The Mets Police

The Daily News says that Jeff Francoeur tipped Charlie Samuels $50,000.   That’s nice.  Jeff seems like a good tipper and I imagine Charlie’s clubhouse services were excellent.

In 2010 Jeff made $5,000,000 (I think.  I saw some other place that said $5.5m.  Let’s use $5m since it is a nice round number.)

I bet some Mets Police readers make $50,000 a year.  That’s 1% of five million, right?  I stink at math.  Alternatively, Jeff makes 100 times what you make.

So, to a guy like you – a $50,000 tip is a $500 tip.   If you make 30 grand it’s a $300 tip, if you make six figures it’s a grand.

I have never made five million a year, perhaps I would have more disposable income if I did.

It appears that Jeff Francoeur is an excellent tipper!

Looks to me like the read of the day is Matthew Artus’ asking Who Knew What Samuels Knew on nj.com

Matt shares a bunch of Charlie Samnuels anecdotes you may not be familiar with (I wasn’t) and then acts the tough questions.

A bit of speculation mixed in…but a great way to start your morning.

I continue to be bothered that instead of talking about Sandy Alderson or the new manager or ticket prices that we’re in scandal mode again.   Meanwhile in the Bronx the biggest problem seems to be how many zillions of dollars to overpay the captain.   It never ends in Flushing.

The Mets aren’t real are they?

They are just a television show, or I am on the Truman Show or something because this can’t possibly be a real story-line.   It just can’t.  (I suspect Greg Prince is the head writer.)

I was out all day and just got home so I jumped on Mets Blog to see what I missed and Michael Baron’s headline is Francisco Rodriguez Lived With Charlie Samuels.

Now you guys are just effing with me.  You probably set up a fake “bloggers conference call” and are all snickering that I believed I was speaking to “David Howard” and now you’ve made up that K-Rod was living with Charlie, and even have me caught up in a non-controversy over who chooses the black uniforms.

You’re all just messing with me.  This can’t be happening.  Next you’ll pretend to name Lee Mazzilli the manager.

That information came to light in the course of a criminal investigation into a gambling ring in which the authorities believe Samuels was involved, according to two people briefed on the matter.

via Mets’ Francisco Rodriguez Lived With Suspended Clubhouse Manager – NYTimes.com.

Uni Watch (one of my favorite sites) threw me a nice mention and link today in relation to whether or not Charlie Samuels selected the uniforms on a game by game basis.

Last summer, several of the bloggers were invited by the Mets for a meet and greet.  At that meet and greet I spent a lot of time talking with various members of the Mets communications department.  These were casual discussions so I won’t name drop.

I don’t remember the particulars of the flow of the conversation but we wound up talking about the uniforms.  I was told that the starting pitcher gets to choose the uniform of the day, and the clubhouse music for the day.

On Uni Watch Paul, provied another narrative and quotes a former Mets batboy Matt Harris and saying the selection was made by Charlie.

I figured you’d all find it interesting.   I share because it’s interesting and fun, and not to say I’m right or Paul’s right.  Paul and I are on the same side of hating the black, and he is the king of hating the black and I am just a mere follower-in-footsteps.  The Black Crowes to his Rolling Stones.

The folks I was talking to that night have been nothing but great to me and the site, so I personally can’t believe there was a misinformation campaign.   It would have been just was easy to say “yeah, Charlie and you wouldn’t get along.”

Anyway…here’s the read of the day…well, of the morning anyway until all hell breaks loose over Samuelsgate.

Man, reading the below makes me sad…

The investigation is looking into whether Samuels provided inside information to friends and relatives about the status of Mets players, among other things.  It’s also investigating claims that Samuels used Mets bank accounts to float himself loans, skimmed money on hotel rooms he ordered for players as the team’s traveling secretary and stole and/or sold hundreds of bats, balls and jerseys from the Mets clubhouse.  The Daily News reports that Samuels reported income to the IRS many, many times greater than his annual salary

via Mets clubhouse manager allegedly bet on baseball, stole from the team | HardballTalk.

I tend to stay away from the personal stuff here on Mets Police.  I just want the team to win while dressed nicely.  I’m not about the gossip.

The Mets were having such a good week.  Everyone was happy about the team.  No, no matter what the facts wind up being, the news cycle includes the words Mets and “betting on baseball.”   That’s unfortunate.

Once again I had a series of posts scheduled that I’m now gonna hold…as we see how this develops.

Will MLB investigate?  What about this scary speculation from the same article:

You have to assume that the league will now have to look into whether any players were involved as well.

Not good, not good, not good.

I’m working on some other things today – Mediagoon has the keys to the store.  If you see anything you think should be posted today hit him up at [email protected]