8
2012
Alderson: With Bay Gone, Enhances Chance That Hairston Will Return
An article by 
Adam Rubin posted some comments from Mets GM Sandy Alderson on his blog at ESPN New York. Alderson seemed to enjoy responding to most of the questions he was asked with plenty of humor and dripping with sarcasm.
Honestly, I’m not a big fan of that and I don’t see other GMs doing it. I’d prefer a more direct and professional approach from our top executive, especially with the way things have gone for this organization in the last few years. It hasn’t been a laughing matter… But anyway…
On the state of the outfield particularly, Alderson quipped: “What outfield? We’re gonna bring those fences in another 150 feet.”
Asked where the outfielders will come from, the GM again quipped, saying: “A cardboard box?”
Lucas Duda in left field, though? “Yes,” Alderson said. “He does come with a lot of furniture, though. I mean baggage. I’m sorry. He’s very definitely in the mix. We’re counting on him.”
And Kirk Nieuwenhuis in center field: “I think he may be. It’s conceivable. Now he still has the plantar fascia issue that we’re monitoring.”
On whether the Bay resolution means it’s more likely Scott Hairston returns, Alderson said: “I think it helps. As I said, it gives us more flexibility and it subtracts one more candidate from our outfield. So in both ways it probably enhances Scott’s chances of coming back.”
I would love to see Hairston come back mostly for two big reasons; first, he was one of our only legitimate weapons against lefthanded pitching, and second, he was also a very positive influence in the clubhouse.
When I think back to last year, I remember always seeing Hairston talking to Nieuwenhuis, Duda and Valdespin whenever the camera panned into the dugout. He also had some big hits for us last year too.
It’s safe to say that Hairston is probably the only addition to the team in two years that has proved to be very useful and also very valuable.
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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|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
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Yes !
Because having Scott Hairston = building for the future !!!
Gimme a break. Nobody is calling this building for the future. All teams should have a good balance of young players and veterans. Especially veterans that they can learn a thing or two from. He has been a bright spot for this team and if he wasn’t there when Kirk and Duda went down, we might have lost 95 games this season. When his playing days are over, I see Hairston becoming a solid coach and perhaps a manager. He’s a good guy.
As a starter – bad move, i want to see Duda – Valdy – Kirk learn to play together
he can be a late-game defensive replacement / pinch-hitter
Its not the money or the years its the playing time
No way we’ll have an outfield where everyone bats LH. If we get Hairston back, he’ll be platooning with someone – probably Duda.
Why would you platoon Duda?
How on earth is he supposed to learn how to hit lefties ?
We are NOT making a playoff run this year….why stunt his growth
Do you honestly think Collins will give Valdy a chance? He has a bug up his butt about him for some reason. I think Collins has it in his mind that Valdy is a bench player and that is the only way he is going to view him.
Its really the org view from top down…
Keith and Gary were bashing Valdy in 2011…when he was still in the minors…
then Gary has the nerve to say that once you get a bad rep, its almost impossible to shake because of the media…
Things are going to start shaping up. Let Go Mets!!.
Typical Met fan:
Whine that team doesnt spend money in FA
Whine when team does spend money in FA but player is bust.
Whine when team talks about retaining productive player who is older.
Whine when team lets older player walk.
Whine when job not given to younger player.
Whine when job given to younger player doesnt work out at first.
Whine when team talks about trading established player.
Whine when team doesnt make moves to bring in established players.
Whine about who team doesnt draft.
Whine about who the team does draft.
I dont know how long you’ve been a Mets fan, but I have been for 30 years. Believe me when I tell you that a solid 60 percent of Mets fans are idiots. I wish that wasn’t the case, but it is.
Well said……..I have been a Met fan for 50 yrs. 40 of those on the west coast, so I don’t have a feel for what the average Met fan thinks. I have been reading this and other Met blogs for the past couple of years to get my info, but doubt that the commenters on these blogs represent the average fans interest or feelings, but enjoy most of the banter here that doesnt try to personally attach or belittle other commenters.
Scott Hairston loves NY and the Broadway theater district. He asked SA not to trade him at the deadline and SA complied. Maybe SA was like a chess master and was three moves ahead knowing Bay would not be back and maybe Scott Hairston will give SA a home discount of 2 years 6.5 M.
Not likely. Alderson had no way of knowing that Bay would defer some money if he had the idea of dumping him this off season (which he claims he didnt).
Hairston might offer a bit of a discount because of his preference to be in NY and his comfort with the Mets. But I wouldnt credit Alderson for that if it takes place.
What was it Hairston was looking for? If there is a little room for it, I could be down with $5-6 million for one year and a team option.
Would that be enough?
I would think $6M for two years. He had a career year which isnt likely to be duplicated. Everyone knows that.
Really, really can’t stand Sandy Alderson. Everything’s a joke.
Signing Scott Hairston would be a huge mistake and frankly, calls into question this guy’s ability to do the job.
why?
How would it be a huge mistake?
He’s got power, which we need. He’s not looking for a big money long term deal. We don’t have a lot to offer.
He wouldn’t be blocking anyone ready to debut from the farm.
Sign him to a year with an option.
If he stinks, he’ll still be the least of our problems and can be dropped.
If he plays well but the team is out of the playoff hunt at the trade dealine, ship him off for a younger player.
If he plays well and the team is in the playoff hunt…well that is the best case scenerio.
Why is it a mistake?
He is a 4th OF which every team needs. He provides some pop and has the capability to give you 15 or so HRs a year off the bench pinch hitting and spot starting. For a price of a few million, not a bad piece to have.
Hairston was a steal this past season. $1.1M for 20 HRs…every GM in the league would take that. While I dont think he will duplicate what he did this year, resigning him at a reasonable rate makes sense. If someone offers $4M-$5M a year, the Mets need to let him walk.
I don’t want Harriston back! He is a nice player, he just had his best season but, we need another low average, ton of strike outs guy in the lineup like we needed Bay to come back. We need power, but, consistent power, and someone who can hit between 285 and 300.. Not 230 with 150 and barely 20 homers. Cap Kirk and Duda can do that. We already have enough of those players. I also want someone who could actually start for another team. Harriston would be a fourth or fifth outfielder on another team. He kind of reminds me of Gary Matthews JR and we saw how that worked out for the Angels.
I like Hairston, He has his strengths (RH power, veteran good influence) and weaknesses (defense, OBP). If they sign him and pay him as a 4th OF/platoon player, that’s fine, so long as it doesn’t consume money needed for a CF/leadoff hitter that plays good D, which I think is more important (Fowler and Span are candidates costing $4 to $5 mil).
So lets resign a bench player to be a everyday outfielder? Seems legit.
Have to agree with Joe D. that having Hairston back would be good for how he could help the young kids. Veteran leadership is needed. That point was, however, lost to Sandy when it came to Carlos Beltran and the 2011 season when things were clicking. Leadership also comes from the front office and that lack of support caused the team to feel it was kicked in the teeth.
Until Sandy appreciates the human qualities that are not measured in stats he will never understand that point.
Are you saying Sandy shouldn’t have traded Carlos Beltran because of his leadership?
Your comparing a player who was paid $140 million Hairston at $2 million? LOL You’re right, this is stupid.
If leadership dont matter get rid of Wright while you’re at it.
Hi This,
My comment goes way beyond the Beltran trade to the ignoring of the positive influence on the young players and helping them with their maturity and growth that Joe D. alluded to/
I used Beltran as an example to point out how the analytical Sandy Alderson fails to recognize the importance of the human ingredient. Shipping off Beltran and KRod in 2011 was a morale breaker for the team that had pulled to within six games in the loss column of the wild card. Yes, we all understand about the money situation but as Metsie and others have alluded to, the Mets staying in the playoff hunt could have drawn more fans to the park and more than made up for both the cost of retaining Beltran and KRod (including that vesting option). it is my own opinion that Sandy did not want to take the risk of potential revenue against sure fire savings and that caused more damage to the organization and the fan base that did not have to happen.
There is so much evidence of how Sandy ignores anything he cannot decipher through analysis. His emphasis on PPA rather than the individual’s strengths and shortcomings and enforcing that mindset through the organization Determining it was fiscally unnecessary to retain the Port St. Lucie rookie team only to find it was indeed necessary for player development just twelve months. He also has the ability to lie to the fan base with a straight face – something we know Omar could not do when trying to cover-up things for the ownership – and because he does it so well, not appearing uncomfortable as most others would, it is also reflective of one’s character.
This is not meant as a criticism of Sandy the individual but of Sandy when it comes to business. We do not know the personal side of him and to make any additional criticism of him as a person would be unfair. We saw that the Boss was completely different than being the bully with people who did not work for him.
Bottom line is though it does take objectivity to put together a baseball franchise that is so often going to hurt the feelings of those who are released, traded, etc. there is also the emotional side that is needed to be reflected throughout the organization in order to make it a successful one.
Did Sandy Alderson go to the same school of dry comedy Mitt Romney attended?
——————————–
On the state of the outfield particularly, Alderson quipped: “What outfield? We’re gonna bring those fences in another 150 feet.”
Asked where the outfielders will come from, the GM again quipped, saying: “A cardboard box?”
Lucas Duda in left field, though? “Yes,” Alderson said. “He does come with a lot of furniture, though. I mean baggage. I’m sorry. He’s very definitely in the mix. We’re counting on him.”
——————————–
A good lawyer/ bad liar who is even worse at comedy…
if this baseball thing doesnt work Sandy can have a bright future in politics
Alderson would make a great politician.He masted the art of double speak. He has a great skill for coming up with vague hollow messages like ‘wholesale changes”, and “we want impact players”. And most importantly, he’s incompetent.
He’d fit right in with the rest of Washington.
Hi Just and Vinny,
My points exactly and how transcending that attitude toward player personnel decisions, team development and individuals does more damage and good. Why else did we see a let-down in team performance so quickly after the all-star break? There is something about the human spirit that needs to be considered when it comes to bringing out the best in athletic competition.
Lol great minds think alike, Joe
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1402035-are-the-mets-considering-scott-hairston-as-their-big-free-agent-signing
I would take back Hairston ONLY if the Mets manage to get themselves another power bat off the bench in case Hairston falls off, like Mark Reynolds for 1 year. Outside of that, they need to do some moves to get themselves an outfield. Nieuwenhuis & Duda is nothing to write home about.
Well you have to wonder if Hairston just had his career year or not here….
Another factor is a lot of what he did was due to being protected vs RHP and not having to face them for most of the season.
But you can at least repeat that by platooning him with Duda in LF.