5 Ways Sandy Alderson Channels Frank Cashen

Here are the top five ways Sandy Alderson, new GM of the Mets, is channeling a GM from more than a generation ago, Frank Cashen.

Technically Cashen is still around, so no spirits from another realm are actually channeled.  But the parallels are amazing.  Lets take a look:

First, Alderson, like Cashen, is not a home grown product. Immediately preceding Cashen were Joe McDonald and Bob Scheffing.  Both of these GM’s had worked in the Mets front office before rising to the General Manager position.  Prior to Alderson was Omar Minaya, who had worked for the Mets, then left and returned in late 2004 as General Manager.  Before Minaya came Jim Duquette, who was Assistant GM to Steve Phillips.  Phillips worked in the front office seven years before being annointed General Manager.  Joe McIllvaine preceded Phillips, and McIllvaine was preceded by Al Harazin.  Both Harazin and McIllvaine worked in the front office directly under Cashen.

This is important because an outsider like Cashen and Alderson bring a fresh (outside) perspective to the needs of the Met franchise, and the business of the Mets.  Which bring us to point two:

Both Cashen and Alderson arrived at a time when morale, track record and near-term prospects seem dim and a massive overhaul may be needed. At the very least, a change is direction is warranted.  When Cashen arrived, the Mets had four straight years of 90 or more losses.  Alderson comes in as General Manager after two disappointing seasons: 92 losses in 2009 and a near .500 record in 2010.  2009 and 2010 came on  the heels of two successive September collapses in 2007 and 2008.  And they both may appear to be the right person for the job, as we see in point three:

Not only does the major league club need a change, the entire organization, including the farm system, needs a new approach. When Cashen came in, the team was insisting lower level minor teams re-use game balls day after day.  Virtually no resources were allocated to build a strong farm system, and few dollars were devoted to building the top level team with free agents.  Alderson is in the process of “getting the band back together.”  Alderson is reconstructing the leadership team that helped succeed in Oakland.  Which reinforces reason number four:

Experience. Alderson put together an excellent team on the field and re-built a barren farm system in Oakland.  Cashen had experience helping to construct the championship teams in Baltimore.  They both know how to build (or re-build) a winning organization, not just for a one-year fix.  Their reputation drives home point five:

Both Cashen and Alderson come to the Mets through the Commissioners Office. Both Doubleday and Wilpon got in to the business of owning  the Mets with no experience.  One of their first decisions was to ask the Commissioners Office for help in selecting a General Manager who would help re-build the franchise.  Alderson comes in after the Wilpons consulted with the Commissioner’s Office.  After the interview process, the man with the best credentials and experience is being brought in to right the organization.

There is something else that should be pointed out.  Cashen came and while the minor leagues were being re-built in 1980 through 1983, the big league team continued to struggle.  90 losses or more, which began in the mid-1970’s continued through 1983.  The only exception was the strike year of 1981, but the losses continued at the same rate for nearly ten years: the Mets lost (on average) 60% of all their games.  Ugly.

So, it is possible we may not see a quick fix with Sandy Alderson driving the bus.  But the parallels to Frank Cashen are tough to dispute.

Now it is your turn.  What other parallels do you see between Cashen and Alderson, and what kind of results do you expect Alderson may see in his first few seasons?

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Tagged as: Al Harazin, Bob Scheffing, Frank Cashen, Joe McDonald, Joe McIllvaine, Omar Minaya, Sandy Alderson, Steve Phillips