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.

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.”

-Patrick J. Flood

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.)

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.

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?

My picks, for what it’s worth

ALCS

Ranger over Yankees in 6.

NLCS

Phillies over Giants in 6.

You?

I love this commercial

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.

-David Lennon

Make it so, Jeff and Fred. Make it so.

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?

The back pages

Disappointed by the Post.

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.