Other sites wait and see and then second guess. Here at the Mets Police we first guess. Hopefully one of you is dusting this off in 2030 and ripping me to shreds for writing this way back in October 2018 and the Mets have run off many many rings and this is the worst take of anyone ever in the history of the internet.
However…
I think hiring Brodie Van Wagenen, which is happing according to reports, is a mistake. I don’t know much about front offices. However, I think it’s really odd to turn the organization over to someone who hasn’t worked in a baseball front office.
I’m glad he has ties to agencies and all – I really look forward to him trying to convince CAA that Jacob deGrom doesn’t deserve a massive contract.
Here’s a quote from Brodie himself…
“We have discussed Jacob’s future with the Mets at length. Jacob has expressed interest in exploring a long-term partnership that would keep him in a Mets uniform for years to come. If the Mets don’t share same interest, we believe their best course of action is to seriously consider trade opportunities now. The inertia of current situation could complicate Jacob’s relationship with the club and creates an atmosphere of indecision.” (via Sports Illustrated)
Therefore, one must assume that JDG will immediately be signed to a long term partnership. I imagine the folks at CAA will want the biggest possible deal, and since we know the Mets new GM agrees, hooray for Jake, right?
I have never worked in a front office either. Will someone like Omar point out the ins and outs of things like “hey you know we can call up a 26th man for this doubleheader, right?” or is BVW studying these things?
Say we were going to war. I would want someone who has been a general, maybe even a colonel, leading the effort, not the guy who sold us some rifles. In my career, I get paid because I know stuff. Been doing it for 25 years, I know a few things the younger staff doesn’t. It keeps us out of trouble. It gets things done. I can teach these things to you, but I’m not sure you can wing it. I couldn’t run a major league baseball team’s front office.
Again, I am happy to be wrong here. I’m really happy to be wrong here. But unlike your blog, I’m going to declare now, not wait until 60-102 to form an opinion.
An untried GM and a bad manager, combined will Jeff Wilpon’s leadership? Hoo-boy.