31
2011
Doug’s Dugout: Hot Flashes and Frozen Treats
An article by Doug Branch
In Doug’s Dugout today we discuss, The Wilpons, Jose’ Reyes moving cross-town, and other frozen thoughts:
The only truth gleaned from the news that the Wilpons are seeking a partner to buy 25% of the Mets is that they may have lied to Mets fans. Since the Bernie Madoff scandal broke, and their names attached, they claimed their losses would have nothing to do with the day to day operation of the team. That turned out to be a bold faced lie (sorry I meant Gains!).
You only have to look at the paltry amount of money spent this off-season (around $8.1 million) on “talent,” to fill a plethora of holes. The team abstained on second and third tier talent (I’m conceding the Cliff Lee’s and Jason Werth’s of the world-but the going rate for a 200-inning hurler is $5 million per) and Sandy Alderson (I’ll get to him in a minute) was in witness protection for that bidding.
Maybe he got lost driving from yard sale-to-yard sale sifting through the broken toy bins.
But, I digress, back to the fearless leaders, Fred and Jeff. It’s obvious that they are up to their neck in bad debt and the trustee assigned to recoup money to Madoff’s victims-including many non-profit religious organizations, must look like Fred’s boyhood friend, Sandy Koufax, peering in at them from thirty feet-three inches.
Turns out the well-heeled Long Island real estate family (and relatives) might’ve profited mightily from Madoff’s elaborate Ponzi scheme. Skewing the initial and prevailing speculation that he had lost his (custom made) shirt.
Sounds like selling only a quarter share of the Mets is merely a drop in the bucket for reeling owners. Numerous reports have the Wilpons on the hook for closer to the one billion dollar mark. Ouch! (Parking and beer just went up to $25 a pop next season).
Coupled with the debt for Citi Field, the park that keeps on taking (money and home runs), that might lead to a buyer with a much bigger voice than anticipated. That is about the best news Mets fans have heard in a long time. However, you can bet the Wilpons will hold onto the deciding one percent at all costs.
I suppose if I was investing with funds run by Madoff and the monthly statements were coming back in the beautiful black, I would rationalize that he was a sagacious investor and look the other way too. According to reports, the Wilpons and brother-in-law and Mets front man Saul Katz, had more accounts on Bernie’s cooked books than empty seats at Citi Field last season.
Madoff, the lout, who declined to attend his son’s funeral after he hung himself from an exposed pipe in his high-priced Tribeca loft, must’ve looked like God to the Wilpons. The problem with money is what to do with it when it piles up as high as snowbanks (something that is foreign to most of us). When you are rich you look to stash it anywhere but the mattress.
When the gains are good you keep funneling more and more, I suppose. The only difference between the Wilpons and the little old lady who lost her life savings is they were shrewd enough to withdraw theirs from the top of the house of cards before a stiff breeze blew it down.
Furthermore, it is crystal clear why they brought Alderson in. Who has more experience than him building a team on a shoe-string budget? A Rule Five draft pick here, a pitcher on the mend there. He has gone on record that it’s not a given that the $50 million coming off the books in 2012 will not be re-invested in the free agent market to replace expiring deadwood contracts (although, he back peddled after the backlash).
Way to inspire the faithful, Sandy! Not only have you spent like a pauper for 2011 you might go the same route the following year.
Just look at Alderson’s salary (in the $3 million per neighborhood). He did not give the Mets a break there (and he brought in high-priced underlings) and he’s a strong enough personality, because of his experience, that he can handle the heat of being accused a bean counter.
So when Reyes flees to the Yankees he can offer his explanation in dulcet tones. Moreover, it would be a perfect fit for the Bronx Bombers. A chance to add a dynamic leadoff hitter with the built in excuse of playing the same position as Derek Jeter. The Captain will realize the team is improved offensively and defensively, and at 37 quietly move to the outfield. Brian Cashman and the vindictive Steinbrenner boys will consider it an extra bonus that they stole him from the hapless Mets.
(As Andy Rooney says, “you ever notice how..” the Yankees always acquire ex-Mets with gas left in the tank-Straw, Cone, and Feliciano, and the Mets add Bill Sudakis, Elliot Maddox, and Andy Phillips?)
All I can say is with all the turmoil surrounding the Mets, I’d still rather hear the sounds of baseballs hitting bats and gloves then the roar of my snow blower clearing my lost driveway again. Maybe next winter I’ll hire the newly formed, “Wilpon Family Snow Removal Contractors,” for the job.
About the Author: Doug Branch
Doug has been sports writing since 1983. He first wrote about the Mets at spring training that year, and his first interviewee was surly catcher Ron Hodges. He currently writes for Mets Inside Pitch, among other magazines published by Scout Publishing-which is owned by Fox Sports. He began following the team during the Wes Westrum era, and redeemed many Borden milk coupons for free Saturday baseball. The night of Tom Seaver's imperfect game against the Cubs, he was in line to buy a ticket when the windows slammed shut and abject disappointment ensued.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 26 | 17 | .605 | - |
| Nationals | 25 | 17 | .595 | 0.5 |
| Marlins | 23 | 19 | .548 | 2.5 |
| Mets | 22 | 20 | .524 | 3.5 |
| Phillies | 21 | 22 | .488 | 5.0 |
Last updated: 05/22/2012
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Good heavens, where to start.
1) The Wilpons did not lie about the Madoff thing not affecting day to day operations. They are possibly selling up to 25%, well bellow controling interest. Right now, Sterling Mets is their most attractive asset. So, they sell off enough to guarantee you seats behind home plate and a day of golf with David Wright.
2) The free agent market was pretty shallow. Outside of Crawford and Werth (who both got outrageous contracts), and Lee (which would have been a bad deal for the Mets), who would you have liked them to get?
3) “Madoff, the lout, who declined to attend his son’s funeral after he hung himself from an exposed pipe in his high-priced Tribeca loft”
By “declined” you must mean “the judge didn’t let him out to do so”
4)”So when Reyes flees to the Yankees he can offer his explanation in dulcet tones. Moreover, it would be a perfect fit for the Bronx Bombers. A chance to add a dynamic leadoff hitter with the built in excuse of playing the same position as Derek Jeter. The Captain will realize the team is improved offensively and defensively, and at 37 quietly move to the outfield. Brian Cashman and the vindictive Steinbrenner boys will consider it an extra bonus that they stole him from the hapless Mets.”
I have a whacky idea: Why don’t we let Reyes’ agent and the FO figure out the contract thing before we ship him off to your Bornx wet dream, okay?
good stuff Donal.
There are also plenty of other teams that will be interested in Reyes though.
Also, they spend more than 8.1 mill this off season. The rotation alone (counting Young and Capuano, and assuming they reach ~1/2 of their incentives)they invested at least 10mill, when you factor in it cost almost over 6 million to retain Dickey and Pelfrey.
and who exactly were all the 200 inning locks that were available for $5mill, that sandy turned his nose up at?
as to all your stuff about the Wilpons financial situation, let’s just say you have a flair for hyperbole.
And who cares about eating 200 innings if the guy is crappy anyway? I’d rather have 2 guys each give us around 150 innings of good ball and piece together the rest than 2 guys each give us 200 innings of lousy ball. The former gives us a much better shot at winning.
Someone needs to put you out of your misery. How do you put up such a doom and gloom post and then talk about wanting to hear balls hitting bats and gloves? Obviously you have no interest in that.
Clearly Alderson knew that his job was going to be to get the absolute most possible while spending as little as he can get away with. Even with that mandate he is still looking to position the team down the road, but prudently.
The RA Dickey signing, buying out next year and reserving the right at a small cost for 2013 shows that he is looking beyond this year despite being forced to go with some hold for the fort guys for right now.
Compare the situation that Minaya walked into. The only soon to be revealed bad money on the books was Kaz Matsui’s 14M. Alderson could be looking at as much as 180M (Castillo 6, Perez 12, Beltran 18, Bay 66 and Johan 80) and that’s not counting K-Rod who has pitched well but would clearly be overpaid by a lot if his option vests (30M)over two years.
Minaya had 14M in bad contracts and spent 172M on Pedro and Beltran, attempted to spend another 60M on Delgado before settling on Mentkavage.
Alderson had basically the complete opposite. He could have as much as 180M in bad contracts and only 14M or so including new acquisitions, arb raises and incentives.
The two situations could not possibly be more different. They are the total opposite of each other.
Despite these polar opposite conditions the Mets will have the highest payroll in their entire history this year even if 90%+ of it was agreed to before Alderson took the job.
For all those complaining about ‘paltry’ money spent this off season, I’d like to know who exactly Sandy should have went after that he didn’t?
Lee? please. He wasn’t coming here at probably double the cost.
Werth? again, please. Did you see what the Nats paid him? We didn’t need a RF that bad. Not this year, and possibly not next either depending on the talent coming up.
Crawford? Not likely with the Bay contract.
I keep reading many pointing out the problems, but I’ve yet to see anyone post a better solution than what we have right now. Throwing good money after bad for 2011 is a bad idea, IMO.