The Day After Applesauce - Takahashi deadline extended, Backman interview scheduled, DePodesta a sure thing?

by Eric Simon on Oct 30, 2010 10:51 AM EDT

Some Saturday morning Mets 'sauciness, plus a suggestion. I know the offseason is now in (mostly) full swing and everyone is kicking around trade proposals in their heads (and in the FanPosts), but I'd urge you all not to give away your milk for free because we'll be running another Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan Contest this year so if you use up all of your good ideas now then you'll have nothing left with which to buttress your overall winter blueprint.

Now the links.

The Mets deadline to negotiate with Hisanori Takahashi has been extended to Friday, November 5, giving them a bit more time to work out a deal to bring back their most versatile pitcher from 2010.
Anthony DiComo, Mets beat writer for MLB.com, is reporting that Wally Backman is already on the list of candidates the Mets are considering for their managerial vacancy.
Bob Klapisch goes one step further by saying Backman will be in for an interview next week and that Backman was actually on the list of potential candidates Alderson provided to ownership during the interview process.
Also in that last article, Klapisch says assertively that, "Alderson will start by hiring Paul DePodesta". It's not clear if Klapisch has inside information or if he's just echoing what we've all heard, which is that Alderson is interested in bringing DePodesta to the Mets.
In national news, Joe Morgan and Jon Miller might not be back on ESPN next year. Their respective deals expire after the World Series so there's a chance their reign of error may be coming to an end.
At Lookout Landing, Jeff Sullivan compares this offseason's pitching and hitting of players with and without any previous playoff experience to help dispel the myth that "playoff experience" is a prerequisite for playoff success.
At Beyond The Boxscore, Justin Bopp uses some sweet graphical wizardry to show the inning-by-inning game scores for the World Series Game 2 matchup between Matt Cain and C.J. Wilson.
Ever wanted to build your own Retrosheet database to play with? This tutorial will get you starter.

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Comments

I always thought

the experience argument regarding WS success was just stupid. It’s the same game they play in the regular season. It’s the product of lazy analysis more than anything else.

by lstorie1971 on Oct 30, 2010 11:19 AM EDT reply actions

Certainly seems like Backman is at the top of the list

Judging by Alderson’s comments yesterday about preferring a fiery manager, and wanting to look at internal candidates before external ones, I think as long as he doesn’t make an ass of himself, he has the job.

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on Oct 30, 2010 11:21 AM EDT reply actions

Could be

but then again it’s the obvious thing to give Wally a look — he deserves the courtesy. It seems just as likely that Alderson considers it an open field and will hire someone else who impresses him more, leaving Wally right where the Cubs left Ryno.

by Pack Bringley on Oct 30, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

speaking of Ryno

I read the most awful article on espn about a week about about how the cubs were doomed for choosing someone over him. I meant to post it here for the lulz but I think I got distracted.

mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon (and Billy King-Paul G B)

by Gina on Oct 30, 2010 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I just wish that writers would read what they write

Nothing against Sandberg, but the arguments for him are more applicable to Quade. In particular the minor league managerial experience. It would have been more intellectually honest just to say that Ryne deserves the job because he was a superstar Cub, because that’s what it boils down to. Just say it Gene – don’t try to gussy it up.

by lstorie1971 on Oct 30, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

lol the minor league experience part

me made laugh at loud. He describes 4 years in the minors for Sandberg as “grinding it out and paying his dues” but only mentions Quade’s 17 years in passing.

mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon (and Billy King-Paul G B)

by Gina on Oct 30, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

hahaha wow...these "journalists" are really something.

I hate stupid people.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 30, 2010 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Reading the SBN blogs has given me a severe distaste for a lot of mainstream writers. If you can’t keep the facts in front of you, you don’t deserve your job.

by pkyankeefan on Oct 30, 2010 6:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

yep SBN blogs destroy the mainstream reporters & writers.

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Oct 31, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm also curious how Ryne Sandberg could win a world series before the 2010 NFL coach of the year votes are in.

by Evan_S on Oct 30, 2010 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Bonds

Interesting that Wojo stuffs in a barb against Barry Bonds in an article that has nothing at all to do with Bonds. Seriously, look at this:
Wojo and Barry

by s s on Oct 30, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

don't see it myself

Wally is a small ball guy. Plus he is pretty hard headed. I think Alderson wants someoe who thinks more along his lines

by jdon on Oct 30, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah--I don't see it.

Whatever else he is, Alderson understands politics. There wouldn’t have been any way he would have gone into his interviews with the team without declaring that Backman was a real candidate for the job, regardless of how he in fact felt about it.

by Jack Str on Oct 30, 2010 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Where did this idea come from that the Wilpons want Backman to manage in Flushing?

I thought they hired him to the Cyclones basically as a favor. Is there some evidence out there (other than pure speculation by the press and blogs) that the Wilpons themselves have been thinking of Backman as a potential/likely replacement for Jerry? If he had been wouldn’t they have put Wally at Buffalo or Binghamton rather than Brooklyn?

I’m just curious, because if there’s no evidence of that then I don’t see how Alderson’s inclusion of Backman as a candidate could be called “political”. Unless you think the constituency he’s appealing to politically is the unwashed masses of fans who like Backman rather than the team owners he was actually talking to.

by Nomenclaturist on Oct 31, 2010 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions

http://www.metsblog.com/2010/10/04/jeff-wilpon-speaks-with-kevin-burkhardt/

Asked about Wally Backman, and whether or not he can be a big league manager, Wilpon said:

"Absolutely…I love Wally…he said he was going to do everything he did this year…he has a big future…lets get the GM in place and we can have plenty of discussion on who the mgr will be…"

by Jack Str on Oct 31, 2010 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Sandy + DePo is a great day

but then to inform me that Joe Morgan and Jon Miller may not be back? Is this Christmas? I feel like a little kid!!!

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 30, 2010 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

don't tease me klaspich

mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon (and Billy King-Paul G B)

by Gina on Oct 30, 2010 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Joe Morgan and Jon Miller are gone!!!!!

Oh happy days!!!! Not only a new GM and new manager but the bumbling duo are gone !!!!!
The yr commentating on ESPN radio and I was forced to listen to them on Wednesday. It took 2.5 innings to find out the score, they are awful! Good ridence!

by ScottfromPeekskill on Oct 30, 2010 5:41 PM EDT reply actions

Our long, national nightmare is over

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult." ~ E. B. White

by CTRefJay on Oct 30, 2010 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

John Kruk and Steve Phillips will be replacing them

mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon (and Billy King-Paul G B)

by Gina on Oct 30, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Dibble is updating his resume as we speak....

It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.

by MookieTheCat on Oct 30, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

can someone invent a Mute Announcers for Sports Games button for all Remotes?

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Oct 31, 2010 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Look at the confidence poll

Optimism Avenue!

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult." ~ E. B. White

by CTRefJay on Oct 30, 2010 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

you gotta believe way?

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on Oct 30, 2010 8:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

you gotta believe, guey.

The slogan “Los Mets” should’ve used.

by anonymous on Oct 31, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Manager Selection Money Quote

“The key to any successful leader is his or her ability to command respect,” Alderson said. “I really believe the most critical thing that a manager can do is somehow motivate players over a 162-game season. But when you think in terms of motivation, you have to think in terms of what contributes to that charisma or that leadership ability, and part of it is professional competence. You’re not going to maintain credibility with players if you are not professionally competent. And that competence comes from what? Sometimes it comes from experience, sometimes it’s just innate ability. But it’s pretty quickly evident to players and other people.”

Can we break this down a bit? He’s saying the most important thing is motivation, but the best thing a manager can do to motivate the players is be good at his job. So at the end of the day it comes down to finding the best in-game tactician?

by Nomenclaturist on Oct 30, 2010 8:47 PM EDT reply actions

Oh god, please!

I hope that last sentence is true. I’m so tired of watching bumbling idiots like Howe, Randolph and Manuel “manage” or mis-manage the team on a daily basis.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 30, 2010 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions

I know that managers are

not supposed to be responsible for that many additional wins each season, and I know it is probably subjective, but I cannot rid myself of the nauseating feeling that Jerry lost us a lot of games last year. Begin with his pre-game lineup making, go through his pitching decisions, all the stupid bunting……….I know the team was not very good, and at times they were abysmal, but a smart manager would have probably avoided more losses than the Great Pontificator. I just don’t know how to prove it.

by jdon on Oct 31, 2010 6:24 AM EDT up reply actions

agreed

mediocrity thy name is Wilpon- jdon (and Billy King-Paul G B)

by Gina on Oct 31, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, agreed as well.

I think Manuel alone was the difference between maybe 83 wins and 79 wins…not a huge difference in this territory, but if the team was better and actually in the race? We all know how huge that is. I think the manager can pick up a few games here or there with correct decisions but at the same time, a lot of it is luck. Even when a manager makes the correct decision, it can easily backfire and look bad. However, when the manager makes a bad decision, I think it’s more often where it won’t work out just because it is so wrong (Pedro Feliciano vs. Matt Diaz, Omir Santos running in from the pen to PH for Castro are two that come to mind…come on. How are those going to end positively other than by the slightest chance of dumb luck).

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 31, 2010 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Right.

And I know batting orders are not supposed to make a big difference, but lineups do. we laughed when Jerry sat a cleanup hitter and put his replacement int he cleanup hole, yadda yadda yadda….but he just played guys who should not have been playing way too much.

by jdon on Oct 31, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on...

Gary Matthews Jr totally deserved his 58 ab's and the opportunity to play in 36 games!

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 31, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Being a good in-game tactician is just a part of being good at his job.

Professional competence in all aspects of the manager’s job, including understanding the game, the players, splits; protecting the clubhouse and the players from unnecessary distractions; defense positioning; pen management, etc.

The Unwritten Rules of AA

by Michkin on Oct 30, 2010 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay, I agree on some of those

But I think of “splits”, “defense positioning” and “pen management” as part of in-game tactics. But you’re right that handling the media in order to protect the clubhouse and players from unnecessary distractions is also a part of managerial competence.

And Mistermet, I don’t recall much of Howe’s specific moves, and I agree Manuel was terrible, but I don’t think Willie was so bad a tactician. League-average at worst. He did suffer from having a team without much depth, and for that I blame Omar’s shoot-the-moon strategy.

by Nomenclaturist on Oct 30, 2010 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember being really upset with him when it came to pitching management

I want to say I felt he had too quick a hook for starting pitchers, but I’ve tried to block out so much of the past several years that I may be remembering that wrong.

Thus Spoke Keith Hernandez

Let's never bunt again.

by Thomas Wachtel on Oct 30, 2010 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

You may be right

I don’t really remember the bullpen collapsing until Jerry took it over. However, it may be that by that point in the season Willie had already worn it out from overuse.

by Nomenclaturist on Oct 30, 2010 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be interesting to learn how Alderson interviews guys like Backman.

“So, Wally, take as much time as you like and tell me about what wins games on the field,” or, “in your years as manager how have you gone about positioning your fielders?”

by Jack Str on Oct 31, 2010 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions

From what I remember

Randolph was a lot like Manuel in his bullpen management…very quick hook with the starters, strict adherence to 100 pitches for a starter, and most importantly would “stick with his guys” as he said every game in late 2007 (meaning nearly every time Mota, Schoeneweis, Sele, Heilman, etc blew a game, he’d say that line “I have to stick with my guys”). This could certainly be taken as a dig at Omar’s lack of depth, but at the same time, I’m pretty sure he had other guys in the pen who he could’ve used instead (there had to be some September callups that year).

To me, it was almost a seamless switch from Randolph to Manuel in terms of bullpen management.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 31, 2010 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

In many ways that was a change in name only. I think it’s fairly clear that Jerry and Willie agreed on many head-scratchers, and came from the same field of thought (or lack thereof). Your point about sticking with guys who were going through a rough stretch (or career) hit home. I remember Willie pulling guys at 100 pitches all the time, without deeper thought. In retrospect, we were all fairly stupid to think that Jerry would be better.

It's a triumph of number crunching over the human spirit...aaaaaand, it’s about time. -- Play-by-Play Announcer, The Simpsons.

by MookieTheCat on Oct 31, 2010 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

And I remember wanting Randolph fired in 08 but

at the same time, not being all that excited about who’d get hired as the interim because I figured that Manuel would be much the same, considering that he was the bench coach and therefore Randolph’s right hand man. Obviously they have to be out of a similar mold if we’ve seen the same moves from Randolph over and over…if he was different, you’d think he’d suggest some different plan of attack to Randolph.

As we all know, the only thing Manuel “managed” to do in his 2.5 seasons was take the team right into the ground. Ugh…I shudder to think how I made it through the last 2.5 seasons. It really seems like an eternity, looking back on it.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Oct 31, 2010 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions