In an exclusive interview, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred spoke with Daily News columnist John Harper, and also spoke candidly about the Mets GM.
Asked whether he thought New York has become a Mets town as opposed to a Yankees one, Manfred offered some high praise for the Mets and Sandy Alderson in particular.
“I think the Mets have made amazing strides in the past few years,” Manfred said. “I’m a Sandy Alderson fan. I really enjoyed working with him when we were here together and I think he’s done a phenomenal job putting together a great young nucleus for the Mets.”
“The ideal situation from our perspective is we have two really strong New York franchises,” Manfred continued. “It makes for a lot excitement in this town.”
Manfred also weighed in on a variety of MLB issues including automated technology to call balls and strikes, voting PED users into the Hall of Fame, limiting September rosters, change of pace options and defensive shifts, about which he says:
“Shifts are just off the charts in terms of the numbers being used. I do think it promotes the all-or-nothing mentality (on offense), and I do think it has a particularly adverse impact on certain types of players.”
“Let me say this: we have delayed action on this in order to find out whether hitters will adjust. We’ve clearly talked about shifts. You can’t go from 1,000 to 14,000 shifts, which is I think roughly what the numbers are, and not notice. Yeah, we noticed, but we’re waiting to see whether the game self-corrects.”
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Alderson has dramatically changed the trajectory of this franchise during his tenure with the Mets. He inherited an organization that was in disarray, a farm system that was wiped out in the higher levels, and a last place roster filled with bloated unproductive contracts and some high-priced veterans, a couple of which he was able to move for Noah Syndergaard, now the team’s ace, Travis d’Arnaud, the team’s starting catcher, and Zack Wheeler, who figures to play a key role in 2017.
At the amatuer level, the Mets have seen their stock soar. Amed Rosario, now the organization’s top prospect, was signed out of the Dominican Republic and could break into the majors this fall. First rounder Michael Conforto is expected to be the team’s regular right fielder, and another first rounder Michael Fulmer, was flipped for the team’s MVP Yoenis Cespedes. Dominic Smith could become the team’s first baseman in 2018, and there’s lots of excitement surrounding this year’s and last year’s draft class.
The team has also seen their image go from #LOLMets to now one of the most respected organizations in the league. Entering the 2017 season, the Mets have an excellent chance of going to the postseason for their third consecutive time, a first in franchise history.
Sandy Alderson heads into the final year of his contract in 2017. There has been no buzz regarding extension talks and it is not known whether Alderson has any desire to continue in his current role or is looking for something more significant like president of baseball operations. He remains a valuable asset and I’m certain he continues on with the New York Mets in whatever capacity he desires.
