Reese Kaplan -- The Reunions Just Keep A'Coming...

It wasn't long ago I philosophized on the folly of reunions when it came to putting together the roster for the New York Mets.  Not only did players who failed the first time around offer little upon their return, the lack of imagination with retreads suggests that creativity and strategy were not at play, but bringing back the familiar was greeted with accolades from the fans who often have as little understanding of building a team as does the front office.

Imagine everyone's lack of surprise at the announcement by Steve Cohen he intends to keep the retread theme alive by announcing it's his intention to revive the front office role once held by GM Sandy Alderson but now as team president.  While many positives are already being extolled on Cohen during his honeymoon period for this move, some would wonder why bring back what didn't work in the past?  Did everyone forget the long losing period during which he kept the franchise's losingest manager on the payroll to rack up that ignominious metric?  Does no one remember the bad contracts and the aversion to the top of the market for free agents?  Do folks recall that young ballplayers were kept in minor league purgatory until at least age 25 when others around the league saw fit to promote rookies sometimes still in their teens?

 

It's being said that the selection of Alderson, who is widely respected around the league as a true professional, is being done to offset the questions about Cohen's own sketchy past and to help push out the bad taste in folks' mouths from the Brodie Van Wagenen/Wilpon days.  Others have said that as President he will have a role in how the ballclub is run, but choosing personnel will likely not be his primary responsibility.  It also suggests that BVW may be on the hot seat as his failures in this role far outweigh his successes.  That recent foot-in-mouth moment with the media was a black eye for him as well.  

 

I understand there is a difference between a front office executive and a baseball player, so I'm not quite as adamant in my skepticism here as I was with the re-acquisitions of the likes of Juan Lagares and Todd Frazier.  There is something surely to be said for bringing in the best of the available lot to run the business side of baseball.  The question I have is the evaluation of the job Alderson did in the past and whether or not he is the cream of the available crop.

 

Granted, it's always easier to embrace the devil you know than the one you don't, but resumes are built upon track records of success and failure.  It would seem to me there's a lot more of the latter than the former on Alderson's tenure with the Mets, but to be fair some of that stench is residual effect of the Wilpons holding the checkbook and not caring to make the club into a winner.  Alderson never said a bad word about his employers and for that he is to be admired.  

 

Were there other executives out there worth interviewing?  Yes, of course additional candidates exist.  However, if the goal is to make the Mets and Steve Cohen more palatable to other owners, they may applaud a known and respected executive who poses no threat to their own ballclubs' success.  That's not to say hiring a new face would be disdained, but someone who could make the Mets into contenders would not make the voters happy.  

 

It's too soon to say whether this move was a good one or a bad one.  It does indeed seem to be a necessary one.  Given Alderson's age and health, it may just be a short term gig as a person to help the Mets shape the team for the future, including hiring his own eventual replacement.  I don't hate it, but I'm not as happy as I would be with fresh blood and new ideas rather than recycling what hasn't worked in the past.  

Many will point out 2015 as the "great" year since the team embarrassed itself on a national stage against the less lauded Royals, but that team was built mostly on the back of Yoenis Cespedes, the same guy for whom the Mets feverishly bid against themselves more than once.  You remember him -- the guy whose nose was out of joint who suddenly developed a fear of the coronavirus when he was not getting starts in the outfield?  

 

Anyway, it's going to be an interesting November when the vote takes place, then an interesting winter as the club tries once again to make itself better.  Whether or not there will be a real spring training, a full season and who will be making the front office moves are all great unknowns right now.  However, it's encouraging to see some changes beginning to take place.