8
2012
Alderson On Chemistry, Valdespin, Trade Market, Harvey, Wheeler
An article by 
Sandy Alderson was a guest during the sixth inning of this afternoon’s SNY Cubs vs. Mets broadcast. Gary Cohen hit him up with some great questions in the short time that he had, and ended up getting some nice insights into what the Mets GM is thinking about regarding a wide range of topics.
Matt Harvey: Alderson believes that Matt Harvey could be a viable option for the rotation if the need for him arises. He added that Harvey has had better command recently and is very close to being major league ready. He would have no problem calling him up if a situation that called for it came up in a month or so.
Zack Wheeler: Alderson said Wheeler will most likely be promoted to Buffalo as soon as he can string together a couple of dominant starts at Binghamton. He’s happy to see that Wheeler has developed better command of his secondary pitches.
Trade Market: He expects that the trade intensity and buzz will pick up during the All Star break and ramp up from there as we get closer to the end of the month. He said the needs are apparent at catcher, bullpen and a right-handed bat, but that he won’t make a move in the hope that it will help. He will only make a move that he believes will considerably have a positive impact.
Team Chemistry: He fully grasps the concept of team chemistry in the clubhouse, and wants to make sure that any move he makes will not upset the chemistry that Terry Collins and the players have going right now. He says he needs to be sure that any new addition will have a positive net effect on the team’s chemistry.
Jordany Valdespin: He considers him to be one of the best athletic players in the organization and that his people told him a transition to the outfield would be no problem for him and that it certainly appears they were right. He thinks highly of him and sees him as a new and dynamic part of this current Mets team.
Alderson also mentioned that he will wait to see if Jason Bay comes back and starts contributing before he even considers making any deal for a right-handed bat. Bay is expected back when the Mets start their second half on Friday.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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Mets go into the break losers to the Cubs 7-0. Cubs take 4 out of 6 from the Mets (WTH) over all I see a successful 1st half. Wright, Dickey, Mets hitting with two out RISP, Starting pitching overall, bench before and during the injuries. I think this short rest will help, things that need to pick up in the second half: Bullpen, Defense, Duda, Capt Kirk, & Terry resting lefties against good left-handers (how will they become better if the don’t hit against lefties?). Lets go Mets!
Sandy Alderson did a great job in the interview.
Ralph Kiner earlier said that Sandy should be GM of the year.
Joe D. — You captured what Sandy said very well. Thanks.
Let the tongue twisting and dog and pony show begin. He wont make a trade unless it’s big impact trade, that means big impact players. Who is he kidding? We all know that won’t happen and that he wont take on a big salary or give up major prospects. I love the way this guy uses his lawyer skills to mince words and say something without ever saying anything. Sorry, but have we ever had a bigger BS artist for a GM than this guy? I’ll say one thing, he speaks great english.
and his interviews are about as stimulating as paint drying
Last time I looked, the Periodic Table of Elements showed inert matter can’t be stimulated, only agitated.
oh and yeah your right…he won’t make a big impact trade.
just like he didn’t do last season.
He made probably one of the best trades in this franchises history when he traded a 3 month rental the best prospect in our entire system…..
Wow. Did you just call the Wheeler trade “porbably best trade in franchise history”? We’ve had some great trades in our history like for Piazza, Gary Carter, Kieth Hernandez, and even more recently Johan Santana. You think Wheeler is a better trade than all those? He’s still in AA for crying out loud.
Different circumstances and values. I agree it wasn’t a better trade than some that you list. I think it was the best possible outcome of trading Carlos Beltran. We won’t know if it was a “great” trade for years.
The only way it will be one of the best trades in franchise history is if he becomes an ACE. And at this point we don’t know if he is. He has a CHANCE to be one, but there’s also a chance he busts, or he could just be very average – Who knows?
All I know is that it’s ridiculous to call it probably one of the best trades in franchise history right now because we have no idea what he will become……and escpially since we’ve made great trades in our history like for Piazza and Carter.
And if you want a similar type of trade, what about Ron Darling?
It’s just ridiculous to say that about the Wheeler trade. If you think that, you either have a short memory, or have an Alderson agenda.
WTF? That is so over the top and such an idiotic claim to make. How can you even say this at this stage of the game? Based on what? Beltran is having an MVP season and leads league in home runs, RBI, Slg, and in the top five in walks, OBP, OPS and runs scored. Put down the crack pipe because you’re embarrassing yourself. Wheeler is in AA and can’t even maintain a 2:1 K/BB rate you know what happens when pitchers like that go to AAA? It’s like the 4th of July all over again..
I get that this is not a fair statement… if Wheeler hits the potential then its a different story
But you gotta let this obsession with Beltran being a Met in 2012 go. He was in his walk year, with no value to the Mets. He was leaving. Everybody knows he was. Just accept it. What Beltran does now doesn’t matter. He would have done it elsewhere, with or without the Mets getting Wheeler.
Just accept it. He was leaving.
No value to the Mets? He was the greatest free agent signing in Mets history you ignoramus. Four all star seasons and tremendous play when he wasnt hurt. Was it his fault that Cameron collided into him in 2005? Or that the Mets gave him two cortisone shots and sent him back out on the field with two misdiagnosed knee injuries? And also adding to his value was the fact that Wheeler is here because of his great accomplishments and value and the potential for even more that the Giants gave up their top prospect. No value to the Mets? You are as blind as a bat. If Wheeler does over come his inability to walk a small village and makes it to the majors and succeeds remember it was Beltran’s value that brought him here.
you missed the point. At the end of last year, he had no more value to the mets. so all they gave up was the last 2 months of 2011, not the rest of his time with the mets.
Exactly.
Yup they most likely traded a few million and a few wins in 2011 for Wheeler. Not the 2013 Beltran.
BX,
You called it perfectly. He is the master of spin. A lot of talk followed by no action. For all the hype that was given to the sale to the minority partners, just what are they doing with the money that they contributed? I don’t see much in the way of new initiatives from that. Pretty much just same-o same-o. All big words that add up to nothing. He can talk the talk, but when will he start to walk the walk?
Yeah, I agree. He’s an outstanding bullshitter. I like him as GM, but he’s blowing smoke up our asses.
What are you guys talking about? Sandy is the furthest thing from a BSer. He gives you a lot if information on what his thoughts are and he gives real answers instead of the typical GM speak.
He is also very honest and backs up his statements with his actions. yes he talks in a very sophisticated way but that was how he was brought up and educated.
I swear sometimes I have no clue what some Mets fans are hearing. Let’s bring back Omar and Steve Phillips or Jim Duqeutte and see how much insight they offer you.
because most of them aren’t educated or intelligent enough to deduce what he is saying.
LOL….yeah. that’s it.
Well here it is in a nutshell.Consider the primary ones who dont like Alderson like Bayonne, Alex , Jimmy (we know that’s you) and look at how they write, their ghetto behavior, inability to articulate an opinion, and the boorish comments for which they are well known. It’s impossible for them to even comprehend let alone conceptualize the things Alderson articulates at such a high and sophisticated level. It’s not that they hate Alderson, it’s just a culture divide between two vastly different classes of people. Kind of like the Lords and Serfs. Most people fear that which they cannot understand. The same principle is at work here.
+1
http://www.plixer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/applause.gif
Guaranteed that if either of the three you insulted were to say the same thing about you or even Jessep they would be banned in a nanosecond.
LOL, I think it takes much more harsh words than that to get a ban.
Maniac,
I had posted a response to the weasel in the clutch debate saying he was not qualified to discuss clutch…and Joe D would not allow it. Now I know how you feel about Matt Cerrone and MetsBlog – it has gotten to that point.
Like I always say, insults and name calling only matter depending on what side of the fence your on – If you dislike Alderson and you insult someone, it’s treated like the end of the world – Everyone is offended and shocked.
But if you like Alderson and you insult someone, you get congratulated and a nice pat on the back.
It’s such a double standard.
And who is this guy kidding anyway?
“It’s impossible for them to even comprehend let alone conceptualize the things Alderson articulates at such a high and sophisticated level.”
Does he actually believe that? What a joke.
Yes hbelieves it because it was written from a self biographical perspective.
It’s impossible for HIM to comprehend let alone conceptualize the things Alderson Articulates at such a high and sophisticated level…
You know those nuggets of Wisdom like:
“trade talk picks up before the deadline” and “We need a Catcher, Bullpen help and RHB”.
Two things that no one on the planet but the great and powerful Alderson would know!
Hell we been asking for the first two (C and BP) for two years now! And RHB? Well DUH!
But he is just on a whole other level from the rest of the world…SO much so they mentioned him in a book about Billy Beane!
ROFLMAO!
They have no clue about what he is doing is the truth here and those that do are spoiling thier attempt at going through life like a corpsicle having all things decided for them!
They really don’t WANT to think about things so Sandy is a genius and we should stop thinking about what he does, if we don’t we are not part of the GROUP and should be cast out and ridiculed…
Yeah the day the stupid get the thinking to stop thinking and get with the program the world will end at 11!
I wish I saw it! Dang.
I’ll have to go back to baseball-reference.com and type in “Bayonne Mets Fan” so I can see just how much more qualified you are than I to discuss clutch hitting.
Yes the mighty and all powerfull SA is playing chess on a different plane and dimension unseen to us lowly lilliputians.
How dare anyone question his holy alienlike intelligence and say an unkid word about him!
We heard this same tact last week is this the best you Sandy Pumpers can come up with to defend him?
Attack the posters and never the points they made?
The posters you’re referring to aren’t doing much more than initiating the name calling. So turn-around is fair play I think.
Yeah which one started it in this thread Des?
Prove who you think started it all…show us a link to the very first insult on MMO!
Wow, Nester, nice job!
their ghetto behavior”
Ghetto????
inability to articulate an opinion, and the boorish comments for which they are well known”
Well Known?? Boorish comments?
It’s impossible for them to even comprehend let alone conceptualize the things Alderson articulates at such a high and sophisticated level”
you mean we don’t understand english?
It’s not that they hate Alderson, it’s just a culture divide between two vastly different classes of people. Kind of like the Lords and Serfs”
LOL.. ok…
Most people fear that which they cannot understand.”
Wait what? People Fear death, how will you understand it unless you’re dead?
Just another idiot who loves sandy the guy, the well spoken ivy graduate who says the right thing,he’s done nothing for the franchise, but this guy who probably was under the booth the whole time sandy was there can’t seem to understand that… It’s really pathetic to root for a GM more than the franchise, this team is winning DESPITE the sabotage of the past offseason, but hey, let’s not bring that up, let’s focus on how well he speaks english, did you hear how well he combined those 2 words? I could give 3 craps about your lord sandy, i don’t care how well he dresses or speaks, you know what i care about? Winning.. And so far, this man NEVER seem to even uses those words, it’s as if is not in his all webster dictionary, why come here to bash us instead of admitting the man said nothing about helping the team or his struggles as a GM to HELP the team you and i root for WIN! huh? But of course, he’s the guy you adore and admire, so we won’t be reading anything negative about the guy from you now will we? SMH.
Another insightful post by the mix-master of ideas. LOL.
Hi Dan,
Not to single out Sandy from others but just like any lawyer, he is a BSer. Remember flip flops like
- The Madoff situation had no effect on the Mets/They could not make moves with the civil suit hanging over their heads.
- “Mets can look forward to considerably more payroll flexibility now and how they can better allocate their resources” as reported by Mr. North Jersey July, 2011/”Alderson confirmed that the payroll is expected to reside between $100 million and $110 million” as reported by many in a press conference September 28, 2011.
- The Mets did not have the money to spend on players last year because they lost $70 million/the Mets had money to spend on players if they felt it would help the team.
- Jose Reyes is in the Mets future/Jose Reyes was never offered a contract.
- At a press conference (July, 2011) he said the injury to Jose Reyes was diagnosed and found not to be serious, Reyes wouls be back in a few days and most likely would not miss the (2011) all-star game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuCTlvwIe-M /When placed on the DL, he said he was told by the doctors immediately that Jose’s injury was serious and would require him to be placed on the disabled list.
In the position he and the owners are in, Sandy has to be even more careful than others with what he says publicly. But because of that, his credibility has thus been tarnished and that his words often have not reflected his actions.
Joey D:
I think part of the problem with your response here is that you assume most/all GM’s come out to the media and would do things differently.
“The Madoff situation had no effect on the Mets/They could not make moves with the civil suit hanging over their heads.”
— First and foremost, anything to do with this was likely handed from MLB and the Wilpons to him. What did you expect him to say exactly? It was an ongoing lawsuit, there isn’t a GM in the world that would have said differently. Did you want him to tell an entire fan base and his own players that “hey, we’re in a lot of trouble here.” That isn’t exactly the best business idea.
When it comes to money issues I’m sorry but I would never expect any GM to open the books to the fans. None. I’d never expect any GM to openly say we have X to spend. Not in a free agent era where players/agents are trying to squeeze you for every penny.
No GM ever comes out and says “We have X to spend and no more or no less”
With regards to Reyes, again… I think you’re assuming the GM is a PR rep rather than a businessman. Jose Reyes was in their plans, at their price. They KNEW what he wanted, if they didn’t KNOW what Reyes wanted then guess what? Reyes and his agent are just as much to blame. Just because there was no official offer sheet doesn’t mean the Mets ignored Reyes. The Mets had Reyes in their plans at their price. And once again, what did you expect them to say?
“This homegrown Met is not in our future plans.” C’mon. That would never happen. For so many reasons but how about the fact if you ever wanted to trade him, his value just hits the basement because everybody knows he’s not coming back? If Reyes and his agent said 4 year/70mil, I’d bet anything he’d be on this team right now. So I don’t think its fair to just assume his statement was meant to be a lie.
GM’s publically rarely ever give you 100% truth’s. You’re supposed to read between the lines a little when it comes to what they say. If a GM came out and gave you his detailed plan for the franchise, every MLB team would know it and use it against them.
Sandy’s not interested in telling you or I what is going on with Jose Reyes. Because if he does, then he also just told every GM in the sport the same thing.
Hi Jessep,
How could you say:
“I think part of the problem with your response here is that you assume most/all GM’s come out to the media and would do things differently.”
My First Sentence: “Not to single out Sandy from others but just like any lawyer, he is a BSer.”
My Final Two Sentences: ” In the position he and the owners are in, Sandy has to be even more careful than others with what he says publicly. But because of that, his credibility has thus been tarnished and that his words often have not reflected his actions.”
So I purposly went beyond simply saying “GM’s publically rarely ever give you 100% truth’s”, so not to convey to others I was simply looking at this through an anti-Sandy bias. I went so far as to say I understtod that one in his position with the Mets financial troubles would have to be even more careful than others with his public statements, followed up by his credibility being tarnished “due to the situation he is placed in.
And you might have noticed I was replying to Dan when he wrote
“What are you guys talking about? Sandy is the furthest thing from a BSer. He gives you a lot if information on what his thoughts are and he gives real answers instead of the typical GM speak.”
Didn’t you notice I also opened with “Hi Dan” so others would know who I was addressing my response to and for why?
My examples went on to illustrate the double-talk we so often get — and that is why I made it immediately known that I wasn’t singling Sandy out on this but rather wanting to point out that Sandy shouldn’t be singled out as being above that, either.
Jessep, this is what I mean about looking only at parts of instead of the entire text and thus taking things out of context. As a member of the fourth estate cyber community, I am sure you appreciate that more than anyone else.
I notice you did not imply I was being inaccurate with the contradictions but, at the same time, noticed you failed to acknowledge that, just like you, I understood the reasons why such things were said. If anything, I believe I went out of my way to point out Sandy was in a difficult situation to begin with and handling it no different than most other general mangers would publicy.
I really dont want to see us make a huge splash and give up any of our top prospects especially the pitchers. We’ve gone this far without a righty bat and Bay is coming back and we can put him in a platoon with Niewehuis. I hate to trade for relievers look at what happened to us already with the ones we got in the offseason they are too unpredictable. Plus we have Beato here and maybe Mejia and Edgin still to come. We don’t have to give up anything for them and they will be just as good. Lets just go with what we got. Ike Davis and Duda should be better in the second half.
Gina; Why do people like you don’t give a crap about trying to be in the playoffs?
Amazin, I think that’s unfair of you to say to Gina. If the season ended today we would be in the playoffs and if she believes that we can win with this team who are you say it means she doesnt give a crap.
I think she is simply saying she wants to avoid trading players who will contribute to future winning seasons and I kind of agree with that myself. After 50 years wouldn’t you love to see a Mets dynasty or a run of ten great seasons? Well you dont do that by trading your best prospects for rentals.
Exactly! I dont care if he is BS-ing. Don’t trade the prospects.
What we do know is that (1) Sandy will not trade any top prospects (2) they will be able absorb money, (3) no trades are imminent and (4) Josh Edgin will be promoted in the next week or so.
I think though he was smart enough to leave all possibilities open. In other words all of those things could be true under the right circumstances.
What I take from this as a whole is he has roughly the same commitment issues as Liz Taylor does with Marriage!
That said just some short hits…
His quote on Harvey – tells me he may just shop Young as I had proposed nearly a week and a half ago! I like the idea (Obviously) but it will depend on what the return is if I will sign off on it being a good deal or not.
Quote regarding trade market – after stating the idiotic obvious about the trade market picking up before the deadline he sure doesn’t seem to be committed one way or the other. He says he thinks catcher, Bullpen and RHB are needs, But if what he said about considerable impact is true it won’t be a catcher cause there isn’t one who fits that desc. It won’t be bullpen because no bullpen is considerable impact type. and RHB seems to be something he still hold out hope Bay will fill for him (Everyone loves a lost cause right?) He alludes to this point later on.
RE Team Chemistry – Forget K-Rod! May also mean no trade of Murphy as he is a big part of it even if fans don’t seem to want to acknowledge it.
Valdespin – Nothing new here after the deadline if there is room for him he will stay.
He did mention (not mentioned in the article) what I have said is a problem with the rumors we heard this moring regarding hernandez and could possibly upset the rotation tyhat doesn’t seem to need better pitch calling at this point in time.
But bottomline Words are cheap…I will judge him on Actions which so far haven’t been all that impressive from my view.
Hi Metsie,
Glad you brought up the thing about team chemistry being so important because I didn’t have the courage to say that chemistry didn’t seem so important to Sandy last season.
Well knowing it is impotant is different than actually knowing what it is! LOL
Hi Metsie,
You implying team chemistry is not factored in when it comes to statistical analysis? LOL
No but it probably isn’t…Go look up the chemistry metric for me and tell me what ours is? LOL
What I was saying was something similar to:
It’s easy to say you have to go to point A.
Another thing to know how to get there!
Or
Everyone Knows if you can make money by investing and making and having good investments is the key.
But another thing to know what IS a good investment and when it stops being one a time to sell.
Chemistry is an ethereal thing. Teams that win are said to have it and teams that don’t are said to have bad chemistry.
But you can have great chemistry and lose a ton of games and have bad chemistry and win a ton of games so it really doesn’t matter in that it’s another one of those subjective things no one can define or pin a tail on.
Which is why to answer your original question NO it doesn’t get taken into affect in Stat analysis and probably never will.
But it does probably get thought of after the math has been done. As it should.
As an example losing Ray Knight after 86 ruined the chemistry that made that season what it was…
He was not the big leader, He was not the big bat or glove, But he was a big part of thatb lockeroom and rallier of the troops when they were down and you can’t find that replacement in a spreadsheet
Murphy is part of that fighting spirit we have been seeing.Turner too! Wright is doing what he can to be a leader but even leaders need second fiddles and enforcers to help him do his job.
And I think Turner and Murphy play a real role in that chemistry based on the fact it started last year when the two of them played everyday and started showing everyone wityh a little effort you can play over .500 baseball even without Wright and Davis!
Why not trade for Josh Willingham ? He’s got a good bat with power and he’s more reliable then Quentin. Plus his contract isn’t crazy its manageable so he could play left field for us for the next year or two until someone is ready.
no chance. Not with that contract…
Lol, this thread is just comical…. Also, i will say this, normally i don’t post on the weekends in here but i read the stuff that’s been said and whatnot, i find it amusing that while we are not here some of us get insutled just because we don’t like the GM (With proven facts and reasons), yet others +1 it or have a good laugh, but of course, if it’s one of us, we are the worst people here etc.. as vinny B pointed out, DOUBLE STANDARD as hell..
… Either way, i heard the guy in the sixth inning, wanna know what’s more amazing than all the crap he was trying to feed the fans? How gary cohen basically was slurping the guy with this soft as* questions!!!!!
I mean, we have a team that is in the hunt right now and we’re asking questions about a Triple A pitcher? a Double A pitcher? as of right now a Bench player? I mean, seriously, who came up with this questions? Sandy Alderson himself? What about the bullpen? Are you thinking of acquiring an impact guy in the trading deadline? will you be adding bullpen? What about those bums in the bullpen you acquire?
I mean, the most vanilla questions ever, serioulsy, Gary cohen was just taking his sweet time it seemed because he was soft spoken his way to alderson’s heart… SMH.
By the way, don’t give me that crap about acquiring guys who are just cheap and not needed, get guys who are having good seasons or studs, a guy someoone mention i like is josh willingham, he has 19 HR’s and the twins are long gone… Stick him in LF and tell Bay to stay home… the Bullpen, please Sandy, do your job.. Earn all that money you getting paid..
One thing i have also notice, i am sure in terms of being a GM, most of us share the same sentiment of how poor of a job this guy has done, i mean, it’s not even close at how bad he’s been compare to others GM the mets have had. HOWEVER, some people like this guy or don’t wanna admit how bad he’s been JUST BECAUSE they don’t wanna agree with some of us…and by some of us, i mean the few who from the get go started questioning this guy’s moves and desicions or lack of. LOL.. Amazing…
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