10/29/10
10/28/10
It’s official.Twitter Poll: Who’s your pick for manager?
First time in a long time, but here’s some Twitter poll results from my followers on who they would choose for the next Mets manager.
Here are some responses…
jaredshafran: Clint [sic] Hurtle! He has ties to the mets organization and would be a great man for the job!
TheRealHoov: Clint Hurdle. Expience, Mets Ties, Previous Success
Step_715: Larry Bowa because the mets need someone with passion and a winning attitude
jerrytroll: Chip Hale. I was a "Bring Back Bobby" guy, but his personality would clash too much with Alderson's, I think.
JenniferLSchiff: Bobby V! Bobby V! Can think of no other candidate for #Mets manager who would get the fans more excited and fill seats.
kstrauss11: Bobby V. Personality and track record.
nmigliore: As long as he listens to Alderson and understands sabermetrics, who cares.
chrisguzy: I would *like* Wally, but if we get Bob Melvin & Sandy give him a roster that wins? Melvin = best mgr of this generation!
Who would you choose?
10/27/10
Handing over the keys
Alderson is expected to have complete control of all baseball decisions, although he will need the approval of ownership on major expenditures. Essentially, the Mets will hand the keys of the franchise over to Alderson, who is expected to restructure the team substantially.
Sweet sassy molassy, I’m a giddy quoter today.
Ch-ch-ch-changes are coming. Brace yourselves, I guess.
The article also noted that most decisions will be in Alderson’s hand, but big moves will have to pass through the Wilpons. I guess there’s no avoiding that.
Standing up to the man
One baseball official said early in the process that [Sandy] Alderson was the only one of the candidates with the gravitas to stand up to ownership and insist that they step back and let him do the job.
This is great news, if true.
Great news.
Welcome to the Mets, Sandy Alderson.10/26/10
There should be a GM by weeks end
Josh Byrnes had his second-round interview yesterday. Today, Sandy Alderson is with the upper brass for round two. By Friday, it seems, the Mets may have their new general manager in place.
I’m very intrigued to see who comes out on top of this. My hunch – and all signs – are pointed to Alderson. But Byrnes is getting paid a hefty sum by the Diamondbacks over the next few years, so he could come at a bit of a bargain.
(But if the Wilpons are looking to save by scrimping on a GM’s contract, there’s a lot more to worry about.)
In the end, I think Sandy will be the next guy to look to – and hopefully not complain about – as the head of the team.
And I’m very, very happy about that.
10/22/10
Flood: Sandy Alderson for GM
“Sandy Alderson is exactly who the Mets need right now. They need change. This is a team with a messy roster that needs creative solutions. Alderson isn’t boxed in by traditional thinking. The need order in the organization.”
Go read the rest right now.
I’m all for Alderson. I hope the Wilpons are too.
(Aside: I’ve never rallied behind a candidate for GM or manager before. I’m pulling for Alderson now, but if he makes moves I don’t agree with, or offers contracts I think are outlandish, I will be quick to pull my support. I’m a finicky fan. Sue me.)
10/21/10
A note from Jeff Wilpon on GM search
Dear Mets Fans:
As you may know, earlier today we completed the initial round of interviews with six talented candidates to become the new General Manager of the New York Mets.
Each was extremely impressive - Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson, Logan White, and Dana Brown. All reiterated their desire and interest in pursuing this opportunity.
We will be in direct communication with each as we narrow the candidate pool by early next week. We subsequently will invite the leading candidates back to meet with Fred, Saul, and me.
We have an outstanding group from which to select our new General Manager. We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.
Sincerely,
Jeff Wilpon
COO
Sounds good to me.
10/19/10
Abolish the balk
Last night, while I watched Cliff Lee attempt to throw over to first base, I had an idea: Let’s abolish the balk rule.
Here’s what the MLB rules have to say about it:
Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.
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(3) disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides).
In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot and not his free foot first.
He may not go into a set or stretch position—if he does it is a balk.
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The pitcher, following his stretch, must (a) hold the ball in both hands in front of his body and (b) come to a complete stop. This must be enforced. Umpires should watch this closely. Pitchers are constantly attempting to “beat the rule” in their efforts to hold runners on bases and in cases where the pitcher fails to make a complete “stop” called for in the rules, the umpire should immediately call a “Balk.”
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Rule 8.01(c) Comment: The pitcher shall step “ahead of the throw.” A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk.
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Rule 8.01(d) Comment: A ball which slips out of a pitcher’s hand and crosses the foul line shall be called a ball; otherwise it will be called no pitch. This would be a balk with men on base.
Why?
Isn’t the whole point of all of this – throwing to first, delivering the ball to the plate – to trick the batter and/or runners on the bases?
What’s the point of restricting what the pitcher’s do to try and create outs, either on the basepaths or at the plate?
The hitch in the windup, the slidestep, the shake of the glove, etc. are all designed to give the pitcher a bit of leverage to get around these rules. If they were abolished, who would suffer? The batter? The runner?
If the balk rule was abolished, I think it would free up pitchers to get a little more creative, keep the runners at bay, and challenge the batters at the plate.
What do you think: Should MLB do away with the balk rule?
10/15/10
10/10/10
10/7/10
My front runner
[Sandy] Alderson, 62, is best known as the general manager that built the A's into a perennial October powerhouse, with three World Series appearances from 1988-90 and a title in 1989. Alderson first hired Billy Beane as a scout and was among the pioneers to value the statistic-driven style of evaluation before it became the "Moneyball" phenomenon.
Make it so, Jeff and Fred. Make it so.
10/6/10
My playoff picks
NLDS
Phillies over Reds
Giants over Braves
ALDS
Rangers over Rays
Yankees over Twins
NLCS
Phillies over Giants
ALCS
Rangers over Yankees
World Series
Rangers over Phillies
How about you?
10/5/10
Disappointed by the Post.10/4/10
Omar, Jerry out; Ricco interim
There you have it: Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya out of their respective roles.
John Ricco named interim general manager.
Here’s the press release:
FLUSHING, N.Y., October 4, 2010 - The New York Mets today announced that Omar Minaya has been relieved of his duties as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations & General Manager and they have declined to exercise the club's option on Jerry Manuel's contract as Manager for 2011.
A search is under way for a new General Manager who will run the team's Baseball Operations department. Ownership will lead the process with assistance from Vice President, Assistant General Manager John Ricco who will in the interim direct the department. The new General Manager will work with Ownership to identify and hire a new Manager.
"We are extremely disappointed in this year's results and the failures of the past four seasons," said Jeff Wilpon, Mets Chief Operating Officer. "We need to hire a new General Manager with a fresh perspective who will transform this club into a winner that we want and our fans deserve.
"We appreciate all that Omar and Jerry have done for the Organization and thank them for their time and effort," Wilpon said. "Changes like these are never easy, especially when you are dealing with people you like and respect."
Mets Ownership will meet with the media today at 1:30 p.m. ET in the Press Conference Room at Citi Field to address these changes.
I won the bet
I’ve won.
$10 is heading my way, from my father.
We shook hands back on March 12. Nearly seven months later, his money is as good as mine.
He thought the Mets would finish in last, I was a bit more confident.
He now owes me $10.
Yay.
Early Morning Tweets
This tweet back-and-forth happened around 5:40 a.m.
Mr. Cerrone is ready for stuff to happen now. As are all Mets fans.
But I’d rather play the waiting game with Omar Minaya and wait until the Mets know they have their heir apparent lined up before cutting Minaya loose.
Jerry Manuel should be handed his pink slip in a few hours, though.
10/3/10
Happy trails to you…
Adios, Jerry and Omar. I’m assuming we’ll be seeing some breaking news stories about you tomorrow.
It was quite a year. With some ups and lots of downs. And now, the season has ended. Heading into the year, we were so worried about starting pitching. After it all, we should have been worried more about offense.
Whomever comes in next year has some work to do. It should be a fun offseason.
10/1/10
Today in things we already knew but like to hear again
The Mets will announce shortly after the season that general manager Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel won't be returning in their roles, sources say. The announcements are likely to be made before the playoffs begin Wednesday. The changes will not come as a surprise, as they have been widely assumed for a few weeks now.
So, I’ll see Manuel’s third-to-last game tonight. Yay?
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