I just finished up a conference call that Mets General Manager, Sandy Alderson conducted with Mets bloggers. Here is a general overview to some of the topics that were discussed ( I hope to have a full transcript up by tomorrow).
Sandy feels his greatest accomplishment so far is the culture shift within the organization which includes player development as well as the acquisition of nice talent..
He doesn’t think this team is far away from contention.
He Likes Colin Cowgill, he hasn’t seen much on Andrew Brown and Jaimie Hoffman yet. He feels Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Matt VanDekker needs more time to learn. Marlon Byrd is Marlon Byrd. He feels Lucas Duda will be fine and he will not rule out Jordanny Valdespin in the outfield this season.
He feels the in the New York market it is harder to sell a long term rebuilding mode than a short term – but it is important to the that a plan is in place in regards to public perception.
In terms of Travis d’Arnauld being instructed not to block the plate he feels that a catcher has to be sensible about it and there is justification to this sentiment because the players well being has to be taken into account and that d’Arnauld injury history must be taken into account.
He feels that Cowgill, Brandon Hicks and Jaimie Hoffman are the prototypical players that he loves to have ( aggressive on the base path, some power and not prone to the strikeout).
Alderson stressed that Terry Collins will be evaluated on both the teams won/loss record as well as the improvement of the players under his watch before a decision is made to retain his services.
Explained that one of the reasons why the outfield was not upgraded is because you have to balance between the cost of the player and his value, and if it doesn’t exist then they will not pursue the transaction.Sandy stressed that sometimes it is okay to overpay but sometimes it doesn’t.
And lastly he is currently watching Downton Abby.
As I stressed earlier , I am hoping to have a more accurate transcript of this teleconference up tomorrow just in case some of my notes are flawed.
15 comments
Trs86
2/27/2013-7:53pm at 7:53 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks Rusty
Hazmet
2/27/2013-7:54pm at 7:54 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks RJ – look forward to the follow up.
Regarding the OF and the cost of the OF vs. the player Sandy should have spent a moment thinking about the cost of not having an OF and ticket sales taking a nose dive as a result of having a field ready product.
I’d have liked to know if he could name any Amway products or if he were an Amway product what would it be? Kind of a “what color is your parachute” question.
Hazmet
2/27/2013-7:55pm at 7:55 pm (UTC -4)
*not having a field ready product
hard to type with a laptop and the hiccups
Stick
2/27/2013-8:28pm at 8:28 pm (UTC -4)
You can interpret that OF comment to mean that he recognizes there are no likely LT keepers out there, or anything more than a PT player, but the cost for Upton (prospects) and bourn ($/years/pick) was just too high to make it worth doing, and being stuck with the downstream impact.
even if it might take a hit to this year, and was not going to help attendance, he was willing to take that risk to build the team for the future that he wants.
the balancing act is living with the repercussions of the rebuilding phase without panicking and grabbing for a quick fix “big” name.
Stick
2/27/2013-9:13pm at 9:13 pm (UTC -4)
the mother ship has a full transcript up. I guess connections do work.
I liked this comment, which is what I said about the whole Hairstain, etc. deal.
“I understand people look at the outfield. Things just didn’t work out there, and I certainly take responsibility for that. Could we have jumped earlier who was a marginal improvement over what we have? Yes, we probably could have. But marginal, as opposed to something significant.”
greggofboken
2/27/2013-10:16pm at 10:16 pm (UTC -4)
To say that neither Cody Ross nor Ryan Ludwick was worth the salary they ended up commanding is one thing — but to say they would have represented only marginal improvement over Byrd/Baxter strains credibility. Both are solid enough, unspectacular but competent everyday players. Neither Byrd nor Baxter are.
darknova306
2/27/2013-10:19pm at 10:19 pm (UTC -4)
“He doesn’t think this team is far away from contention.”
So he’s an idiot.
“He Likes Colin Cowgill”
So he’s an even bigger idiot.
“Marlon Byrd is Marlon Byrd.”
So cut him from camp.
“He feels Lucas Duda will be fine”
Oh god. What a dumb piece of crap.
“and he will not rule out Jordanny Valdespin in the outfield this season.”
Please kill me.
“He feels the in the New York market it is harder to sell a long term rebuilding mode than a short term”
Because NYC fans are arrogant idiots.
gategem
2/27/2013-11:17pm at 11:17 pm (UTC -4)
One of Sandy’s functions is to be a spin doctor, a publicist and it’s a waste of time to dissect his responses.
I’m sure Sandy was referring to Mets fans in and out of the immediate NYC vicinity. To be a Mets fans for many years means that you’re either extremely tolerant or an idiot. The answer is probably the later.
BTW “He feels the in the New York market it is harder to sell a long term rebuilding mode than a short term” can also be interpreted to mean we aren’t very good at our job of rebuilding this franchise so let’s blame the fans impatience.
srt
2/27/2013-11:06pm at 11:06 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks, Rusty.
Regarding the OF: suffice it to say it is what it is right now. Wide open competition and I expect a revolving door for both CF and RF. Maybe even LF if Duda doesn’t hit in the first 2 months.
kingman 26
2/28/2013-5:28am at 5:28 am (UTC -4)
Nice job Ed!
But I have to go with Dark here…this is more utterly meaningless drivel/spin.
I wish Alderson would never speak to the media, because almost every time he does I lose some faith in him and the organization.
“Cowgill, Brandon Hicks and Jaimie Hoffman are the prototypical players that he loves to have “–horrible mid-to-late 20s career minor leaguers?
Who does he think he is talking to? Matt Cerrone and Michael Baron and Ceetar and no one else? These three are the players he likes to have? Is he a AAA GM?
Sorry kids, but he should have his mouth taped shut.
srt
2/28/2013-8:23am at 8:23 am (UTC -4)
I don’t have a problem with the spin SA puts on things when he talks to the media. All GMs do that. 9 times out of 10, we’re not going to hear anything we don’t already know.
Could be worse….
- at least he’s not telling us he heard the fans in the bagel shop and made his moves accordingly – ala Omar.
- The Mets aren’t publishing stupid, full page adds in the papers talking down to all their fans – ala Loria.
- The GM isn’t desperately trying to sell an aging team with multiple injuries to the fan base – telling them they’ll still compete and they’re fine – while desperately trying to get the payroll under the salary cap – ala Cashman. At least last year when SA did the same thing and more with the salary, he came right out and said something like ‘I’m not going to tell you we’re getting to post season but this team will be fun to watch’. And you know….it did have it’s bright spots with Wright’s first half, RA’s incredible season, Harvey’s debut, Johans no hitter.
kingman 26
2/28/2013-8:38am at 8:38 am (UTC -4)
Well, Johan and Marcum already have issues and it is not yet March, the OF has looked pretty atrocious thus far and does not have a hell of a lot of room to improve, and our bullpen could be anywhere from above average to the worst in the game.
So while I have been trying to let the hallucinogenic effect of spring training do its work on me, and while it is VERY VERY early to be sure, he is indeed selling a possibly very thin pitching staff and an OF that could really be a AAA OF.
And the “We’re buyers!” thing, to me, is on par with “I am not a crook!” and “I did not have sex with that woman-Miss Lewinski!” The definition of a massive lie–perhaps not HIS lie, but a huge public lie…and I also have very serious doubts as to whether the interest in Bourn was even remotely serious or real.
I understand that he is in a tough spot, I like the Dickey trade, etc., etc., but saying that three total zero minor leaguers are “prototypical players that he loves to have” is an insult to the intelligence of the fans.
SaltyGary
2/28/2013-7:31am at 7:31 am (UTC -4)
“Explained that one of the reasons why the outfield was not upgraded is because you have to balance between the cost of the player and his value”
That’s the problem and the excuse right there. All players are overpaid.
Stickguy
2/28/2013-8:49am at 8:49 am (UTC -4)
and when you want to shop for overpriced goods, you need to have enough currency to pay for them.
I think what he was trying to allude to was they did have chips, but they were not yet worth enough to be willing to trade. But, if guys like Fulmer, synergiews, etc. follow the Wheeler path and say kick some ass in AA and shoot up the rankings, they will be worth a boat load more next year.
So, what if you translate it this way:
” I cold have traded Fulmer for Ben Revere this past off season, and the team would still have finished 4th. Or, I could hole Fulmer, and if he takes the enxt step, I could trade him for an upton-level guy next off season” Substitute Synderblock in there if you want.
I know that it is hard to interpret lawyer-speak, but that is what I am taking out of his rambling answers.
gategem
2/28/2013-8:03pm at 8:03 pm (UTC -4)
If what you believe he meant is indeed the meaning of his spin then he could have come out and said it and not be any the worse for wear. No one, except for the “core” and appealing to them is incredibly useless, would have blamed the Mets or Sandy if they just acknowledge that while they have kids on the farm with excellent potential, until they show some development they could not bring back significant players in a trade. Basically, it’s a waste of time trying to interpret a spin doctor.