On the Mets GM thoughts on the outfield right now (6:57 mark):
“The outfield is not a strength. At this point. There is no question about that. There is a need I think for an upgrade at virtually every one of those positions. Some of it could come internally. We may see Lucas Duda substantially improve defensively and offensively. …We’re looking at him (Duda) in Left. Centerfield right now is probably Nieuwenhuis and a player we obtained from the A’s Collin Cowgill. …And then right field we got a couple of people there but nobody that would be a headliner for us at this point.”
On how the Mets GM would describe Collin Cowgill (7:40 mark):
“Sort of a hard nosed dirt player. A little bit of speed. Should be very good defensively. Hits left handed pitching pretty well. I think he is kind of an under the radar addition.”
On the speculation about Scott Hairston (8:26 mark):
“Money is always an issue I wouldn’t deny that but it’s also a question of playing time and he wants to play. We understand that and one of the things that exists for us right now the dynamic is that in order for us to sign Scott we want to be able to commit a certain amount of playing time. And this is where you sort of balance two or three things going on at the same time. If one or two other things were to happen it might affect his playing time so it’s not just about the money it’s also about playing time and what we can readily commit to Scott.”
On how the Mets GM feels about the bullpen (16:53 mark):
“Well let’s say uneasy. There’s some positives. We got a lot more young guys who are candidates for the pen this year than we’ve had certainly in the last couple of years. Which means we are not going to get locked into some low ceiling stop gap possibilities or fewer of those anyways. If guys are not performing we want to be in a position to move them out. And at the same time we think we got some talented young guys who are sort of on the cusp.”
On the Mets GM thoughts on Brian Wilson (18:19 mark):
“Given where he is in his rehabilitation I think we liked what we saw but the day we were there he only threw 20 pitches. So, he threw 20 pitches and there was no real issue about velocity it wasn’t there. So he’s got a ways to go.”
Finally I should say that though I label this series of “Alderson vs Francesa” posts as this being #10 it is the 10th post I have published but Francesa & Alderson have done in total 17 interviews by my count.
You can listen to the entire interview below.
63 comments
TRS86
1/17/2013-8:05pm at 8:05 pm (UTC -4)
Sandy said the issue right now in their negotiation with Scott Hairston is how much playing time the team is willing to commit to him.
“If one or two things might happen, that might affect [Hairston's] playing time,” Sandy explained.
Sandy said they are looking at other options to Hairston first, although he said the chances of that happening are “50/50″ right now.
Just using MB to summarize. Seems interesting that they are still trying to acquire an OF that would be better than Hairston and playing time for him could be an issue on both the Mets and Yankees.
Stick
1/17/2013-8:25pm at 8:25 pm (UTC -4)
so to translate, he only has PT role player offers from other teams like the Yanks. So he wants a regular gig with the mets, but they are still trying to get (hoping to luck into?) a “real” OF, that would either make Hairston redundant or significantly cut his playing time.
so he waits, and if Mets strike out, he signs with the Mets and plays way more than I want him to. If Mets get someone like Alvarez (just sign him already!) Hairston goes to get his bench job elsewhere, since he could sign with a whole slew of teams for 2mill or so I bet.
Stick
1/17/2013-8:26pm at 8:26 pm (UTC -4)
The one snippet shed some light on his “need to upgrade the OF” comments. Turns out, he counts the guys already here getting better to qualify for that!
” There is a need I think for an upgrade at virtually every one of those positions. Some of it could come internally.”
Stick
1/17/2013-9:35pm at 9:35 pm (UTC -4)
saw this clip about Reyes. Can you imagine if Wilpon or Sandy did this? His fans would explode even more than normal.
“The move was surprising to Reyes, given a conversation he had just had with owner Jeffrey Loria.
“Five days before I got traded I was with the owner of the Miami Marlins and he said he was never going to trade me,” Reyes recalled.”
srt
1/17/2013-9:42pm at 9:42 pm (UTC -4)
LOL…..well, I guess that accounts for why Reyes was so quick to sign with Miami. Either he doesn’t pay attention to these other clubs as much as fans do and relies on his agent (who would surely encourage him to take the highest offer), or he’s incredibly naive believing everything Loria was spewing last off season.
I can’t imagine Loria’s motive in even saying that to Reyes, especially when he knew he was trying to trade all that talent he had and probably didn’t much care what any of those players though.
May not like the Wilpons but it could always be worse.
darknova306
1/17/2013-10:31pm at 10:31 pm (UTC -4)
Loria’s a shyster. That’s pretty much all you need to know
srt
1/17/2013-9:52pm at 9:52 pm (UTC -4)
Comment from someone on MLBTR on this story regarding Reyes being traded:
‘Reyes is not only an electrifying player but listening to him it seems like he is a very mature and methodical person and a team first player.’
Love Reyes but that’s not the Jose I remember….lol.
srt
1/17/2013-9:44pm at 9:44 pm (UTC -4)
So against my better judgement – b/c I really can’t stand Francesa – I listened to the interview.
Eh…..Not sure I heard anything in there we didn’t already know or already surmised.
I took from this they’d really like to upgrade the team going into 2013 but will not or cannot spend the money to really do so. My money is on ‘cannot’.
Mr North Jersey
1/17/2013-10:01pm at 10:01 pm (UTC -4)
Any idea who the other pitcher Alderson saw pitch besides Wilson? I don’t recall ever hearing that reported before.
greggofboken
1/17/2013-10:14pm at 10:14 pm (UTC -4)
He said it was in the southeast. I wonder if it was a reference to Brandon Webb (Kentucky)
Mr North Jersey
1/17/2013-10:20pm at 10:20 pm (UTC -4)
Ahh, that might be it.
gategem
1/17/2013-10:49pm at 10:49 pm (UTC -4)
As we stand at the threshold of what will be another lost season all that can be said is “This Buds (Selig, that is) for you Mets fans.”
Mr North Jersey
1/17/2013-11:01pm at 11:01 pm (UTC -4)
I’m disappointed in you Gategem. What would Murphy say?
Mr North Jersey
1/17/2013-10:52pm at 10:52 pm (UTC -4)
LoL, I am re-listening to the interview and I can’t help but laugh when I hear one quote because I can envision every Mets fan listening at the time Alderson said, “To say that we’ve been patient is probably an understatement. But that’s what we’ve been.” responding with a “no shit”.
srt
1/17/2013-11:09pm at 11:09 pm (UTC -4)
AA has the synopsis of the full interview up for anyone wanting to read it.
‘Regarding the outfield, Alderson concedes that it’s “not a strength at this point, there’s no question about that.” It’s looking like Lucas Duda in left, Kirk Nieuwenhuis in center, and Whoknows in right.’
I’m really looking forward to WhoKnows in RF – LOL.
Prismo
1/18/2013-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
It’s like Abbott and Costello are his assistant GMs!
Don O'Brien
1/17/2013-11:36pm at 11:36 pm (UTC -4)
Why would you add a guy with 20 HRs and the highest slugging average of 2012, and with only 377 at bats, equally divided between lefty and righty pitchers?
A nervy guy who wants more playing time. Send him on his way. Cowgill, Kirk and Duda will do fine. And Ike Davis will learn to hit lefties, if they throw him all fast balls. DenDecker and Valdespin will be there as well, and don’t forget Brown.
What are we worried about?
TX
1/18/2013-1:17am at 1:17 am (UTC -4)
I’d say because all his numbers are career highs? Maybe? And he’s not an everyday player?
kingman 26
1/18/2013-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Hairston stinks.
Even with the HR, he cannot get on base, cannot draw a walk, he strikes out far too much, he is a terrible fielder, and is absolutely not an everyday player.
Note the really long list of teams offering him the money he wants.
He’s a nothing; he’s a spare part on a good team, although one might also notice that he has never been on a good team.
Because he stinks and has virtually no serious value.
He’s a good guy to have around to hit for the cycle in a game you lose 18-9 or whatever that game’s score is.
It is one of the most glaring and sorry signs of the current state of the Mets that a segment of the fan base truly seems to believe that Hairston is a really good/valuable player.
He’s absolutely not.
Don O'Brien
1/19/2013-12:20am at 12:20 am (UTC -4)
Because he stinks and has virtually no serious value.
Bullshit. Name one present Met outfielder who is better.
kingman 26
1/18/2013-9:48am at 9:48 am (UTC -4)
While I did not listen, I do have to say that Alderson is in such a tough spot. Clearly he does not have much independence due to Wilpon financial difficulties, so coming on to face comical blowhard Francesa and the fans cannot be fun or easy.
I am sure he dreams about Caribbean sunsets while he is counting the days until Bud lets him go from this awful job.
What’s he going to say? Yeah, I like the prospects but I definitely would have re-signed Dickey? Yeah, I would love Upton but there’s no way we can take on that kind of salary right now? Yeah, the OF and bullpen are total jokes and I am really sorry about that but there’s little I can do right now? Yeah, Marcum would be ideal but we just cannot afford him? Sure, St. Dimples’ contract is a joke and will almost certainly be an albatross, but I didn’t negotiate or want it?
I am sure he would LOVE to say most of that.
greggofboken
1/18/2013-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
It was not a combative interview. It is worth a listen.
TX
1/18/2013-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
They have the full transcription over at AA.
This part piques the most thought:
Alderson: Well, I’ll tell you what’s interesting, Mike. We had been talking to two or three teams about R.A. Dickey, and we had an interest in a couple players from one team and we were prepared to make a trade to that team for those two players. After we made the deal with Toronto, we got a call from that team — they wouldn’t give us the two players for R.A., but they called us and said, “We’ll give you the two players for Travis d’Arnaud. Straight up.”
Francesa: Really? Interesting.
Alderson: Now at that point everyone had fallen in love with Travis, so we weren’t going to do that. And we’d fallen in love with the guy too.
Francesa: So you turned down those two players you wanted for Dickey, for d’Arnaud once you got him.
Alderson: Yeah, so we could have ended up with those two players plus all the other players we got from Toronto, but that’s not how we’ve plotted it out.
Francesa: Right. So you have big plans for him. You hope he’s a middle of the order catcher. I mean that’s a nice thing to have if you have that.
Alderson: If we have a solid everyday guy with some power who can hit 5 or 6 in the lineup, we’ll be happy.
Makes you wonder who those 2 were…
kingman 26
1/18/2013-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
That’s really interesting. I hope the two were Profar/Andrus and Olt, and NOT the Angels’ garbage.
TX
1/18/2013-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
If is was Olt and one of their pitching prospects (rated #4 or 5 in their system), would you do that? I’m not sure I would.
kingman 26
1/18/2013-12:23pm at 12:23 pm (UTC -4)
Hell no! No way.
And I am really glad Toronto blinked and we got a much better package.
Prismo
1/18/2013-10:56am at 10:56 am (UTC -4)
I just hope we never find out so we can’t regret this later.
Stick
1/18/2013-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
if it was profur and olt, you would know because they would be on the Mets.
or in Miami, for Stanton, but in any case, you would know!
Might have been the Angels 2nd rate offer, or maybe the 2 guys from Boston. Or possibly a Sandy hallucination.
TRS86
1/18/2013-12:10pm at 12:10 pm (UTC -4)
I would imagine just as Joe D that it was Texas. However, I would also imagine that it was Olt and either the pitching prospect or the lower ranked OF. So basically would you right now trade TDA for Olt and a pitcher? I know I wouldn’t.
kingman 26
1/18/2013-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Probably has to be TEX. I don’t know much about the pitching prospects, but if Sandy had traded Dickey for those two, I would have been royally pissed, and it would prove beyond any shred of doubt that might remain that trading Dickey was NOT a “rebuilding” move and was done 100% out of lack of ability to afford Dickey.
Getting a d’Arnaud or a Profar was the ONLY satisfactory way to trade Dickey.
TRS86
1/18/2013-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
I am a little higher on Olt than you are and I most likely would have still traded Dickey for that package but I am glad that like with Beltran Sandy held out for the better player.
kingman 26
1/18/2013-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
Or Toronto called and made the offer just in time to prevent him from making a potentially awful trade.
Dickey was going regardless–they could not afford him; let’s just be glad Toronto has been re-defining “win-now” mode and gave us a wonderful return for R.A.
Stick
1/18/2013-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
On anothe topic, I saw on spyder crawl the post has an article today titled “duda awakening”.
Is that anything like spring awakening?
TX
1/18/2013-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
I think it’s similar to when “the Dude” woke up from his trip to find himself running down a dark street. Dang White Russians….
Stick
1/18/2013-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
actually an interesting article. talks a lot about his experience in LF, and some psitive comments from Terry about him after the move from RF.
srt
1/18/2013-8:45pm at 8:45 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, I read that article earlier.
I just hope his wrist is sufficiently healed where the power when batting isn’t affected. Duda needs all the help he can get. It’s do or die for him.
gategem
1/18/2013-7:32pm at 7:32 pm (UTC -4)
So Aurora, receiving osculation from TC, has awakened transformed into Duda yet she still stinks.
Prismo
1/18/2013-12:01pm at 12:01 pm (UTC -4)
“Triple-A St. Lucie”
*crying from laughter*
Oh, MB, you never fail to amuse me.
kingman 26
1/18/2013-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
How can they be so bad?
At this point, folks there speculate that they might do it deliberately as perhaps traffic is higher to posts with dozens of people mocking the errors.
If not, they are far, FAR more lazy, stupid, and just plain pathetic than ANYONE has ever even considered them to be.
It has become nothing more than the Mets’ official online mouthpiece, as nearly every post lately is rehashed nonsense speculation about Upton, Marcum, Wilson, etc., i.e. moves that will never happen and are not even being considered but are written about to create the mythology that the Mets are actively working to improve the team.
Seriously though, as one of the best posters over there has stated, having those total and complete incompetents running the official website of the New York Mets is sadly but utterly 100% appropriate for the current team—loaded with errors that are not rectified, a complete lack of accountability, and nothing whatsoever done to improve the third rate quality of the product–if that’s not the 2013 NY Mets, well, maybe St. Lucie IS AAA and maybe Tejada did dive into 1B after all.
Stick
1/18/2013-1:45pm at 1:45 pm (UTC -4)
I saw the thread where he actually answered back to you, defending his honor about being his own man.
complete with major grammatical goof that you slammed back at him.
SaltyGary
1/18/2013-2:04pm at 2:04 pm (UTC -4)
Oh no-way recently? Kong do you have a copy of that?
kingman 26
1/18/2013-2:19pm at 2:19 pm (UTC -4)
CR–Well, even Cerrone can sound intelligent, honest, and independent once in a while.
Matt–I’m always honest and independent in my think and writing, you just don’t always agree with me. But, that doesn’t mean there is a conspiracy in place. It’s a simple matter of disagreeing.
CR–Hey thanks for responding! “I’m always honest and independent in my think…” I guess this sentence had to be written REALLY quickly to get it posted and break the story, right? That’s why it’s not coherent, right? Can you tell me again about Tejada getting hurt “diving” into first base? That’s my all-time favorite, but there are MANY wonderful contenders for the award.
SaltyGary
1/18/2013-2:40pm at 2:40 pm (UTC -4)
Oh he did it today, I found it. Whats worse is the guy that commented to cerrone kissing his ass.
kingman 26
1/18/2013-2:16pm at 2:16 pm (UTC -4)
I am starting to think that he and Baron really might be dumber than I ever imagined.
Stick
1/18/2013-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
It’s not an act? Who knew.
SaltyGary
1/18/2013-3:30pm at 3:30 pm (UTC -4)
I gave the guy who complimented Cerrone’s comment my 2 cents and I don’t think he appreciated it. LOL
ColoradoMetsFan
1/18/2013-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
It’s sad, given what I assume is decent traffic. But it’s true, Cerrone and Baron are intellectually lazy, and their site has taken a turn for the worse in terms of intelligence. That said, one has to wonder whether they’re taking orders from Jeff Wilpon. That would make anyone stupid.
Stick
1/18/2013-3:53pm at 3:53 pm (UTC -4)
I stand by my previously stated opinin that Jeffy is in the process of fully taking over. So having him micromanage MB is entirely possible.
though I can also believe me other theory (which are not mutually exclusive) that they make the mistakes intentionally to keep site traffic up. You know what they say, bad press is better than no press!
Back to jeffy, in case you missed it, the handwriting on the wall (the confounding JP extension) is that Sandy is gone by the end of 2013, with JP named the GM to replace him, but with the real GM duties going to Jeffy. JP will still work from home, and Jeffy will just use him as a front man (have to have someone handy to throw under the bus, first rule of any project).
SaltyGary
1/18/2013-4:16pm at 4:16 pm (UTC -4)
You know me well enough that I’ll be trolling them again in a few weeks. Unfortunately my anger is giving them hope of knocking off a sand person…
Stick
1/18/2013-4:38pm at 4:38 pm (UTC -4)
all righty then.
I still find it humorous that I was lumped in with the sandy slurpers (or whatever the hell the anti-core is referred to). After some of the rants about what they did or did not do! But sadly, in today’s confrontational world, just like politics you can’t bein the middle, have to take an extreme position and see the world only through one color lens.
at least, to be in the couer you do!
srt
1/18/2013-8:49pm at 8:49 pm (UTC -4)
It’s hard to take the coeur seriously anymore. There’s not any well thought out opinions or debates, just attack after attack. My daily chuckles for the day.
Stick
1/18/2013-8:53pm at 8:53 pm (UTC -4)
they just don’t see the irony (especially the leader) of harassing people about not talking baseball, when I don’t think he ever has made a viable BB related comment.
gategem
1/18/2013-11:34pm at 11:34 pm (UTC -4)
Over at MB CR is a truculent antagonist that must be silenced.
Stick, you can be an independent but be prepared to be belittled and insulted by loonies from both extremes.
srt
1/18/2013-8:46pm at 8:46 pm (UTC -4)
That’s one of the big reasons I just stopped reading over there. I got the impression it’s almost done on purpose too.
Plus, I can get all my up to the minute news from about 4 other sites which are far better, including TRDM.
SaltyGary
1/18/2013-12:27pm at 12:27 pm (UTC -4)
“The outfield is a joke”.
– Matt Cerrone, Executive Editor Metsblog.com
kingman 26
1/18/2013-12:33pm at 12:33 pm (UTC -4)
“Fresh from his callup from triple A St. Lucie, SS Reubin Tayhada was injured diving into first base. He was helped off the field by trainer Manny Ramirez, and consoled by all-time Met great RHP Sid Fernandez.”
SaltyGary
1/18/2013-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
I am posting it everywhere. I even posted it on a debt ceiling article at HuffPo. I am having fun with my Mets anger today. I also tweeted the quote to cerrone a couple times already.
Stick
1/18/2013-3:47pm at 3:47 pm (UTC -4)
So, is this the weekend that you are having Alex up to your place so you can go through the full “core” initiation?
hate to tell you, but if a man really is judged by the company he keeps, you just went way downhill buddy.
Stick
1/18/2013-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
at least we got another MiL to discuss. Filling up those catcher spots. But Landon Powell? that sounds like a detective from a 1940′s Mickey Spillane novel or something.
At least he switch hits. badly, but it is something. And I guess you do need catchers at AAA also.
Prismo
1/18/2013-3:14pm at 3:14 pm (UTC -4)
I think he’s better than Anthony Recker…but it won’t matter come July when TDA is called up.
Stick
1/18/2013-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
honestly, I never heard of either guy before they signed, but I believe in the theory that most BU catchers suck, and AAA back ups only have to fill the Stengel role (prevent passed balls!)
though buck and one of these guys does not look all that much better (offensively at least) than thole and Nicky.
thank goodness the mets actually seem to have a decent amount of catching talent moving though the system.
srt
1/18/2013-8:50pm at 8:50 pm (UTC -4)
I’m really hoping TDA makes his debut before July.
darknova306
1/18/2013-11:50pm at 11:50 pm (UTC -4)
As long as they don’t bring him up early enough to lose a year of control, I don’t care when he makes his debut. I always advocate caution and patience with prospects regardless.