IPCT (In Press Conference Transcript) Introducing Sandy

[G-Fafif]

I like that he used "we" to describe this past season. You own it, Sandy.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

G-Fafif wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: The current question is from the Chinese press! Will there be Chinese players on the Mets in 2011? Sandy fielding it cleanly. Omar would have asked, "What am I -- a fortune cookie?"

Classic

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mets want to be aggressive in the free agent market every year, but as for this year... unlikely.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I want Bobby V, in fake mustache/glasses, to stand up in the crowd and ask about specific future manager plans.

Or Jerry Seinfeld in disguise as Bobby in Disguise.

That's press conference theater.

[G-Fafif]

"We won't be signing any free agents this year...good night everybody!"

[Benjamin Grimm]

Judging by the paper towels on the desk, I think Ron and Bobby O may have also ejaculated during the press conference.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

"I by no means am looking beyond 2011... if we work at it, we should have every chance to be competitive."

Y'know, playing games in September... that have meaning.

[seawolf17]

"Unlikely" to be a major player in this year's FA market.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Kevin Burkhardt gets the first one-on-one with Sandy.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Judging by the paper towels on the desk, I think Ron and Bobby O may have also ejaculated during the press conference.

Your offseason analysis has come?

[G-Fafif]

Telling Burkhardt "boxed in by payroll" (a little) for 2011.

[metirish]

G-Fafif wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: The current question is from the Chinese press! Will there be Chinese players on the Mets in 2011? Sandy fielding it cleanly. Omar would have asked, "What am I -- a fortune cookie?"

I thought that was a greta line of questioning....

"we should never be middle of the pack in player development " ....like that

[Ceetar]

seawolf17 wrote: "Unlikely" to be a major player in this year's FA market.

unlikely to be "aggressive"

I took that to mean no Cliff Lee, but it does sound like not planning on increasing payroll much and he hinted at a budget.

But they could still sign a mid-range SP I'd imagine.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

G-Fafif wrote: Telling Burkhardt "boxed in by payroll" (a little) for 2011.

Hooray for f*cking candor.

[Valadius]

I loved seeing Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz get three handshakes with Sandy while sniveling little Jeffy was left hanging on a third one.

[G-Fafif]

Sandy just name-checked Buddy Harrelson with Burkhardt.

[G-Fafif]

Sandy dropping lots of breadcrumbs about Wally Backman being the next manager.

[G-Fafif]

And now Sandy dropping breadcrumbs that it won't be Wally Backman. The man's inscrutable!

[Guest Edgy DC]

God bless inscrutable management.

[seawolf17]

"Dropping breadcrumbs"... like someone who OWNS A RESTAURANT?!? YES!

[G-Fafif]

seawolf17 wrote: "Dropping breadcrumbs"... like someone who OWNS A RESTAURANT?!? YES!

I hear ya, but the idea that this guy will be charged with hiring a manager actually imbues me with confidence it won't be a horrible choice even if it's not the restaurant guy.

(We are talking about Darry Strawberry, right?)

[Guest Edgy DC]

I thought we were talking about Jack Fisher.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ron predicts a fiery manager.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

"'Inscrutable,' eh... so he's thinking about a Chinese?"

--Flushing News reporter

[seawolf17]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Also also, I hope he wears his New York tie to the press conference. I keep hearing New York ties are important to this bunch.

[G-Fafif]

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: "'Inscrutable,' eh... so he's thinking about a Chinese?" --Flushing News reporter

Or as Omar would have said, "Just because Ollie exercised his right not to be sent down, I don't think that makes us screwable."

[Ceetar]

I don't feel any better or worse about the team right now.

I don't like the "not aggressive" in the market thing, unless that was spin to say "no Lee or Crawford" which is fine. but hinting that the budget exists and the number isn't much higher than what the payroll is now kinda hurts.

[G-Fafif]

Jeff says Josh Byrnes was great "but he was born 20 years after Sandy." Byrnes has an ageism lawsuit.

[Ceetar]

I wonder how much the Mets being sorta buddy-buddy with Selig helped in this hiring, and I wonder how they helps/clinches the All-Star game here in lucky '13?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ceetar wrote: I don't like the "not aggressive" in the market thing, unless that was spin to say "no Lee or Crawford" which is fine. but hinting that the budget exists and the number isn't much higher than what the payroll is now kinda hurts.

It's no surprise that he's handcuffed a bit for 2011. I think they'll be freely (and hopefully wisely) spending in the 2011-12 offseason. Sandy implied that they'll have an extra $50 million* to work with.


* Right now they have $110 million committed to multi-year contracts, after 2011 it will be down to $60 million.