Dec
11
2011

MMO Flashback: 12/13/2010 – It’s Always About The Money

An article by Joe D

MMO FLASHBACK - DECEMBER 13, 2010

I feel compelled to pen something before the end of this year, although it is a year that we would all like to forget as Mets fans. We have had almost nothing to brag about during the off-season as fans of the Metropolitans except that we have returning players that may help us before the All Star break and that is not even a guarantee, i.e. Johan Santana. We did sign Ronny Paulino, no disrespect meant to Mr. Paulino.

When you look at the money spent on this team, they have guaranteed contracts of $121.67 million for the 2011 season so far and in comparison, our rivals to the south of us in Philadelphia have $138.178 million in committed money and have a stud lineup and pitching staff. What went wrong?

Spending money in a haphazard way has done nothing to make our team better; we signed Jason Bay for a ballpark that requires speed and pitching. We signed Luis Castillo, who on a good Sunday afternoon in August is playing on one leg, and I don’t even want to mention Ollie Perez.

Maybe it is time to trade some of the “cornerstones”. I frankly would trade Wright and re-sign Reyes to a long term deal, you can always get a hard hitting third baseman, but a game changer like Reyes, in Citifield? Who’s better?

Just take a look at this link and you will see that we signed guys who are simply disjointed pieces and that there was probably no plan. The plan may have had something to do with appeasing a fan base, because the Yankees always appear to spend big.

In business when you have problems like this, you fire the CEO and start over, that is what is going on in Flushing and we have to give Sandy Alderson some time and we are all looking forward to the 2012 season. Oh, I will watch the games this upcoming season, I always do, maybe some of the youngsters will help us through the season with hope for the future, but at this point it is all about the money and there is no more to spend.

I don’t know if the plight of the Mets has anything to do with Bernie Madoff, but it is sad that we as Mets fans support our team and the owners have decided to support an incompetent front office too long without a plan. It would appear that the owners current plan is to turn the team over to another steward, who I hope knows what he is doing. We do have an All Star team in the front office for sure and we have spent more money on front office personnel than we have on our rotation and bullpen.

I look forward to the future; let’s hope that the front office has some great New Year’s resolutions, because the future is so bright you have to wear shades. Remember when someone tells you it’s not about the money, it’s always about the money.

This Fan Shot was written by Dennis S. and originally posted a year ago this week.

About the Author: Joe DeCaro

I'm a lifelong Mets fan who loves writing and talking about the Amazins' 24/7. From the Miracle in 1969 to the magic of 1986, and even the near misses in '73 and '00, I've experienced it all - the highs and the lows. I started Mets Merized Online in 2005 to feed my addiction. Follow me on Twitter @metsmerized.

3 Comments + Add Comment

Mr North Jersey December 11, 2011 at 10:55 am

I said this in another post but I think it’s more fitting here. In retrospect when thinking about last year at this time compared to now what I didn’t expect this off season was more and more the reality of how bad the financial situation seems to be. You can’t really know the gravity or lack thereof it is without seeing the books but when Howard Megdal asked his question during the recent conference call and you hear the GM publicly say that ownership pushed back on what he expected to have available that was disconcerting to hear.
- theonlymaskman December 12, 2011 at 9:33 am
  
  Congratulations on finally beginning to see the light! How long has it been that you refused to admit that the Wilpon’s financials were dreadful and putting a distinct damper on the state of the Mets? Your statement of how miguided your expectations were is a huge understatement. You persisted in refusing to understand the implications of the financials for an incredible length of time. Perhaps now you are begiining to see how dire the situation actually is. The Madoff clawback continues to compound upon the declining gate and the cascade of red ink. The MLB loan keeps Selig in the driver’s seat with SA, his proxy, missioned to downsize the team to the level of affordability. The downsizing only compunds the gate problem as the exodus of talented players (Jose’ in the forefront) continues the downward spiral of gate receipts as fans opt to pass on ticket purchases. The focus of the FO is not winning games, but getting out from contracts to reduce operating expense. It is apparent that MLB edicted the Moneyball approach upon the Mets. The red ink MUST be reduced and eventually eliminated at all costs. The cost is substandard team performance and lack of competitiveness for the indefinite future. The real tragedy occurred when Einhorn walked because he refused to be played as a sucker. The stubborness of the Wilpons keeps buyers away and, with that, any chance of infusing new capital in the team. Be prepared for a long period of disappointment. Without the sale of the team to a new owner, it will be at least 2020 before there is any chance of true rebuilding. In the meantime, the downward spiral is in force as the team is dismantled. A transition of ownership is sorely needed to save this team and maintain fan interest.
  
  Welcome aboard as you slowly begin to perceive reality!
srt December 11, 2011 at 11:49 am

Reyes is gone. Time to move on. It’s a done deal.

No doubt the Wilpons were in financial trouble this time last year when they got a 25 MIL load from MLB. They could not have known just how bad a shape they’d be in until the 2011 season was over. The reports are 70 MIL lost. Whether that includes loans or not it’s still a boatload of money.

Greater revenues lost in 2011 mean lower payroll in 2012. Hold onto your hat b/c I don’t see any way revenues for the 2012 are likely to be better. That has to spell even lower payroll next year. Not unless the Wilpons finally pull the plug and sell the team – my fondest wish.

This isn’t about the FO, it’s all about the Wilpons and the deal they cut with Selig to try and hold onto this team. If you want to throw the current FO in there to blame, then you have to spread that blame equally to the last FO as well. They’re a big reason we’re in the situation we’re in.
Bottom line though is the Wilpons hired Minaya and gave him an extension.
Even if the deal cut with Selig included Alderson, again it all goes back to the Wilpons.

Realiyt is the current sad state of affairs is all on ownership.

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	23	18	.561	-
Nationals	23	19	.548	0.5
Phillies	20	22	.476	3.5
Mets	16	23	.410	6.0
Marlins	11	31	.262	12.5

Last updated: 05/18/2013

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