Sandy Alderson has continued to reiterate his plan on rebuilding the Mets the last few days.

In speaking with Ed Randall, Alderson talked about his process and being systematic. He emphasized a plan to have a strong scouting and player development system. Despite spending less than $10 million dollars this offseason, he didn’t shun free agency, but rather, discussed how that part of the business needs to complement the roster. A perfect example is how Boston has been able to acquire Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez thanks to their strong farm system. Inexpensive players at secondary positions and wealth of prospects made that possible. You can’t plug 25 holes via trade and free agency, but you can add to your group if other positions are managed cost effectively.

Alderson also discussed the structure of his scouting department to Andy Martino of the Daily News. Each pro scout will cover just three organizations, but far more comprehensively than before – from the low minor leagues to the major league club. J.P. Ricciardi will oversee their work. I think it’s fairly obvious how details information on the other 29 big league teams will benefit the Mets operations. The more information, the better the decision making.

This is just the beginning of a long overdue “Mets Way” of conducting business. Even if you don’t agree with Alderson’s methods you have to respect the fact he has conviction to a philosophy. If it fails, it won’t be because of disorganization, but rather failure to execute good core principles.

The one danger to all this is the ownership situation. If all the experts are correct and the Wilpon’s are going to be forced to sell a majority, or all, of their stake in the team, what does that mean for the Alderson front office?

There has been speculation of Tampa owner Stu Sternberg jumping into the fray for a piece of the team. Another rumor is a group comprised of Martin Luther King III, Ed Kranepool, Charles Dolan, and Mark Cuban, among others, making an offer to purchase 100% of the team and SNY as early as today. Is the Secaucus Seven back in town?

Whoever winds up involved with the team there is a chance they don’t agree with the Alderson philosophy, or quite simply, want to bring in their own people. Would a Sternberg bring Andy Freidman with him to New York? Would a Mark Cuban, someone I support, want a plan that centers on patience, development, and long term growth as his signature as a new MLB owner? I believe Alderson’s long term plan will be effective, but it certainly isn’t sexy. Player Development and scouting are just buzzwords for the casual fan. It doesn’t help market the team or sell tickets. Signing someone like Albert Pujols will, regardless of whether it financially constrains the team for years to come.

What Alderson has going for him is his relationship with Bud Selig. Any ownership group will have to get approval from the MLB don himself. Selig can’t force anyone to keep Alderson long term, but he certainly could sell a prospective owner on the importance of consistency, especially during the three years of Alderson’s contract. Again, I don’t have an answer, just questions, but it is something to think about while this ownership mess is worked out.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

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Tags: Bud Selig, Charles Dolan, Ed Kranepool, Fred Wilpon, J.P. Ricciardi, Jeff Wilpon, Mark Cuban, Martin Luther King III, New York Mets, Sandy Alderson, Stu Sternberg, Tampa Bay Rays