Posted on by Shannon Shark @metspolice

Is the idea in Flushing to win or give the impression of trying?

A passionate email from Charlie, responding to a conversation we had on twitter (i am @metspolice)

Shannon,

So sorry, Ive been wanting to address your tweet and this is the first day, Ive been able to
put down some of my thoughts.

My feelings on the Wilpons are based purely on what I have seen first hand.

The Wilpons understand one thing, money. I dont begrudge anyone for thinking that way.

However, I will repeat to you what a former front office member of the Mets once told me,
the Yankees will spend whatever it takes to win, the Mets want to win but at a price, its
more important to them to make a profit and keep an image.

That image, I suspect we are still trying to figure out what it is…

Anyhow, your tweet talks of faith, I do believe most Met fans faith is based on what
they were raised as. As Met fans, we respect and love the team, not based on what
dollars were spent but purely based on…faith. What we believed is our team.
I can certainly atest to faith, I was there in the 70s.

I dont believe in hoping for luck, although thats not a bad thing. I do believe good karma
and good things happen when you surround yourself with good people working for you and
playing for you. Hoping in New York sports for me, doesnt cut it.

You speak of a profit and Im all for the Wilpons making as much as they can, however I also
believe in treating the fans with respect. I think most Met fans will tell you they feel a lack
of respect, heck even the old players from the 80s and 69, will tell you how they haven’t
felt like a part of things for some time now. Although I do hope thats changing.

Winning begins at the top and trickles down. When you have dysfunction at the top, it also
shows and can become and serious problem

Charlie I hear you.  I have trouble picturing that the conversation with the front office person, but you seem like an honorable sort when we chat so I’ll assume it happened for purposes of discussion.

I do think the Mets have a different plan than the Yankees.  Girardi’s uniform number, as corny as it may be, speaks volumes to me.  The mission is WIN THE WORLD SERIES.   That’s it.   Yes they spend a ton but guess who has the most valuable franchise in the world.

In Flushing, I think the plan is to spend enough to keep the fanbase interested and home for some luck.  It worked in 2006, it didn’t work in 2007..or 2008….and last year was just weird.

The Mets do have a large payroll.   Someone will point out that if they increase payroll that you and I will pay for it in ticket prices.  Well, please remind me which year it was where the ticket prices went down….and I don’t mean the 2010 spin…I’m not talking about cutting the price of Bloomberg’s seats.  (Does he have seats?  I needed a rich guy for my rant).

I suspect others will have something to say….

10 Replies to “Is the idea in Flushing to win or give the impression of trying?”

  1. Here is the thing, i commend the Mets for the size of their payroll but there are 2 major problems. They do not spend it correctly and they never seem to want to go the extra mile.

    Not spending money correctly examples are Luis Castillo & Oliver Perez. Signing those guys was fine but the amount and length of the contract was awful. Look at this off-season when people were screaming for pitching and they ignored it and went out and signed Bay they said hey look we got 1 of the 3 big FA buy tickets. The thing is they thought Bay would be the quickest to sign and the faster they could sign a guy the more buzz could build about the season.

    Not willing to go the extra mile can be looked at in a few ways. The Yankees went the extra mile bringing in the 3 top FA’s of the offseason. They recognized this year would be a slim FA class and said lets go for the better players now. When the Yankees make mistakes they go the extra mile to absorb their mistakes. They eat salary trying to trade useless guys or stick stiffs like Kei Igawa in the minors to never be heard from again. When the Mets went on their 9-1 run people were talking Peavy, Oswalt or Cliff Lee. Then rumors spread that the Mets weren’t really willing to take on guys like that because of the size of their contract. Keep in mind this team is not willing to send GMJ packing for $2 million dollars. Are you freaking kidding me?

  2. the “Mets don’t want to win” spin is just hater paranoid crap.

    The Wilpons want to win as much as any other owner in baseball. I’m sure George Steinbrenner may have felt differently (but I doubt Hal and Hank do), but his tinkering and desire to win probably hurt the teams more than it helped.

    Look at Johnny Damon. Now, maybe it wasn’t about the money, but they said it was. They said they were budgeting. However, the Yankees are going to make a 9 figured profit this year. What’s another 10 million if it’s really the best option for the team?

    If anything, the Mets spent money very smartly this season. They got a big power bat that they needed (that hasn’t shown up yet, but not the point), they severely revamped the bullpen (good moves), and didn’t get a starting pitcher. However, there was only one pitcher, Lackey, who would’ve been a given as a big upgrade, and he came with injury risks and a high price and a way too long contract. So fine. But the Mets left themselves in a position to make a move midseason for a pitcher if need be, and it’s actually the offense that’s struggling now anyway, and there weren’t really any upgrades to 3B, SS, 1B, C or CF or even really 2B that would’ve make us better. I’ll give you RF, but Francoeur was showing signs of success here and we have OF prospects in the minors, and well, Beltran..who knows.

    Yes, the Yankees go above and beyond and buy players and pay for mistakes, but that doesn’t mean that making money isn’t their number 1 concern.

  3. The problem is, the Mets “stars” are only stars to them. Other than Santana, who are the Mets stars that could be future HOFers? Wright? Well he’s a good ballplayer, but not great. Reyes? He might be done or never what he was in ’06. Bay? Good player but more of a supporting player on a power lineup, which is not Mets. Beltran when he was playing was always a “soft” player however looking at his numbers a few ago, Mets sure miss him.

    Plain and simple they are not that talented. That’s it. They are not the Yanks, Red Sox, Rays or Phils.

    Regarding the comment on Girardi and his #28. Sorry but that is simple bush league. You, me or my girlfriend could manage the Yankees and win the division. And how many future HOFers do they have in their lineup compared to Mets? And with an added $75M over the 2nd highest payroll you can do get alot of stars which borders on silly and the ruining of the game.

  4. John Garland would have been a fine pick up for the Mets in the offseason. They barely even kicked the tires on him and he went to San Diego for 5M.
    He’s pitching better than he is right nwo, but he’s durable and can anyone honestly say he wouldn’t be better than Maine? or even Niese (who could have started in triple A)?
    There’s one example of a problem everyone knew about, the rotation, which could have had a hole plugged with a guy on a 1 yr, relatively inexpensive commitment.
    If Jeff Wilpon hadn’t gotten on WFAN and assured fans things would be different this season and that the team was committed to putting a championship calber roster on the field was a priority, only to have the team cut payroll and not (really) ticket prices makes them come across as not exactly committed to winning first.

  5. Wright Reyes and Beltran could easily become hall of famers, sure. They’re real stars, for sure.

    Castillo and Bay are above average players. Pelfrey is doing pretty well.

    Don’t fool yourself that the Mets aren’t talented. They are. They can beat any team when they’re playing well.

  6. I really hope you do a rant on the fact that the Mets are honoring their 2000 NL Champ team tomorrow. The fact that it’s happening on a night they are playing the team that beat them
    is utterly embarrasing.

    1. Yeah tom it’s up there now

      I’m glad they are honoring the past but it’s not the best night

      It doesn’t even make sense financially

  7. Ceetar – Exactly when they are playing well……….which that have not for a full season for at least the last 2. Reasons bad combination of players, lack of alot of talent and injuries which every team suffers. (but I will admit 09 was a little too much.) At very best they are a 85 win team. I love to be wrong.

  8. I just finished reading all the comments on the email I sent Shannon. Im flattered that so many of you added your thoughts.
    Im not sure though that some of you guys read exactly what I wrote. As for the “Mets don’t want to win”, I never wrote that. What I was commenting on was Shannon’s thoughts on what the Wilpons do/hope for. Thanks again!

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