The Mets conducted a strong hunt for their next general manager.
I have a quibble with allowing assistant GM John Ricco to have such an important role in picking his boss. Nevertheless, the Mets succeeded on the big-picture issues.
They brought in strong candidates. They saw the desperate need to go outside the organization for a fresh perspective. People briefed on the interviews say that important notes were struck. For example, Jeff Wilpon acknowledged what is — at minimum — his reputation as a meddler and micromanager. He did not harp on it and, instead, tried to explain in detail to the candidates what he believes are his daily responsibilities.
Ownership conceded the organization is dealing with a credibility deficit, too many bad contracts and a wobbly infrastructure. Thus the owners told the candidates the Mets are not looking for a quick fix, but rather a long-term strategy that a new general manager can implement, articulate to the public and stay discipline with in order to deliver a consistent winner, which would restore credibility.
And credibility won the day as the Mets yesterday told Sandy Alderson he is going to be the next general manager. The Mets were impressed by the other finalist, Josh Byrnes. But Alderson was the front-runner and unless an underdog such as Byrnes could state an overwhelming reason for his hire then the organization was going to favor the elder statesman, whose gravitas provides the Mets an instant jolt of that credibility they desired.
No one in baseball is going to believe Wilpon is going to push around Alderson, an ex-Marine with a reputation for integrity and a steel spine. I championed Alderson’s candidacy in a Sept. 19 column because I felt the Mets needed his principles, stature and unflinching character to reverse their reputation as an undisciplined, uncreative front office. So, obviously, I think the Mets did a good job here.
But because Byrnes is an extremely bright, moral, well-connected executive, the Mets were in a win-win position in replacing Omar Minaya.
Actually, they are in a win-win-win situation, the final victory unfolding during the interview process. Because Alderson should feel encouragement about how the NLCS played out as he tries to reconstruct the Mets from disappointment to sturdy contender.
First, the NL champion ended up being the Giants, a team — like the Mets — who play in a huge home stadium. San Francisco should reinforce to the Mets the need to fixate on pitching, pitching and more pitching. The Giants have a crazy-quilt lineup. But they have five high-end, home-grown entities in Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner and closer Brian Wilson. The starters are so good San Francisco could actually keep its highest-paid player ever, Barry Zito, off the NLCS roster.
More pertinent to the Mets, though, was the NLCS displayed cracks in the Phillies. Now Philadelphia remains the NL East class with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamel returning. Alderson must look toward 2012 to make the big moves, because the Mets have so many ugly, onerous contracts expiring after next season.
By then you wonder what the Phillies lineup might look like. Jimmy Rollins is now Philadelphia’s Derek Jeter, a vital cog losing his daily importance. Chase Utley, like Alex Rodriguez, does not appear fully back from hip surgery. Ryan Howard had as much difficulty dealing with Javier Lopez this year as he did Damaso Marte last year, emphasizing that an NL East team that can find a strong situational lefty can stymie Howard from the sixth inning on. And the left-leaning Phillies are about to lose their best righty power source, Jayson Werth.
The Phillies have exhibited a go-for-it DNA, so they clearly will look to recalibrate. But the everyday core does not look as impressive as it did even a year ago, and so you wonder what it might be in 2012.
Also, the Giants with Zito and Aaron Rowand and the Phillies with Joe Blanton and Raul Ibanez should hearten Alderson that it is possible to find a way around bad contracts (think Carlos Beltran and Oliver Perez) and still reach the top of the NL.