Not a lot of player news happening right now in the midst of the playoffs, but there's plenty of speculation going on about the guys who call the shots. We already heard about Ron Gardenhire's inevitable extension today, but let's take a look at some more links from the baseball universe:
- In these two tweets, Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman makes his picks for some open managerial positions: Eric Wedge in Pittsburgh, Bob Melvin in Milwaukee, Bobby Valentine in Seattle, Mike Quade in Chicago, and Fredi Gonzalez in Atlanta.
- We heard earlier this year that Jim Riggleman will manage the Nationals again next season. MLB.com's Bill Ladson tells us that the Nats' entire coaching staff will be returning for the 2011 season as well. The Nationals recorded 10 more wins in 2010 than in 2009 under the current regime.
- Adam Rubin from ESPN New York gives us some insight into the Mets' managerial situation; potential general manager Sandy Alderson has believed it's misusing your resources to hire an expensive manager, while Mets owner Fred Wilpon would prefer a manager with previous ties to the Mets.
Seriously, if Alderson does get this job, Wilpon needs to give him his space to do the work that needs to be done to fix this organization. The worst thing that could happen is Wilpon hounding Alderson causing Alderson to get clustered and not perform the job as good as he can. Just let Alderson hire who he thinks is best not a former Mets employee who Wilpon liked that didnt help the team. Personally, I like Wally Backman as a possibility to manage the Mets, and he is “tied to the organization”, but I trust Alderson to hire whoever he thinks is best.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Alderson but I agree, he could do good work in NY if Jeff Wilpon gets out of the way. Tough to see him interfering too much with a guy like Alderson, I’d think that would be clearly spelled out in his contract, but I’m guessing he’ll still find a way to foul things up. They’re a mess for a reason. Still, hiring someone with Alderson’s experience would go a long way toward returning them to respectability.
LOL….A Cubs fan calling the Mets a mess. That’s rich.
Heyman seems to believe that experience trumps everything else here. While Quade doesn’t have much ML experience, he had managed in the minors for quite a while (and coached in the majors for a while) before managing this year. I personally don’t know how the Cubs couldn’t go with Sandberg. He’s paid his dues and is well respected around baseball. Quade has just had a good stretch.
If I were Sandberg, and I don’t get hired by the Cubs, I would start looking elsewhere (like Toronto, who reportedly wants him). He deserves to manage next year.
I’m really surprised that Alderson would take the Mets job.After hearing and seeing Jeff Wilpon make the rounds for two days on various media outlets, trying to spin the Mets situation, it’s strange. Wilpon has let it be known that he would give the new GM freedom to do what was necessary, but would still want input, as is an owner’s right. The fact that the Wally Backman option is on the table, says that he’s interested in more style than substance. More flash to placate fans over looking for the best manager possible.That sounds as if nothing has really changed as far as the running of the team goes. I would think that Alderson would want something better than that before he agrees to take the job. Possibly he’d like the challange or needs the money, but the Mets look more like a sit-com than a big time baseball organization, and I can’t believe Alderson would care to be a part of that.
Alderson is respected in the business. He’ll be able to do what he wants because of what he’s accomplished. He probably wants the challenge. New York is a tough place but nothing beats winning there.
Besides, you ever seen six zeroes on your paycheck?
yeah, when I lost my job there were nothing but zero’s.
Everyone wants to win in New York. Don’t kid yourself, the Mets are still very attractive to many potential GMs. And it’s not like they’re bereft of talent.
Last offseason Bobby Valentine was the most talked about managerial option on the table and the guy landed nowhere. With all the openings out there, Bobby V should land somewhere-Heyman says Seattle, but is Valentine the right guy to manage up there? He was known for not being too sympathetic to his players in NY (remember the Pete Harnisch ordeal?) but he has Japanese experience and could relate with Ichiro. Also, how about we start talking of Randy Ready and Jamie Quirk as managerial options. Those dudes have put in their coaching time and seem to be good managerial prospects. John Gibbons should be given another trial–although, like Bobby V, he’s know for not pampering players. I’d love to see Phil Garner back in a dugout–he could be what the Pirates need, but Pittsburgh could also use a touch from Midas too in order to get things going.