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Sunday, October 31, 2010

ESPN NY: Mets talking with J.P. Ricciardi

At least somebody still is!

Former Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi is a candidate to join the front office of newly hired New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, a source familiar with the discussions confirmed to ESPNNewYork.com.

Ricciardi, 51, worked for Alderson with the Oakland Athletics as a scout and ultimately as a special assistant. He went on to serve as GM of the Blue Jays from 2002-09, and is currently an ESPN baseball analyst.

Ricciardi actually played in 150 minor league games for the Mets from 1980-81. That stint included playing on a Shelby, N.C., team in the Class A South Atlantic League that included John Gibbons, whom Ricciardi hired to manage in Toronto.

Alderson said during his introductory press conference on Friday afternoon at Citi Field that he may add one or two executives to his front office. He also has strong ties to San Diego Padres executive vice president Paul DePodesta, who remained with San Diego after

Repoz Posted: October 31, 2010 at 08:58 PM | 25 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: blue jays, mets, sabermetrics

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1. PreservedFish Posted: October 31, 2010 at 10:18 PM (#3680551)

DePodesta and Ricciardi? Good gravy! It's like the Mets are specifically designed to inspire as many BTF threads as possible. Maybe they'll get Francoeur back too.

2. Avoid running at all times.-S. Paige Posted: October 31, 2010 at 11:14 PM (#3680560)

#1--another rumor has it that they're going to bring Barry Bonds on board as the hitting coach.

3. Ivan Grushenko of Hong Kong Posted: November 01, 2010 at 01:52 AM (#3680806)

Rick Peterson can't be far behind.

4. cardsfanboy

Posted: November 01, 2010 at 02:11 AM (#3680838)

Rick Peterson can't be far behind.

didn't they already fire him once?

5. Something Other Posted: November 01, 2010 at 02:32 AM (#3680871)

Twice fired is too good for Peterson. I can understand Alderson wanting to work with someone he believes is good in a certain job, but Ricciardi? Couldn't Alderson just... not do this?

6. JJ1986 Posted: November 01, 2010 at 02:34 AM (#3680883)

Riccardi is going to be AGM in charge of media relations.

7. Howzer Posted: November 01, 2010 at 05:44 AM (#3681075)

DePodesta will be hired to be in charge of press credentials.

8. Lassus Posted: November 01, 2010 at 06:33 AM (#3681082)

Worst. Honeymoon Period. Ever.

9. Tripon Posted: November 01, 2010 at 07:21 AM (#3681090)

DePodesta to handle like contracts or something wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. The only stinker he made was the Odalis Perez contract during his short time as GM.

10. Lassus Posted: November 01, 2010 at 08:01 AM (#3681092)

(BTW, my comment wasn't about Alderson, it was by Alderson.)

11. Mo Vaughn Down The Road Posted: November 01, 2010 at 12:02 PM (#3681124)

Well, I'm happy to see the Mets fans here think Alderson is off to such a strong start.

12. Infinite Yost (Voxter)

Posted: November 01, 2010 at 12:37 PM (#3681143)

I think there's evidence that both Ricciardi and DePodesta are strong performers in supporting roles, and middling-to-awful at handling the media and employee relations. This doesn't strike me as such a bad move.

13. GregD Posted: November 01, 2010 at 01:38 PM (#3681190)

Having competent but dickish and not ready for prime time players in the Mets front office will be a massive leap forward. It's fun to snark but the comparison seems to be between these pros and the ideal type. Comparing them to whom the Mets have had or whom other front offices have as their 3rd and 4th level front office people (supposedly Ricco is still #2) makes it look a lot more palatable.

14. Cris E Posted: November 01, 2010 at 03:12 PM (#3681256)

Next on Retread Roadshow: Omar Minaya!

15. Weekly Journalist_ Posted: November 01, 2010 at 03:26 PM (#3681263)

Alderson will turn the Mets around. I truly believe that. I also think DePodesta would be great in a supporting role. I find Ricciardi to be insufferable but I have no evidence to believe he wouldn't be good at whatever job Sandy wants him for.

16. andrewberg Posted: November 01, 2010 at 03:32 PM (#3681268)

Alderson will turn the Mets around. I truly believe that. I also think DePodesta would be great in a supporting role. I find Ricciardi to be insufferable but I have no evidence to believe he wouldn't be good at whatever job Sandy wants him for.

I agree with this. If Allard Baird can be a useful member of the Boston scouting department, then there's no reason that these two (who actually had success as assistants) can't also help a team. Ricciardi is kind of like Matt Stairs. He's good to have around for a limited, specific purpose, but anything more will turn into an ugly disaster.

17. RJ in TO Posted: November 01, 2010 at 03:32 PM (#3681269)

I can't wait until the NY media start baiting Ricciardi, knowing that he'll eventually fall for it.

18. RB in NYC (Now with New iPhone!) Posted: November 01, 2010 at 03:37 PM (#3681272)

I can't wait until the NY media start baiting Ricciardi, knowing that he'll eventually fall for it.

If Alderson is smart--and I suspect he is--he'll have a gag order on his assistants.

19. Eric P. Posted: November 01, 2010 at 06:21 PM (#3681399)

Ricciardi is kind of like Matt Stairs.

I'm honestly having trouble thinking up a sentence that could enrage a Canadian baseball fan more than this.

20. RJ in TO Posted: November 01, 2010 at 06:48 PM (#3681415)

I'm honestly having trouble thinking up a sentence that could enrage a Canadian baseball fan more than this.

"The Expos will be relocated to Washington DC, but only after we #### them around for five years."

21. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: November 01, 2010 at 06:52 PM (#3681419)

Why is everyone so negative on Depo? They had one bad year when he was GM and then they proceeded to make the playoffs 3 of 4 seasons with a lot of players he acquired, right?

22. andrewberg Posted: November 01, 2010 at 06:58 PM (#3681422)

I'm honestly having trouble thinking up a sentence that could enrage a Canadian baseball fan more than this.

Sorry, we don't serve Kokanee or poutine.

23. RJ in TO Posted: November 01, 2010 at 07:12 PM (#3681426)

Sorry, we don't serve Kokanee or poutine.

Does anyone drink Kokanee? I know a bunch of places serve it, but I've never actually seen anyone drink it.

24. SoSH U at work Posted: November 01, 2010 at 07:43 PM (#3681449)

Why is everyone so negative on Depo? They had one bad year when he was GM and then they proceeded to make the playoffs 3 of 4 seasons with a lot of players he acquired, right?

Were there really a lot of Depo players on those Dodger playoff teams (particularly the last two)? It doesn't seem like many of the guys from the last two playoff teams were acquired by him.

25. The District Attorney Posted: November 03, 2010 at 12:17 AM (#3682809)

Official.

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ESPN NY: Mets talking with J.P. Ricciardi

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