Lots of discussion about Mets’ assistant GM John Ricco in the comments section here and elsewhere.
Here’s what we know about John Ricco:
- He worked in the commissioner’s office for 12 years before joining the Mets in 2004. He spent his last eight years there as the Director of Contract and Salary Administration.
- He graduated from Villanova University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in communications and a minor in business (thanks, Mets media guide!).
- He has worked in the Mets’ front office since April 15, 2004.
- He was credited for suggesting the Mets trade for Jeff Francoeur. We don’t know if he proposed the actual terms of the deal, or if he suggested it ironically.
- He conducted the conference call to explain Carlos Beltran’s messy surgery situation this Winter, purportedly because Omar Minaya was on a plane.
- He scheduled the first round of interviews for the Mets’ vacant GM position and was in the room for the interviews. He was not present for the second round of interviews.
- His name is pronounced like “rick-oh,” not “reek-oh,” as had been previously assumed.
And that’s really it. Right?
Some people are convinced he is a lackey for ownership, kept on board to serve as a mole in the front office. Others think he is a worthwhile GM-in-waiting, fit to be groomed to succeed Sandy Alderson.
I don’t know. Seems like he might be ascending into the bugaboo position vacated by Tony Bernazard, the man most likely to be blamed for everything that goes wrong with the Mets.
But I’m certain that judging someone based on the decisions of his superiors is silly, and that we probably don’t know enough about Ricco to say with any confidence whether his role in the next front office will be beneficial or detrimental to the Mets’ on-field success.
If you know more about John Ricco, feel free to share.
Tedquarters 
The thing that seems strange to me is that Ricco appears to have a guaranteed position of importance, at least at the beginning, of the new administration.
Maybe that’s a good thing, but it seems like it should be Sandy Alderson’s call, not the Wilpons’.
Agreed.
Just like any other job, maybe the bosses like him or keep him around because just maybe he’s a good employee?
You dont even know what his actual role is with the team or what he does, so how can really say what he should be doing or shouldnt be doing or whos call it is.
According to Teds post here, Ricco predated even Omar Minaya in the front office. His title is assistant GM I think (can you confirm that in your media guide Ted?), but who really knows what he does. From the sound of it, the guy seems like just more of a really good baseball administrative type guy, having worked in the MLB front offices etc. If thats the case, theres no reason he shouldnt stay around.
I mean he gets this credit for the Francoeur trade, but outside of that when is he ever mentioned as playing a role in any real “baseball” decisions?
I would say interviewing the future general manager involves playing a role in baseball decisions.
Again with the assumptions? You think Ricco was conducting the interview? Or helping to make the decision on who the Mets were going to pick?
All that was ever written was that he helped to set up the interviews and that he was ‘present’.
Probably like I said means he could be nothing more than a baseball adminstrative type assistant.
I read something that put him in the interviews more for his depth of knowledge about the organization. I mean, sure, Fred and Jeff might talk to a guy and say, hey, what are your ideas? But much better if they can have a conversation with him that includes a guy familiar with all aspects of the organization, all the players, contracts, detail they don’t pay so much attention to. That’s why Ricco was there. He wasn’t “interviewing” – i.e., giving his approval.
Look you can’t just completely gut an organization on day one. Someone’s gotta be around to inform the new administration about the current state of the team.