New General Manager Thread

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm a little concerned about that too, mainly in how it affects the outside chance that the choice might be Bobby Valentine. But I do think that there are more qualified managers than there are open positions, and some of the open positions will go to guys we (meaning our group here) probably would prefer not to see manage the Mets anyway.

I think if the Mets hire a GM who knows what makes a good manager, that he'll be able to find a guy even if he were to wait until February. (Which of course he won't do.)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I want Valentine as much as the next guy, maybe more, but if we lose him because we wanted to be sure we had a competent GM in place first then so be it.

It's probably more important that they only avoid hiring the wrong manager.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Like their approach so far. Seems to be including dudes from wide varieties of background & experience, and they seem to be neither dillying nor dallying with their search. Feeling pretty good about either Sandy or Hahn (I like the idea of Sandy a lot more than I thought I would) and feel like either of those would bring in a solid manager, too. Also don't think (if he's around still) that a smart, competent GM would exclude BV for 'personality' reasons. If they think he's the best dude, they'll bring him in.

White, Hahn, Baird are done. Byrnes today and Sandy by week's end? I bet they'll dig up a couple more dudes to meet, and whether they can officially announce it or not (via playoff tight-lippedness) is a whole other issue, but the Mets will have figured out who they want by end of next week, doncha think?

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I want Valentine as much as the next guy, maybe more, but if we lose him because we wanted to be sure we had a competent GM in place first then so be it. It's probably more important that they only avoid hiring the wrong manager.

Good points. It's just I'm over-reacting to the the thought of losing him to the Marlins, which would feel like something analgous to missing the layup and not getting back on defense --- the managerial-hiring version of the four-point turnaround.

Just about every team that has him on the interview list is reported to be leaning toward him right now, so I shouldn't make too much of the Marlins rumor. But how much is too much?

[Guest The Second Spitter]

Edgy DC wrote: . It's just I'm over-reacting to the the thought of losing him to the Marlins, which would feel like something analgous to missing the layup and not getting back on defense [...]

This reads like a quote from a scorned lover.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm a lover, certainly.

[Frayed Knot]

Season has been over for all of ten days at this point.
Not exactly foot-dragging here.

[Guest Edgy DC]

No, but if one's hope is a specific guy, and mine is, and the others are interviewing him, that suggests we're behind.

I accept that if the team is able to avoid the wrong guy, that in itself is an accomplishment. Though looking back, I was convinced Art Howe was not the wrong guy. (Pinella.)

[metirish]

Metsblog

BY MATTHEW CERRONE ON OCT 13, 2010, 6:02 PM Jeff Wilpon told reporters tonight on a conference call that he, John Ricco and team executives will meet tomorrow with Sandy Alderson. He said the team is looking to hire a GM, and no candidate � from this group � is being considered for another role. So far, he says, �We are extremely happy with what we�ve seen.� Updated at 6:10 pm: Wilpon also said many names have been mentioned by the GM candidates about potential managers, some of whom he had not been considering. Updated at 6:15 pm: Ricco said the three candidates so far have all said Ownership�s level of involvement with the Mets is similar to what occurs with other teams around the league. Updated at 6:18 pm: Wilpon acknowledged � without naming names � that there had been interesting candidates, who are under contract with other teams, who the Mets are no longer considering for their vacant GM position.

http://www.metsblog.com/

[Frayed Knot]

"Jeff Wilpon told reporters tonight on a conference call that he, John Ricco and team executives will meet tomorrow with Sandy Alderson."

-- Certainly a good sign.




"He said the team is looking to hire a GM, and no candidate � from this group � is being considered for another role."

-- I guess that knocks aside those scouting roles that have been rumored for some of the names.




"So far, he says, �We are extremely happy with what we�ve seen.� "

-- Would hardly expect him to say anything else.
'Man that last guy was really a dimwit!' ... Now THAT would be a newsmaker!




"Wilpon also said many names have been mentioned by the GM candidates about potential managers, some of whom he had not been considering."

-- Very good to hear in that I think one of the weaknesses of Wilpon^2 was their reluctance to go out of their comfort zone for these important hires.




"Ricco said the three candidates so far have all said Ownership�s level of involvement with the Mets is similar to what occurs with other teams around the league."

-- Probably at least partially a pr statement, but I also suspect that this issue has never been as black & white as it's been portrayed in some quarters. An owner who doesn't maintain some sort of interest in what's going on is probably a bad owner. That's not to say there haven't been mistakes made along those lines (the comfort cocoon mentioned above, the unwillingness to take the training wheels off Duquette's GM car, etc.) but I think part of these complaints are along the lines of 'why does our closer always make us nervous?' ... because he's the one we pay attention to ya dummy!!




"Wilpon acknowledged � without naming names � that there had been interesting candidates, who are under contract with other teams, who the Mets are no longer considering for their vacant GM position."

-- The Florida guys for whom they supposedly couldn't get permission to talk to? ... Other asst GMs?

[Willets Point]

Frayed Knot wrote: An owner who doesn't maintain some sort of interest in what's going on is probably a bad owner.

The counterexample that comes to mind is Tom Yawkey whose team got better when he lost interest in them.

[metirish]

Jon Daniels stirs the pot, however mildly.I would really be chuffed if he got interviewed, he's done some great work in Texas and under Hicks it can't have been easy.


Queens native and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels doesn't dismiss Mets speculation

Jon Daniels' Rangers begin the American League Championship Series against the Yankees Friday in Texas, and the 33-year-old GM is focused on that exciting moment. But the Queens product did not exactly dismiss speculation Thursday that he could be considered to replace Omar Minaya and run his hometown team. Although the Mets have not requested permission to speak with Daniels, league executives following their search expect they might do so after the Rangers' postseason run has concluded if they have not yet hired a GM from the current pool of candidates. "It's not appropriate for me to comment on this during the playoffs," Daniels said at first. When pressed further about the Mets, he added a more lighthearted comment, "My mom is loving this." The Mets are a family interest for Daniels, whose mother still lives in Bayside. Daniels grew up a Mets fan, rooting in particular for Dwight Gooden and Lenny Dykstra. Asked if his mom, who is currently in Texas for the playoffs, regretted being away from home and missing the New York newspapers mentioning his name in connection with the Mets, Daniels offered another playful answer, "That's not a problem for her. She's tech-savvy." The Mets Thursday interviewed Sandy Alderson, a strong candidate for the position. COO Jeff Wilpon said in a conference call on Wednesday that he hoped to hire a GM by the end of the World Series, but was flexible with that deadline. Daniels, meanwhile, has an out clause in his contract that went into effect when the Rangers underwent a change in ownership. In 2005, then-owner Tom Hicks named the 28-year-old Daniels the youngest GM in baseball history. After enduring serious financial trouble, Hicks was forced to sell the franchise, which eventually went to an ownership group led by attorney Chuck Greenberg and former pitcher Nolan Ryan. Because of that transfer, Daniels has the right to leave, at exactly the time that his boyhood team is looking for a new leader. Thursday, Greenberg signaled that he intended to be aggressive in retaining Daniels, telling FoxSports.com that "Daniels isn't going anywhere. ... We're a family, and we're going to stay together." If Daniels and the Mets became serious about one another, Daniels would compete with an impressive list of candidates. Alderson is the highest-profile interviewee, and sources say he has the backing of commissioner Bud Selig's office. Still, the former Oakland Athletics GM and San Diego Padres CEO is no lock to earn, or decide in the end that he wants, the job. Beyond Alderson, the Mets have brought in many talented assistant GMs from around the league. On Monday, the Mets interviewed Boston assistant GM and former Kansas City GM Allard Baird. They spoke on Tuesday with Chicago White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn and on Wednesday with former Arizona GM Josh Byrnes. According to a team official, the Mets were still in the process of seeking permission to speak with candidates, and will meet with Dodgers assistant GM Logan White Friday. Wilpon and assistant GM John Ricco are leading this first round of interviews. Finalists could return as soon as late next week, when CEO Fred Wilpon and team president Saul Katz become involved. Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/10/15/2010-10-15_texas_jonny_on_the_spot.html#ixzz12Qih4p9R

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's good to be chuffed?

If someone walked up to me and said, "I'm chuffed!" I would think that they were angry or irritated.

Guess not.

[metirish]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: It's good to be chuffed? If someone walked up to me and said, "I'm chuffed!" I would think that they were angry or irritated. Guess not.

I kid the Brits, that's what they say, chuffed as hell mate....chuffed is happy....

[Willets Point]

metirish wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: It's good to be chuffed? If someone walked up to me and said, "I'm chuffed!" I would think that they were angry or irritated. Guess not. I kid the Brits, that's what they say, chuffed as hell mate....chuffed is happy....

Funny. I had the same conversation with a friend from London on Facebook a couple of years ago. For me "chuffed" sounds unpleasantly like "chafed." For a long time, I also thought "bloke" was an insult but turns out it just means "guy."

[Vic Sage]

amusing thumbnails of GM candidates:
http://www.patrickfloodblog.com/2010/10/guide-to-the-mets-gm-candidates.html

[Frayed Knot]

Ken Davidoff via Twitter:

Heard that Alderson's interview with the #Mets yesterday went very well. He remains the favorite to become their next GM.
If Alderson becomes the #Mets' GM, I don't see how Wally Backman would be a serious candidate to manage. Perhaps a spot on coaching staff.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Now why would Alderson not want Wally?

I can't shake this whacky notion I have that Lee Mazzilli is the next Met manager.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frankly, unless the two men have some sort of great, hidden prior relationship of which I'm unaware, I don't see Bobby Valentine getting within 200 miles of the managerial seat if Alderson's the team GM.

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Now why would Alderson not want Wally? I can't shake this whacky notion I have that Lee Mazzilli is the next Met manager.

I bet Logan White would hire Wally....

[Guest Edgy DC]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Frankly, unless the two men have some sort of great, hidden prior relationship of which I'm unaware, I don't see Bobby Valentine getting within 200 miles of the managerial seat if Alderson's the team GM.

Now why would Alderson not want Bobby?

[Centerfield]

He subscribes to the "Managers should not be strong, but just carry out the intentions of the Front Office" line of thinking.

Didn't the A's hire Howe? I don't think that was under Alderson's watch, but he is supposedly the type of manager he likes.

[TransMonk]

A's managers under Alderson:

Steve Boros
Jackie Moore
Tony LaRussa
Art Howe

I think LaRussa is as "strong" as they come.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Patzachry.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Tweets out of Seattle that Bobby Valentine will NOT be the next Mariners manager.

I think the stars are aligning for BV the sequel.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'll be more optimistic about Bobby coming to Queens once the Mariners hire somebody not named Bobby Valentine.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

Jeff just sent me an e-mail.


October 15, 2010


Dear Mets Fans:

We have heard from many of you over recent weeks offering suggestions and ideas on how to assemble a winning team. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Your interest and support of the Mets is greatly appreciated.

We have been hard at work since the end of the season exploring ways to improve our club. As you likely know, this week we interviewed five candidates for General Manager - Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson, and Logan White. They all are intelligent, creative and passionate about winning. They conveyed their honest assessment of our franchise and discussed how we can move forward on our pledge to give our fans the winner that they deserve.

We are continuing our search and expect to hire our new GM in the next few weeks. We will be in contact with you with more information and details soon.

Thanks again.



Jeff Wilpon

[metirish]

Nolan Ryan said he'd be shocked if Daniels didn't stay with the Rangers.

[Frayed Knot]

Jeff: "We have heard from many of you over recent weeks offering suggestions and ideas on how to assemble a winning team. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Your interest and support of the Mets is greatly appreciated."

Translation: STOP SENDING US YOUR "SUGGESTIONS"!!! Particularly those of you who are writing them on bricks and throwing them through our windows.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Really. He thanks them for their time writing. No false assurances that due consideration (or even reading) was done. Good for him. Or Horwitz or whomever.