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2011
Sandy Alderson: The Last Best Hope
An article by Former Writers
A year and a half ago, I posted an article on my at the time blog, DannyBaseball in which I extolled on the virtues of patience. Unfortunately, it is a characteristic that so many Mets fans lack. At that time back in November 2009, Omar Minaya was trying to retool the Mets roster in preparation for the 2010 season. They had just completed their third disastrous season in a row, two of which ended with the blowing of a division title and the third in which they lost 92 games.
Although the Mets improved in 2010 no one was satisfied. Omar had been given his chance over six seasons. It was time for a change.
Exit the high payrolls, the risky free agents signings, trading minor leaguers for aging over valued stars. Enter Sandy Alderson, a G.M. whose ideology is based on building a team from within. Someone who will stick to his long term plan, not waver or succumb to the pressures of the New York media. Alderson says:
Improving your team isn’t just about throwing money at free agents. It’s also about scouting, it’s about player development. … We want to be a lot more systematic and provide a lot more continuity in our player development system. … To develop players, to allow themselves to develop at the Major League level, sometimes you’ve got to give them an opportunity. Certain places, some big market areas, that opportunity isn’t afforded to them. There has to be immediate performance. So what we need to do is to be able to introduce our own players as time goes on, but at the same time supplement that with free agency. I use the word supplement because I think that’s what you have to look at. It can’t be your primary source of talent. It has to be something that is complementary with what you’re doing with the farm system and player development.
Back in 2009, my choice for Omar’s replacement was Billy Beane. Needless to say, my wish was trumped when the Mets hired Sandy Alderson. I couldn’t have been happier. I trust that Sandy and his staff can be the gurus that can turn this team into a perennial winner.
I didn’t foresee the additional complications and distractions of the Wilpons financial problems. But the Wilpons may well have taken these into account. Or more likely, Bud Selig demanded Sandy’s hiring as collateral to the $25 million loan.
Mets fans really have no choice but to learn about patience. Financial constraints will likely be the new standard for the Mets for at least several years. The 2011 season will likely frustrate and disappoint us. But the future looks much brighter.
Patience: Not A Mets Fans Virtue Posted on DannyBaseball on 11/10/09
About the Author: Former Writers
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OK i have 1 question. How is it that Alderson is the “LAST” best hope?
If in 3 to 5 years from now let’s say things are even worse you mean to say no one will be out there that will give the Mets better hope than Alderson?
If that is the case then I can tell you I disagree. In my opinion all hope does not end with Alderson.
Now I may be misreading the title in which case i apologize and await further clarification.
A players life span runs from approximately 22-35 with their best years being in the 27-32 bracket. While you still think of guys like Vaughn, Castillo, Burnitz, Bonilla, Wagner, Coleman, Murray, Alomar, El-Duque, Pedro, Henderson, Delgado, Bay, as they way you’ve known them through the years the fact is their not the same player you once knew.
Not only are they not the same player, oftentimes you cannot trade them for anything because of their salary commitments and their lack of productivity so at the end of the deal your left with nothing. Even when they play well they have an air of entitlement around them.
Another thing that bringing all these ex Red Sox, Marlins, Indians, Astros, Cardinals, Orioles, Blue Jays, Yankees, A’s, and Pirates do is they take away from a team’s core. That’s one of the reasons this team has no soul, no guts, no balls. They cave in and give up because there all a collection of individuals just thrown all together.
No one is going to bust their asses more than the young guy trying to establish himself and no 35 year old ex whatever is going to play better than a Reyes, Wright, or Davis in his prime. 29 teams in MLB have adapted to the steroid era being over, isn’t it about time we do too?
Somehow I doubt very much if you’d find Ruben Tejada, Ike Davis, Jenrry Mejia, Daniel Murphy, or Josh Thole in the clubhouse playing cards during a playoff game.
MNJ – You’re taking the title too literally. Of course there’s always hope for the future. Keep in mind that there could be 5 bad years upcoming. The Mets still have a lot of talent this year and might be competitive. But next year and thereafter who knows.
Until the financial situation is worked out, payroll will be decreasing meaning no Jose Reyes next year. Others will follow!
Well MNJ,
Considering the financial situation, if Sandy doesn’t have success fixing the team then it is highly likely the Mets will no longer play in NY.
Las Vegas has been active in trying to get a team there and there are quite a few other locations where they could be moved to.
So as I said in another thread, If we don’t start going to games at some point and help pay for whatever this team IS spending money on there may be no team to go see in 4 or 5 years!
There is no guarantee they will stay in NY!
Break out your Yankee hats then!
interesting point about the potential connection to the loan and Alderson, since they both ran through Selig.
Sounds logical that if you are going to give someone a loan to bail them out of a financial hole, you might want to make sure they had someone in place that was smart with spending money!
The better the Mets do, the more revenue they will have to operate, the more money they’ll have to spend, the better players they can get……the better the Mets will do.
It’s going to be a vicious circle.
It’s only vicious because we don’t go to the games.
They committed to 140 mil in Salary to get us to show up and we didn’t hold up our end of the bargain!
I breathed a sigh of relief when Sandy Alderson was announced as the new Mets General Manager that day at Citi Field. Finally someone who really did know the game inside and out and who knew how to do his job.
Now we are in Spring Training and things are still rolling along quite well for Alderson and Collins and the Mets team. We’ve already had one pleasant surprise with the solution to the Beltran/Pagan situation working out well for all, and handled by the players themselves at Terry’s suggestion.
Sandy Alderson has already made his mark on this team and I for one look forward to the season.
Thanks, Sandy
You’re right about his mark, Annie. One of the first things Sandy did upon arrival was strengthen the scouting. That was the most important thing the Mets needed outside of the white lines, and it was on the top of his list.
the problem is does he have enough time to build from within before the team is sold and moved?
I’m happy the Wilpons hired a guy who knew how to win with any kind of budget. He won a World Series with the largest budget in the league and he helped usher in a new way thinking that could win with a low budget. So regardless of what the uncertainty of the Mets finances may bring, the guy calling the shots has been there before, one way or another.
Well he built a team that COULD win for little money…problem is it didn’t win!
For the last 6 years we have had a team that COULD win as well and we still didn’t bother to show up!
And if we don’t go this franchise is history!
no matter what ends up happening with the finances (payroll same, little lower, lot lower), the team will be better off having the organization rebuilt from the bottom up, scouting beefed up, player development improved, etc.
Even with a high payroll, that can put you over the top. And if they are going to go through a low budget/rebuild/broke phase, even more important.
Let’s enjoy the season for what it is and the limitations/constraints the team has. I hope the fans who show up at Citi Field encourage this club. I’d love to see them play their asses off for the Wilpons who, in my view, ARE good people who got “taken” and are now being defamed. I sympathize with them. And, no, I do not personally know them nor am I employed by the Mets.