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Typical Klapisch nonsense.

metsguyinmichigan Mar 08 2012 09:17 AM

[url]http://www.northjersey.com/sports/sports_rotator/Klapisch_Sandy_Alderson_may_not_have_clout_to_fix_Mets.html?page=all JUPITER, Fla. – Sandy Alderson, the Harvard-educated ex-Marine, is smart enough to fix the Mets, and tough enough to wade through the swamp of negativity that’s swallowed up the franchise since 2008. On the scale of 1-to-get-it-done, Alderson’s history says he’s off the charts. But the general manager should’ve figured out by now that perception counts for everything in New York. If Alderson wants to protect his legacy or, more importantly, truly wants to succeed where Omar Minaya failed, he needs more than his formidable IQ. Alderson has to prove he can stand up to the Wilpon family, and isn’t merely doing the bidding of baseball’s most unpopular (and tone-deaf) ownership group. Or that he’s overseeing the Mets as a favor to Bud Selig, killing time until the commissioner’s office is vacant after 2014. (Most unpopular ownership group? Based on what, Bob? Do you have a survey? Did it not include Peter Angelos or the Dodgers?) A friend of Alderson’s in the industry said, “Believe me, Sandy isn’t anyone’s company man.” But that didn’t stop Alderson from participating in the Mets’ most recent PR catastrophe – riding a helicopter from the team’s spring training facility to Miami, where the Knicks were playing the Heat. The use of the personal aircraft was offensive to Mets fans, who’ve had to watch the Wilpons slash $50 million from the payroll. There wasn’t enough money to afford a decent bench this winter, much less bid for Jose Reyes, but somehow, Jeff Wilpon managed to treat himself to a joy ride, collecting his passengers on Field 2. (What? Who was offended by this? When you pay people millions of dollars, these are kinds of things that they do. And, goodness, the payroll is lower, but it's not like we're the Royals here. How many people are we paying $15 million and up on the roster?) It was an inexcusable affront to ticket buyers, who now have every right to ask where the proceeds are going. What’s next, a fan-funded private jet? Actually, the family already has one of those, although they’re smart enough to keep it out of sight. The copter, however, was on full display, taking off from center field before whisking over the unlucky proletariat stuck in rush-hour traffic on Interstate 95. Terry Collins was one of those onboard, as was Alderson. Of the two, Collins was likely in the worse predicament – he had no choice but to accept Jeff Wilpon’s invite. Alderson, however, could have and should have said, “No,” and explained that such an overprivileged gesture would be an insult to fans. If Jeff Wilpon couldn’t figure that out, it was up to Alderson to introduce him to the real world. Instead, the GM went along, and we’re betting he regrets it now. That’s because an ex-Marine always is a Marine – a jarhead for life. Alderson was hired precisely for his no-nonsense gene, which was supposed to have at least neutralized the Wilpons and separated them from the Mets’ day-to-day operations. This was meant to be Alderson’s team by now, so it’s fair to ask if he’s been co-opted. Maybe the better description is that Alderson has been suffocated by the Mets’ unwillingness to spend. Without a doubt Alderson walked into this job blindly – he had no idea the money would be this tight or that the Mets would inch closer and closer to insolvency. Yet, Alderson has told friends he has no regrets about replacing Minaya. He loves a challenge, and this was a doozy. Alderson, in fact, boldly says the Mets could’ve finished over .500 last year had it not been for a bullpen in self-destruct mode. So what did he do? He spent the few pennies available to him on a fresh set of relievers, including a new closer, Frank Francisco. Of course, Alderson doesn’t pretend the Mets will be a 90-win team, but he thinks the fans will be surprised this summer. Alderson might be right, but his problem is one of perception: the same, hey-you-never-know theme is being repeated word for word by the Wilpons, who’ve lied too many times to be believed. Drill down to the core of their optimism and what you find is a naked plea for ticket sales. Either way, the Mets still are three seasons away from legitimately catching up to the NL East, by which point Selig’s reign will be over. Will Alderson still be around? Is he really intending to arm-wrestle the Wilpons over every last dollar when a better job could be open? Speaking before Wednesday’s game against the Marlins, Alderson said, “This [job] is not a means to an end.” Hand on his heart. Alderson says he’s in for the long haul – not just to make the Mets winners, but to make them cool and hip and relevant again. Fair enough, Alderson has a track record to back up his promises. Then again, he’s never worked in an environment as toxic as this or for owners who are this unpopular. Fans are angry, they want the Wilpons out, many are vowing to stay away from Citi Field until regime change is complete. Alderson knows he’s about two years away from turning into a marked man, himself. It didn’t help matters last week when Fred Wilpon threw Alderson under the bus in explaining why Reyes signed with the Marlins. The owner had the audacity to say it was a “baseball decision” hatched entirely by Alderson. Don’t blame me, blame him, is what Fred was saying. It was an outright lie and Alderson knows it. So does every discerning Mets fan who figured out long ago the Wilpons didn’t have the resources to write a $100 million check. What matters now is the family’s revisionism and the lesson that comes with it. This is more than just franchise-building for Alderson. It’s a choice between doing business with the Wilpons or preserving his legacy. One or the other.

MFS62 Mar 08 2012 09:44 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Instead, the GM went along, and we’re betting he regrets it now. That’s because an ex-Marine always is a Marine – a jarhead for life. Klap-trap has not only insulted the Mets and their fans in the past, but now he insults Marine loyalty too? The motto is "Unit, Corps, Country". And Sandy was being loyal to his unit. You do not second-guess. I'm betting he would lose his bet. He is an insult to journalism. Later (As you can probably tell, I'm pissed.)

Edgy MD Mar 08 2012 10:05 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

You've do well to aggregate these into a single thread, Michigan. "Sportswriters Who Piss Me Off," or something.

metsguyinmichigan Mar 08 2012 10:24 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Edgy DC wrote: You've do well to aggregate these into a single thread, Michigan. "Sportswriters Who Piss Me Off," or something. It upsets me that he states things as fact that are clearly his opinion. Where does he see fans upset about a helicopter ride to Miami, which is about a 2.5 hour drive, at least, to PSL. Was there a poll or something? Signs at the ballpark? Is he quoting upset fans? Or, is it just another opportunity for a guy who has made a career out of taking cheap shots at the Mets to make another cheap shot?

metirish Mar 08 2012 10:34 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

History is not kind to Omar but fuck we had some good times Bob after some dreadful years.....

Edgy MD Mar 08 2012 10:48 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

metsguyinmichigan wrote: It upsets me that he states things as fact that are clearly his opinion. Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. I just think it'd be fun to follow these rhetorical crimes as the season progresses.

Edgy MD Mar 08 2012 10:52 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Had no idea that there were so many logical fallacies. I'd like to try and see how many Klapisch could work into one column. My current favorite: Kettle logic.

Ceetar Mar 08 2012 11:29 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Had no idea that there were so many logical fallacies. I'd like to try and see how many Klapisch could work into one column. My current favorite: Kettle logic. Affirming the consequent – the antecedent in an indicative conditional is claimed to be true because the consequent is true; if A, then B; B, therefore A.[6] Aaaah, flashbacks of 8th grade math! (actually I did good with that stuff) I have a feeling many of these 'reporters' use Twitter as a means to support just about any argument. I'm sure you could find one tweet somewhere annoyed about the 'copter ride. Much like rule 34 (if it exists, there is porn of it) I think you could say For all arguments, there exists a tweet in support of it.

metsmarathon Mar 08 2012 11:48 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

the helicopter is needlessly showy, but how much did it really cost them to use it? and yes, mets fans complained about it at the time. right here in fact. in the madoff thread. it wasn't loud complaining, but more suggesting that the 'pons are tonedeaf and clueless. the real issue is, why hte fuck is klapisch harping on this as the biggest deal of the spring when it happened a full two weeks ago already? and what the fuck is that shit that collins gets a pass for climbing aboard hte helicopter, but sandy is expected to decline and insist they take a taxi instead. that's just dumb, and trying way too hard to find an angle. it's one thing to not be willing/able to afford to overpay a baseball player 100 million dollars. its another thing entirely to fuel up a helicopter that you're already leasing anyways for a trip to a basketball game. are we stupid enough to think that hte wilpons took a greyhound down to PSL instead of likely flying down on their own G-6, but they just blew the budget because they were overcome with linsanity? should jeffy be showing up to games in wrangler jeans and an ill-fitting old navy t-shirt, wearing brandless sneakers he bought from payless? please, bob, spare me.

Edgy MD Mar 08 2012 12:01 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

I never like the "It's no big deal, but it shows how tone deaf he is" arguments. The implication: "I don't think it's a big deal, but people dumber than me think it's a big deal." If you don't think it's a big deal, ignore it. If you don't think it's a big deal, challenge those who do. If you don't think it's a big deal, don't be bringing it up two weeks later. If you do think it's a big deal, don't wait two weeks. Tell me why I should care NOW!!!!

metirish Mar 08 2012 12:17 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

In Bob's defense he's a total wanker.

Ashie62 Mar 08 2012 12:21 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Last I looked the Mets didnt take any TARP money or so forth. So... as Plasmatics Wendy O. Williams used to say..'If you dont want to fuck me, then fuck off."

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 08 2012 12:49 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

and isn’t merely doing the bidding of baseball’s most unpopular (and tone-deaf) ownership group. I mean, this happened yesterday.

metsmarathon Mar 08 2012 01:12 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

I never like the "It's no big deal, but it shows how tone deaf he is" arguments. The implication: "I don't think it's a big deal, but people dumber than me think it's a big deal." If you don't think it's a big deal, ignore it. If you don't think it's a big deal, challenge those who do. If you don't think it's a big deal, don't be bringing it up two weeks later. If you do think it's a big deal, don't wait two weeks. Tell me why I should care NOW!!!! i didn't care enough about it at the time to feel the need to impress my ambivalence upon those who seemed only slightly annoyed by something which was not really all that big a deal. i only felt the need to express that on this forum, indeed some people took some small issue with the helicopter. it only counters the argument that nobody gave a shit about the helicopter. some people cared. maybe not a shit's worth of care - perhaps a wet fart, i dunno. met fans certainly weren't cheering hte helicopter stunt. the issue is, though, not that it slightly, or even mildly annoyed some met fans. the issue is that there were hardly any mets fans rending their jerseys over the thing, and certainly there are no mets fans tarring their david wright bobbleheads a full two weeks later. on that i think we all agree. and so i ask, why bother with the story after two weeks, especially with the hamfisted attempt to use it as some sort of slight upon sandy alderson. it just fucking makes no sense. the hole thnig is so stupid it's infuriating.

Edgy MD Mar 08 2012 01:20 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Oh, yeah, by "you" I meant Klapisch. And to a lesser extent, all those who play that game with political analysis.

Ashie62 Mar 08 2012 01:54 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

It is balloon!

Frayed Knot Mar 08 2012 02:17 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: and isn’t merely doing the bidding of baseball’s most unpopular (and tone-deaf) ownership group. I mean, this happened yesterday. This shit is fucking amazing. "Not only did I rip those idiots off, but now I'm going to crow about it since it's too late for them to get their money back."

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 08 2012 02:30 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

I don't think the Mets necessarily did anything wrong here, but Samson's remarks make it too easy to see where some of the rage for one-percenters flying around in private jets is coming from. I found myself rooting hard this morning for the "million-Dollar Madam" scandal the Snooze is stoking this week to include as many boldfaced fatcats as possible. How awesome would it be to see Jeter or Jim Dolan or a Goldman Sachs chief taken down by something like this?

Edgy MD Mar 08 2012 02:34 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

My problem with stoking wealth resentment is it too often feeds into the narrative of going after the guy you want taken out anyway --- the hated owner, the other political party, etc.

Ashie62 Mar 08 2012 04:35 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I don't think the Mets necessarily did anything wrong here, but Samson's remarks make it too easy to see where some of the rage for one-percenters flying around in private jets is coming from. I found myself rooting hard this morning for the "million-Dollar Madam" scandal the Snooze is stoking this week to include as many boldfaced fatcats as possible. How awesome would it be to see Jeter or Jim Dolan or a Goldman Sachs chief taken down by something like this? How would you feel if David Wright were on the list?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 08 2012 05:04 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

He'd deserve what he'd get.

Ashie62 Mar 08 2012 05:50 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: He'd deserve what he'd get. Same as Jeter, Blankenfein or any other fatcat, although I have never seen a fatcat" in human form. Fair enough.

Edgy MD Mar 08 2012 06:08 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Whoremonger.

metsmarathon Mar 08 2012 06:12 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

we need more mongers of things.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 08 2012 06:33 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

I'm not sure I remember how to mong.

Fman99 Mar 08 2012 09:56 PM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Klapisch is a shitdick.

MFS62 Mar 09 2012 08:58 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm not sure I remember how to mong. Not only do I remember how to mong, but some call me "Mong the Merciless". Later

The Second Spitter Mar 14 2012 01:54 AM Re: Typical Klapisch nonsense.

It's a shame, if the Klap waited a week he could have added a bit about how the Mets financial situation contributed to Eric Langill's drinking problem and subsequent arrest. It would have given the story a nice personal touch.