Shakeup at Triple-A?

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is kind of intriguing.

Kristie Ackert wrote: Besides injuries, the Mets’ other main issue is that they do not have a stockpile of good young players. They were not happy with how shortstop prospect Amed Rosario, first base Dominic Smith and some young pitchers came up to the majors looking unprepared. “I was disappointed with how some of our young players performed over the course of a few weeks. I am glad we got a look at them, but in some cases there is work to be done,” Alderson said. “There are going to be changes at our Triple-A affiliate, in fact, I think major changes. We’re taking a hard look at the rest of our player development system as well.” Alderson sees Collins, who stepped down as manager after Sunday’s season finale, as someone who can help get the minor-league system in order. He has the title of special assistant to the GM.

Mets dump pitching coach Dan Warthen, head trainer Ray Ramirez as part of sweeping changes

[MFS62]

When Frank Cashen joined the Mets, I remember reading that when he was with Baltimore, he instituted a "playbook" - a procedure manual for how things were to be uniformly taught at every level of the organization. It included how to react in situations on offense and defense. This reduced the need for players to learn new systems as they were promoted through the system to the majors. By the time they reached the majors, things would be second nature to them and they were prepared to do things the right way.
Cashen did the same thing when he joined the Mets, down to the detail of having the dimensions of all the team's minor league ballparks modified to conform to those at Shea Stadium (where it was possible).
And the Cardinals have had a similar process for years.
Maybe someone should find and dust off that manual and implement it again.

Later

Edited October 4, 2017 by Guest

[HahnSolo]

Cue the lunatic "Players came up ready when Wally was at Triple A" fans.

[bmfc1]

I thought that Pedro Lopez might get a shot at the Mets job but now I'm not sure if he will even have any job with the franchise.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This might also help explain the reports that Frank Viola isn't being considered as a replacement for Dan Warthen.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Never replaced DePodesta when he left.

[Edgy MD]

And yet, there is scant evidence that DePodesta ever arrived in Cleveland. Hmmmm ...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm kinda serious about this. DePo was VP of player development; one of his underlings was promoted to a "Director of Player Development" post when he left.

The guy can't even talk!

[youtube:zo17w7z1]XbGvsK4d2YA[/youtube:zo17w7z1]

[Centerfield]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: This is kind of intriguing. Kristie Ackert wrote: Besides injuries, the Mets’ other main issue is that they do not have a stockpile of good young players. They were not happy with how shortstop prospect Amed Rosario, first base Dominic Smith and some young pitchers came up to the majors looking unprepared. “I was disappointed with how some of our young players performed over the course of a few weeks. I am glad we got a look at them, but in some cases there is work to be done,” Alderson said. “There are going to be changes at our Triple-A affiliate, in fact, I think major changes. We’re taking a hard look at the rest of our player development system as well.” Alderson sees Collins, who stepped down as manager after Sunday’s season finale, as someone who can help get the minor-league system in order. He has the title of special assistant to the GM. Mets dump pitching coach Dan Warthen, head trainer Ray Ramirez as part of sweeping changes

That's an interesting quote. I wonder what exactly Alderson was making reference to. I can't see how he could be surprised by anything from Rosario/Smith. You would think the brass would have a good handle of their progress during their time at AAA.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I get the sense that that's one of the lessons they feel they've learned; that they have to more closely monitor the progress of their minor leaguers. I think Terry Collins would be a good choice for that role. He would certainly approach it with energy.

[Guest 41Forever]

Here's what I find interesting. The Mets were a team considered World Series contenders decimated by injuries. But an overhaul the likes that we've seen and we are now hearing about make me think that the powers-at-be believe the problems to be deeper than the injuries.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think the powers that be would be correct in that regard.

Anyway, after this debacle of a season, they should reevaluate everything from top to bottom. They need to do more than just hope for better luck next year.

[batmagadanleadoff]

It could be the injuries. And the Mets might know a lot more than they're letting on even though it's usually the other way around.

Conforto's injury has the possibility to turn out to be extremely damaging. And going into last season, Matt Harvey was a major part of the Mets winning equation. Right now, Harvey can't be counted on for anything. Syndergaard, Matz and Wheeler will all return from serious injuries next Spring Training, even though with Wheeler, it's more of an ongoing chronic thing than a serious injury he sustained in 2017.

This alone, should be of great concern.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm kinda serious about this.

Yeah, I don't mean to undermine your point. The idea that eight years into your tenure, you're wondering about where you've gone wrong in the development department is a bad rub. That should be the one part of the organization that's been reduced to a science.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Well, they might have had it right after six years and then slipped more recently as personnel moved around. Even after a problem is solved, there can still be a need for course corrections from time to time.

[Centerfield]

41Forever wrote: Here's what I find interesting. The Mets were a team considered World Series contenders decimated by injuries. But an overhaul the likes that we've seen and we are now hearing about make me think that the powers-at-be believe the problems to be deeper than the injuries.

I kinda get a sense that the higher ups would have preferred making those changes years ago, and were maybe caught off-guard by the success of 2015 (and even 2016) that handcuffed them into keeping these guys around.

Anyway, like Ben said, it can't hurt to examine everything. Really, I'm only surprised at the Warthen move. Seems to be very highly regarded.

[bmfc1]

The new manager at Las Vegas is Tony DeFrancesco. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_DeFrancesco

[G-Fafif]

Tony DeFrancesco's first win as a major league manager, with the Astros over the Mets in 2012, generated many congratulatory messages -- and a few "hang with 'em" calls to his opposite number.