Cutnpaste: - Wally, Lasto, Frank Cashen, J.P., and Sean Green



NYDN

 Wally:



Of all the potential candidates to be interviewed for manager of the New York Mets by General Sandy Alderson, only one has a detailed resume available in video form — both on DVD and via publicly accessible internet channels such as youTube and Blip.tv.


So for every person who states “I’m not sure how Wally Backman would be as a manager”, and was too lazy / cheap / ignorant to either purchase the DVD or view the free clips online (over 300 and counting), see OnTheBlack for a short playlist of vignettes showing Wally in action.


ontheblack  

NYDN

Lasto:



Lastings Milledge, OF, Pirates (VEN: Tigres)


Often miscast as a player with an attitude problem, Milledge doesn't have to be here, as players who got 400+ big-league plate appearances in the majors rarely play in the winter leagues. Still, after getting outplayed by Jose Tabata during the season's second half, Milledge hardly has guaranteed playing time in 2011, and it's clear that he still has some learning to do at the plate after sacrificing all of the power in his swing in an attempt to make more contact. Despite six hits, including a home run Sunday, in his first four games for Aragua, it's too early to say everything is good, but the fact that he's spending the offseason working on his game is the most important signal for now.


BP  





TC Palm

 Frank Cashen:



Cashen easily holds the top spot in Mets history. His tenure lasted over a decade. He drafted Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry. He traded for Gary Carter and Keith Hernandez (the latter for a paltry Neil Allen). He made an unpopular decision at the time, dealing Lee Mazzilli for Ron Darling, that proved to be a wise move. He even traded Calvin Schiraldi in a deal for Bob Ojeda prior to the 1986 season; Ojeda went 18-5 with a 2.57 ERA for the Mets, while Schiraldi served up the go-ahead home run to Ray Knight in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. Now that's a good trade!



MLBTR  

J.P.:



Ricciardi is a different type of asset. His value comes in the form of a strong scouting background that included East Coast Scouting Supervisor and National Crosschecker while working for Alderson, as well as Director of Player Personnel under Billy Beane.



He was a disaster of a general manager. Publicly criticizing Adam Dunn, botching the Roy Halladay trade negotiations, and handing out the ultimate bad contracts to Vernon Wells, Alex Rios, and B.J. Ryan. Again, I assume Ricciardi will probably be asked to play more of a talent evaluator role with the organization. There has been some thought that Oakland scouting director Grady Fuson will eventually reunite with Alderson. He probably would be a better option based on Ricciardi’s track record in Toronto. Until the trade’s of Halladay and Rolan there was thought the Jays would be ranked one of the worst in baseball. Some believe it’s the reason Syracuse didn’t renew their affiliation with Toronto. Although Ricciardi’s track record with the Jays isn’t great, he didn’t have a terrible run during his seven years, winning 86 or more games three times. If he didn’t reside in the American League East would his resume be as spotty? Who knows, there might be a playoff appearance or two on it. In short, lets trust that Alderson knows what he is doing if he enlists the help of J.P. Ricciardi.



link  




Mack Ade

 Sean Green:



Pitchers Sean Green and John Maine , neither of whom was expected to return to the Mets in 2011, could be outrighted off the 40-man roster and then set free in December. The only downside of such moves would be a further diminishing of Green’s and Maine’s trade values. But that’s only a theoretical. Everyone in the industry knows that Green and Maine will be taking pay cuts from their 2010 hauls of $975,000 and $3.3 million, respectively.


benmaller