6
2011
Culture Change At Citi Field
An article by 
I know what you’re going to say, “you’re alive!” It’s been quite a while since my last post here. As some may or may not know, my life changed dramatically right before the New Year with the birth of our daughter. So pair that with the fact this is the busiest time of year for me, and you’ve got your reason as to why I haven’t posted.
There’s been so much going on, and I’m not here to break any news, I’m here to just give you my take on most of it.
Sandy Alderson
I think regardless of what your views (educated or not) are on sabermetrics, you should be very happy that he is the General Manager of this franchise right now. With everything that has gone on, I don’t think it was a coincidence that Selig & Friends recommended Alderson to the Mets. I think that was in large part MLB’s way of keeping this organization afloat while the Titanic Iceberg was seen from miles away.
Look, I personally liked him prior to the bottom falling out with this Madoff situation. I think his opponents frankly are just looking for something to complain about. If you’re being a logical and rational critic of the Mets, what has Alderson done to upset you? He clearly didn’t have the budget to make moves on the free agent market.
Just the simple idea of how he’s changed the scouting system with help from Ricciardi, something so simple that should have been done but wasn’t. During the Minaya era, the Mets assigned pro scouts to a large number of teams. So not only was the information watered down, but likely the scouts didn’t get to see enough of each team’s players. So Bryan Lambe’s role was to scout the entire National League. Now, scouts will be assigned to cover just 3 organizations from soup to nuts. (By the way, for any sabermetric critics, keep in mind that yes, I’m talking about scouting.)
Whether you want to give him credit or not you have to acknowledge that under the circumstances that the Wilpon’s face today, Alderson has done a pretty good job in building a roster under a tight budget, and working to reshape the image of the franchise.
Terry Collins
I like the guy. I really do, and I’m not going to apologize for it either. Is he the sexy Manager pick that makes some people want to buy tickets? Of course not. Besides, if you buy tickets to see a Manager touch his nose or walk to the mound, you have some things to talk about with your Doctor.
You can already see the incredible difference in player attitudes not only on the field, but also in interviews.
I think when you look now at where the Mets are with the Madoff situation, you have to admit that Collins was the best man for this job. For starters, lets say it was between Backman and Collins. Neither you, nor I, nor Sandy Alderson has a clue what the financial future of this team is.
If you put Backman in this role, and the franchise has to drastically cut payroll, you’ve likely wasted the talents of a potentially good young Manager. He’s better suited in the minor leagues today, and Collins is better suited to try and instill an old school attitude into this current Mets team. Backman’s day will come, but right now I’m a Collins fan.
Jason Isringhausen
I think this was a great move by Alderson, and I hope Izzy makes this club. I still hold a special place in my fan heart for Generation K, and I think a lot of Mets fans do. I don’t think he’s going to be an All-Star, but he has potential to be a viable option out of the bullpen if healthy. Alderson has given a veteran with a World Series ring a chance to come to camp, talk to young players, and possibly earn a spot on a big league roster, and for a minimum salary. A move by the way, that has nothing to do with sabermetrics.
Beltran, Pagan, Paulino
I think the day you heard Beltran went to Collins and said put me in RF, is the day you should have realized just how different this Mets team is under Collins. What a breath of fresh air to hear that the Mets players did something right. It happened fast, it wasn’t controversial and the Manager set the tone. I don’t think that happens with Jerry, Willie or even Omar running the show, I really don’t.
As for Paulino, I have to be honest. I forgot he was even on the team.
Bernie & Fred
I’m not going to pretend to understand all of the ins and outs of this lawsuit. I personally think it’s a little unfair to the Wilpon’s and that they are being punished more so for owning the Mets and not losing everything in the scandal. With that said, I do hope they decide to sell the team. I don’t dislike them like other fans do; I just want a fresh start. I think this sort of lawsuit can handcuff this franchise for years, and I don’t want to see that.
I think they will sell the team eventually, because I believe MLB will get involved, especially with all of these stories breaking about the Mets borrowing money from them.
Last, but not least… The Phillies
This will be the part of the blog where some may say I am absolutely nuts or a huge homer. Stay with me here though.
If you take a look at the past few years in MLB, the team that everybody picks as the lock to win the division or league has not fulfilled that destiny. It’s easy to win on paper, its another thing to win while playing 162 games.
Do I think the Phillies should win the division? I do. However, I don’t think it’s a lock. If you take an honest look at their roster, they are a very old team.
Consider this, Jayson Werth was the only Phillies hitter last year to have an OPS over .900. Victorino, Rollins, and Ibanez all had sub par seasons at best, and frankly Polanco’s was not that great either. Their offense is going to live and die with 2 players this year. Ryan Howard, who is a great power hitter, but not a great all around hitter, and Domonic Brown.
When you look at their starters, who scares you? You can’t tell me that Ryan Howard scares you. Can he hurt you? Absolutely, but he’s not exactly a tough out. Utley is their best hitter, but he’s more of a table setter than anything. So overall, the starting lineup is old, and less scary than even the Mets lineup I’d truthfully say.
As for the rotation, there’s no doubt that on paper its great. Their average age is 31 years old, compare that to the World Champs who’s starting pitcher is an average 26 years old. Injuries and setbacks occur most often, as players get older. I’ll never root for a player to get hurt, but I think the Phillies have put all their eggs in 4 starting pitchers who are starting to look at the prime of their careers in their rearview mirror.
Nothing’s ever a sure thing in Major League Baseball these days. I’m not going into 2011 thinking the Mets cannot contend for a division title, or wildcard.
“Now, of course that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong.” – Dennis Miller
About the Author: Michael J. Branda
My time with MMO began in July of 2009 when I wrote a Fan Post defending Omar Minaya (before it was cool to do that.) I grew up a Mets fan with the mid 1980's teams. My favorite Met of all-time is (and was) Wally Backman. When it comes to sabermetrics versus old school thinking, I like to think I meet in the middle. I believe thinking of new ways to get answers is helpful, especially when the same way has not produced results. However, I think over-thinking certain situations can get you into trouble. I'm excited for the new regime, because I believe they have pieces in place to focus on several aspects of the Mets organization. I've waited this long for a World Series, waiting a few more years for another chance isn't going to kill me.
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Oh yeah sure, the Phillies are fading, sure. Halliday and Lee are losing their dominance? I don’t think so. Your interpretation of the threat known as the Phillies, is grasping for straws and comes off totally desperate. Nothing worth reading there. And what about the Braves? Are they fading away too? As for your insights into the Fred and Bernie mess, there aren’t any. What has Sandy done to make me mad? I’ll tell you. Ollie P is still on this f**king team! So let’s see, in short, you like Sandy, Terry and Izzy, and you forgot about Paulino. Want to tell me why any of this crap is the slightest bit interesting? It was an excercise in self indulgence on your part, and a total waste of my time to read. Go back to the nursery man.
Pete, I understand that its probably difficult for you to use rational thinking as proven in your reply.
Alderson didn’t sign Oliver Perez, not sure if you’re aware of that but its true. Alderson isn’t signed Reyes to a contract because he wants to rely on his own evaluation rather than yours or mine based on “history.” The same can be said for Perez. It’s pointless to cut a guy making $12m prior to spring training before seeing him. It costs them nothing more and saves them nothing by doing so.
Perez hasn’t cost this regime one game or one regular season roster spot. Your complaining is misplaced. Last year we were still counting on Maine and Perez to hold down two spots in the rotation. The likelihood of both of them making it through the season unscathed was infintismal.
There was a perfect fit Plan B free agent out there by the name of Joel Pinero. Low years, low cost, healthy and no loss of a draft choice. 2 years 16 M. We could have let Ollie and Maine compete for the remaining spot in the rotation. That would have made a lot of sense and could have led to Ollie being waived last March. Failing that he SHOULD have been waived when he refused to help the team by going down and working on his game.
Your blaming the wrong administration and while the previous administration was blowing the opportunity you were probably cheering on the Bay signing and expecting Chris Carter to become Carl Crawford.
You’re alive! lol just kidding, I think we are the only two people awake so far. About your Phillies point, look all anyone can do in the offseason is look at teams on paper. It doesn’t always work out that way, but that’s all we have until the games are played. Now as that goes, the Phillies are a lock. I don’t see how anyone can say otherwise. Believe me that if Mets had a roatation of Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, I dare you to find one Mets fan who would say we weren’t a lock. Including you!
As much as we love Pelfrey and Niese they are unproven and inconsistent therefore they have as good a chance of ending up with a 5.00+ ERA as they are having a 3.00 ERA. Who knows what we can expect from Dickey? Or if we can get the 400 innings we need from Young and Capuano?
The Phillies have four solid, dominant, and consistent starters. History is on their side, not ours.
I’m hoping for a wild card. I’m also hoping for all four of their aces to come up lame and miss time, if that happens it changes everything, but going into the season we have to be realistic and call a spade a spade.
I 100% agree. I’m not sitting here telling you the Mets are better than the Phils. I do however think when 100% healthy, the Mets lineup is better. A starting rotation is only a third of the formula, and the Phils’ bullpen isn’t stellar either. I just think that if one of those guys is off their mark and one isn’t fully healthy, the entire division race changes.
Not many teams are built on whether or not 3 guys over 30 years old can dominate and be healthy
But your argument is based on our offense being better “if” 100% healthy. That’s a big “if”. Right now Beltran can only DH, Bay was given a breather after back to back games, and we still dont know who our second baseman is. Reyes seems healthy, but which Reyes will show up the 2010 version or the 2006 version? Can Pagan do what he only did one in six seasons and avoid the DL? I would say that currently the Mets are 75% healthy. Not enough to win the NL East. By April 1st it might go to 90% and then maybe, I’ll buy your argument. You still have to convince me that Utley, Howard, Victorino and Polanco, are inferior to Wright, Reyes, Beltran and Bay. I wont even mention the number one prospect in baseball Domonic Brown who was called by Rob Neyer, Jason Heyward squared.
Individually speaking, Wright had a better offensive season than Polanco last year… Reyes had a better season than Rollins, Pagan had a better year than Victorino and you can’t tell me what Beltran or Bay would’ve done in a full year but do I think if healthy they can out produce Howard combined? Absolutely.
The point is really a lot of fans and media have written off this team. I think thats the best way for the Mets to go in Opening Day. They have no pressure, but they have talent.
The Phils aren’t locks…
And I believe Brown can be very good… but even if he’s Heyward all over again, that’s still a drastic dip in run production in 2011 from Werth.
One thing about Brown is he’s been pretty underwhelming up here so far. Even in the DWL he played terrible and was sent home. With that line up he’s not getting the benefit of the platoon match up as often as he may like. Werth was a great fit for Philly, Brown might very well struggle.
The Phils are a little top heavy in payroll while not having even addressed some of their guys. It’s never good for a team (especially one who’s won) when imports get the big deals and some of those who helped win the World Series don’t.
If a couple of cracks appear in that team the clubhouse might not be a fun place to be.
Joe, by the way… Lee is a playoff pitcher, no doubt about it. His real value is in October…
He was on a much better offensive team last year than what the Phils have supporting him and he only won 4 regular season games for Texas in 15 starts. You could make an argument that only 6 or 7 of those were good starts.
On very good teams the last 2 years, Lee went 11-10 (Phils 09+Texas 2010). That’s significant to me considering both teams were probably better offensively than the 2011 Phils look to be.
Everybody’s acting as though Halladay, Lee, Hamels, and Oswalt will win 20 games each. That’s not going to happen. History is on their side, but history doesn’t win in 2011.
Also worth noting, I just read bottom ticker on MLB Network that said MRI revealed a fracture in Dom Brown’s right hand and that surgery is likely.
Jessep –
You’re excused for spending time with your new daughter – of course that is a priority and you will never regret any of this precious time.
However, you’ve come back to a website that is now getting information from the NY Times, and the Wall Street Journal as well as the Daily News and the Post. Our team is now on the front pages of those serious papers and Mario Cuomo is Mediating for Major League Baseball and others.
We can always use your input here.
haha thanks Annie
Welcome back Jessep.