SAN FRANCISCO – How many times do the Mets not get the big, available guy before they stop just being the second team in New York and become no more relevant than the Brooklyn Cyclones?
Here’s a question to ponder, if George Steinbrenner were the “other” club in town do you think he would have talked about Alex Rodriguez being a “24-and-1 player” or do you think he would have signed him? Do you think The Boss would have started bidding late and ineffectually on Mike Mussina and allowed him to go to the other team in town? Do you think Steinbrenner would have not pursued Barry Bonds as Jason Giambi was signing with the other New York baseball resident?
And do you think Steinbrenner, coming off a last-place finish and in need of a charismatic manager, would have let Lou Piniella and Dusty Baker slip away in favor of drab Art Howe?
Fred Wilpon shares a city, but not a mindset with Steinbrenner, who probably will be bringing the best slugger in Japan, Hideki Matsui, to New York this offseason. Meanwhile, Wilpon’s A-Rod-less, Bonds-less club now has Howe. And Mets fan should ask why? The Mets owner said upon firing Bobby Valentine that he was in charge and would name the next manager, and this is what he has given the city.
Wilpon did not act shrewdly or decisively to form the right compensation package to get Piniella and did not wait for the World Series to end to try on Baker. And the reason with both might be found in your wallet. Piniella is expected to sign a four-year, $13 million deal with the Devil Rays. Howe’s contract is for four years at $9.4 million.
“I heard Jeff Moorad [Baker’s agent] was letting people know that Dusty was going to want four years in the $15 million to $20 million range,” a veteran agent said yesterday. “If he didn’t tell Met people that directly, he made sure they knew.
“That’s a lot for a guy you aren’t sure is coming. So rather than wait and find out Baker would rather go to the Cubs or wait and find out that Baker was going to cost $4 million a year, he just went a lot less expensive than Piniella or Baker.”
Do you think Steinbrenner would have done that?
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Howe was released by the Cardinals as a player on April 22, 1985. He was hired as a coach on May 21, 1985 by the Rangers’ first-year manager – a guy named Bobby Valentine. . . .
An NL GM said Piniella will find working for the hopeless combo of Tampa owner Vince Naimoli and GM Chuck LaMar is “baseball hell . . . I can’t believe he wanted to go to Tampa Bay regardless of how much money was given to him. The guy who is the GM there has no idea what the [bleep] he is doing. If Chuckles [LaMar] is still really in charge, Piniella is [bleeped].” . . .
Chili Davis could have had the hitting coach job in Colorado or San Diego, but said he wanted $300,000 (the new major league minimum), reasoning the hitting coach is worth at least as much as the 25th player. That priced him out, so the Rockies chose Cecil Espy. San Diego wants to name former Met Dave Magadan. But Magadan is Piniella’s godson and it is possible Piniella will tab Magadan to be hitting coach in their hometown, Tampa Bay. . . .
With some of the money saved from not retaining Howe, the A’s would like to quickly re-sign free agent Ray Durham, who they obtained at the trading deadline. The A’s, though, would want Durham to at least consider moving to the outfield. . . .
Responding to a report in the Daily News that the Expos would play their 2003 home games in Fenway Park, Commissioner Bud Selig said: “It’s silly. There’s never been any descussion of it and there’s no way that’s going to happen. I can’t even imagine where that came from.” . . .
Selig is said to be extremely unhappy with the Mets for finalizing a contract during the World Series and will definitely fine them. . . . About the most diplomatic thing a fellow GM said when asked about the Mets’ managerial hire: “Art Howe is a nice guy, but he’s no Lou Piniella.” . . .
Orioles GM Syd Thrift is expected to retire Monday. It is possible that former Baltimore pitcher and current announcer Mike Flanagan could get the job.