Benjamin Grimm

Nobody ever promised that there would be a catcher.

Strange to think that he spent so much more time in Detroit than in Cincinnati. I primarily think of him as the manager of the Big Red Machine.

Interesting thought. Of course, if such a thing happened, we should clarify that this would have been when Wally got the Brooklyn job, not more recently as part of whatever consideration he may be getting for the Flushing position.

Sandy Alderson wrote: Dear Mets Fans: As you may have heard, today we interviewed two candidates to become the next Manager of the Mets. The process got off to a good start with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss here for interviews. I'll be meeting with Wally Backman, Terry Collins and Chip Hale this weekend in California. We plan to speak with more candidates next week and hope to announce our new Manager as soon as possible. We will be back to you again with more information soon. Thanks for your ongoing support. Sincerely, Sandy Alderson General Manager

Rusty Staub

Players get rings for league championships, don't they?

I would think that any contract that Jose gets would have some incentives, based on games played, built in. Reduces the risk somewhat if he's injury plagued, but rewards him for the upside if he isn't.

Dave Jauss, Bob Melvin to talk to Mets By Adam Rubin ESPNNewYork.com The New York Mets will begin interviewing for their vacant managerial position Thursday when in-house candidates Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss open the process, the team announced. Melvin, 49, managed the Seattle Mariners from 2003 to 2004 and the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2005 to 2009, posting a combined 493-508 record. He served as a scout for the Mets this past season, monitoring the AL East and West divisions. Melvin spends his offseasons living in Manhattan, where his daughter Alexi studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in Union Square. "We have summers in Arizona and winters in New York," Melvin said in March before a Mets spring training game against the Atlanta Braves, as he began his tenure as a Mets scout. "You'd think it would be the other way around in a perfect world, but that's the way we've done it." Jauss, 53, spent last season as Jerry Manuel's bench coach with the Mets. He previously served in the same capacity for two seasons apiece with the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Dodgers. He managed Licey in the Dominican Republic last winter. Jauss' managerial experience includes two seasons in the minor leagues with the Montreal Expos organization, in 1992 with Class A West Palm Beach and in '94 with Double-A Harrisburg. Mets GM Sandy Alderson said Tuesday that the Mets would begin conducting interviews with internal candidates this week, while interviews with candidates not currently affiliated with the organization would begin next week. Other internal candidates should include third-base coach Chip Hale and Class A Brooklyn manager Wally Backman.

That would suck.

Season Ticket Holders to Receive 10% Discount Off of Lower 2011 Prices, Increased Exclusive Benefits and Services, Unique Experiences FLUSHING, N.Y., November 3, 2010 - The New York Mets today announced a restructured ticket pricing program for 2011 that includes a reduction of ticket prices by an average of more than 14% from last season. In addition, season ticket, ticket plan and group ticket customers receive an additional 10% discount. Within the 14%-plus average price decrease, the Mets have made a full range of market-based adjustments to Citi Field's 41,800 seats: * Ticket prices for 62% of the ballpark have been reduced * More than half of all seats have double-digit price reductions * 18% of the seats have been cut by 20% or more * 8% of seats have price decreases of 30% or more * Several seat categories have modest increases that average approximately 5% Season Ticket Holders will begin receiving their invoices - which reflect their additional 10% discounts - by next week. Season Ticket Holders also will have access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities through the new "Amazin' Mets Perks" (AMP) program of unique benefits and experiences. Season Ticket Holders who pay in full by December 15 will automatically be eligible for the "30-Day Amazin' Mets Perks" Daily Awards. Hundreds of winners will be chosen overall, with awards starting on November 21 and continuing daily to December 20. The Mets have revised their variable pricing plan to four tiers named as followed: Marquee (four games), Premium (22), Classic (25) and Value (30). The Mets have increased the number of tickets that cost $15 or less by 45% to 384,000 from 264,206 last season. Almost 2 million tickets, or 61% of total capacity, cost $50 or less, up from 54% in 2010. Single game tickets start at $12. "The Mets are committed to providing quality and value to our fans," said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations. "We reduced ticket prices for 2011 based on fan feedback and marketplace information. We introduced Season Ticket Holder discounts and the 'Amazin' Mets Perks' program as a way to thank and reward them for their loyalty and commitment."

Eventually, yes. But I think that it will only take a week or less for the long list to get down to five or six.

The list may be long now, but I suspect it will shrink rapidly to about five or six people at most.

I do like having smart guys making the decisions. I hope the manager also fits that category.

Did she spot any time travelers on the set?

METS NAME J.P. RICCIARDI SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO GENERAL MANAGER SANDY ALDERSON FLUSHING, N.Y., November 2, 2010 - The New York Mets today announced that J.P. (John Paul) Ricciardi has been named Special Assistant to General Manager Sandy Alderson. From November 14, 2001 through 2009, he was the Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations and General Manager for the Toronto Blue Jays. Ricciardi spent last season as a baseball analyst for ESPN. "J.P. brings a wealth of knowledge and a breadth of experience to the organization," said Alderson. "I worked with him for over a decade in Oakland and I know first hand he's a superb talent evaluator. He'll be a tremendous resource in a variety of areas." In his new role, Ricciardi will assist Alderson in all aspects of the baseball department. The 51-year-old worked for the Oakland Athletics for 16 years (1986-2001), including 12 years (1986-1997) when Alderson was the team's General Manager. "I couldn't be more excited about being reunited with Sandy," said Ricciardi. "We enjoyed tremendous success together in Oakland and it's my goal to help duplicate that here with the Mets. As a former Met farm hand, it's a double homecoming for me." Ricciardi played two seasons in the Mets minor league system after signing as a non-drafted free agent. In 1980, he was a teammate of current Oakland GM Billy Beane in the New York-Penn League with Little Falls and in 1981 he played for Shelby (A) of the South Atlantic League.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that it means he's the last pitcher for the Mets. Each game has two finishing pitchers, just like it has two starting pitchers.

That's what it is. "Breaking News" on SNY.

SNY has Daily News Live scheduled for 5, so if there's anything going on I'm sure there will be live coverage.

I'm not seeing any confirmation of this press conference (yet, anyway) from anywhere else, including on the Daily News' site. Nor is there anything on SNY's site.

Matt Cerrone wrote: The Mets have announced a 5 pm conference for today with Alderson, according to the Daily News.

That's how I am with the Phillies. Although I live in their territory, to me they're just another out-of-town team, albeit one that's become very annoying over the last four seasons.

I guess you would have had to move another five or ten miles further away from Miller Park.

WHOA! So, based on Frayed Knot's chart in the other thread, and the earlier failed courtships between Bobby and the Marlins (and the likelihood of Ron Washington's return to the Rangers) it looks like if Bobby is going to major league spring training as a manager next February, it will either be with the Pirates or the Mets. I can't see him in Pittsburgh. We should find out within a week, I'd think, whether or not the Mets are interested.

It really could be that simple. What could the Mets be accused of? Releasing a player because they don't want to have to pay him? That's totally legitimate. Where that can go wrong is if the Mets are contending and they feel that losing Rodriguez could hurt their pennant push. I think it's unlikely, however, that the Mets will have this problem.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: So what'll happen if this award winner is not the same as the Schaefer Met Pitcher of the Year? Rioting in the streets, I assume.