Kuzul

Amidst the pursuit for the next New York Mets manager, several on the field questions still plague the Mets in the coming months. Besides the evident issues facing the bullpen, the most pressing matter I see facing Alderson’s Mets is who will be manning the second base position next year.

I’ve gone through some possible options out there for the Mets next year, some internal and external, but none named Luis Castillo.

I got to tell you though; many of them are looking pretty promising. Let’s just hope these options look as good on the field as they do on paper.

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This past weekend, New York Mets All-Star third baseman David Wright was at the Chelsea Piers holding a baseball clinic for the youth of New York. While there, he answered some intriguing questions that have come up in past offseasons, most notably the issue of whether to adjust the dimensions of the outfield walls at Citi Field.

Each year I’m a supporter of this proposal, and each year it’s been vetoed by ownership. Maybe this year, or a year in the near future, it could be different.

With Sandy Alderson now running the Mets front office, he has already been fixing the image of the Mets by hiring new businessmen with experience and firing those who could portray a negative image of the organization. One aspect the team could change to bolster their image is adjusting the vast dimensions of Citi Field.

David Wright, now taking a more outspoken leadership role, touches upon the effects of playing in such an expanse playing field during his interview with Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com:

“I don’t think there’s any question that it affects your thought process and your swing…”

This is exactly what we don’t need our “power source” in the lineup to be worried about before he steps to the plate. We need David to be doing what he does best and lead this team to victory, but instead he’s got to speak about issues like this.

“I’ve kind of learned firsthand that you’re just not going to hit very many opposite-field home runs at Citi…I’d be lying if I said that I wish [the wall wasn’t shorter in right-center] because I think one of my strengths is going the other way, and going the other way with power. Instead of home runs they turn into doubles, triples, whatever.”

He seems OK with the situation, but I don’t think he would be speaking in such detail if he was just OK with it.

Currently the field is 364 feet in left, 408 feet in center and a staggering 415 feet in deep right field.

Like Wright said, my big issue comes from the “Mo Zone” in deep right field and that giant wall eating up any potential home run balls coming its way. Its 415 feet out there and it could definitely be moved in with little opposition from anyone, but great praise from many players and fans.

The height of both right and left field should be reevaluated and shortened to a height that will bring back the probability of the exciting home run rob a la Endy Chavez. Nothing is more exciting in sports than robbing what everyone thinks is a sure thing. With the height of the walls the way it is now, the chance of making a highlight reel play is extremely little to none at all.

The Mets did improve their home run totals in Citi Field from 2009 to 2010 hitting 14 more than they did a year ago. But if we want to see a healthy 2011 Mets led by David Wright, Jason Bay and Carlos Beltran reach their home run potential, then management should seriously begin to discuss reassessing the park where they play over half their season.

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In case you’ve missed this week in the world of the New York Mets, just know, “In Sandy we trust.”

We trust he’s bringing the right people in (DePodesta, Ricciardi, etc.), we trust he’s kicking the right people out (Charlie Samuels) and we trust he’s making considerable progress with the team on the field, beginning with the next New York Mets manager.

Alderson has been adamant when he states he wants a field manager with Major League experience, and someone who can lead this group out flux and back to the glory the Mets franchise needs to be restored to. 

With this said, Alderson has interviewed many, but now, as it seems, with second interviews looming in the near future, Terry Collins, Bob Melvin and Clint Hurdle look to be the front-runners coming out of the pack.

It is still uncertain if Wally Backman will be receiving a second interview with this group, but if he does, he could very well be the dark horse of the group to land the job.

Out of this bunch, it looks like the Mets will have what they need in terms of a manager with experience and understanding of the game, and where the front office wants to take this team, regardless of who gets the job.

If I had to bet, I’d say that the next Mets manager will be Terry Collins. As I’ve stated in a previous article, Collins has the backing of many in the Mets front office, and it’s feeling more and more like it’s his job to lose.

Collins believes in the philosophy Alderson is trying to impress on this team, and with more than adequate professional experience, he looks to take the mold of what Alderson is looking for in his manager.

If it were the case that Collins did not get the job, I’d have to say the next in line would be Clint Hurdle. Hurdle is currently the hitting coach of the AL champs Texas Rangers, and if we all watched this past postseason, we saw that whatever he was doing was working.

He’s got the experience as a manager, going 534-625 all with Colorado, the postseason experience, taking the Rockies to the World Series in 2007, and also from people close to him, they say he is loud, outgoing, smart and doesn’t let his bad day effect him in between the line. All the makings for a great manager during a rebuilding phase of this organization.

As the weeks continue, we get more and more information leaked, regarding who and how Alderson is doing in the search for the next New York Mets manager. As the weeks continue to churn, the more faith I put in this organization, which is a feeling I never really remember feeling before.

Check back soon for more updates on the search for the next New York Mets manager. 

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When Sandy Alderson commented at his press conference that he was looking for a “fiery manager,” it seemed that Wally Backman was most likely to be his man.

Now weeks removed from Alderson’s introductory press conference, it seems the tide has turned. As the new New York Mets GM makes his way back from California, the new front-runner for the managerial job doesn’t seem to be Backman, but rather former Houston Astros and Anaheim Angels manager Terry Collins.

Alderson traveled to California to complete his sports marketing lecture at UC Berkeley, but he was also out there to interview Wally Backman, Chip Hale and Terry Collins for the vacant manager job.

People close to Alderson and Mets officials believe that regardless of the attention given to the rest of the candidates, Terry Collins is “a strong candidate [or] the front-runner. I think it is possible that all the interviews are just covering bases and they already like Collins the best.” (Courtesy of Joel Sherman, NYPost.com)

The 61-year-old Collins, who owns a career 444-434 record, has strong endorsements behind him, including Fred Wilpon and Paul DePodesta, who view Collins as the experienced leader that the organization needs right now.

Alderson seems to prefer candidates with Major League experience, and that’s why names such as Bob Melvin, Don Wakamatsu and Collins have remained high on his list.

Regardless of likability, Collins does hold a winning record as a manager, but has failed to reach the playoffs with any team under his helm. He left the Astros in 1993, and the next three years they made the playoffs under former Mets manager Art Howe.

I don’t know how this would or could factor in the decision-making for the next Mets manager, but as of right now, it looks like Collins heads Alderson’s list of likely candidates.

I didn’t know much about Collins until now, but Alderson speaks very highly of him, and being the intelligent man that Alderson is, I will have to trust his judgment.

It’s the streaky record and no postseason experience that resonates in my mind as the only negatives for Collins. But as new opportunity comes for this man, so does a new chance to show us what he’s got.

As for Backman, we hear the interview went very well, and he still holds the attention of Alderson to an extent.

He is a type of manager similar to Bobby Valentine, who could light a fire under the butts of the players and get them to play inspired baseball.

But even if he does change the culture and chemistry of this ballclub, if they don’t start to win from the get-go, players and fans could become skeptical of Backman’s coaching philosophy much like the players and fans turned on Jerry Manuel.

Backman seems like a thin line to walk for the Mets if they do indeed choose him as the next manager. He could either be incredibly helpful to this club or he could add to all the controversy that has already clouded the team.

That’s why I leave the big decisions to those who are getting paid to make them. I can only give my two cents.

This coming week, the search continues and Alderson is said to be interviewing internal candidates Tim Teufel and Ken Oberkfell, along with two external candidates, Don Wakamatsu and Clint Hurdle.

Check back later in the week to read full analysis and opinions of the ongoing search for the next New York Mets manager.

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The New York Mets have reportedly passed on re-acquiring the services of Hisanori Takahashi.

Early today the Mets asked for waivers for Takahashi’s with the intention of giving him his release after the lefty and management could not come to terms on a new deal.

Takahashi is looking for a 3-4 year deal between $4-5 million per year while the Mets were only willing to give him a one-year deal with an option for another year at best.

Entering his sophomore season, the Japanese south paw will now be able to sign with any team that shows interest and the Mets will not be able to resume talks with him until May 15, presuming he is still on the market by then.

Regarding Takahashi, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said:

“Hisanori wanted to test the free agent market…We thank Hisanori for his contributions to the Mets in 2010 and wish him good luck in his future major league career.”

Even though Takahashi’s asking price seems a little too high for the talent he showed in just one year in the league, the Mets will surely miss him and now it looks like there is an even greater need to re-sign Pedro Feliciano to keep a lefty specialist in the pen.

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The Mets released this press today from GM Sandy Alderson:

“We had productive meetings today with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss as we begin the interview process for our Manager position.

We”ve scheduled interviews with Wally Backman, Terry Collins and Chip Hale this weekend in California.”

As round one of the managerial search completed today in New York, we can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel signifying the end of a search for a manager and the beginning of the search for players on the field.

The two interviewed today, Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss, is an indication of what we can see for the next week or so: an internal search for a manager.

That’s not to say that the Mets will not be looking elsewhere to fill their managerial void, but to begin the search off, Alderson is content with interview those who have spent time within the organization.

Bob Melvin was brought to the Mets this past season as a scout monitoring the AL East and West. Previously, he managed the Seattle Mariners in 2003 and 2004 and then the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2005 to 2009.

He sports a career 493-508 record as a manager, highlighted by the prestigious NL Manager of the Year for 2007.

His nickname, “The Mad Scientist,” was derived from his ability to switch things up in he clubhouse and in the lineup, which resulted in a certain amount of success.

Melvin could bring a lot to this Mets team as they go through a stage of transition in management. His experience and knowledge of the game, and also the fact that he fits Alderson’s outline for a manager, is something that the Mets need in a leadership role.

If Melvin did get hired, there could be no objection solely based on Melvin’s track records of boosting mediocre teams back to relevancy, which is something we hope the Mets are aiming for.

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Dave Jauss on the other hand is someone who I had previous thought was out the door after Alderson took control of the Mets.

With previous ties to ex-manager Jerry Manuel from the 1980s Montreal Expos, Jauss looked like a goner as soon as ownership dismissed his friend Manuel.

This was not the case and he was interviewed today with Melvin, further representing Alderson’s desire to hire from within.

Jauss served as the Mets bench coach this past season under Manuel and word on him is he is a very baseball-smart, very hands-on type of coach. He would be a decent option to serve as a bridge from this past year’s team to where the Mets vision themselves in the future.

Alderson seems to have a clear-cut description for how he views the next New York Mets manager, and the fact that Jauss is a candidate certainly makes me think that he has got a legitimate chance at landing the job. Either way, the search continues.

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Up next for Alderson, he travels to California on Monday to complete a sports-marketing lecture at Cal Berkley, and while there, as he is quoted, he will be interviewing Wally Backman, Terry Collins and Chip Hale.

As interviews continue to take place, I will be here to break down those candidates who are in the running for managing the Mets with continual posts and breakdowns.

Check back later to read my analysis.

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Some more good news for Mets fans everywhere.

In what will be the first of many moves that flexes Sandy Alderson’s authoritative muscles, Alderson hired J.P. Ricciardi as his assistant GM to the team.

This is an enormous addition for the Mets and the front office with the amount of knowledge and experience Ricciardi brings with him to New York. He worked for Alderson for more than a decade in Oakland, and the 51-year-old Ricciardi says of Alderson, “I couldn’t be more excited about being reunited with Sandy.

“We enjoyed tremendous success together in Oakland and it’s my goal to help duplicate that here with the Mets.  As a former Met farm hand, it’s a double a homecoming for me.”

This is a great addition for the Mets, and to be honest when I first read the report, I was more than overjoyed. The fact that the former GM of the Blue Jays wanted to join the Mets after he had a standing offer from the Red Sox for the exact same position, says something about where the organization could be in the near future and what outside sources see in the potential of this club.

Ricciardi will work with Alderson in all facets of the baseball realm and just knowing that the team is in both Alderson and Ricciardi hands from here on out, helps me breath easy for the coming seasons.

Of course, we wont see an immediate impact of the moves Alderson will make in the coming days, but implementing an all new philosophy in the clubhouse, starting with the GM and manager, Mets fans certainly do have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.

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An offer has been made to re-acquire the services of Hisanori Takahashi, but unless the Mets significantly up the offer, he is almost certain to walk.

Earlier today it was reported by Dave Waldstein of the New York Post that the Mets have offered Takahashi an incentive-leaden one-year proposal. Takahashi is reported as seeking a deal between two to three years and if the Mets don’t significantly up the offer, he will more than likely walk to any of the other 29 remaining teams.

This deal, however, was made up before Sandy Alderson took office for the Mets and as he said Friday, “We’re going to look at it hard.”

The fact that the deadline to sign Takahashi was extended is a mere sign that a deal could be in place before the new Nov. 5th time limit. Since Takahashi changed agencies, and the flux in ownership after succeeding in finding a new GM, the deadline was pushed back to make up lost time in the course of chaos the past couple days.

If a deal does not get done by the time Nov. 5th passes, Takahashi will be able and willing to sign with any other team and he would not be able to re-open talks with the Mets until May 15th, all but assuring that he will most likely sign somewhere else.

The Mets can’t really afford to lose Takahashi either, especially with Pedro Feliciano also looking at free agency this offseason. Takahashi was an integral part of last year’s squad, and the Mets need to up the ante or risk losing his left-handed presence in the bullpen.  

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With Sandy Alderson set to take over as the new General Manager of the New York Mets, its time to get business rolling. Next on the list is to find an appropriate manager to handle the on-field business and after that its time to figure out how the roster will fill out. 

With some money to work with, Alderson has the experience and expertise to know how and where to spend it. Obviously he will never see this article, but here are some suggestions on realistic options the Mets have this off season in regards to free agency. 

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As everyone witnessed this past ALCS and NLCS, postseason games come down to the final pitch. Some ball players are propelled toward excellency in this one moment, and some are forever distastefully remembered for it, but its the rare feat of striking out looking that really pushes the buttons of baseball fans everywhere, and the mere fact that a backwards K can end a teams season as quickly as it began is something no fan looks forward to. 

The dismal feat of striking out looking has only happened 10 times in all the years Major League Baseball has been in existence, and this is the first year that a backwards K has ended both League Championship Series, but from the looks of history, it sure won’t be the last time we see a player end their season watching strike three fly by. 

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