ORLANDO, Fla. — It was Jose Oquendo last night and then perhaps a trip around the block by Mets general manager Sandy Alderson to interview Goofy, Dumbo and Pluto for the team’s managerial opening.
As Alderson prepared yesterday to meet with Oquendo — the 10th candidate he’s interviewed for manager — he left open the possibility of adding other names to the first-round list. The GM’s goal ultimately is to reduce that list to three or four names for callback interviews that could begin before he departs these general manager’s meetings later in the week.
An emotional Alderson, mourning the death of his 87-year-old father John, who was hit by an automobile on Saturday in St. Petersburg, indicated the hiring process wouldn’t be slowed because of his personal situation.
“If I can focus on the game, I’m fine,” he said, before coughing. “It’s tough, but I’m here.”
Alderson said he will commute back and forth to St. Petersburg this week, splitting his time between family and the GM’s meetings. He will spend about half of each day at the meetings. Alderson will send his chief lieutenants, John Ricco, Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi, to attend meetings in his absence.
Terry Collins and Bob Melvin are considered slam dunks to receive callback interviews, but Alderson could still add Chip Hale and Wally Backman to that list.
“We have said managerial experience is important,” Alderson said, “but it’s not going to eliminate anybody. There are other criteria that have more or less significance than others, so we just toe it up and it’s mano a mano.
“Leadership is the crux of the entire process, but there are different approaches to that. There are some that say lighting a fire under these players [is important]. . . . Those are characteristics we’re going to take into account, but we’re not looking for somebody that just pushes buttons.”
mpuma@nypost.com