Alderson's interviews are over; time to decide
Sandy Alderson answers questions during a press conference after being introduced as the general manager for the New York Mets. (Oct. 29, 2010) Credit: Getty Images
ORLANDO, Fla. - The information has been collected now, the interviews completed. The identity of the Mets' next manager is in the hands of Sandy Alderson and his lieutenants, and it should be determined no later than Sunday.
Mets field coordinator Terry Collins, who held his second interview Thursday after fellow candidate Wally Backman, is the co-favorite along with major-league scout Bob Melvin. Third-base coach Chip Hale and Melvin interviewed Wednesday.
"I'm confident we'll be able to make a decision over the next several days," Alderson told reporters at the Waldorf Astoria, site of the general managers' and owners' meetings.
After Collins' departure from a conference room here, Alderson spent another 45 minutes talking with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and lieutenants Paul DePodesta, J.P. Ricciardi and John Ricco, all of whom took part in the interviews.
Alderson will spend the next two days in nearby St. Petersburg to grieve the death of his father, John, who was killed last week when a car hit him as he was walking. Before finalizing a decision, Alderson said, he'll likely convene his fellow front-office members for one more conference call.
"One, I think it's prudent that we take a little bit of time to think about it," Alderson said. "Secondly, my attention will be diverted over the next couple of days."
Collins possesses an edge because of his relationship with DePodesta, who wanted to hire Collins to manage the 2006 Dodgers. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt wound up firing DePodesta before he could execute that plan.
Collins and Melvin present striking contrasts. Melvin is tall, polished and known for a calm that has been construed as "softness"; Collins is diminutive, raw and known for an edginess construed as "fiery."
Collins took time after his interview to speak with reporters, but many of the questions concerned past episodes from his life that he declined to address in detail.
His 1999 Angels team was rife with such chemistry problems that Collins resigned before the season ended. "All you do is dig a bigger hole than needs to be dug," he said, explaining his reluctance to reflect. "Obviously, there's more to it than anybody is ever going to know.
"I tell you what, we played good. 'Til '99 and the injuries hit, I know that this organization had this a couple of years ago. But my teams out there played very good. It was a great experience."
Collins said he discussed his 2002 arrest for driving under the influence in Georgia. "It's over," he said. "It's in the past. I'm moving on."
Backman, who has his own past skeletons, is likely to remain in the Mets' organization as manager of the team's Class A St. Lucie affiliate if he does not get the Mets' managerial position. He said that such a move did not come up in the conversation.
"I'm not even looking at that right now," Backman said. "I was in there for one reason. That's to manage the Mets."
