ORLANDO, Fla. — Sandy Alderson hired Paul DePodesta and J.P. Ricciardi to be his main lieutenants because the new Mets GM believes they are strong executives. But you cannot ignore that Alderson worked with both before and has a great comfort level with the duo.
This is how the world spins. You want it all to be a meritocracy, but who you know always matters. Friends tend to hire friends to create the most congenial and seamless workplace possible.
And this is why Terry Collins has such an edge as the second round of interviews begins in the search for the next Mets’ manager: As one NL executive said, “He has a champion in the room.”
That would be DePodesta, who wanted to hire Collins as Dodgers manager after the 2005 season before DePodesta was fired as GM. His admiration for Collins is well-known in the game.
“Collins has such a huge advantage,” the NL executive said. “Think about it, everyone else is going into a room on somewhat equal footing and one guy is going in with an influential decision maker on his side. If it is even close, think how valuable it is going to be to Collins to have someone championing him for the position.”
How much Alderson will lean on DePodesta and Ricciardi is emphasized by the fact Wally Backman and Chip Hale are part of the second round of interviews. Neither DePodesta nor Ricciardi was in position to be part of the first interviews. Alderson was impressed enough by Backman and Hale that he wanted his key aids to get a feel for them, as well.
However, that could be as much because Hale and Backman are expected to continue working in the organization; Hale on the major league coaching staff and Backman as a minor league manager.
The frontrunners are Collins followed by Bob Melvin, especially since confidants of Ricciardi say he believes previous major league managing experience is a huge asset when it comes to taking a job in New York. Backman and Hale have no major league managing experience, Collins and Melvin do.
Melvin would be my choice. But, I have to admit, this is as much a choice of eliminating others as feeling great about endorsing Melvin.
Melvin is not dynamic, not the kind of person who generates substantial enthusiasm for a candidacy. If you like him, you like him in the kind of way you liked Trent Dilfer quarterbacking the Ravens or Brad Johnson the Buccaneers; as a steady caretaker who will not mess up a good thing.
I know the Mets are not a good thing. But Alderson is in a 12-to-24-month process of fumigating the clubhouse, and while he does that there is value in a Torre-esque calm and steadiness. And Melvin scores high from previous stops in Seattle and Arizona for integrity and fairness.
Remember as this decision is made that the Mets have not only been an embarrassment on the field. That is why — regardless of the fans’ affection — this is not the right time to risk Backman and his baggage. And I wonder also about the combustible Collins, who faced a player revolt in his last job with the Angels. Collins scores high with anybody who knows him when it comes to baseball knowledge and passion, but you find a lot of worry about him handling both the clubhouse and New York.
Hale really impressed Alderson in the first interview, and might be the best stock to buy now to grow to something bigger and better down the line. But this does not feel like the time for guesswork with the Mets.
Melvin is familiar with the system up and down from working in an advisory role with the Mets last year, and his interview shined in his knowledge of what the Mets need to do in the immediate future. He likes New York, putting down some roots here as his daughter studies to be an actress. He is smart and seems fully comfortable with the idea of a big media group covering the team.
He was first in line yesterday for the second interview followed by Hale, with Collins and Backman due today.
The Mets started late in this process because Alderson needed to be hired first, and they did not have an All-Star cast from which to pick. But they have reached this final four and have to select someone. It is not compelling to champion vanilla. But sometimes vanilla is the best flavor.
joel.sherman@nypost.com