Decision soon; first, Alderson takes time to grieve
Sandy Alderson poses for a photo after the press conference introducing him as the new General Manager of the New York Mets at Citi Field. (Oct. 29, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
In the midst of a whirlwind process to find the Mets' next manager, a search that included 10 candidates and involved crisscrossing the country, Sandy Alderson had to excuse himself yesterday.
The Mets' general manager, a seemingly tireless worker since he was introduced Oct. 29, focused on family business - a memorial service for his father, John, scheduled in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Alderson was shattered by the death of his 87-year-old dad, who was struck and killed by a car last weekend. But Alderson honored his commitments during the GM meetings in Orlando, where he interviewed the four finalists just days after his father's death.
Along with chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon, Alderson was joined in those sessions by his reconfigured staff - Paul DePodesta, J.P. Ricciardi and holdover John Ricco - with the expectation that they would take the weekend to deliberate about the choices.
Based on previous managerial experience and how it would be useful in this role, Bob Melvin and Terry Collins remained the favorites, with Wally Backman and Chip Hale still considered valuable assets to the organization.
"I do feel confident," Alderson said Thursday once the interviews were completed, "that among these four, we'll find the next manager of the New York Mets."
Even with the leaning toward Melvin and Collins, one person familiar with the situation said all of the candidates had impressive showings during the interview process, suggesting that a decision had yet to be made heading into today.
It's not for lack of trying. Alderson interviewed six internal candidates among the 10, and all four of the finalists were in the Mets' employ last season.
Melvin was a major-league scout, Collins was the minor-league field coordinator, Hale was the Mets' third-base coach and Backman managed Class A Brooklyn. Oddly enough, three of those four were brought into the organization by deposed general manager Omar Minaya, with Backman personally recruited by Jeff Wilpon for the Cyclones' job.
Regardless of the winner, the other three are almost certain to remain with the Mets in some capacity. Collins - one of the frontrunners - alluded to that with his post-interview comments Thursday.
The Mets' ownership group was very impressed with Collins' performance overseeing the entire farm system, and he could always return to that role.
"I think it helps," he said. "The whole thing about getting to know our minor-league system - whether it's me or whoever it is - I can certainly help whoever is going to manage this team, for sure."
Even as they wait on a manager, the Mets made another significant move Saturday in announcing the firing of Rudy Terrasas as the team's director of amateur scouting. Terrasas had held the position since 2005, and before joining the Mets, he was a special assistant to Brewers GM Doug Melvin.
It was not a surprising move, given the hiring of Alderson and the outside perception that amateur scouting has been among the Mets' greatest weaknesses as an organization. Alderson hired DePodesta to take charge of the amateur scouting department, and the Mets indicated that Terrasas could stay with the team in another capacity.
