IPCT (In Press Conference Transcript) Introducing Terry

[dgwphotography]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: bmfc1 wrote: No questions from The Times, Newsday, News, etc? I thought that was weird too. I guess the print guys get their own conference. I mean what's Russ Salzberg gonna bring me? I don't think I've ever heard Tracksuit's voice. Was waiting for his question. He would ask, "Um, could you guys, like, tell me what's happening? The only news I broke during this whole hiring process was that the Mets were going to interview the Phillies bench coach and that didn't turn out to be accurate. So, like, could you help?"

He'd also ask why there were only white guys up there...

[Benjamin Grimm]

Who are Joe and Evan?

[Valadius]

Benigno and whoever the hell they paired him with after I left the tri-state area.

[Ceetar]

Valadius wrote: Benigno and whoever the hell they paired him with after I left the tri-state area.

Beningo is the same story as always. I actually like Evan. He's about as good as you can get out of a mainstream radio host i guess. I think Joe poisons him with the negativity often.

But still, they branched off into some conspiracy about the Mets 'protecting' Collins from the tough questions in the main conference.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ceetar wrote: Valadius wrote: I actually like Evan. He's about as good as you can get out of a mainstream radio host i guess.

He's a retard.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ceetar wrote: Valadius wrote: I actually like Evan. He's about as good as you can get out of a mainstream radio host i guess. He's a retard.

And he comes off as "the smart one."

[G-Fafif]

I get the feeling these events have evolved to suit different media needs. The TV sportscasts need sound of their reporter, who doesn't cover the Mets beyond a piece of tape now and then, asking a question. The podium stuff is for the preening. Then there's the sitdown with the beat writers -- I noticed the sitdown went long after the official Alderson presser so maybe there was some arrangement or bow to reality to just herd everybody over to another table and get down to serious Collins business there. At one point on SNY there was a shot of photogs surrounding said table after the podium stuff. Not great for us folks trying to follow along at home or wherever, but perhaps it's more effective for somebody.

As long as China News gets taken care of.

[Frayed Knot]

He liked the word "execution."

So will the fans if he doesn't win.

[G-Fafif]

From Rubin, one of the fun nuggets that's dished out at the cool kids' table:

Terry Collins said he intends to wear No. 10 as a tribute to Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "He gave me my shot to get to the big leagues," Collins said, referring to their days with the Pirates. "And he's a great friend. So I wanted to wear it for him. "Plus, my wife thinks I'm a 10. ... That's a joke."

[Guest Edgy DC]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: "Um, could you guys, like, tell me what's happening? The only news I broke during this whole hiring process was that the Mets were going to interview the Phillies bench coach and that didn't turn out to be accurate. So, like, could you help?"

I've got Larry Bowa as a primary source, but who do I go to for confirmation?

[Guest Edgy DC]

From Rubin, one of the fun nuggets that's dished out at the cool kids' table: Terry Collins said he intends to wear No. 10 as a tribute to Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "He gave me my shot to get to the big leagues," Collins said, referring to their days with the Pirates. "And he's a great friend. So I wanted to wear it for him. "Plus, my wife thinks I'm a 10. ... That's a joke."

Managers who wore 10: Torborg?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yup, that's it.

I thought he could still go to No. 1 if/when they axe Castillo but now it'll look like he's dissing Jim Leland so 10 it is.

[TransMonk]

Couldn't watch it live, but after watching the replay, I like Terry more than I did 4 hours ago.

I still think the true test will be the first time we lose 4 in a row and the sky falls. But I like what I heard here in November.

[soupcan]

I really like reading Phil Mushnick's column in the Post because at least once a week he points out what an egomaniac Francesa is. His column is really the only place I ever see criticism of Francesa in the press and it makes me feel as though I am not alone in my dislike for the radio guy.

The reason I bring this up is because I am presently listening to WFAN and Francesa is interviewing Collins. Francesa believes himself to be such an expert in all things sports that - as anyone who ever listens to his program knows - whenever he has a guest on, rather than ask them their opinion of things, Francesa attempts to impress them with his own superior knowledge of whatever sport they happen to be discussing. Just a few minutes ago he educated the new Mets manager by telling him which players that the Mets called up last season produced. In a way that genuinely seemed to me as if Francesa was giving Collins knowledge about things that Collins didn't know and would be grateful to learn!

Then - he says 'Terry, Mets fans really wanted Backman as the manager. The rest of the candidates didn't matter at all. tell the Met fan listening someting about that you that they didn't know...' Huh? what does the Backman line have to do with anything?

Then 'Terry, the DUI you have on your record - will that be a problem for you if you try to discipline a player and that player then puts that back in your face?' I mean....really?

Lame, lame, lame.

[Ceetar]

soupcan wrote: I really like reading Phil Mushnick's column in the Post because at least once a week he points out what an egomaniac Francesa is. His column is really the only place I ever see criticism of Francesa in the press and it makes me feel as though I am not alone in my dislike for the radio guy. The reason I bring this up is because I am presently listening to WFAN and Francesa is interviewing Collins. Francesa believes himself to be such an expert in all things sports that - as anyone who ever listens to his program knows - whenever he has a guest on, rather than ask them their opinion of things, Francesa attempts to impress them with his own superior knowledge of whatever sport they happen to be discussing. Just a few minutes ago he educated the new Mets manager by telling him which players that the Mets called up last season produced. In a way that genuinely seemed to me as if Francesa was giving Collins knowledge about things that Collins didn't know and would be grateful to learn! Then - he says 'Terry, Mets fans really wanted Backman as the manager. The rest of the candidates didn't matter at all. tell the Met fan listening someting about that you that they didn't know...' Huh? what does the Backman line have to do with anything? Then 'Terry, the DUI you have on your record - will that be a problem for you if you try to discipline a player and that player then puts that back in your face?' I mean....really? Lame, lame, lame.

Brings up the Reyes dancing thing, which I don't think has been a discussion anywhere else but on his or Michael Kay's show for a while, and quotes a 'source' that's a 'player' that says Reyes won't be dancing with Collins. And gets smacked down, but sticks with it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Terry will be the first Mets manager never to manage a game for the Mets at Shea Stadium. (I had to verify, but Mike Cubbage and Salty Parker did manage home games during their short stints. Cubbage just barely made the cut; only the first of his seven games was played at Shea.)

At least Terry Collins did manage against the Mets at Shea when he was with Houston. Some day we'll have a Mets manager who never set foot in Shea Stadium.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Terry will be the first Mets manager never to manage a game for the Mets at Shea Stadium. (I had to verify, but Mike Cubbage and Salty Parker did manage home games during their short stints. Cubbage just barely made the cut; only the first of his seven games was played at Shea.) At least Terry Collins did manage against the Mets at Shea when he was with Houston. Some day we'll have a Mets manager who never set foot in Shea Stadium.

Bracing. And inevitable.

In the 160th and 161st games of last season, seven of the nine starters never played for the Mets at Shea Stadium. Time marches on, the bastard.

[Frayed Knot]

Just a few minutes ago [Francesa] educated the new Mets manager by telling him which players that the Mets called up last season produced. In a way that genuinely seemed to me as if Francesa was giving Collins knowledge about things that Collins didn't know and would be grateful to learn!

Nothing like having a talk-show host with no knowledge of the minor leagues whatsoever tell last season's minor league coordinator what the new talent is like.

[soupcan]

Frayed Knot wrote: Nothing like having a talk-show host with no knowledge of the minor leagues whatsoever tell last season's minor league coordinator what the new talent is like.

Exactly!

[Benjamin Grimm]

And the thing is, Francesa is such an idiot that it would never occur to him that Terry Collins might know more about the Mets farm system than he does.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

He's kinda old-timey-brand enthusiastic. It's charming.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't know if I was charmed. I kinda found him dorky and light on substance when I wanted some focus and interestingness.

On the basis of the introductory press conference alone, miles and miles behind Jerry.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Twenty-one years after the Polo Grounds last hosted a baseball game, Davey Johnson (1984) became the first Mets manager never to have appeared in the Polo Grounds as a major leaguer.

But including interim managers, Salty Parker never appeared in the Polo Grounds, either. Salty's ML playing career consisted of one month in the AL with the Detroit Tigers (1936). He began his coaching career with the Giants in San Francisco during the precise period when the Polo Grounds was tenantless (1958-61), and in 1962, coached in the AL (Cleveland Indians). Salty was out of the majors during the Polo Grounds' last season, 1963.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

I don't know if I was charmed. I kinda found him dorky and light on substance when I wanted some focus and interestingness. On the basis of the introductory press conference alone, miles and miles behind Jerry.

He seems more informative in smaller groups.

On the Angels situation: "And negativism, or losing, breeds negativism in the clubhouse. I did a bad job of managing the clubhouse. No question about it. And I'm accountable for that. I was the manager of that team. I should have done a better job of staying on top of it. I didn't. I learned from it. It will never happen -- I will guarantee you -- it will not happen here." On the minors and knowing the system: "And [farm director] Adam Wogan, who has become a very good friend of mine, we will be in constant contact. Even though the reports say one thing, I want to know the real truth what's going on. I contact my minor league managers. I always have. The Triple-A manager, obviously, will receive a phone call a week so I'm on top of things. My knowledge of who those guys are and what they can do, I think, will be firsthand when it comes to the middle of the season. If I need a one-inning guy that can get me into the seventh inning, is it going to be Tobi Stoner? Is it going to be Jeurys Familia? Somebody? I'll know who those guys might be." On his rep: "When you say disciplinarian, I don't yell and scream at players. I never did. That's a misconception. Sometimes during a game if you walk over to a guy and say, 'Hey, look, I want some effort,' in a certain situation, it doesn't have to be broadcast. It's just your point has to be made. And, yes, I've taken major league players out of the lineup for not running. I just think sometimes it sends a message. But I know one thing: Once in a while, if you understand the circumstances, you've got to turn your head on some things. "Somebody asked me one time, 'Geez, I don't like, your left fielder is walking out to left field between innings.' I said, 'Yeah.' He said, ''What are you going to do about it?' I said, 'Nothing., How does he go after fly balls? That's the only thing I really care about.' But I also believe players -- the real good players -- they're self-disciplined. They don't need discipline. I sat next to Barry Bonds when I was in Pittsburgh. Nobody ever, ever saw this guy work. They only talked about how he played. I saw him work. And this guy wanted to be the best player going. Was he hard on some things? Was he tough sometimes to be around? Yeah. But he was driven to be the best. And that, to me, is self-discipline. And that's what I'm going to try to instill in our guys -- 'look, you have a chance to be great.' " On statistical analysis in the game today: "The statistical stuff, obviously there's value in it. It's been proven. There's value in it today. When I was managing in Houston, we had an advance scout. When I went to Anaheim, all of a sudden the computer age came in. There was Inside Edge. I know now there's different services people use. Joe Maddon is a great friend of mine, who was my bench coach, who started to get into that. There's a place for it. And it wins games for you." On Jose Reyes-style dancing: "As long as it's played hard and with energy, that other stuff I can --- Do I like it? Not necessarily. But I understand it is part of the game and I can deal with that." So you wouldn't necessarily tell a modern player to keep that behavior at a minimum? "Only if they start throwing at him. Then I've got to address it. If Jose Reyes jumps up and down and somebody drills him, I'm going to be very unhappy." With whom? "Well, No. 1 probably the other side, just as much as Jose. Probably less with Jose. But I'll certainly say, 'You know what? You might want to calm that down because we need you in the lineup."

[metirish]

I liked his energy, I feel enthused.

[Valadius]

Why do our recent run of managers sound just like a Fox Sports broadcast team? I mean, come on, Jerry, Terry, Bobby and Willie, for God's sake...

[Benjamin Grimm]

I agree that the manager's first name should have figured more prominently in the decision. In fact, it should have been the primary consideration.

[G-Fafif]

Valadius wrote: Why do our recent run of managers sound just like a Fox Sports broadcast team? I mean, come on, Jerry, Terry, Bobby and Willie, for God's sake...

Now we turn to our Fox Sports insider. Art, you've spent the whole week at Dallas Green...what do things look like there?

[Guest Edgy DC]

"And [farm director] Adam Wogan, who has become a very good friend of mine, we will be in constant contact. Even though the reports say one thing, I want to know the real truth what's going on. I contact my minor league managers. I always have. The Triple-A manager, obviously, will receive a phone call a week so I'm on top of things. My knowledge of who those guys are and what they can do, I think, will be firsthand when it comes to the middle of the season. If I need a one-inning guy that can get me into the seventh inning, is it going to be Tobi Stoner? Is it going to be Jeurys Familia? Somebody? I'll know who those guys might be."

Not that I didn't believe this to be so, but this is EXACTLY what I wanted to hear.

Jerry abosolutely killed me in this regard. Murdered me. Drove me out to Miller's Crossing and left my corpse to molder.

Is Jose Reyes's behavior really an issue in 2010? Really?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yes, that is an encouraging remark. Really what I've thought of since the regime change is Marty Noble's remarks on Frank Cashen, that he could take a peice of paper out of his desk and tell you who'd be on the Mets in 5 years while Omar (and really, the Mets in general since Cashen) never really bothered to see any value in it.

Is Jose Reyes's behavior really an issue in 2010? Really?

Talkradio douchebags like Kay think it's an issue.