Long time readers know I am not a huge fan of the General Manager of the New York Mets, but I think today he may have had his finest day….and I think he may have outplayed everyone.
Scully, he had a conversation on the stage where the Mets hold press conferences, in front of a camera, with microphones nearby.
There is another man speaking in the video. I believe this to be Harold Kaufman, Executive Director of Communications. His job is communications.
We are to believe, per Wags’ statements to the press post-apology, that he totally misunderstood that it was the commissioner’s idea but rather that it was Jeff’s idea to walk off and then walk back on an hour later.
While Wags was misunderstanding that, someone was putting in his brain that it would be hard to make the game up. Why would Jeff care if the Marlins had to come back to Citi Field Monday? The Mets will be in town already playing the Yankees. It’s pretty easy to get to Citi Field from wherever the Mets sleep after playing in the Bronx. Was Jeff stressed that the Mets might have to play a game on Monday and then have to travel 205 miles in less than 24 hours to play the Orioles on Tuesday?
Do you think Jeff cares about the Marlins? Do you think Jeff even cares about the Mets having to travel 205 miles? I do not.
So somehow it gets in Wags’ brain that the schedule is a thing. How did it get there?
So here’s what I think happened here Scully.
That conversation that was accidentally broadcast – the one that was apparently up on Mets.com for some length of time – the one featuring our slick General Manager and maybe the Executive Director of Communications – the one that starts with “none of this leaves the room” – I don’t think it was an error at all.
I think this was like on the West Wing when President Bartlet knew he was on a hot mic. I think this was like when Reagan “accidentally” joked about nuking the Soviets. I think Ronnie knew what he was doing and I think Brodie knew what he was doing.
He was protecting his players.
SOMEONE wanted the Mets to play tonight, and SOMEONE probably had the power to make them play.
The Mets did not want to play.
I think Wags “accidentally” let this leak out on a hot mic, in front of a camera, on a stage with Mets signage, and on the Mets website to defend his players.
And I think he’s now taking bullets on everyone else’s behalf. He may have won over his own players. So what if the commissioner is mad at him, what does he care?
Again, think about it. The people talking. The place it happened. The website component. The court of public opinion.
I say this was no unforced error by Wags.
This was a great job by the players, and I suspect a great job by Wags who will never be able to take the credit he very well may deserve for this one.
