Who's gonna be the General Manager?

[Lefty Specialist]

This is the more likely furniture if they hire a fossil like Bob Melvin to be GM...

[MFS62]

Hiring the agent for one of your (star) players is like hiring Bonnie and Clyde to guard your bank.
Later

[Edgy MD]

How so?

I mean, he clearly wouldn't represent deGrom (or Syndergaard or Céspedes) anymore. Any kickback he'd get if he signed one of 'em to an overly generous contract would clearly be illegal and hard to hide.

[Lefty Specialist]

Why would any agent give up a lucrative job to work for the Wilpons? It does not make sense.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is cover #263 in this year's Tabloid Cover Derby. It's chances of winning are... slim.

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote:

I don't know where people get the idea that Melvin is "old school" or that his ideas are outdated. He's using a cell phone! And wearing sunglasses! Come on!

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's probably that Wilford Brimley mustache.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: How so? I mean, he clearly wouldn't represent deGrom (or Syndergaard or Céspedes) anymore. Any kickback he'd get if he signed one of 'em to an overly generous contract would clearly be illegal and hard to hide.

Aside from my attempt at humor, his firm still would. Are those players (or some of them) still under contract with that firm?
IMO, it would be like when Dick Cheney left Halliburton to become VP. Then, three major NO BID contracts were awarded to Halliburton when Desert Storm started. It might not happen overtly. And every time as GM he signed a player represented by that firm instead of another player, the fans, and the press, would have a concern.
Any decision by a GM is subject to scrutiny. Why add another level of concern?
I'd pick someone else.

Later

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It's chances of winning are... slim.

And speak for yourself. This might be the Metsiest cover of 2018.

"Hey staffers, listen up. These orders from directly from the boss. I need you to find me a badass picture of Doug Melvin. I want everyone to look at this picture and say "Wow, that is one cutting edge mother fucker. You have an hour. Go!"

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: How so? I mean, he clearly wouldn't represent deGrom (or Syndergaard or Céspedes) anymore. Any kickback he'd get if he signed one of 'em to an overly generous contract would clearly be illegal and hard to hide.

I think it's a pretty clear conflict of interest. Any information he has on any of his clients as their fiduciary could now be used to their detriment.

Put it this way. You are Jacob deGrom. You've told your agent what you want in terms of a deal. How you should start the bidding, what you will ultimately accept. Now, a month later, he goes and sits on the other side of the table. Are you happy about this?

[Centerfield]

Doug Melvin will interview today, then speak to the media at 1 p.m.

Pretty strange for a candidate to speak to the media during the hiring process no?

If the Mets want us to believe that the interviews were an actual process, and not just a charade knowing all along that they were going to hire Melvin, they are doing a pretty bad job of faking it.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think the media interaction is part of the interview. How is this guy with the press?

[Benjamin Grimm]

The plan was for all of the second-round candidates to speak to the media. So Bloom and Brodie (whose last name I may have to try to remember) will get their chances too.

[Centerfield]

Got it. That makes sense.

I think I'd be interested to hear Chaim Bloom speak. So far he's my favorite, but only because he's been described as smart, and subscribing to analytics.

I'd like to see how he handles the NY media.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I thought I heard that bullshit statement issued by Brodie yesterday was his way of doing this press interaction.

He can continue to be organic for all I care

[metirish]

Lord , how overplayed is the NY Media landscape? they are so demanding etc...no one loves hearing that more than the NY media I bet.

[Guest 41Forever]

I think that's a pretty good idea to have that be part of the interview. If nothing else, it gives the candidate an idea what to expect. And, from the Mets perspective, if they are going to go outside the box it would give the team an idea of what type of support the person will need. Not saying doing poorly would doom a candidate -- but show where he needs some assistance to grow.

[Centerfield]

Beat guys seem to think Melvin handled himself fine, but wasn't exactly spectacular. So, not surprising at all.

Says he would mix scouting and analytics, believes Fred and Jeff would give him control, and would be inclined to keep Mickey.

I don't see anything indicating whether or not payroll was discussed.

[G-Fafif]

I believe they had the managerial candidates do a "meet the media" session last year.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Wouldn't it be a hell of a thing if the Mets hire Brodie Van Wagenen and, needing a new agent, deGrom and Syndergaard sign with Scott Boras?

Maybe they'd be better off with Doug Melvin. Or if they can't get him, they can call Melvyn Douglas. (They did say that they would consider some dead candidates, didn't they?)



(I think this poster has it backwards. It seems to be identifying the guy on the left as Loretta Young and the woman on the right as Melvyn Douglas. Actually, the opposite is true. I just wanted to clear that up.)

[Benjamin Grimm]

FUN FACT: According to Matt Ehalt at NewJersey.com, Brodie Van Wagenen is the son-in-law of Neil Armstrong!



Yes, THAT guy!

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: (I think this poster has it backwards. It seems to be identifying the guy on the left as Loretta Young and the woman on the right as Melvyn Douglas. Actually, the opposite is true. I just wanted to clear that up.)

For some reason, this has long been the standard with film posters, with the actors' names deliberately not positioned to correspond with their images. Maybe they think it'll make you study the poster harder.

[fimg=250]https://i.etsystatic.com/17437897/r/il/d76b81/1529230467/il_570xN.1529230467_jw4b.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=350]https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/c70149c8-aba9-4524-aabf-749a990afd28_1.1266c0bcf906b4c45f042ca47c24100b.jpeg?odnHeight=450&odnWidth=450&odnBg=FFFFFF[/fimg]

[Guest 41Forever]

FUN FACT: According to Matt Ehalt at NewJersey.com, Brodie Van Wagenen is the son-in-law of Neil Armstrong! Yes, THAT guy!

He also received a baseball scholarship from Stanford University, where he graduated with a degree in communications. Not a bad skill set to have dealing with such a huge market.

[Frayed Knot]

FUN FACT: According to Matt Ehalt at NewJersey.com, Brodie Van Wagenen is the son-in-law of Neil Armstrong! Yes, THAT guy!

OK, I'm confused here.
Armstrong had but one daughter who died as a child.
Did Armstrong's second wife have a daughter from a previous marriage who later married BVW? If so that makes Armstrong more of a step-Father in Law?

[Centerfield]

Been reading up on the days events. It’s disheartening. Maybe he’ll surprise us but if Melvin is hired it’s hard not to think this is more of the same type of backwards thinking that Has handcuffed the Mets for so long.

It’s like this franchise is just doomed to incompetence.

[MFS62]

Edgy MD wrote: [fimg=350]https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/c70149c8-aba9-4524-aabf-749a990afd28_1.1266c0bcf906b4c45f042ca47c24100b.jpeg?odnHeight=450&odnWidth=450&odnBg=FFFFFF[/fimg]

I really liked that movie.

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

FUN FACT: According to Matt Ehalt at NewJersey.com, Brodie Van Wagenen is the son-in-law of Neil Armstrong! Yes, THAT guy! OK, I'm confused here. Armstrong had but one daughter who died as a child. Did Armstrong's second wife have a daughter from a previous marriage who later married BVW? If so that makes Armstrong more of a step-Father in Law?

Could he be married to Neil Armstrong's son???

[Edgy MD]

Yes, Bodie is married to Molly, Neil's step-daughter.

[MFS62]

Matthew Cerrone's take:
https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/get-to-know-mets-gm-candidate-chaim-bloom/299527348

Later

[Benjamin Grimm]

Cerrone suggests that the Mets hire both Melvin and Bloom, which is an interesting idea. I don't know how likely it is, though. Do the Mets want to hire two people? And would both candidates be willing to take the job under those conditions?