My Q&A With Jeff Wilpon – Murphy, Seaver and the QBC

Last night I attended the Mets-Phillies game and thanks to StubHub ended up with a seat just a few rows over the Mets dugout.  Before the start of the game I looked down, and who was sitting just a few rows in front of me but Mets COO Jeff Wilpon.

I put it out on Twiiter (@dtwohig) asking if anyone had any questions.  As I expected the majority of people responding wanted me to ask him about resigning Cespedes or about selling the team.  Sure, I could have – but either question is a non-starter.  The Wilpons are not selling the team, and Cespedes is a rental.

Then Shannon asked me to ask him about resigning Murphy.  Perfect question – and completely unexpected. So around the 2nd inning –

DT: Jeff, can you please resign Murphy?

JW: What? (looking at me wondering where that one came from, then laughing) Sure, OK

OK, we’ve established a rapport and he knows I’m not going to be aggressive.  A few innings later I went for the second one –

DT: Jeff, a serious question if you don’t mind.

JW: Sure, go ahead

DT: When are you going to put a statue of Seaver in front of the ballpark?

JW: Oh we hope to have him out soon

(OK, wasn’t my question, but good to know that the Mets are trying to get The Franchise out to NY)

DT: No, I was asking why isn’t there a statue of Tom Seaver outside CitiField?  Most other teams have statues to their greats, why not the Mets?

JW: It’s not up to me

DT: Oh come on, of course it is – can you put one up?

JW: Well, no (and he shrugged his shoulders)

OK, well that was a longer exchange than I expected,  I was prepared to end it there, but then Media Goon suggested I ask him about coming to the QBC.  OK, challenge accepted.  I waited to the end of the game and was able to get to him as he was bolting out after the final out.  I shook his hand and thanked him for answering my questions, and said I had one more.

DT: Jeff, we’d love to have you come out to the QBC next year.  Will you come?

JW: QBC? What’s that?

DT: The Queens Baseball Convention – the Mets fan convention.

JW: Oh ok – get me the details.  I’ll see

And then he was gone.

So, in the end, Jeff said:

1. He would resign Murph (though I’m not taking him 100% seriously)
2. They are trying to get Seaver out for a visit
3. There will be no Seaver statue
4. He didn’t say no to coming to the QBC

Will he come?  I guess it’s an open question now.