts?
Alderson: Well it depends on who you are talking about.
Francesa: Anybody who costs money.
Alderson: Hehehehehe.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Francesa: What about Castillo and Oliver Perez? What’s your thoughts about them as you hit Christmas?
Alderson: Well right now even if we wanted to move those players for purposes of this discussion let’s assume we wanted to move those players. There’s no market.
Francesa: Right, that’s what I mean so what do you do with them? Other than get rid of them? You still have to pay them.
Alderson: Yea, you could either get rid of them now or you can wait till spring training give them a look see if they come in better shape different attitude better results and at the same time that they’re trying to make your club their may end up being a market. So, you know right now I think what you do is you look at that as a situation you will deal with in Spring Training. Maybe early, maybe late but probably a Spring Training decision.
Francesa: But if your going to be in the 130, 135 area which is not a small payroll no one ever said it was the Mets have never been. But this is a tough division by every stretch. You had two playoff teams last year. Phillies are a great team. a very good team. I mean I don’t see them falling off a cliff this year. Atlanta, it could go either way but they were a playoff team last year. The Mets don’t have their best pitcher. They have some holes in the bullpen. They have a hole at second base. So, and it doesn’t sound like your going to be able to go bink, bink, bink and spend a whole bunch of money so your going to have to be highly creative here.
Alderson: Going to have to be creative. I think I’ve said that from the outset that this is not a year we’re going to add a bunch of payroll to what we’ve already got committed. But at the same time if you look at our position players we’ve got a pretty good team.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Francesa: There is this feeling that the Mets don’t have any money to spend. Now this has been going on a lot. They keep hearing the Mets linked to Madoff. That’s not your business it’s not my business. The Mets have made it very clear to me when I asked them personally. Asked the owners is the team solvent? They say yes it’s not an issue. Then people are led to believe you have no money to spend. Is that, what can you tell us about payroll of what you are or are not to spend?
Alderson: Well nothing has changed since I interviewed for this job in October OK? I understood, regardless of what I do over the next six weeks were going to have a payroll in the 130 to 140 range. It’s etched in stone.
Francesa: That’s the range they gave you 130 to 140?
Alderson: Well that’s where it’s gonna be. If you take all the committed money if you take all the salary arbitration projections and fill out a roster. That’s where it’s got to be. It can’t be lower than that.
Francesa: Right.
Alderson: So…
Francesa: But that doesn’t give you a lot of new money.
Alderson: No it doesn’t give me a lot of, well anything we spend this year is going to be new money. But…
Francesa: But money on new players
Alderson: Newly committed money.
Francesa: Right newly committed money. You don’t have a lot of flexibility as you said. In your mind this is an inflexible team right now correct?
Alderson: Somewhat, yeah.yeah. But! As I said before while we have payroll less flexibility this year than we want to have going forward. We do have some good players. We’ve got some very good players on the team so that money is committed. Hopefully they are going to be healthy, they play well and if that happens we’ll be in the mix.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Peter in Long Island City: Do you think it’s proper for the Mets are expecting their fans to come out and pay top dollar tickets for the seats there when they don’t seem to be willing to invest any more money than they already have in the team? I understand 135 million is a lot of money but this is New York and the team on the other side of the river is spending over 200 plus and if your going to be in New York you got to compete with the big boys. Somehow I find as a lifetime Mets fan I find it disturbing some what.
Alderson: I guess that’s a fair question. A lot of money already commited. 130, 140 million is going to probably be in the top 5 payrolls of all of baseball. There’s a lot of money that we wish we didn’t have commited at the moment but we do and realisticly we have to deal with that. I’ve said from the very outset that we didn’t have the same flexibility this year that we hope to have next year but again as been the topic of this discussion for an hour or so I’m still optimistic that we can we’re going to have a very good product on the field.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Igor in Staten Island: I would like to know if Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez are going to be on our Opening Day roster?
Alderson: Can’t answer that question yet. I know the answer that most people would like to hear.
Francesa: Woe, You don’t want to hear them introduced on Opening Day if they are there.
Alderson: Let me say this. If those players don’t earn their way on the team they won’t be on the team.
Francesa: So they won’t be on the team just because they are carrying big salaries?
Alderson: If they don’t earn their way on the team they won’t be on the club.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As far as exchanges go those were probably the one’s that stood out the most to me. There was though 3 statements Alderson made that stood out to me that I will share with you now.
- Are we going to be as good next year as I hope we are going to be maybe you know sometime down the road? Maybe not, but if everything clicks if our guys are healthy we’re going to be right there.
- I’m not an ideologue.
- I’ve always found this. I’d like to think I’m principal but it’s better to have only two or three of those. Because otherwise it gets real complicated. So I think where things are important yeah there’s a way I prefer to do things but I try to stay away from raising everything to some significance it doesn’t deserve which then makes it difficult to respond to circumstances and change and opportunities and you got to be prepared to seize opportunities.
ideologue: a person who zealously advocates an ideology.
ideology: the body of doctrine, myth, belief, etc., that guides an individual, social movement, institution, class, or large group.
You can listen to the entire 70 minute interview below.
Sandy Alderson
Monday, December 13 – Mets GM Sandy Alderson is in studio with Mike.
Audio courtesy of WFAN.com
95 comments
fongy2
12/16/2010-7:31am at 7:31 am (UTC -4)
I’ve already resigned myself to another lost season. But atleast there’s
hope. To me it’e acceptable now that we have Pros running things again and trying to fix the broken mess known as The New York Mets.
It’ll just be difficult to witness the lack of patience of all the Omar acolytes and defenders out there! Yeah….Good thing he left the next guy with soooo much to work with………
Ceetar
12/16/2010-8:57am at 8:57 am (UTC -4)
Omar left the team in better shape than people give him credit for. Some moves backfired, Maybe Bay was a little bit of a last ditch effort, but I don’t think his contract is the one we’re talking about hindering us. Santana and K-Rod are overpaid, but they’re contributing, (well, have contributed anyway)
Even if we’re a little inflexible this year (and notice how Sandy says 135-140 range and Francessa later quotes him as 130-135 area? he basically just stole 5million to make his point. )we’re wide open going forward and don’t have a bad team. maybe not a good team, but definitely not a bad one.
This is hardly a ‘everything Omar did is wro ng’ situation, and they c an certainly compete. Alderson isn’t just blowing smoke there.
fongy2
12/16/2010-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
yeah….We’re in great shape going foward.
Six yrs and a Billion dollars and THIS is what we’ve got to show
for it???….But Omar didn’t leave a mess???…….O.K.
wannybackstra
12/16/2010-7:34am at 7:34 am (UTC -4)
thanks for this, MNJ. Was only able to hear some of this and appreciate you caching us up on the key quotes.
fatcessa is such an ass and i can only imagine how this would have played out with omar in the studio. why does fatcessa have to view an interview as a competition with his subject?
sandy is doing the right thing by hanging on to ollie and luis until the last second. it makes no sense to drop them now, pay them and not at least see if they can turn it around or determine if there really are better options or if they could fool some other team into taking them.
fongy2
12/16/2010-7:39am at 7:39 am (UTC -4)
I agree with your entire statement Wanny. Sad to say 20yrs ago
I was once a Francesca fan but it’s a little hard for him to conduct
interviews with people when he goes in feeling he knows more than
the subject and about the topic. I want Ollie and Luis off this team,
especially if I have to cheer for another 4th place season BUT
at this point there’s no sense just cutting the two and eating their
salary until we see what they are in S.T..
njstuckintx
12/16/2010-8:11am at 8:11 am (UTC -4)
The comments of the callers after the interview was completed was priceless too. “Oh, I’m not buying what Sandy is shoveling, this team stinks, is going no where, he’s telling us this team which is the same as last year is going to be good. he’s worthless, yadda yadda…” I’m not on the optimist level of the Ceet, but looking at the lineup they have, I’m satisfied. I do wish Sandy would make a move for pitching that is more than just a patch (my trading for Garza would be more than a patch. And yes, I know it prob. won’t happen.
), but overall, the bullpen is coming together, the lineup is above average, the bench is, well, the bench. It’s that starting pitching that is bugging me. While I know we won’t rival what the Phils have on paper, 2 SPs are needed for the Mets to be in the mix. Prefereably Garza as one! 
Ceetar
12/16/2010-8:59am at 8:59 am (UTC -4)
my optimism is cautious! Hey, Sandy didn’t laugh at me when i talked about being in it in July. A lot depends on the starting pitching, but I’m really happy with Pelf-Dickey-Niese. I’d take them over the Yankees three, for instance, with the caveat of getting Santana back and normal by August.
njstuckintx
12/16/2010-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
That was said with love, my man. I try to be a glass half full kind of guy, but usually ends up being a glass half empty and someone backwashed in it…
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-9:11am at 9:11 am (UTC -4)
the thing about the SP is while the 2011 rotation is going to be a weakness, the 2012 rotation is going to be a big strength. Sandy knows it but he cant come out and say it b/c he is not allowed to just write off the season.
i know its frustrating but the SP deals many fans are hoping for just arent part of the plan. The only thing that will bother me is if we dont sign someone like Chris Young b/c 1 year 2.5 mil with incentives is too much…
njstuckintx
12/16/2010-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
explain to me how 2012 is going to be a strength. I’m serious, cause I don’t see it, unless moves are made.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
with 60 million coming off the books and 4 current prospects in AA/AAA to replace Beltran a top flight SP is pretty much guaranteed to be brought in so once the season ends we will have Santana, Pelfrey, Niese, Dickey, Gee, Mejia, possibly Harvey and anyone else who might contribute as our SP depth. Add a top flight arm to that group and you have very solid depth.
njstuckintx
12/16/2010-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
hope you are right.
We are putting a lot of faith in Dickey, who needs to prove he can be more than a 1 year wonder. Santana and Niese I can see. Pelfrey is still Jeckel/Hyde, so until he proves to me he can be consistant, I don’t put an abundance in faith in him. Gee, Mejia, Harvey… A lot of projection there. I have great hope for them, but I can’t slap them down in Pen that they’ll be a strength.
If memory serves, there isn’t too much out there for FAs regarding good arms. Hopefully Darvish pans out and makes the Mets his team of choice.
fongy2
12/16/2010-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
Where’s 60mil coming off???…Including Jose???…
If so, then what???
TRS86
12/16/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
Right now they only have 60M committed to 2012, period.
kistics
12/16/2010-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
That doesn’t include any arb salaries and pre-arb salaries.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:58am at 10:58 am (UTC -4)
Right, still they only have 60M committed and who knows who Sandy will even tender contracts to then?
kistics
12/16/2010-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
You would have to assume couple key guys will be tendered like Pagan or Pelf.
TRS86
12/16/2010-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
I think it’s likely but then again risky to assume much of anything yet.
njstuckintx
12/16/2010-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, Jose’s included in that, so figure some raises, and 18 per year for Jose as well as, I dunno, 14-15+ per for Darvish, plus raises, there would be enough. It’s risky, but possible.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-9:51am at 9:51 am (UTC -4)
Castillo – 6 mil, Perez – 12 mil, Beltran 18.5 mil, Reyes 12 mil. That’s 48.5 mil right there plus I do not expect K-Rod to be on the 2012 roster either but lets say K-Rod comes back and since Reyes will be resigned lets say we only have 30 mil to spend.
Lets be very negative here and say we need a 2B b/c they all sucked this year and a RF b/c all 4 prospects arent ready or good enough so we’ll allocate 10 mil for those 2 spots, that still leaves 20 mil which is more than enough to acquire a #1/2 SP and have left over for the bench and pen
Ceetar
12/16/2010-9:29am at 9:29 am (UTC -4)
Can’t really project 2012. Pitchers, even starters, can change year to year so much. There are so many pitchers that are near the top of the league for 1-3 years and rarely are heard from again.
fongy2
12/16/2010-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
Really…..You know I both love and hate the optimisim.
Can we really expect almost anything from Johan this yr?
AND who knows what version of Johan we get when he does return? The same folks who want to point toward the Phils age
simply overlook Johan being 32 when the season starts, coming off ANOTHER surgery….Amazing.
R.A.Dickey???…Great story, love him, BUT c’mon….He’s a mid
30s knuckler with one season of success to date. I mean Tim
Wakefield has been w/o question the best knuckler of the past
20yrs and never really been more than an innings eating #4or5. Dickey is now suddenly a solid #3, given….
I like Niese BUT it’s not clear what he is yet, a 3,4 or5???
njstuckintx
12/16/2010-9:43am at 9:43 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, my points exactly. I will give Johan the benifit of the doubt (AKA, he’ll be good). niese I have faith in. Pelfrey, not too much faith. Dickey (while I love me some of the bearded wonder) has to prove to me he’s more than 1 year wonder. Then we’re looking at Gee (who could be good), Mejia (who could be good if he finds the plate consistantly and develops more pitchers) and Harvey (who was drafted this year?). Yeah, signing Darvish or something comparable helps tremendously, but I’m not ready to toss all my chips in yet.
fongy2
12/16/2010-9:56am at 9:56 am (UTC -4)
Just to me, I look at Pelf as a solid #3 guy. Niese a still
progressing, young #4, and Dickey as a hopeful #5.
Gee???…Who knows?…I’d like to slot him as our 6th guy
in case Dickey turns back into a pumpkin or Niese gets
hurt (again). Can’t do anything about our Ace being hurt and likely out most of the year BUT we still need a quasi-
#2…At least.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
well that #2 SP aint coming until next offseason unless one of our own steps up.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:02am at 10:02 am (UTC -4)
Or a reclamation project is healthy and produces. EX. Young.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:00am at 10:00 am (UTC -4)
I think currently Pelf is a 3 but he has potential to become a 2 still. He just has to be consistent for an entire year. A mid 3,00′s ERA and 200 innings is not easy to come by. If you could take out that slump then he would have been a 2 last year. I still don’t like slotting 1, 2, 3, 4…
To me I see him as a midrotation pitcher with potential to move up to upper rotation.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-10:04am at 10:04 am (UTC -4)
the big question is what effect him having to step into the #1 spot do for him mentally.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:10am at 10:10 am (UTC -4)
I would think he understands the situation. Besides, half the time the #1 is not even the opening day starter pending on home and away and after about 10 games you rarely even see 1 vs 1.
TRS86
12/16/2010-9:53am at 9:53 am (UTC -4)
“Jose Reyes will bat leadoff, likely followed in order by Angel Pagan, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay then Ike Davis.”
Hey, Sandy liked my lineup!
fongy2
12/16/2010-9:59am at 9:59 am (UTC -4)
Not bad. Makes sense. If Thole continues to progress as a hitter,
he might make a great two-hole guy. It would certainly expand the
line-up. Reyes/Thole/Wright/Beltran/Bay/Ike/Pagan/2B???
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:01am at 10:01 am (UTC -4)
I think Pagan is best used high in the lineup though. Allows us to take advantage of speed. If Thole develops then he will be a good 7th hitter.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
he had 37 SB last year, only 2 of which coming in April. I think we can see 40+ SB from him this season…
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Not sure. It will depend on what they view his success percentage is. Sandy is on record as saying you have to factor in percentages in deciding when to steal too. No reason to run for the sake of running.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
well 37 and 9 is a pretty good ratio…
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
Is it? I have no idea.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
Bourn was 52/12 and Vicki was 34/6. Those appear to be the best so Pagan looks pretty good.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:35am at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
Reyes was 30/10 not great. Wright 19/11 not good. Bay 10/0. Not much fan fare there for Bay but looks like he is an excellent baserunner, not enough speed to be a base stealer but may have finished last year with 15 if not injured.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
Expect Vicky’s numbers to go down, they did fire their baserunning coach after all.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
Wright and Reyes’ numbers were both way down. i wonder why (success-wise) Wasn’t Wright like 25-0 going into like August in 2008? Reyes’ career numbers are better than that too, but 30/10 is still ‘adding value’
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Not sure why Vicki would forget what he was taught. He’s just a smart base runner and a smart ass as well but that’s a different topic.
As for Wright and Reyes? Could be speed with Wright dealing with hip injuries, could be coaching, could be the fact the other team has picked up on things. Who knows.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
with the Mets, I detected a downturn in SB with jerry, he didn’t really seem to know what he was doing. I distinctly remember Wright getting picked off once, and having an animated debate with Willie in the dugout afterwards and how he was talking about thinking he saw a tell of the pitchers. It seems like the Mets stopped looking for that kind of thing as much.
A similar memory back in..’06 with Chris Carpenter who’d given up like 4SB all year and the Mets just ran on him willy nilly. You didn’t see a lot of that more recently.
I know a lot of this falls back on not really being able to trust selected memories to give a real evaulation, but I do feel like some of these things (bouncing off third base another example, although Reyes was injured in ’09 and obviously wouldn’t be there to do it as much) weren’t done as much by the Mets lately.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
Maybe but then again with Reyes injured the Mets still lead the league in SB.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
And SB% I think.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
From MB on Carmona: “He was 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA in 2007, winning him the American League Cy Young award. ”
Nope, but it did get him a 4th place finish for Cy Young.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:19am at 10:19 am (UTC -4)
In fact he was not even the best pitcher on his team. CC won the Cy Young.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
or the fact that there is 0 chance Carmona goes to the Mets this season.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
I would not consider it likely but I would not put it at 0 either. I don’t think we know enough about the new regime to be dealing in absolutes.
Prismo
12/16/2010-10:27am at 10:27 am (UTC -4)
LOL. At least some of the commenters on MB noticed too. Absurd.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:45am at 10:45 am (UTC -4)
Looking at stats. I wonder which Wright Sandy would rather have.
The .307 .390 .447 .837 with less HR, less strike outs and a much higher OBP or .283 .354 .503 .856 with more K’s, more HR and a low OBP.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-10:47am at 10:47 am (UTC -4)
give me the first one, where he also was capable of getting hits with 2 strikes and late in games…
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:50am at 10:50 am (UTC -4)
Well not sure how good he was at that in 2009 either. Still k’d at a very high rate.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
o i thought you were referring to the 2008 or before David Wright. then no, cant drive in enough runs with just 10 HR…
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
The question is OBP. How much does Sandy actually value it? Would he rather have the less power with high OBP or more power with lower OBP?
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Basically OBP vs OPS.
kistics
12/16/2010-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
To me, Sandy likes the big HR bats.
TRS86
12/16/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
That’s just it. All we have really heard is how much he values OBP.
TRS86
12/16/2010-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
So is the 60 points in SLG worth the 40 points in OBP?
kistics
12/16/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
The impression I got from Sandy so far, is that he prefers big HR bats because they draw fans. I think as long as OBP is at a reasonable level, he would prefer HRs. IMO.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-11:08am at 11:08 am (UTC -4)
I feel like so much of what we’ve heard is based off of moneyball, or assumptions of what they think moneyball was about.
I believe the book suggests that OBP is roughly 3x as valuable as SLG (which would get Castillo a lot of bonus points)
I’m not sure how much Sandy factors into the Wright thing though, that’s probably mroe a Collins/Hudgens thing.
Prismo
12/16/2010-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
A .337 OBP doesn’t net you any bonus points.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
Yes, but the reasonable expectation of .360 and showing it in the Spring might.
If he really values OBP and Murphy and Turner are flailing at everything and not being patient..you never know what’ll happen.
TRS86
12/16/2010-11:30am at 11:30 am (UTC -4)
Say it with me now…. “No role on this team.”
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
a .360 OBP is nice but he cant drive in runs. If Murphy, Emaus or Turner can get a .335 OBP but hit 10 HR and drive in 50-60 runs, play similar defense and have upside then its really a no brainer.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-11:39am at 11:39 am (UTC -4)
your projecting. Is that true? Does Sandy feel that is true? RBIs don’t really tell you much about a player’s talent, only his opportunity. You need to have guys on base to score runs. i.e. make outs less often.
Moneyball, and as a result we’re wondering what Sandy feels about this, suggests that OBP is worth a ton more than SLG. So Turner or Murphy would have to more than make up that difference in OBP in SLG to make him contribute more to the scoring of runs.
TRS86
12/16/2010-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Problem with Castillo is that we have no idea if he can produce or be healthy enough even if he can. For a team that has no 2B in line and Castillo not part of the future, why would you play him ahead of other options just because he MIGHT be able to get on base more before breaking down again.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
you would play him if you judged out of Spring Training that he contributed to runs being scored the most of all 2B options.
I’m not really expecting him to breakdown, and OBP/patience is one of those things that doesn’t really decline with age.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
doesnt matter what philosophy you have. a young up and coming player gets the job over an oft-injured aging former shell of himself even if there is a possibility of Castillo being better.
TRS86
12/16/2010-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
So we should just ignore last year and base everything on a few ab’s in ST.
TRS86
12/16/2010-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
So lets put it in numbers. Lets say Castillo could produce 50 runs (assuming that he does not get injured which is unlikely) and Murphy/Emaus could produce 45 runs. Why would you pick a dead end Castillo over them? Especially in 2011.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-11:57am at 11:57 am (UTC -4)
I’m not sure Murphy, Turner or Emaus are pegged as “up and comers” or long term fixes at the position. Obviously if it’s close you go with that potential.
But you have to do what’s best for the team. if Sandy really values OBP that much, if he determines that Castillo creates the most runs and the fewest outs for the Mets by playing 2B over those other guys, than that’s who should play 2B.
kistics
12/16/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Where do you bat Castillo? The only spot he was productive was batting 2nd. But isn’t it a foregone conclusion that Pagan will bat 2nd? And if so, Castillo batting 8th has no value to the offense.
I can see him potentially making the team as a bench player, but I just can’t see him as the starter for many different reasons.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-12:00pm at 12:00 pm (UTC -4)
And cut the injury stuff. It’s irrelevant. He’s healthy, and hasn’t been as injured or hurting as people make it out to be. and it’s not like it has to be Castillo the whole season if it starts that way. the roster is flexible.
Factor it in. If you really think you’re going to have to make a change and Emaus really looks like he’ll be worth it, then do it so you don’t lose him. But don’t keep the guy if he looks like crap just because Castillo might get hurt.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
I’m sure batting order will play in as well. (although while I think he’s less valuable 8th, pinch hitter (or bunter) and Reyes/pagan after him are still going to drive him in. )
If Alderson feels a ‘producer’ like Murphy batting 7-8 is more valuable than Castillo second and Pagan 7th or whatever then yeah, sure. But all that batting order stuff is spring training/April talk. nothings set in stone now.
TRS86
12/16/2010-12:05pm at 12:05 pm (UTC -4)
How the hell is the injury stuff irrelevant?
Ceetar
12/16/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Because he’s not injured. You can’t make decisions on what might happen. and you can’t exactly assign probabilities to injures. what’s the chance he gets a bone bruise in his foot? What’s the chance he strains his knees. What part of his body is most likely to hurt? Murphy likely makes the team as a utility player in the unlikely event Castillo is pegged as the starter. He can slide right over if need be. or you pull someone else from the minors.
TRS86
12/16/2010-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
So should we also assume Beltran will be healthy? Come on, injuries and durability are a huge factor. Even when “healthy” he is not capable of playing more than a few games in a row.
Mr North Jersey
12/16/2010-12:15pm at 12:15 pm (UTC -4)
beltrans not injured? i guess then he wont be wearing a brace this season. Great!
Ceetar
12/16/2010-12:14pm at 12:14 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, we should assume Beltran will be healthy, although he at least has a specific condition you can point to and monitor.
Who says he can’t play a couple of days in a row? what durability? I don’t see any evidence of this besides Manuel’s use of him, which has been suspect all along.
Mr North Jersey
12/16/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
cmon ceetar the man doesnt know if he can play without a brace
TRS86
12/16/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
“Yes, we should assume Beltran will be healthy.”
Never mind. I thought we fired Omar?
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-12:24pm at 12:24 pm (UTC -4)
he’s healthy right now b/c he’s not playing. how do we know their injuries wont reappear like usual once the season starts.
TRS86
12/16/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
Buster_ESPN profile
Buster_ESPN Heard this: The Rays have agreed to terms with reliever Joel Peralta, for about $900,000. The deal is not completed…
Dang. I liked this guy and for .9M that would be a good risk.
oleosmirf
12/16/2010-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
i guess either they didnt want him or felt that besides a lefty, Igarashi, Acosta, Parnell, K-Rod, Carrasco plus the in house options were enough
metsfan4decades
12/16/2010-12:08pm at 12:08 pm (UTC -4)
Dang, I missed this interview so thanks for the link, Mr. Jerz….
Whoever said it above is right on the money….can you imagine this interview with Omar? If there’s one thing Sandy does well that’s been demonstrated so far is he’s well spoken, stands up to any questions and sticks to the message he’s been trying to get across since day one. He’s got no problem with coming right out and telling whoever he’s not answering a particular question right now or doesn’t have the answer right now.
Refreshing.
rustyjr
12/16/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
yeah i loved the way that Collins didn’t take Mikes crap
btw new infamy column posted
wannybackstra
12/16/2010-1:43pm at 1:43 pm (UTC -4)
I love Sandy and his intellectual approach. But two things I view here as negatives, albeit minor.
1. If he’s being completely honest here he is stating that he is comfortable today with Gee in the rotation. I sure as hell am not;
2. I don’t like the GM discussing the lineup. That should be the manager’s job and this interview reinforces the perception that the team will be run from an office and not on the field. While I appreciate that the team will have a unified philosophy (and thank god), i don’t think it will be a healthy atmosphere if the players don’t at least think Collins is in charge,
rustyjr
12/16/2010-1:51pm at 1:51 pm (UTC -4)
like he’s supposed to admit he is less than enamoured with him?
wannybackstra
12/16/2010-1:53pm at 1:53 pm (UTC -4)
He could have answered it diplomatically. He had no problem admitting that he was not comfortable with other players.
“Gee is a young player who played well for us in September. We certainly look forward to having him compete for a spot in Spring Training.”
Ceetar
12/16/2010-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
Sandy has been more open than Omar so far, but that’s the case with new guys in general. less to hide behind, more about ideas than justifying actions. But there are just things taht aren’t going to be honestly answered. Rotation is one of them. The bigger your holes, the worse the negotiation power. if you have one rotation spot you _must_ fill, then that’s easier than two.
and he was asked about the lineup. nothing’s set in stone anyway. I didn’t hear the specific nature of that response, but it sounds like he was more inferring the ‘lock’ nature of the 6 guys rather than specifically ordering them.
wannybackstra
12/16/2010-1:57pm at 1:57 pm (UTC -4)
Fair points, particularly re: bargaining power.
Ceetar
12/16/2010-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
It’s why there is no chance of trading Castillo or Perez probably even if they show _anything_ during Spring Training. That they’re 99% (maybe 95% in Castillo’s case) getting released is the worst kept secret in baseball these days. no reason to trade anything for them when you can sign them for free in late march.
rustyjr
12/16/2010-2:05pm at 2:05 pm (UTC -4)
i think Perez will be gone by the end of spring training
wannybackstra
12/16/2010-2:12pm at 2:12 pm (UTC -4)
If they play well enough in ST and the Mets eat money, it’s possible someone could be fooled into thinking there’s a market for them (castillo more likely than perez).
kistics
12/16/2010-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t see any team trading for them. Other teams know that Castillo and Ollie will be released anyways. So why trade a prospect for them if they can sign them when released for league min.