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Earlier this afternoon, new Mets owner and CEO Steve Cohen and team president Sandy Alderson held their introductory press conference. The event had a hopeful and light tone, and was about as far removed from a Wilpons press conference as you could possibly get.
Cohen was the first and began by thanking Fred Wilpon, Rob Manfred, fellow owners and Mets fans. He said he wanted to both win championships and be a part of the community, calling owning the team “civic trust”. Cohen announced that his wife Alex would lead the Mets Foundation, while pointing out that she currently heads the Point 72 Foundation, the charitable wing of his hedge fund.
“I’m going to be an owner who builds a team that will experience continued success,” Cohen said, pointing out that you build, not buy, championships. “We want to win now, but we are also building for the long term.”
When asked why Cohen felt Alderson was the right fit for the job, he replied, “[Sandy] knows the Mets organization … he’s a full professional and has had a lot of baseball experience, and I have a lot to learn.
The question of how involved Cohen will be has been raised. “I played Little League once. It is more or less that. I’m going to let the pros, Sandy and the people we hire, run baseball.
When asked about the status of manager Luis Rojas, Cohen deferred to Alderson. “What I said to Luis is that he’s very likely to lead the Mets in 2011 [sic], but I leave the door slightly open “to allow the new president of baseball operations to have a say in the managerial decision.
Cohen said he wouldn’t be dealing with the budget today, but added, “This is a major market team and they should have a budget to match that.”
Cohen was asked if he sees the team as a job or a hobby, and he said it’s more of a job than a hobby. “Basically I do it for the fans. I can make millions of people happy and what an amazing opportunity. I’m not trying to make money here … it’s really about building something big, building something for the fans, winning.
Cohen chose the Dodgers as a model franchise to aspire to, but it was clear he wanted the Mets to have their own culture. “We are going to develop our processes, whether it be analysis, scouting, development of our players. I am not here to be mediocre; I want something big and I know the fans want something big.
Asked about some of the ideas being launched on Twitter, Cohen said, “Having a day in the old days would be fun. I don’t know why we wouldn’t do that. He clarified that it would depend on the presence of fans at the baseball stadium.
Regarding the fans, Cohen said, “They are the customer. I need to listen and I want to listen. I am not here for a short term solution. I am here to build a sustainable franchise. I don’t want to be good for one year and bad for three years.
Cohen said his previously announced financial support for workers at Citi Field is expected to begin “soon enough.”
Asked about the protests and the general tenor of social justice that have impacted not only baseball but across the country this year, Cohen said, “I think these are important issues America is in. discussing. Black lives matter. I think it’s important that we have a diverse set of employees, not only for diversity, but also for diversity of ideas.
He added that the players are free to express themselves politically, as long as “between the lines they give 100%”.
When asked about the luxury tax threshold, Cohen said, “I promise you that we will act as a major market team. Will we act like drunken sailors in the market? No.”
When asked to give a timeline for his vision, Cohen was optimistic. “If I don’t win a World Series in the next 3-5 years – and I would like to get there sooner – it will be a little disappointing”
In one of the most memorable moments, Cohen was asked about the other bidders for the teams and if he had heard of any of them. “Who were the other bidders, I don’t remember?” was his reply.
Looking for a president of baseball operations, Cohen seemed to focus on both experience and a diverse skill set. “I want a well-rounded person. I’m not crazy about people who learn as I please. “
When asked about the vote of other MLB owners, Cohen was asked if he was disappointed that he wasn’t a unanimous choice. “I have 26 votes, it takes 23 to own. I achieved my goal.
Finally, Cohen touched on what he sees as the start of a Mets culture. “I want professionalism. I want integrity. I want to hire the best and the brightest. I want to develop an excellent agricultural system, develop our players. And let’s not forget the fans. When they interact with me, [I want their experiences] be extraordinary.
Attention then shifted to former GM and new team president Sandy Alderson. When asked what made Sandy come back to the Mets, his response was simple and straightforward: “It’s Steve Cohen.”
Alderson was asked about the dismissal of a number of front office staff on Friday, and stressed that he wanted the new president of baseball operations to be able to build the organization as he saw fit, although that it seemed to allude to some potential problems beyond just a blank slate. “As far as how we look at team structure… it all has to be aligned with the personalities. It’s not just about skills, it’s about how people interact. “
Alderson mentioned that the interview process is already underway with potential baseball operations presidents. “Two things happened on Saturday: We had a new president-elect and I interviewed my first interview for the chief operating officer of baseball.”
Until a new Baseball Ops team is formed, the team is not sitting around waiting. “I still have a very knowledgeable little group, we talk every morning, I have been in contact with agents for free agents before, I have spoken to some of our own players now, and I have also contacted Luis Rojas, so there’s a lot going on, most of it behind the scenes.
Alderson also said he would not be the only one, or even the dominant voice in the baseball talks. “I’m not going to make the decisions about baseball. I’m waiting for a seat at the table, but not at the head of the table.
As for the current squad, Alderson recognized the lack of pitching depth in the system, as well as the need for a receiver and generally better defense, even taking the blame for some of the defensive woes of the team.
When it comes to the future of the franchise, Alderson has looked both backwards and into the future. “The Mets are a legendary franchise. Some of them have been good, some of them have been bad, ”Alderson said. “We want to be a fully built professional organization. At the same time, our employees take pride … in the way the Mets work.
Alderson hasn’t been shy about talking about the increased budget he’ll likely have to work with and how this tenure with the team will be different from his last time. “I don’t think my vision of how to run a successful baseball team has changed. This may give me the opportunity to apply these changes. “
Echoing Scott Boras’ tongue, Alderson was asked which alley the Mets would shop in in the off-season. “We’re going to make sure we have enough meat and potatoes, but we’re also going to go shopping in the gourmet section. He then joked that he needed directions to find this food aisle.
“It’s not about how much we can get someone less, it’s about finding someone. We can now focus on acquisition rather than cost. “
Alderson announced that the Mets will have minor league teams in Syracuse, Binghamton, St. Lucia and Brooklyn, with Kingsport and Columbia appearing to be phased out due to Minor League Baseball reorganization. This places all of the Mets’ top-tier minor league teams in New York State for the first time.
Speaking about his prospects for employment, Alderson said, “First and foremost, the Mets have become a very attractive landing place, overnight.” He mentioned that front office staff and players seemed excited to play for the Mets, implying that the new ownership had a lot to do with it.
Perhaps the quote that best sums up the day came from the end of Cohen’s opening speech, addressing fans of the Mets. “I know you will judge me every day. I totally agree, Let’s Go Mets »
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