Can you please tell me why there is always some debate on your site about Bill Rigney and his connection to Sandy Alderson? I don’t understand why this is always such a hot debate on Metsmerized and was wondering if you could educate me a little on this.

Joe D. says…

Dan, I’m the wrong guy to answer this but will do the best that I could. The only two people on MMO who seem to write the most about the guy both have opposing versions of his role so asking either of them would only make the matter more cloudy rather than adding clarity. Mind you, over the past two years yours is the fifth or sixth such question to me regarding their connection, so maybe it’s time to seek out an answer.

I decided to do some simple research via Google and came across this quote by Sandy Alderson in an article featured on SFGate.com. I included the context as well as the quote to eliminate any gray areas:

After the A’s won an American League pennant in 1988, then-A’s executive Sandy Alderson said, “When you talk about people who have contributed to our success, you have to single out Bill Rigney. His contributions have been enormous.”

“He has been involved in every one of our player acquisitions since I came here in 1982. I’ve watched 600 or 700 games with Bill, and it’s been an education.”

Alderson recalled nights at the Pink Pony Steakhouse in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“Rig would know everybody in the place, and have a story about them,” he said. “And he had the great ability to draw people in. He had great knowledge but he never talked down to people.” Alderson recalls watching games with Rigney and the late club owner Walter Haas from the club box at the Coliseum. “It was like having our own personal color man,” Alderson said. “And we would have some wonderful conversations, not just about baseball.”

Even though he had several decades in the game and had played against some of the greatest names of all time, few players regularly sought him out to talk baseball.

“They don’t want to know,” he said. “They really don’t want to know. All they say is, ‘Hey, man, that was 40 years ago. Things are different now.’ Oh, really? How different? Do they run to third base instead of first? Come on.”

I think the best qualified people who can tell you about the connection between Bill Rigney and Sandy Alderson, are Rigney and Alderson themselves. Unfortunately, Rigney has passed away, but that was what Alderson had to say on the matter.

Other than that, you can read more about Bill Rigney on his wiki page where it says he was a a 26-season major league veteran who played for the New York Giants from 1946 – 1953, and served as the Giants manager from 1956 – 1960, leading the club in its first season after moving from New York to San Francisco in 1958.

After an 18-season managerial career, Rigney served as a front-office consultant and a radio and TV broadcaster for the Oakland Athletics in the 1980s.

He died on February 20, 2001 in Walnut Creek, California, at the age of 83.

Wild Card winner getting first two games at home in Divison Series

When the Marlins won the World Series in 1997 they had the same first two games at home, which gave them an added advantage. Going up against the San Francisco Giants in the Divison Series, they won the first two games at home, and then the first game back in San Fran to complete the sweep. They later went on to win the World Series. If that series started in San Fran, who knows how it would have turned out. Expect similar upsets this year.

Not having Mariano Rivera will hurt the Yankees chances

This is a given. Mariano is the greatest closer in the history of the game, and post-season play. Aside from a hiccup in the 2001 World Series, Rivera has been flawless. When the Yankees made it to the 8^th inning with a lead in previous years, it was a lock they would walk away with a win. Don’t expect similar results this year.

The Rangers will go as far as Josh Hamilton takes them

If Josh Hamilton catches fire, the Rangers will be playing in the World Series. If he continues to slump, the Rangers will make an early playoff exit. During a contract year, if Hamilton wants to really cash in, now is the time to really step up. I think he will.

Oakland’s weaknesses will be exposed

Like Billy Beane’s great moneyball teams of the early 2000s, the Athletics will ultimately be exposed in the playoffs against the Tigers, and eliminated in the ALDS. Maybe if they continue to shock everyone, and go on to win the World Series, Brad Pitt will play Beane in the Moneyball sequel. In other news, the comedic spoof of Moneyball, The Moneyball Mets, is slated for release in 2013.

Bryce Harper

Rookie Mike Trout has been all the talk of 2012, but Harper has been lurking in the shadows waiting to get his chance to steal back the rookie spotlight. This is his opportunity to show the world that he is still the best young talent in the game. Bryce Harper doesn’t sink back into the crowd, and is going to lift his play to another level with all the national attention. He will prove why Sports Illustrated dubbed him as “the chosen one.” I wonder if he will give us a few more memorable quotes along the way – That’s a clown question ‘bro.

These were just a few things that will make for a very interesting playoff season. There are a slew of other story lines that will impact this year’s playoff picture, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all unfold.

Everyone has a clean slate starting today. Team records are reset to 0-0. Everything that happened over the course of the season is in the past. Everything is on the line, and the glory is there for the taking. Who wants it more? God I love this game…