metirish

Collins And now the deliberations ... Terry Collins completed the interview process for manager with his final-round interview Thursday afternoon. Here's a transcript of what Collins had to say with reporters afterward: How did it go? "Well, you guys know them. They're so easy to talk to. It's fun. I enjoyed it a lot." You haven't managed in the major leagues in a while. Obviously that desire is still there. Where does it come from? "Well, that's what we get into the game for. I grew up trying and wanting to be a coach and a manager and I got my chance. Here it is again. I appreciate the opportunity just to talk to them." You feel like this past year was good preparation, getting a firsthand look at the organization's minor leaguers? "I think it helps. I think I know the kids a lot. We've got a good bunch of guys. I've got a great staff in the minor leagues. This organization has done itself very, very proud. They've drafted some good kids. They've signed some good, young players. And I enjoyed it a lot. The whole thing about getting to know our minor league system -- whether it's me or whoever it is -- I can certainly help whoever is going to manage this team, for sure." How different was this interview compared with the first one? "Well, I know most of them. I know Paul [DePodesta] and obviously John [Ricco] and Jeff [Wilpon]. I've been around, I've known J.P. [Ricciardi] for many years. I haven't worked with Sandy [Alderson], but I've known him for a long time. That's what made it comfortable. They're the ones who have to make the decision, but the process is fun." Paul DePodesta said he had a gag order on what happened in L.A., but I suppose you don't. How close were you to becoming manager of the Dodgers after the 2005 season when Paul got pushed out? "I'd say it was pretty close." And thanks to Paul would you say it was pretty close? "Well, again, it was the same thing. I was the minor league director and the field coordinator over there. I knew the young players, and they were starting to go young. So I thought I had a real good chance there. Certainly when Paul got let go, I was probably as disappointed as anybody. I had several conversations with [Dodgers owner] Frank [McCourt]. Things are fine." Any time someone is up for a high-profile job, the past is raised. Did they ask you about the (2002) DUI? Did you explain that? "Yes. I did. I did in my thing." Can you explain it publicly? "Not really. It's over. It's in the past. It's something we all wish didn't happen, but it did. I'm moving on." How long was the interview? "An hour and 20 minutes, maybe." You managed Team China in the WBC, and right before that in Japan. What was the Japanese experience like? Was it at all comparable to the Astros and Angels experience? And it ended abruptly, no? "We'd have to have a longer conversation than I have right now. It was just different. It was just different. I took it because I wanted to get back on the field, and it's a different situation over there. Bobby [Valentine] handed it a lot better than I wanted to." Obviously past managerial experience came up. What happened with the in-fighting with the 1999 Angels? "Guys, I know that's a big issue. All you end up doing is digging a bigger hole than needs to be dug. There's more to it, obviously, than anybody is ever going to know. I'll tell you what: We played good. Until '99 and the injuries hit -- I know this organization had that a couple of years ago -- but my teams out there played very good. It was a great experience." Demeanor-wise, people may not have a feel when they see you in the dugout? Is it fiery? Have you mellowed? "You grow and patience changes. But I believe in competition, too." What are you trying to sell them on in that room? "That you think you can be the manager of the team. Pretty much that you think you should be the guy. And there are some good guys. Chip Hale played for me. I think the world of Chip. Bob Melvin has been very, very successful. And I think Wally Backman proved this year that he's if not this year, going to be a very, very, very good major league manager. So you're in a great group. All you can do is say, 'Look, hey, I think I can help.' That's about all you can bring up." http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Did anyone notice that Scott Strickland returned to the big leagues this year after a five-year absence? He appeared in three games for the Marlins in June. I did actually , I think I might have made a comment about him somewhere.....one of my fave Mets of recent vintage...the video of his wedding was good stuff.

I wish the thread title was "Michael Kay's Head Explodes" I mean, get a fucking grip man .

Frayed Knot wrote: There's two groups this is going to upset and I'm happy to see both get their panties in a knot 1) YLDBs who'll rant and rave about anti-Yanqui bias and jealousy yyybbb. 2) Non-baseball sports geeks. When this question came up a lot at the tail end of the season the strictly baseball guys (Olney, Kurkjian, etc.) for the most part both supported and predicted King Felix to win. Five or six years back, they admitted, would be a completely different story but they now not only were they on board about the newer/better interpretation of stats and year-end records but believed most baseball writers "got it" also. It's going to be the non-baseball guys, those multi-sport writers/announcers (who in my view hate baseball to begin with) who will denounce this as 'Geeks Gone Wild' and another step in baseball's demise before they start sermonizing about how 'Bob Gibson would have found a way to win those games' and other such horse-shit. Peter Gammons via twitter " Felix got what he deserved , and credit should go to those who have helped us "main-streamers" out of our boxes.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm waiting to read these books with the 'Pail before I see any more HP films. I think I saw the first. How old should a kid be before I start? He's 4 and a half. My son started reading them when he was six or seven, I think. I know he was eight when he was reading the fifth book because I remember him getting carsick and puking all over his copy when we were in Italy. Not something you'd likely forget

with only 13 wins??????...but CC won 20.....Easy coast bias ...

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: metirish wrote: metirish wrote: Backman emerges from meeting with a "I'm in it to win it" attitude.... Good for him! Me, I'm rooting for Chip. I'd be shocked if he gets it....interesting to read from several writers that Hale's second round interview was more of a get to know DePodesta and Ricciardi meeting and that Melvin's for instance was follow up questions, specifics on game strategy and "discussions beyond the realm of the playing field."(Davidoff) Mets by the Numbers with a last-minute endorsement for Hale, based on the fact that his superior third-base coaching demonstrated a sharp mind and that he was paying attention. http://mbtn.net/hale-chief Good stuff......as you noted it's no small thing coaching third....can you interview for the managers job, not get it and still come back to coach third?

Wally Wally Backman emerged from his final-round managerial interview about 1:15 p.m. Thursday at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. Here's what the fan favorite had to say: How did it go? "It went good. It went very good." Can you share anything of what you guys talked about? "We just talked about baseball stuff. All baseball stuff. It went very well, I thought." You really are the fan favorite. Do you appreciate that? And why do you think that is? "Well, I played there. I think it's great. The meeting went good. We talked a lot of baseball and it was a good meeting, a very good meeting." What are you impressions of the team they have in place right now? Is this a team that's ready to contend? Or is it rebuilding? "I think the team is ready to win still." Was it more getting to know Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi? "It was getting to know everybody. It was not real long, but it was basically about baseball, staff, things like that." You had waited a long time for something like this. Was it emotional at all? "No, it wasn't emotional at all." The Mets obviously value you. If it doesn't work out with the major league club, has the prospect of working in the minors again with a promotion been raised? "I'm not even looking at that right now. I was in there for one reason -- that was to manage the Mets." And that was the one position you talked about? "That's it." http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets

Benjamin Grimm wrote: metirish wrote: Backman emerges from meeting with a "I'm in it to win it" attitude.... Good for him! Me, I'm rooting for Chip. I'd be shocked if he gets it....interesting to read from several writers that Hale's second round interview was more of a get to know DePodesta and Ricciardi meeting and that Melvin's for instance was follow up questions, specifics on game strategy and "discussions beyond the realm of the playing field."(Davidoff)

Per Rubin Backman emerges from meeting with a "I'm in it to win it" attitude....

Yes , is was Knight and Elster......Keith got Knight and was surprised the other was Elster....."never would have got that in a million years".....

Hey , here's an idea....if we are going to do this let's make sure that the train stops at the new Jets West Side Stadium.

I saw an episode recently featuring the news hosts asking SNY personalities questions for charity. Amber had Burkhardt in the dugout asking him questions and he was so flustered he couldn't answer any , she also posed three questions to Keith......he was stumped on this one..... in 1986 WS Game Six the Mets made two fielding errors...who made them?

Juile......looks more the innocent but freaky type...

It's nothing more than pie in the sky BS.....it will NEVER happen.....did the PATH close or something?

I've seen plenty of decidedly not Irish looking people wearing those jerseys , pretty big with the hip-hoppers.......the Knicks feature a green St. Patrick's jersey too.

Amazin' Avenue must read today Fun-ness Above Wins Above A Replacement Player, or FAWARP http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/11/18/1820392/using-dfawarp-to-evaluate-the-mets#storyjump

Amazin' Avenue on the Angels 1999 season with Collins at the helm http://www.amazinavenue.com/2010/11/11/1799933/terry-collins-destroyer-of-worlds

Lee: MFYs Crawford: Angels Werth: Red Sox Beltre: A's Martinez: Rangers Dunn: W Sox Pavano: Dodgers De La Rosa: Mets Pettitte: MFYs Konerko: Nationals Jeter: Giants Hudson: Jays Huff: Giants Iwakuma: Red Sox Soriano: Angels Rivera: MFYs Ramirez: Marlins Uribe: Giants Penny: Dodgers Benoit: Tigers Uehara: Rangers Thome: Twins Putz: Minni Ordonez: Tigers Damon: Kansas Guerrero: Red Sox Wood: Mets Takahashi: Phillies Fuentes: Baltimore Vazquez: Diamondbacks Feliciano: Mets

We should know Sunday night or Monday with a conference possible for Tuesday......

soupcan wrote: Yeah, they're right around there. The Gaslamp district was always nice but in the last 5-6 years or so the area has just boomed and it's hopping most of the time now. All done by Sandy Alderson.....

HahnSolo wrote: Not sure. Maybe Melvin and Hale are closer to Orlando? Just realized that all four were in the employ of the Mets organization last season. I guess I'm a little surprised that all finalists came from in-house. I was thinking the two calm guys followed by the raving lunatics....I guess each interview will start with the interviewee saying" jeez , sorry about your dad Sandy"....it's like a bummer note to start on , one I fear Wally will not recover from....probably feel compelled to tell some bullshit story about his dad.......

RealityChuck wrote: There's an upcoming Nicholas Cage movie, Never a good thing , not since I was about 14 anyway

Ah man, I missed that it was you that created the quiz.......Has been Giants manager since 2010?.....been there since 07 though.

Is that eye black under your nose? great pic btw