The long winter is almost over, so on this Saturday morning you gets bits and pieces—we are all gearing up for February and that magical moment when actual players report for actual, official, baseball activities. Pitchers and catchers report to camp on February 19th, signaling the beginning of Spring Training. You just know that Daniel Murphy is chomping at the bit to get back in the action. Position players are due in camp by the 24th, though most report early. Long gone are the days where players regularly held out in the Spring to buy themselves a few extra weeks of off-season rest. The first full squad workout is scheduled for February 26th.
Sad news yesterday when we found out that Bobby Ojeda won’t be back in 2015 to resume his duties for SNY. Ojeda is ending a 6-year run for what appears to be money. One source claimed that the differences in what Ojeda wanted and what he was offered was “not substantial.”
The Mets, and their fans, have been quite fortunate with their broadcasting crew and the former players that now coach in the system. The broadcast booth, with the iconic Keith Hernandez and the intellectual and well-spoken Ron Darling is the best in the game. Ojeda, like his former teammates, offered a unique perspective, a daring style, and a nuanced look at all players, with an especially keen eye for the pitchers. His candid style and openness during both pre and post-game was refreshing and a favorite with the fans.
Nelson Figueroa and Cliff Floyd have both been mentioned as potential candidates to replace Ojeda. Floyd has the better pedigree, both as a player and because of his recent work on the MLB network. Several members of the Mets360 staff are lobbying for Terry Collins to replace Bobby Ojeda.
In an interesting piece in Pursuit of Pennants, Sandy Alderson was rated as the 12t best GM ever. https://pursuitofpennants.wordpress.com/2015/01/29/12-sandy-alderson/
So how good has Sandy Been? It’s something of a mixed bag. Sandy has introduced innovation to the game, made good trades and signing, and he’s also made some horrific trades and signings—truly a mixed bag. Our own Brian Joura did a very nice piece back in 2012 on Sandy’s trades, the good, the bad, and the ugly. . Now while trades are only one part of a GM’s responsibility, it is often the bellwether for their success, even more so than their free agent signings. Since Joura’s piece came out Sandy has had some hits (Dickey for a’Arnuad and Syndergaard) and some misses (Shaun Marcum and Chris Young anyone?). So is he the 12t best GM in MLB history? The answer is a resounding maybe.
Are we there yet?
Wasn’t Chris Young a free agent signing, and thus, not a trade?
Jose Valverde, John Lannan, Kyle Farnswoth. I could go on but there’s no point. Not every player you sign is going to be a Marlon Byrd. Hits and misses? Yes. But a helluva lot more misses. The 12th best GM in baseball? I doubt it.
Ian, exactly…I said he’s made good and bad grades and signings.
Sandy won with the A’s with a huge payroll — a long, long time ago. Since then, he’s lost.
For the Mets, I see him as an accountant who came into the town of Pawnee, saw they were in bankruptcy, and had the job of digging them out of it. His task was to administer the necessary recovery with austerity measures so the business could keep the lights on. He cut here, he cut there. And he succeeded with his task. The Mets are now operating a decent team, with a strong farm system, on a shoestring budget.
He has not yet had to make the tough decisions, and the bold moves, required to make this team a winner. When you a willing to forfeit season after season, it’s not that hard to do what he’s done. He put the team on a budget. That was his job; winning has always been secondary, at best. He’s openly admitted this.
BTW, off-topic, but I think losing Ojeda — for me, as a fan who follows the Mets — is a big deal and a very bad sign.
Truer words have never been spoken. I could not agree more.
He’s the ER physician that had to save a life under dire circumstances.
Big thumbs up…great post.
I agree three, very good post. He should be good at slashing payroll he has done it at every stop. The A’s . The Padres and now the Mets. He brought Depo to rebuild the farm , check, can somebody, anybody tell me what Riccardi and Rico do besides get coffee and lunch?
They are the eyes and ears and report back to the Wilpons
Love the Parks and Rec nod. Much like poor Leslie Knope, Alderson has had to revitalize a crumbling infrastructure while taking lots of abuse from his constituency along the way.
Good post James and “When you a willing to forfeit season after season, it’s not that hard to do what he’s done. He put the team on a budget. That was his job; winning has always been secondary,” sums it up nicely and the fans have been the ones to suffer.
I love the wish list: Mark Cuban, Jerry Seinfield and Kieth Hernandez ,to get together and buy the Mets 🙂
If Jerry Seinfeld bought the Mets, I think I would die from glee.
Sign me up for that!
Dave,
TC to replace Ojeda is the best proposal I’ve read all winter. A great idea!
Good post. Counting down the days til spring training. i’d rather watch the Mets lose an exhibition game than the super bowl.
I liked Ojeda and think he really grew into that role. A shame to see him go.
How about a vote for the worse ownership in baseball. Current owners are fielding a Mickey Mouse team and this is not Disneyland.
This is New York—- If you don’t want to play in the big leagues then get out of town. If you really are the fans that you pretend to be—Seel the team and let us get real owners who want to win games , instead of improving our bottom line. For so many years you took good profits out of this team and improved the value of your investment —now put some of these profits back into the team and let us win , instead of watching other playoff teams.
Jersey Tides–how do you really feel?