Who will manage the Mets? (split from Terry Hot Seat)

[ashie62]

Just read an article in njAdvance that the Mets might be looking at baseball lifer Bob Geren for manager.

Uck.

[Edgy MD]

That is more or less the least surprising name possible.

Not sure why it's an "Uck," however.

[bmfc1]

Nothing against Geren but it feels like another body from The Alderson Group, as if Sandy is yelling "NEXT!" I hope that they are considering a few candidates from outside his circle, such as Pedro Lopez (manager of the 51s) and Ron Gardenhire.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Gardenhire is an interesting suggestion. Slight 86 Mets connection will rub it in Strawberry's face, plus he's got lots of grey hair, which appeals to Fred. Sandy & he have cancer in common. I'm not sure what the status is with either guy, but Gardy was in for surgery earlier this year.

I still think Chip Hale is a decent idea in that he broke his managerial cherry since the last time he was considered a finalist.

Geren was held in strong regard by the Mets but he said he left for the Dodgers to be close to his SoCal family. Not sure whether it looked to him that there was a better chance to break on top in LA than NYC.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ron Darling was speaking very highly of Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez when the Mets were in Chicago. I don't know if he'd be considered as a Mets candidate, since Ron probably isn't part of the screening process.

[Guest 41Forever]

A couple things I didn't realize about Gardenhire.

He's younger than I thought, turning 60 next month. Spent 13 seasons managing the Twins. Has one Manager of the Year award, and was runner-up five times. He won the division six times -- but never made it to the World Series.

Not sure why he didn't get another managing gig after the separation with the Twins -- unless he wasn't seeking one. He was bench coach with the DBacks this season before the cancer diagnosis.

If Sandy is looking for a proven winner with a lot of experience, he seems to be a good fit. Seems like an easier sell to fans than a Hale/Geren type with less experience.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I hope that "selling to fans" gets as little consideration as possible.

[MFS62]

I'd be happy with Gardenhire as the manager. I like his track record.
Later

[Edgy MD]

I imagine Pedro Lopez would consider himself to be on the inside of Alderson's circle. He predates Alderson, but Sandy's been signing off on him long enough. He also has seen more of Smith and Rosario and Nimmo than any Mets manager.

[HahnSolo]

Gardy strikes me as an old-school guy whose resume would quickly find its way to the bottom of Sandy's recycling bin.

I never followed his game to game strategies, so I don't know... but I sort of remember that he was not a favorite of the more analytically inclined baseball guys. Didn't he also get routinely bashed in our MFY threads for questionable decisions?

Martinez seems to be a guy gaining a lot of traction as a future managerial guy. Another candidate who is expected to get interviews this offseason is one time CPF whipping boy Alex Cora, now a bench coach with the Astros.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I hope that "selling to fans" gets as little consideration as possible.

I'm pretty sure when the front office is sitting around in a white-board session
with a list of managerial candidates they will not give a rat's ass hair what the fans
will think or say. They don't care one way or the other on anything, why would they
think they need to 'sell' the manager?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

The manager needs to sell the manager, though. I'd be very surprised if terry would even be here today were he not liked very much by the media who are the conduit to fans.

[Frayed Knot]

HahnSolo wrote: Didn't [Gardenhire] also get routinely bashed in our MFY threads for questionable decisions?

YES!!!!

[Guest d'Kong76]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: The manager needs to sell the manager, though. I'd be very surprised if terry would even be here today were he not liked very much by the media who are the conduit to fans.

Agreed, that's been noted here and everywhere a hundred times.

What I mean is there may be teams that operate things like politicians seeking
voter approval, where they stand in the polls, etc. but I don't think the Wilpon's
are one of those types of owners.

(I really don't think many team owners thinks like a governor or a mayor but just
saying where I was going with that)

[Edgy MD]

Oh, I think the Wilps want to do fan-pleasing moves. I just think the means by which they listen to fans and the times they choose to acquiesce to fans have been ill-considered. So they alternate between kowtowing to the dopiest fans and ignoring all fans altogether.

I think Alderson has been a benevolently detached figure in this regard.

[ashie62]

David Wright.

Todays managerial job is leading and getting the respect of your millenial highly paid roster. I believe David can do that.

Baseball strategy and such? A friggin monkey could do it. Much of that is your assistant's job anyway. I guy like Geren.

I was only down on Geren as manager cause I see him as an Alderson puppet. .

I am fine with Gardenhire.

[Edgy MD]

For an Alderson puppet, Geren sure didn't feel any strings stopping him from jumping to another organization for the same job.

[Frayed Knot]

I'm not sure what an "Alderson Puppet" even means.

[Ceetar]

Frayed Knot wrote: I'm not sure what an "Alderson Puppet" even means.

Before he took the Mets job Sandy was moonlighting on Sesame Street.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Edgy MD wrote: For an Alderson puppet, Geren sure didn't feel any strings stopping him from jumping to another organization for the same job.

He had scissors and ran with them.

[ashie62]

Alderson would be happy to hire a "good old boy" retread like Bob Geren that would not challenge him in any way.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Do you think David Wright would challenge Sandy?

[Edgy MD]

Ashie62 wrote: Alderson would be happy to hire a "good old boy" retread like Bob Geren that would not challenge him in any way.

Who are you quoting?

What's the material difference between "retread" and experienced?

If this is about having lost all faith in Sandy Alderson and wanting somebody who goes against him, isn't any hire he makes something to oppose?

[ashie62]

I can't speak in terms of if,any or must which the exception of asking for forgiveness of my sins.

What I would do as an existing owner.

1. Have a meeting with my finance people, GM, Manager and key employees to assess the season and make financial projections for 2018.

2 Meet with Sandy Alderson. Ask Sandy if he wants to stay and discuss his vision on building the team going forward.

3. Meet with Terry Collins and discuss the same as with Sandy.

4. Keep Sandy or I would look look for a GM with a Dr. in Sports Management. I want a guy who know money in a private equity and sports sense.

5. Discuss team manager status with GM. Hire if need be. As owner I am putting out Edgardo Alfonzo's name for consideration.

6. Allow my GM to think independently when making decisions. I would add as new owner please no long term contracts of any kind.

Lastly, if Ashie is the brandy new owner I would thank Sandy and Terry for their service and hire my own guys.

THE END.

[Ceetar]

with exception of the dumb idea of 'no long term contracts' the Mets do all of those every year.

[Edgy MD]

So cast a broad net, looking at outside people, and then hire your "own guys."

But not Sandy, who allegedly is too loyal to his own guys.

[ashie62]

How many companies in any business have a complete change of management when ownership changes?

The answer is most.

[Ceetar]

Ashie62 wrote: How many companies in any business have a complete change of management when ownership changes? The answer is most.

The answer is few.

[Guest sharpie]

The answer is some.

[ashie62]

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.