22
2012
Director of MLB Operations Adam Wogan Will Not Return To Mets
An article by 
Major league sources told the Daily News that director of major league operations Adam Wogan, with the team since 2006, has been told that he will not have his contract renewed.
Wogan plans to continue in his role until the end of the year, but has been given immediate permission to speak with other teams.
General manager Sandy Alderson confirmed the move, and spoke of Wogan in highly complimentary terms.
“Adam did a terrific job for us over a long period of time,” Alderson said. “This is not about Adam. This is about some restructuring in the organization.”
Wogan served as director of minor league operations under Omar Minaya starting in 2006, before being promoted to a front office position last season.
This comes almost a year to the day that another very respected executive left the Mets, Chad MacDonald, who oversaw amateur scouting and the draft. MacDonald was largely responsible for the Mets 2011 draft that included taking high school outfielder Brandon Nimmo 13th overall, then prep right-hander Michael Fulmer out of Oklahoma with the 44th overall selection. MacDonald emphasized the importance of drafting higher ceiling players despite the risk, rather than making safe picks on marginal players who were more polished. He is now with the San Diego Padres.
So if Wogan is that highly regarded in MLB circles, why is he being let go?
Martino says it’s all part of Alderson’s vision for a leaner organization and one that is inline with organizational philosophies.
Many of the duties of Wogan and other executives that are no longer with the team, have shifted to one man, Dick Scott, who worked with Mets executive J.P. Ricciardi when they were with the Toronto Blue Jays. Ricciardi was just signed to a three-year extension last month.
It’s pretty obvious now that Sandy Alderson is making sure that everyone is on-board with implementing philosophies that he considers critically important, like plate discipline. It doesn’t seem like there is any room for differing onions or perspectives.
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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| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Mets | 17 | 24 | .415 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 12 | 32 | .273 | 13.5 |
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It’s quite obvious now that Sandy Alderson is making sure that everyone is on-board with implementing philosophies that he considers critically important, like plate discipline. It doesn’t seem like there is any room for differing onions or perspectives”
THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
‘Martino says it’s all part of Alderson’s vision for a leaner organization and one that is inline with organizational philosophies.
Many of the duties of Wogan and other executives that are no longer with the team, have shifted to one man, Dick Scott, who worked with Mets executive J.P. Ricciardi when they were with the Toronto Blue Jays.’
************************
Yet another cost saving measure.
You can’t convince me these Mets still don’t have financial problems.
THAT!
THIS!
LMAO!!! BEST SCREEN NAME EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OMG …..you are RELENTLESS with this theyre broke agenda….
Were they broke when they extended the contract of JP Ricciardi?
Do you realize they are part of the highest paid front office in the entire MLB???
Broke teams dont do that
This is unbelievable. I’ve never heard of new executives restructuring their organization to a way that they are more comfortable and experienced with.
I think I’m just gonna do what you do Donal.
Ya, being like Donal is definitely the way to go. Hey Donal, you got yourself a Mini-Me. NICE!
The Parrot gets a Parrot….
Hope there are enough Crackers around here to feed them all….
I’ve never heard of new executives restructuring their organization to a way that they are more comfortable and experienced with”
WELL, NOW YOU HAVE… Stop trying to prentend that sandy and Co are trying to change the culture of the mets from top to bottom.. why else would you have the minor leaguers preach OBP and patient at the plate?
And is that a bad thing?
Yes it is a bad thing
Why?
Good question
Having a philosophy from top to bottom is pretty much standard operating procedure for all clubs. Now, whether you think high OBP type guys are the way to go is good or not, the fact that they have a mentality, want that mentality to extend throughout the entire organization and changing out those that are counter-productive to that plan is pretty much what happens in most businesses across the globe. I don’t understand why this is a difficult concept to grasp.
Like Davey Johnson said the other day when he was on MLBNetwork and was asked about sabermetrics. When the discussion shifted to OBP yes he did pay attention to it back then – BUT ONLY when discussing top of the order/table setter guys. Not friggin middle of the order RBI guys.
Davey said that? Awesome. A surefire HOF manager.
I respect Davey Johnson very much but I prefer the example of the Yankees from the late 90′s, you know the team that won 4 World Series by preaching plate discipline and OBP.
Because trying to make everybody adhere to the same approach is wrong, that’s why. It’s one thing to have a batting coach help you when you need it or he sees something he wants to discuss with you etc, but to make EVERYBODY have to do the same thing when hitting has so many dynamics, as the game progresses through 9 innings different approaches are needed and not only that you might have to attack different pitchers in different ways and add to that you are basically letting all 29 other teams in the league what your approach is before the season even starts, and I also have a big problem with telling hitters to change their approach when no fixing is needed in the first place! Not everybody is the same, different people have different ways of achieving success.
Let’s see what else. You’re also taking away the natural aggression of middle of the order hitters no matter what level in the minors they are. They are not leadoff hitters, they are guys who will make their living driving the ball. Number 2 hitters also have to be good bat handlers too and depending on the makeup of your team the #2 spot can be very versatile.
Let’s see what else, oh yeah, are you gonna “try and work the count deep” with the mindset of trying to get the pitcher out of the game when a Roy Halladay is on his game, throwing strikes right down the middle? Or are you gonna just play the game and let your natural God-given ability kick in. I could go on but i think (or hope) you get the point since I don’t know how familiar with real baseball you really are.
But I get it. This is new philosophy is easier to wrap your mind around instead of actually trying to learn the game and all if it’s nuances that dictate what you have to do in any given situation.
Hi Bayonne,
I just want to address the three main points you made
1. Of course you have to tailor your approach to the situation. How can you not? But let me ask you this: how do you know that they aren’t doing that? They aren’t complete idiots. Even if you think the front office doesn’t have hardcore baseball guys in it (which I find it hard to believe, just my opinion) even average fan knows that.
2. To address this —> “You’re also taking away the natural aggression of middle of the order hitters no matter what level in the minors they are.” I actually did some research. First, let me say that I know that PPA is not the best way to measure patience, but I looked at the top 30 in MLB in that stat and most of the names were guys with 30+ HR. Here’s the list:
http://www.upalongfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ppa.jpg
The same applies with on-base percentage. It’s really the leadoff guys that tend to have trouble getting on base, which is ironic because their job is to get on base and set the table for the big home run hitters.
3. You try to work the count deep (in certain situations) in order to catch the pitcher possibly making a mistake. The more pitches he throws, the more likely it is that he’s going to throw a bad pitch…
If you are facing a pitcher who has been struggling lately, doesn’t have an overpowering fastball you’re gonna waste an at bat trying to work him? You ATTACK him, that’s how you get him out of the game.
Trying to make EVERYBODY do the same thing is just wrong. Plain and simple. I can’t believe the owners of this team are letting him do this.
Besides the rest of the league knows how the Mets are approaching at bats which already puts them at a disadvantage.
Just play the game, use the talent that you are given and if anybody needs help that’s what the coaches are for.
“Of course you have to tailor your approach to the situation. How can you not?”
Have a great Thanksgiving Bayonne
The poster boy is Valdyspin. Let him be aggressive especailly as a pinch hitter. When you take a pitch in your zone you are giving up an opportunity to possible crush the son of a gun. The whole idea is to know your hitting zone and swing when it is there. Some hitters notoriously Yogi Berra were bad ball hitters. The takes should be balls out of your hitting zone. However each player should have zones where they will go the other way, especially to move a runner over with a productive out.
hotstreak,
You are exactly right. You should always swing at pitches in YOUR zone regardless of what your zone is but you need to be selective and work the pitcher until he throws a pitch in YOUR zone. I’m sorry to say this but Valdespin has been in the bigs for less than one full season and proven next to noting, he is the poster boy for absolutely noting at this point!
Does that work with 2 strikes on you?
What should the batter do if the Pitcher pounds the part of the zone that is NOT YOURS?
Is there a lesson for that situation or does he just take the K and call it an AB?
This is the problem with this philosophy, thinking you can dictate terms to the pitcher when he decides what and where to throw the ball and the best the batter can do is hope he screws up, misses or hangs one in YOUR ZONE…..
You have to play the cards you are dealt not just surrender or wait for something that may never come for the entire game.
There is no YOUR ZONE there is only the zone the Pitcher throws it to.
You can decide to wait for a better pitch for about two strikes worth but after that the philiosophy falls apart and a new approach is needed.
THAT NEW APPROACH is what is sorely lacking on our team.
Only guys who do it regularly are Murphy and Tejada and it shows in their BA doesn’t it?
yeah like the pitcher will eventually throw a pitch in your zone just because you willed it to happen. Spoken like a true person that’s never had an AB in a competitive level in their entire life. Yeah I know…wait for your pitch….i know. Thing is, at this level you may be called on to move a runner over, hit to the right side, or try and lift the ball in the air if the situation dictates it – and you may never get a ball in your zone. Trying to put the bat on the ball in situations like that is not easy but if you are required to do it then you better see that ball all the way down that plane that starts at the release point and then gets close to you……then you have to get your bat on the ball.
I love all these new philosophies and all these fantasy baseball clowns that think it’s easy to do. Yeah it’s real easy trying to make the pitcher come to you. What about if he never comes to you and paints the corner? Then you have to hit to the pitcher’s strength?
Ever think of that? Of course not. That’s too much like regular baseball.
The point lost on all of them Bayonne is that the Hitting coach is supposed to be teaching them how to make EVERY strike “THEIR PITCH”
This philosophy they like is all about just swing hard the same way and only swing at pitches that will come in contact with your normal swing….
Let all the other strikes go by until you get one that your bat can touch LOL
” They aren’t complete idiots.”
Hi Connor,
Well, it was our general manager during a SNY broadcast who brought up the point of PPA as a “team” concept, the importance of working the count and then emphasized the lower PPA was an indication of why the offense sagged the second half. And it was brought out that later on Gary Cohen explained that the change in PPA Sandy referred to resulted in one less pitch every twenty plate appearances.
Of course, such a stat is really a useless piece of information since each individual has to be treated differently and Bob Ojeda strongly criticized the Mets for telegraphing this team approach to opposing clubs in May and that it was going to catch up with the Mets as the season progressed – which he proved correct in predicting.
So are you sure they aren’t complete idiots?
I love how you always over simplify things to prove your wrong, inaccurate, and somewhat insane points. Amazing gift! I would love to know what player the Mets current philosophy of OBP and working counts has ruined? I would also love to know how (not really) how you felt about HoJo’s approach or lack of approach!
To your point about Halliday, there is only one Halliday so constantly changing you philosphy is pointless, and I doubt that Halliday just throws the ball right down the middle regardless of who he’s facing.
Well you should listen to the MMO Radio show as it was discussed there…
Names I believe were mentioned were DenDekker but in general the entire system has hit a little worse since this got implemented.
As for HoJo’s approach well they are both extremes if you ask me…
HoJo was overly aggressive, Hudgen overly passive….
Somewhere in between where SITUATIONAL hitting, Fighting with Two Strikes being the focus as oposed to waiting for a pitch that may never come would be much more effective and productive.
Metsie,
Your earlier comment kind of sounds like your saying that there really isn’t a correct approach a hitter is always at the mercy of the pitcher? I don’t exactly disagree with that (of course it need to be a pitcher and hitter of somewhat similar skill.) What I was refering too when I said “work the pitcher” does not mean not swing at pitches that aren’t in your zone. If a pitch is clearly a strike but no in the “zone” a hitter needs to be trying to make contact not swinging from the heels. I think people look at guys like Duda and his lack of aggresiveness or Valdy and his lack of ANY baseball discipline and paint the picture that the coaches are hurting them some how. I think: A. They need to better develop B. Maybe they’re not as good as we thought they were going to be.
Well you don’t work the Pitcher the Picher works you. All a batter can do is try and deny him spots to pitch in and he can’t really do that with the bat on his shoulder.
And sloat just to be clear I was not suggesting thats your definition of working the count but it IS the definition of Hudgens and the folks around here who beleieve PATIENCE at the plate and PPPA is something to strive for.
For a batter to be successful he must be prepared for ANYTHING.
If he doesn’t like a certain pitch then fine but that only works for situations BEFORE there are two strikes.
You can get a pitcher to work MORE by fouling off pitches with two strikes than you ever will waiting for him to throw a pitch in your hot zone.
He may never throw a pitch to your wheelhouse and if he knows where it is (most do due to scouting reports) the Pitcher is going to WORK THE BATTER in the other zones you don’t like.
In those cases this philosophy of WAIT will never work.
It’s a passive command and in learning the student will always defer to the verb in the lesson.
Telling a batter to WAIT means his first instinct is to do nothing.
I have no problems with a batter being selective at all. But I do have an issue where they don’t take advantage of situational hitting where the Pitcher is very likely to throw a good strike or that they are not teaching a batter that the best pitch to hit is a 2-0 3-0 count and thats the best free hack your ever going to get to hit.
Nope the WAIT continues because Walks are coveted and hits seem to be not for some dumb reason in the NEW SCHOOL and it just flys in the face of logic.
The focus for the organization should be much more about fighting with 2Ks on you not waiting for a pitch that may never come.
If you learn how to protect the plate (which seems to be what your describing but not the others) then you will get MUCH more pitches in “YOUR ZONE” also work the pitcher much more than just 6 pitches (by fouling off) and do a lot more damage when you DO get your pitch because you will be swinging at strikes instead of just selecting between ones you like and ones you don’t.
If you teach them to protect the plate they will be able to foul off the strikes they don’t like in ANY count.
And that is the way you get the Pitcher t try some other strike location you might like better!
Everybody wanted Hojo out including me. But I wanted a new batting coach NOT an entire organizational philosophy for God’s sake – i just wanted a new batting coach. That was it!
And the Halladay example was just one pitcher i chose just to make a point. Pick any good pitcher with solid control you want then.
Imagine what woul happe if we did the same thing with our Pitching….
From now on all Pitchers must throw heat and and no PERSONAL instruction would apply?
Cause thats pretty much what an Organizational abatting approach does lobs every player as if they are the same player and GOOD players ill suited to that philosophy get turned to crap!
Imagine Dillion Gee if we had an organizational philosophy of pitchers onlt throwing Fastball Sliders….
Would it work for him?
Is there really a one size fits all philosophy?
Or is it just better to let the batters and pitchers do what got them there and just tweak each to improve on their own god given talents?
Metsie,
Great response! I can’t disagree with your entire premise. My question is, are we sure that the organizational philosphy is to just sit there and wait? Or, is that an assessment we’ve come up with because that’s what players like Duda are doing?
Bayonne,
As for your “Spoken like a true person that’s never had an AB in a competitive level in their entire life. Yeah I know…wait for your pitch….i know.”
You have no clue who I am or what I do or have done in my life. Please stop with your trying to pretend like you know me. Let me guess you once got the game winning hit during a little league game or you were hit by a pitch with the bases loaded during a High School JV game. Good for you! You’re such a hero! I bet all your DPW co-workers still brag about that with you at the corner bar over cans of Bud. What exactly makes you an “expert”? What round were you drafed in but unfortunately blew out your knee in your first season? Stop trying act like you know everything or everyone. I gave you my address, come visit me I will get you some Bud cans. Until then feel free to comment on anything I write just keep the personal crap out it.
I love how you always over simplify things to prove your wrong, inaccurate, and somewhat insane points. Amazing gift! I would love to know what player the Mets current philosophy of OBP and working counts has ruined? I would also love to know how (not really) how you felt about HoJo’s approach or lack of approach!
To your point about Halliday, there is only one Halliday so constantly changing you philosphy is pointless, and I doubt that Halliday just throws the ball right down the middle regardless of who he’s facing.
I also love how you manage to work in a personal insult for anyone who either questions you or may have a differing opinion! How open minded of you.
It matches the way the roster has been handled. Bleeding talent on the field and off.
Remember how mad you 3 were when the Mets allowed Eddy Toledo to leave to go to Tampa Bay or when Juan Mercado left to join the Cardinals?
Man you were FUMING when that happened? Remember that? Wow, those were the days…
Oh wait – that never happened. Weird.
Remember when you wrote that post the urinals at Citi? Remember ho mad you were there were no dividers? Wait, what? It really did happen? Wow, it did!
Yep. It was awesome and a lot of fun to write because it was meant to be light hearted
Seriously, explain to me why you care so much about Adam Wogan whom I am sure you probably didn’t even know existed – yet you didn’t care when Eddy Toledo or Mercado were allowed to leave in identical manners?
How come you didn’t care that the two people who were as well respected of IFA scouts in the sport left – but Adam Wogan, you need to make your point known?
PS Mercado and Toledo found Jose Reyes…. though I know you may like to give Minaya credit for it.
I’m just curious why it’s such a big deal today but wasn’t in 05 or 08?
I’m not making a big deal you are. I made a joke about it. Get off my knob already. And dont talk down to me or I’ll rip your head off.
Gotcha so I will just wait for you to write Alex and Bayonne and say “friends relax, this isn’t a big deal.”
You and Donal do a good enough job of being their butt wipes. You don’t need me.
It’s all a conspiracy. Those who do not embrace plate discipline will be whipped. Those who do not get OBP tattooed on their arms, showing allegiance to “sabermetrics,” will be whipped. Those who attempt to share an opinion will be mocked slightly, then whipped!
That’s gotta be it. Not like it’s an executive trying to get a house that was in shambles in order. No way. That’s would just be crazy talk. The other thing, the other thing is probably it.
It wasn’t in shambles to begin with,
Just a couple of big tix FA that didn’t pan out – which had nothing to do with the 2006 & the 2 collapses anyway and your God inherited a nice roster and a nice farm system. Personnel wise he inherited better rosters and farms systems than Minaya & Phillips did. Maybe if he’d try to compete, make some smarter trades like his comrades do, and maybe spend what little money he has better the Mets would be a better team by now.
But i understand, you just want to sit there, have no thoughts, and just let sandy do all the work and follow his lead.
“..your God…”, “…you just want to sit there, have no thoughts…”
My my, Mr. Guy On The Internet Who I’ve Never Met. You sure know a lot about me.
I don’t know why it surprises me why people make such declarative statements on the internet about things they know absolutely nothing about. Can’t take them seriously.
And yes, I would like the GM of my favorite team to take the lead on these things. I mean, I’m not getting paid to run a professional baseball team. You really have this stuff down, though. You’re the guy. You know what’s up. You know so much. You should give Sandy a call and see if Wogan’s spot is filled yet.
I can think of quite a few people on this site if given the opportunity would no doubt do a much better job than his snarky stiff in charge now. I have no doubt in my mind about that. There are a LOT of people here who are extremely knowledgeable about contracts and the farm system and not to mention would be more pro-active and more HUMAN in dealing with other executives when it comes to the meat and potatoes and that’s making trades, signing the ballplayers you feel have the best chance to help you WIN and MAKE MONEY with whatever resources you’re given. All they would need is a training period about the template of how to operate. But the knowledge itself? There are good BASEBALL people here who would do a much better job.
Relax Billy Heywood.
Maybe if you break your arm you can also be a closer for the Cubs like Henry Rowengartner
Bayonne, dont let this DB bait you. You know that’s his intent today.
What you forgot to mention is Alderson inherited a team that lost $75 million. Minaya+Phillips didn’t
Big deal. He had a better roster and better minor leagues and didnt’ need as much money to try and compete. He decided to go into the season with basically the exact roster he inherited. What happened to spend money to make money? He either didn’t even bother OR when it comes to team building he’s that much worse than his contemplates who are running circles around Alderson. And his spending has been horrific.
Reading about the money is easy. That’s easy for you. The actual job of the research and trying to compete? Too much for you to think about so it’s just easier for you to defend Alderson.
Hindsight being 20/20 ABSOLUTELY no doubt in my mind that if Omar Minaya was retained with a different manager this team would be in better shape than it is now. Alderson couldn’t shine Minaya’s shoes when it comes to scouting and trying to compete. I would have loved to see Omar work with a small budget.
Minaya had the luxury of two budding young, cheap superstars whom he could lock up for a long time. With Alderson, he had both of those players becoming more expensive (too expensive to retain both considering their huge financial losses) plus the terrible contracts with Castillo, Perez, Bay, Santana, K-Rod, etc…
I’m not trying to say Alderson shouldn’t have been more active. I think they should’ve considered (although we have no idea if they did or not) making some moves via trade. However, he’s not the worst GM in baseball history like you’re making him out to be.
Connor, by what you just said I take it you’re not a fan of Harvey, Ike and Niese and expect them to shine?
And BTW Minaya left Alderson those two superstars you mentioned, Sandy chose to ditch one and probably the other.
they were no longer super cheap.
Minaya already had two cheap superstars, so he had a foundation for a great team without spending much money at all. That gave him the freedom to go out and sign Beltran, Wagner, Matrinez, etc. I think Omar did a very good job until the last ~two years
UH no he inherited a team that lost 50 Million then turned it into a 75 Mil loss by bailing out on half a season of potential Ticket sales by trading Beltran and K-Rod!
You think they would’ve lost $25 MILLION LESS in ticket sales if they hadn’t traded Beltran and K-Rod? I find that very hard to believe.
Hi Connor,
As the Mets were playing great ball in 2011 many of us weren’t getting our hopes up too high not because we thought the team was playing over it’s head but because we felt the impending doom of losing our top hitter and closer and having the rug pulled out from under us. With those clear signals was it any wonder why more didn’t come to the ball park to cheer on the team. And isn’t it obvious those moves caused fans to then stay away in droves as we stripped our team of its best talent and it went into a complete tailspin?
How much more in revenue do you think the Mets would have received had the front office been wiser in it’s decision making? Even just 2,000 more fans per game – when taking into account the total ticket cost and concessions – a conservative guess is that would bring in an average $125 per person or a quarter of a million more in revenue per game. Limiting that guesstimate to even just 60 games, would result in a net gain of $15 million – and I suspect had there been no talk about dumping contracts and doing in the team and those players stayed on, there would have been a few more than just 2,000 extra fans in the stands – especially in August.
Nope probably just 5-10 Mil….
The rest he already lost when he sat on his hands for an entire offseason after taking over.
Hi Metsie,
Not so fast….., the stands might have been filled a bit more with the sabers and money ballers welcoming in their new hero, Sandy!
An amicable parting of ways it seems. Good luck in your future endeavors Mr. Wogan.
I guess the Mets fell off the Wogan again.
Interesting Mets side note….
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/21/would-be-mets-dodgers-or-padres-owner-steven-cohen-implicated-in-insider-trading-scheme/
Am tempted to pounce on Sandy once more but see this as nothing more than the new broom sweeping the house clean. The man in charge wants his own people and has also saved money consolidating executive positions.
But a nice Thanksgiving present, nevertheless.
This isn’t a big deal at all