Who's gonna be the General Manager?

[Centerfield]

Me too.

But it’ll be Melvin.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree on both counts. I want Ng or Bloom, but think it will be Melvin.

And Melvin may be okay. I would be disappointed in the choice, but I don't think it will be a disaster if they hire him.

[Frayed Knot]

Centerfield wrote: I think the dead guys turned them down.

Or at least didn't respond when contacted.

[HahnSolo]

I wish I knew a bit more about Ng. I know where she’s worked, but what’s her expertise? What is she best known for? Contracts? Personnel? Scouting?

[MFS62]

HahnSolo wrote: I wish I knew a bit more about Ng. I know where she’s worked, but what’s her expertise? What is she best known for? Contracts? Personnel? Scouting?

From Page 1 of this thread:

by MFS62 » Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:00 pm Here's a candidate that checks off a lot of boxes. 1) Front Office administrative experience 2) MLB/ Commissioner's office experience. 3) "Minority" candidate (TWO EEO boxes checked) 4) Fred Wilpon's love for everything Dodgers 5) Highly respected 6) Probably will take a low salary to just get a chance 7) Has been discussed here before Only thing is, not much experience in the player part of the job. A candidate worthy of serious consideration? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Ng

Hope that helps.
Later

[HahnSolo]

Ha. Thanks. Funny thing is I read her Wiki page before posting my question without realizing you had already done so. Yeah there’s not a lot of answers to be found there.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Andy Martino wrote: If you're looking for clues into who might emerge with the job, I can tell you that the team has done considerable background work on Ng. She is under serious consideration for a second round interview.

Mets set to make further cuts to GM list, begin second round

[Edgy MD]

I wonder if that background will include reaching out to Bill Singer.

[Centerfield]

Poor Bill Singer. Had he made those comments 20 years earlier he would have suffered no consequences.

And had he made them in 2018 he probably would have gotten a standing ovation.

If he had then moved from insensitive comments to sexual assault, he might have made the Supreme Court!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I guess timing is everything.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I had to refresh my memory on this.

This is from the Los Angeles Times from November 15, 2003:

PHOENIX — New York Met official Bill Singer, a former All-Star pitcher with the Dodgers and Angels, directed racially insensitive remarks at Dodger executive Kim Ng in deriding her Chinese heritage this week, baseball officials who witnessed the incident said Friday. Singer, hired last week as a special assistant to Met General Manager Jim Duquette, confronted Ng, a Dodger vice president and assistant general manager, late Tuesday night at the general manager meetings here. According to witnesses, Singer approached Ng in the bar of the hotel where the meetings occurred. After asking Ng, the highest-ranking Asian American in the major leagues, questions about her background in a sarcastic tone, Singer began speaking nonsensically in mock Chinese before eventually leaving.

[Centerfield]

In other news, Mike Puma is reporting that Ng is out, and that it's down to Melvin, Bloom and Van Wagenen.

Melvin, not surprisingly, is the front-runner.

I get the feeling it won't be long before it's official.

[G-Fafif]

DiComo attributes to a "source" the update that the candidates are now three: Bloom, Melvin, Van Wegenen. "All other candidates are out."

[Centerfield]

I had to refresh my memory on this. This is from the Los Angeles Times from November 15, 2003: PHOENIX — New York Met official Bill Singer, a former All-Star pitcher with the Dodgers and Angels, directed racially insensitive remarks at Dodger executive Kim Ng in deriding her Chinese heritage this week, baseball officials who witnessed the incident said Friday. Singer, hired last week as a special assistant to Met General Manager Jim Duquette, confronted Ng, a Dodger vice president and assistant general manager, late Tuesday night at the general manager meetings here. According to witnesses, Singer approached Ng in the bar of the hotel where the meetings occurred. After asking Ng, the highest-ranking Asian American in the major leagues, questions about her background in a sarcastic tone, Singer began speaking nonsensically in mock Chinese before eventually leaving.

If I recall, it was the "Where are you from?....No, like, where are you really from?" line of questioning that we Asian Americans so thoroughly love.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm not familiar with this, but I totally believe it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Brodie Van Wagenen is Jacob deGrom's agent. (And also the agent of Cespedes and Syndergaard.)

It would be very strange if the guy who would be negotiating deGrom's next contract suddenly moved to the other side of the table.

[G-Fafif]

"Brodie Van Wagenen" puts mind of "Earl J. Waggedorn," the best friend of Corey, son of the title character, on the groundbreaking multiracial (if painfully dull) NBC sitcom Julia. Sort of like I can't hear a reference to "Nido" and not think, "you say neato/check your libido/and roll to the church/in your new tuxedo" from Young MC's "Bust A Move".

Which is not to say Van Wagenen wouldn't make a good general manager. Or that Tomas Nido won't develop into a splendid catcher, assuming Van Wegenen doesn't trade him.

[Guest 41Forever]

I think the Mets tend to not be especially bold or innovative, and hiring an agent with no general manager experience seem unusually out of the box for the team. Actually, so does a young guy like Bloom.

But, Mickey Callaway was sort of an out of the box pick as well, so they might surprise us.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah, I guess I'm behind Bloom here. It might be fun to have a guy named "Brodie" in charge, but Melvin appears the safest choice.

[Lefty Specialist]

G-Fafif wrote: "Brodie Van Wagenen" puts mind of "Earl J. Waggedorn," the best friend of Corey, son of the title character, on the groundbreaking multiracial (if painfully dull) NBC sitcom Julia. Sort of like I can't hear a reference to "Nido" and not think, "you say neato/check your libido/and roll to the church/in your new tuxedo" from Young MC's "Bust A Move". Which is not to say Van Wagenen wouldn't make a good general manager. Or that Tomas Nido won't develop into a splendid catcher, assuming Van Wegenen doesn't trade him.

Brodie Van Wagenen sounds like something from a Marx Brothers movie.

[Centerfield]

Lefty Specialist wrote: G-Fafif wrote: "Brodie Van Wagenen" puts mind of "Earl J. Waggedorn," the best friend of Corey, son of the title character, on the groundbreaking multiracial (if painfully dull) NBC sitcom Julia. Sort of like I can't hear a reference to "Nido" and not think, "you say neato/check your libido/and roll to the church/in your new tuxedo" from Young MC's "Bust A Move". Which is not to say Van Wagenen wouldn't make a good general manager. Or that Tomas Nido won't develop into a splendid catcher, assuming Van Wegenen doesn't trade him. Brodie Van Wagenen sounds like something from a Marx Brothers movie.

Maybe Brodie could explain to us why I'd be the best man at the wedding of my best friend's brother.

[metirish]

41Forever wrote: I think the Mets tend to not be especially bold or innovative, and hiring an agent with no general manager experience seem unusually out of the box for the team. Actually, so does a young guy like Bloom. But, Mickey Callaway was sort of an out of the box pick as well, so they might surprise us.

Mike Puma


@NYPost_Mets

I have talked to several people connected with the organization who believe Fred Wilpon will go the conservative route and pick Melvin, because the Mets' last "outside the box" pick, Mickey Callaway, has backfired somewhat.

[G-Fafif]

"We signed a player once," Wilpon told an intimate, according to a source, "and we didn't win a championship," explaining the Mets' decision to fill all their on-field positions next season with office furniture.

[Centerfield]

I wonder if Kim Ng gets sick of clubs talking about how qualified she is, then proceeding on to hire another guy.

[Edgy MD]

I think the same thing about De Jon Watson.

Actually, I wondered it about Willie Randolph, but now I don't.

[RealityChuck]

G-Fafif wrote: "Brodie Van Wagenen" puts mind of "Earl J. Waggedorn," the best friend of Corey, son of the title character, on the groundbreaking multiracial (if painfully dull) NBC sitcom Julia. Sort of like I can't hear a reference to "Nido" and not think, "you say neato/check your libido/and roll to the church/in your new tuxedo" from Young MC's "Bust A Move". Which is not to say Van Wagenen wouldn't make a good general manager. Or that Tomas Nido won't develop into a splendid catcher, assuming Van Wegenen doesn't trade him.

The conflict of interest automatically disqualifies him. Even if he stops representing ballplayers, his personal relationship with them is going to be an issue.

It makes no sense to bring in someone with no experience judging talent and a limited knowledge of statistics (not really having to know them and apply them).

[Edgy MD]

It's certainly not taking the long view, but I'd hope there'd be some benefit with regard to signing Jacob deGrom if they hire his agent to run the team.

[Guest 41Forever]

G-Fafif wrote: "We signed a player once," Wilpon told an intimate, according to a source, "and we didn't win a championship," explaining the Mets' decision to fill all their on-field positions next season with office furniture.

To be fair, an ottoman had more range than Derek Jeter. Heck, a sofa would have a ton more range that Jeter!

[G-Fafif]

41Forever wrote: To be fair, an ottoman had more range than Derek Jeter. Heck, a sofa would have a ton more range that Jeter!

Jeter the sofa made teammates better just by their sitting on him.

[Guest 41Forever]

G-Fafif wrote: 41Forever wrote: To be fair, an ottoman had more range than Derek Jeter. Heck, a sofa would have a ton more range that Jeter! Jeter the sofa made teammates better just by their sitting on him.

This would be a good project for a physics class. Here's Derek fielding a ground ball. He's not bothering to bend over, or even use his glove, for that matter. I give him a range of about a foot in either direction. Maybe a little more toward second when ARod was at third because he didn't want ARod to catch any of his intangibles.



Now here's the sofa. There's gotta be a good six feet there. Probably gives better post-game interviews. Plus, it runs faster than Jorge Posada. There might even be some change under the cushions to help play off Jacoby's contract. And when it gets older or a little rough around the edges, you just fleece the Marlins or Royals for a new one.