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Unleakiness.

Edgy DC Jan 06 2011 10:52 PM

Section 518 (a blog) has a point --- that the Mets, as modest as their offseason courtships have been, have been able to keep their pursuits private. Yeah, Carrasco and Paulino and Buchholz and Capuano aren't top shelf merchandise, but the Mets had them checked out without anybody reporting that they were even in the cart. The Francis and Young pursuits have been rumoured, but even those haven't really smelled of a Met leak. Too early to say, but this may be a meaningful distinction between Omar's regime and Sandy's. On the other hand, Cerrone throws some water on that: Yes, kind of, sort of… I mean, I’m sure they’re doing their best to keep things ‘internal,’ but most everyone made the same observation about Omar Minaya and his staff when they took over in comparison to Steve Phillips and Jim Duquette. I think every new group initially does a better job than the last at keeping things ‘quiet,’ while still occasionally leveraging information for publicity and political gain as needed. To me, the difference is that there is less ‘individual incentive’ to ‘leak’ information early on, since there is a far bigger emphasis on ‘team.’ However, when things do not work out well, and the team is losing, and people start panicking about their job status, and fans and reporters are hunting for accountability, and after the new guys have had years to bond with reporters and media, well, that’s when it seems to get messy – as we repeatedly saw towards the end of each previous GM’s time at the wheel.

Ceetar Jan 07 2011 05:54 AM Re: Unleakiness.

I tend to agree with Cerrone here. Although he technically is agreeing with my comment on that post. It's early. I do feel like the leaks with Omar got worse and worse. I'm not sure what prompts other people to talk as the situation gets worse, or if it's just they've built up a bigger relationship with some of the media guys. Although, Sandy sent an email out today saying they just had two days of meetings, which you think would've gotten reported right? and isn't Collins having a pre-camp workout day or something? That's gotta be soonish. Maybe the reporters were just working less hard over the holidays?

smg58 Jan 07 2011 06:46 AM Re: Unleakiness.

I'm totally OK with handling things less publicly. The leaks on Minaya's watch just got silly after a while.

metirish Jan 07 2011 06:49 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Cerrone Yes, kind of, sort of… I mean, I’m sure they’re doing their best to keep things ‘internal,’ but most everyone made the same observation about Omar Minaya and his staff when they took over in comparison to Steve Phillips and Jim Duquette. I don't know if that true or not but it just reads like Cerrone is saying it to make his point.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 07 2011 06:50 AM Re: Unleakiness.

I remember how I loved being totally surprised by the acquisitions of Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter. In both cases, there wasn't the slightest hint that anything was coming. I found out about the Hernandez deal from Bob Murphy during a radio pregame, and about Carter the old-fashioned way, from the back page of the newspaper.

Edgy DC Jan 07 2011 07:11 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Yup on Carter and Hernandez. Berenyi even. Less so on Viola and Saberhagen because those moves smelled of desperate consolidation whether we had a pre-whiff of them or not. I have to disagree with Cerrone in part, though. I don't think leakiness increases as things get bad. I think it increases as tenures lengthen, relationships with media personnel develop, and adminstrators become emboldened about leveraging those relationships.

metirish Jan 07 2011 07:17 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Sandy likes to control things perhaps Email Sandy Alderson sent out one of those famous Mets missives Friday morning to fans. Here's the letter: With spring training just six weeks away, I wanted to update you on our preparation for the 2011 season. Yesterday, we wrapped up two days of meetings in Port St. Lucie where we went over organizational philosophy and how to implement it throughout the major and minor leagues. It was also the first opportunity for Terry Collins and his staff to sit down and discuss the mechanics of Spring Training and determine how they will emphasize fundamentals, mental and physical preparation and hard work. As Terry has said, the driving force will be playing the game the right way, which will lead to more wins. Over the past two months, we have followed our plan of filling out our roster with reasonably priced players who have significant upside potential. As I have said before, our payroll - which will be among the highest in baseball - gives us limited flexibility, but we do have money to spend. We have acquired players who we think can thrive at Citi Field and complement our existing group of players. As you likely know, earlier this week we signed pitchers Chris Capuano and Taylor Buchholz. Chris is a former All-Star and 18-game winner who last year came back from his second Tommy John surgery. We are confident he has the ability to re-establish himself as a dependable starter who can excel in our ballpark. Taylor has fully recovered from elbow surgery and has the potential to be a solid arm out of the bullpen. Every year players come out of nowhere to become success stories. Look no further than R.A. Dickey. He signed a minor-league deal last January, became a fixture in the starting rotation in May, and finished the season with 11 victories and a 2.84 ERA. I believe some of our offseason acquisitions can be this year's version of R.A. We are excited about 2011. We have a solid core group of players who we expect will make significant contributions to making the Mets a success. As we have said all along, we will put ourselves in the best position possible to succeed both in the short and long term. There will be an exciting brand of baseball played at Citi Field this year that matches the passion and intensity that you have for the team. Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you at the ballpark. Sincerely, Sandy Alderson

Edgy DC Jan 07 2011 07:21 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Chris is a former All-Star and 18-game winner who last year came back from his second Tommy John surgery. We are confident he has the ability to re-establish himself as a dependable starter who can excel in our ballpark. Confident? I'll buy hopeful or perhaps modestly optimistic, but...

Lefty Specialist Jan 07 2011 07:37 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you at the ballpark. Sincerely, Sandy Alderson Great! I'll meet you at the Beer Kiosk! You're buying.

metirish Jan 07 2011 07:38 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Lefty Specialist wrote: Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you at the ballpark. Sincerely, Sandy Alderson Great! I'll meet you at the Beer Kiosk! You're buying. I'd not be one but surprised if fans do meet him in situations like that.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 07 2011 08:52 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Edgy DC wrote: Chris is a former All-Star and 18-game winner who last year came back from his second Tommy John surgery. We are confident he has the ability to re-establish himself as a dependable starter who can excel in our ballpark. Confident? I'll buy hopeful or perhaps modestly optimistic, but... The phrase deserving examination isn't "confident" but "ability to." If he's not dependable and doesn't excel, blame him, not me.

Ceetar Jan 07 2011 09:04 AM Re: Unleakiness.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Chris is a former All-Star and 18-game winner who last year came back from his second Tommy John surgery. We are confident he has the ability to re-establish himself as a dependable starter who can excel in our ballpark. Confident? I'll buy hopeful or perhaps modestly optimistic, but... The phrase deserving examination isn't "confident" but "ability to." If he's not dependable and doesn't excel, blame him, not me. We are confident in Oliver Perez's ability to return to the rotation and be a 15 game winner.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 07 2011 10:03 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Edgy DC wrote: I have to disagree with Cerrone in part, though. I don't think leakiness increases as things get bad. I think it increases as tenures lengthen, relationships with media personnel develop, and adminstrators become emboldened about leveraging those relationships. A little from Column A, a little from Column B, methinks. I'm thinking that Sandy's also similarly confident in Jose Reyes' ability to stay healthy and produce.

MFS62 Jan 08 2011 08:38 AM Re: Unleakiness.

metirish wrote: Lefty Specialist wrote: Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing you at the ballpark. Sincerely, Sandy Alderson Great! I'll meet you at the Beer Kiosk! You're buying. I'd not be one but surprised if fans do meet him in situations like that. Bill Veeck used to sit in the bleachers and drink brewskis with the fans. No report on whether he bought, but knowing what we've read about the guy, I wouldn't have been surprised. Later

Edgy DC Jan 09 2011 10:53 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Buster Olney writes that the Mets braintrust has had private converstions with regard to releasing Luis Castillo. So much for the Era of Unlleakiness.

MFS62 Jan 09 2011 11:03 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Edgy DC wrote: Buster Olney writes that the Mets braintrust has had private converstions with regard to releasing Luis Castillo. So much for the Era of Unlleakiness. I can't imagine those guys getting together for more than five minutes to talk about the team,and NOT bringing up Castillo, and Ollie, too. And if that conversation carried over to a mens' room break, that's where the "private" comes in. You can bring up "leak" in any way you want. Not a shocker. Just another journalistic breakthrough from a guy named Buster. Later

Edgy DC Jan 09 2011 11:18 AM Re: Unleakiness.

I'm not suggesting it's a shocker, only that it's an example of an insider source allegedly reporting on private conversations.

MFS62 Jan 09 2011 11:39 AM Re: Unleakiness.

Edgy DC wrote: I'm not suggesting it's a shocker, only that it's an example of an insider source allegedly reporting on private conversations. And I'm saying that he may not have any insider info, but its something that Olney can say without that info and still probably be correct. Later

metirish Jan 14 2011 12:26 PM Re: Unleakiness.

Willie Harris Could this have been any more under the radar?

Ceetar Jan 14 2011 12:28 PM Re: Unleakiness.

metirish wrote: Willie Harris Could this have been any more under the radar? reports yesterday were he had offers from two teams, and.. the deal isn't done yet supposedly.

Edgy DC Jan 14 2011 12:31 PM Re: Unleakiness.

Well, in fairness to the old leaky Mets, this is a minor league deal.

Lefty Specialist Jan 14 2011 12:34 PM Re: Unleakiness.

Good. Stash him someplace where he can't play AGAINST us.

Ceetar Jan 14 2011 12:38 PM Re: Unleakiness.

Regardless, I often get the feeling that Adam Rubin sleeps at Citi Field.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 14 2011 12:41 PM Re: Unleakiness.

In Frankie Rodriguez's holding cell?

Lefty Specialist Jan 14 2011 12:45 PM Re: Unleakiness.

Ceetar wrote: Regardless, I often get the feeling that Adam Rubin sleeps at Citi Field. Where he dreams of being Sandy Alderson.