The In-MRI-Thread - 4/30/18

[Centerfield]

51 degrees and cloudy this morning at HSS. Parking lot is a jammed due to month end, and Carol at reception brought banana nut muffins that she baked over the weekend.

And a pleasant good morning to everyone.

[Ceetar]

Cespedes? Always seems like he's somewhat banged up.

[seawolf17]

Wait, we can't really start the thread until all sixteen beat writers have posted the same identical MRI lineup tweet.

[ashie62]

Dicomo's tweet quoted Cespedes as saying "I will only be out three days"

not two, not four.

I would take the three day outcome

[Centerfield]

Mets say they will not update today. Wtf is that all about.

[Ceetar]

Centerfield wrote: Mets say they will not update today. Wtf is that all about.

gives the media time to right speculative columns.



word is Sandy's just going to give all the updates at the pre-homestand press conference tomorrow.

could be bad news, could just be they don't want to leak trickles to every writer that texts them and would rather control the message/delivery. That does track with reason history.

[Guest d'Kong76]

This is bullshit, just report report the MRI results.

[seawolf17]

Ashie62 wrote: Dicomo's tweet quoted Cespedes as saying "I will only be out three days" not two, not four. I would take the three day outcome

Frig. See you in 2020, Yoenis.

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: This is bullshit, just report report the MRI results.

So the garbage media can twist it before they've had a chance to decide how to proceed and then hold them to their initial impressions which may be wildly inaccurate? nah. The media hasn't really liked this new tactic, but it's seemed to work a little better for controlling expectations on injuries.

And did any of these so called reporters make some calls to Vegas and try to figure out if someone was scratched or called up? doubt it.

[Centerfield]

One of the Mets' stated goals for 2018 was to improve communications, especially concerning injuries. Yesterday does not seem to be a step in the right direction.

Something happened yesterday. It could have been a disaster, it could have been nothing.

*Cespedes completed MRI today. Results pending.

*Cespdedes MRI post-poned to Tuesday.

*Cespedes MRI inconclusive. Further evaluation on Tuesday.

Any one of those updates would be better than nothing.

[Ceetar]

giving out half-baked updates to random media folk is not good communication. 90% of the bad communication rap the Mets get/got was a result of information leaking out before being finalized, or out of context quotes, or editorializing. Curbing that, especially in a way that doesn't actually block the public from any information, is a good thing.



Just like Harvey's allowed to say no comment, the Mets are allowed to say "we'll talk about this at the press conference"

This also allows them have Cespedes show up first and get evaluated. If it's a good MRI, they still have no more info to go on and leaking a "all clean" is misleading if Yoenis shows up today and it hurts. If it's bad, they need to back and forth him and decide treatment and plan, leaking any of that before hand might lead to a misleading window of recovery or something. They control the message by waiting. I get that.

[Guest d'Kong76]

So when is this press conference, there's nothing on the twit nor mlb-site?

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: So when is this press conference, there's nothing on the twit nor mlb-site?

Sandy will talk with the media before the homestand. I didn't see what time.

[Guest 41Forever]

Centerfield wrote: One of the Mets' stated goals for 2018 was to improve communications, especially concerning injuries. Yesterday does not seem to be a step in the right direction. Something happened yesterday. It could have been a disaster, it could have been nothing. *Cespedes completed MRI today. Results pending. *Cespdedes MRI post-poned to Tuesday. *Cespedes MRI inconclusive. Further evaluation on Tuesday. Any one of those updates would be better than nothing.

I don't understand the Mets' communications strategy. Not saying anything makes it a bigger story.

[Centerfield]

41Forever wrote: Centerfield wrote: One of the Mets' stated goals for 2018 was to improve communications, especially concerning injuries. Yesterday does not seem to be a step in the right direction. Something happened yesterday. It could have been a disaster, it could have been nothing. *Cespedes completed MRI today. Results pending. *Cespdedes MRI post-poned to Tuesday. *Cespedes MRI inconclusive. Further evaluation on Tuesday. Any one of those updates would be better than nothing. I don't understand the Mets' communications strategy. Not saying anything makes it a bigger story.

Exactly. In fact, not saying anything becomes a story itself.

[MFS62]

When someone asks me a question, I answer it.
If I don't have the answer, I tell them I'll let them know when I have the answer.
If they ask me that same question again, I start to get irritated.
If they ask me that same question again, I really get pissed off.

I'd tell them the fact that you're asking me again doesn't change when I'll have the answer.

Later

[Ceetar]

MFS62 wrote: When someone asks me a question, I answer it. If I don't have the answer, I tell them I'll let them know when I have the answer. If they ask me that same question again, I start to get irritated. If they ask me that same question again, I really get pissed off. I'd tell them the fact that you're asking me again doesn't change when I'll have the answer. Later

What if when you answer the first person's question, in a non-official setting, 18 people then contact you and have related, similar, and followup questions?

[MFS62]

Then I'll answer all 18 of them - one time, in an "official setting" - and get pissed if they ask me the same question again.
Remember, the question is about when he'll be able to play.
The answer is a date. You shouldn't have to explain or clarify a date. It is very specific.
Anybody who has to ask a follow up question about a date isn't worth answering. They are either argumentative or stupid. Or both.

Later

[Ceetar]

MFS62 wrote: Then I'll answer all 18 of them - one time, in an "official setting" - and get pissed if they ask me the same question again. Remember, the question is about when he'll be able to play. The answer is a date. You shouldn't have to explain or clarify a date. It is very specific. Anybody who has to ask a follow up question about a date isn't worth answering. They are either argumentative or stupid. Or both. Later

yes, the official setting is later today, not yesterday by text message.

it's not a date, it's a timetable. Giving a date is how you get columns a week from now taht say things like "The Mets promised 3 days and it's been 7, waah!"

[Guest 41Forever]

Ceetar wrote: MFS62 wrote: When someone asks me a question, I answer it. If I don't have the answer, I tell them I'll let them know when I have the answer. If they ask me that same question again, I start to get irritated. If they ask me that same question again, I really get pissed off. I'd tell them the fact that you're asking me again doesn't change when I'll have the answer. Later What if when you answer the first person's question, in a non-official setting, 18 people then contact you and have related, similar, and followup questions?

They actually have people on staff to do this. You draft a short response -- "We're conducted some initial tests on Cespedes' thumb, and are going to conduct some follow-up tests to make sure he's cleared to play. We expect to have more information before today's game." -- and you email it to whomever asks you the question. They all have to check the box showing that they asked, and the Mets have to check the box showing that they responded. Not that hard.

[Ceetar]

they have people to respond to text messages directly to Sandy Alderson? to John Ricco? To whichever other 'source'? On an off day?

41Forever wrote: They actually have people on staff to do this. You draft a short response -- "We're conducted some initial tests on Cespedes' thumb, and are going to conduct some follow-up tests to make sure he's cleared to play. We expect to have more information before today's game." -- and you email it to whomever asks you the question. They all have to check the box showing that they asked, and the Mets have to check the box showing that they responded. Not that hard.

That's basically what they did. They told everyone he was having an MRI. When asked about the results they said "at the press briefing tomorrow"

It's not a failure of communication.

[Guest 41Forever]

Ceetar wrote: they have people to respond to text messages directly to Sandy Alderson? to John Ricco? To whichever other 'source'? On an off day? 41Forever wrote: They actually have people on staff to do this. You draft a short response -- "We're conducted some initial tests on Cespedes' thumb, and are going to conduct some follow-up tests to make sure he's cleared to play. We expect to have more information before today's game." -- and you email it to whomever asks you the question. They all have to check the box showing that they asked, and the Mets have to check the box showing that they responded. Not that hard. That's basically what they did. They told everyone he was having an MRI. When asked about the results they said "at the press briefing tomorrow" It's not a failure of communication.

Sandy and John Ricco should not be answering texts from reporters. They have a staff for that, and Sandy has more important things to do.

[Ceetar]

41Forever wrote: Sandy and John Ricco should not be answering texts from reporters. They have a staff for that, and Sandy has more important things to do.

Do reporters care about that? If they get/have a number, I'm sure they're going to use it.

Also none of the lesser 'sources' that may know about the MRI results leaked it either.

[Guest d'Kong76]

41Forever wrote: They have a staff for that, and Sandy has more important things to do.

Yeah! Lackeys, minions and on a good day interns (underpaid or not paid at all).
Still no press conference time on Twitter. This team tweets when Mr. Met farts, but
this news just isn't as important I guess.

[Ceetar]

d'Kong76 wrote: 41Forever wrote: They have a staff for that, and Sandy has more important things to do. Yeah! Lackeys, minions and on a good day interns (underpaid or not paid at all). Still no press conference time on Twitter. This team tweets when Mr. Met farts, but this news just isn't as important I guess.

it's the regularly scheduled press briefing before the homestand. Typically 4ish I think.

[Guest 41Forever]

Ceetar wrote: 41Forever wrote: Sandy and John Ricco should not be answering texts from reporters. They have a staff for that, and Sandy has more important things to do. Do reporters care about that? If they get/have a number, I'm sure they're going to use it. Also none of the lesser 'sources' that may know about the MRI results leaked it either.

Right. And Sandy should text back, "Talk to so-and-so on the media relations team." If a reporter has Sandy's cell, he's not going to pester him every day. He'll pick his moments, when he really, really needs something. This doesn't raise to that. Given the size of the New York market, Sandy could spend his entire day responding to media texts. Now, could there be a couple reporters who he has a good relationship with that he would respond to directly? Sure.

[Ceetar]

Good, so we're in agreement. There's no communication breakdown, and "Sandy will address it tomorrow" was the proper way to not say anything.

That they're not having a special/additional press conference is maybe good hope?

[Edgy MD]

Matt Ehalt has a source.

[tweet:1mlfgpdt]

[/tweet:1mlfgpdt]

[seawolf17]

Good to see our crazy arguments here are already in midseason form, by the way.

[Ceetar]

Edgy MD wrote: Matt Ehalt has a source. [tweet]https://twitter.com/MattEhalt/status/991369310626091008[/tweet]

Didn't Cespedes vow it'd be three days, and today is day two? so like, is it really faster unless he's starting tonight?