Adam Rubin of ESPN NY.com had a chat earlier today which below are some of the questions asked by the Mets faithful . Lots of questions regarding Sandy Alderson and also some questions about the team for 2011.
Alderson a foregone conclusion?
I've heard his name most forcefully tied to the Mets since the beginning, and I believe it's the most likely scenario. Still, I wonder if it's a foregone conclusion. From everything I've heard, he demands complete control. As much lip serve as had been paid to that, is that truly what the Mets can deliver for him?
Rate Ike Davis as a defensive 1Bman...
I believe Ike is a slightly above average first baseman, although Mark Simon's defensive metrics put him just about atop the field. Scouts most closely compare Ike Davis to Adam LaRoche overall as a player.
Aldersons late 80s oakland team was clearly using PEDs, is this an issue that may be brought up by the wilpons?
Don't know if it will be brought up by the Wilpons, and you're the first fan who has brought it up to me, so I don't think it will be a big deal -- whether or not it's a valid red flag.
Have any clue as to who Sandy Alderson would interview for the dugout position?
Don't know. But in speaking with someone who worked for Alderson in San Diego, he believes Alderson is of the mindset that managers ought to be inexpensive -- that a high-priced skipper is a misallocation of resources.
Any word on Beltran and would you be comfortable with Pagan taking over the centerfield job full time so the Mets could entertain trade offers for Beltran?
I would be comfortable with the Mets entertaining trade offers for Beltran, and would be more than comfortable with Pagan in center field. I just don't think it's going to happen with a Beltran trade. He's due to make $18.5 million next season. The Mets would have to subsidize more than $10 million for him to play elsewhere, at a time when they'll likely have to subsidize contracts for Perez and Castillo (or find matching bad contracts). I believe Beltran will be a Met next year. Then we could debate what the best outfield alignment is. At least Beltran will be in a contract year, so he'll need to put out maximum effort.
If Valentine is hired by the Marlins or Seattle. It’s hard to imagine anyone other than Backman, making Mets fans happy. What do you think?
I think the Mets have to get out of the business of instant gratification for their and the immediate impact on ticket sales and hire people who will produce a long-term winner. That'll ultimately take care of ticket sales.
Is it fair to assume that Wally is the new Manager if Hahn get the job but won't be the new Manager if Alderson gets the job?
Don't know. Hahn did overlap with the White Sox with Backman for two seasons, while Wally was managing Double-A Birmingham (which I covered in the late '90s, for whatever that's worth).
Does Sandy Alderson's comments regarding a manager as being a missallocation of funds pertain to a media hub such as nyc? Remember this town can eat an inexperienced manager alive.
More generally, it'll be interesting if it is Alderson to see how Moneyball philosophies get adapted to New York where the resources are far more vast than Oakland or San Diego.
I know the Mets need inexpensive pieces to keep the roster in reasonable shape, but what about trading Pagan for prospects? Has he increased value to other teams? Seems to me it might be selling high, and if Beltran is unmovable, might even give the team some flexibility.
Pagan has two more years before he's a free agent, I believe. He's certainly tradeable. But then what do you do in the outfield next year? Or in two years once Beltran walks?
Do you think Alderson has been far to long removed from the game as a GM? How would that impact his performance?
That's one of the reasons why the clamor to anoint him is a little premature.
Why is it that the Mets are viewed as a "bad situation" for prospective GMs? I've read that they are described as a mess...I mean this seems a little harsh. After 2011, the Mets will have the bad contracts coming off and a wealth of youthful talent...something i'd assume any GM would be grateful for.
One person who would be in the running asked me if I thought it was an attractive job, and I told him I believed it was, more so than it's being portrayed. For one thing, there's $52 million in payroll coming off after 2011. The expectations are low, at least for Year 1. And the internal politics are now greatly diminished minus Tony Bernazard, etc. There's obviously the perception of ownership as meddlesome, but it's still a New York job that ought to pay well. And there are only 30 GM jobs.
Any shot the Mets go for someone with a little power at 2nd base (uggla) or they dead set to go with a Murphy /tejada mix
We need a GM, a manager, spring training, etc. And who knows what free agent they might bring in -- at least low cost to compete. And I'd like to see Murphy with my own eyes too before making that determination. Just internally I see that as the most likely scenario. Tejada probably could use further seasoning in Buffalo.
Do you see Aldersons style and his background conflicting with Jeff and that he could be offered the job but turn it down?
If that ends up being the case, I imagine you'll hear Alderson withdraw because his obligation needs to be to finish what he started in Latin America.
Can Thole be more then a singles hitter? Will they try to bring in someone besides Blanco?
I believe Josh can hit .290 with 5-8 homers and be an average defensive catcher. Doubles hitter maybe, not a home run hitter. They will need a righty-hitting backup in 2011. That could be Blanco, although the fact he turns 40 late next season might be a red flag that it's time to get younger. Pitchers on the staff would certainly advocate bringing Blanco back, though.
For the life of me Adam I just don't get it Why Beltran gets a bad rap. he had some excellent years for the Mets-Played an excellent centerifled and made some spectacular plays-The pitch in 2006 was impossible to hit. He shouldn't have come back this year so early-he didn't force the Mets to pay him that cash-
When you give a player a seven-year contract, you have to know the back end could be ugly. He has an arthritic knee, and I'm not convinced it's going to vastly improve next season and his mobility will increase. You're now paying him $18.5 million next season for past performance. Certainly if he signed a one-year deal somewhere this offseason he would only get a fraction of that, even with Scott Boras as his agent.
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