Mets ownership care “far more” than fans believe.
That’s what former general manager Steve Phillips expressed in a series of Twitter posts on Wednesday.
“The Wilpons’ want to win,” Phillips said. “I never doubted that in my 13 years in the front office. I haven’t doubted it since then. They budget to break even. I always knew my payroll. I also never stated it publicly.”
He went on to say that the Bernie Madoff situation crippled Mets ownership less than 10 year ago and that it was “betrayal to the nth degree.”
“It crushed them spiritually, emotionally and financially,” he said. “They never complain about it. They don’t use it as an excuse.”
Phillips added that he doesn’t believe for one second Mets ownership knew what Madoff was doing.
“I heard his name every week for 13 years in the Mets front office and never thought there was a conspiracy,” he said. “I was there for the deferrals we did with [Bobby] Bonilla and [Mo] Vaughn. There was nothing fishy at all.”
He concluded by saying that Mets fans should put themselves in Mets ownership’s shoes and to give them credit for staying afloat for what might have broken other owners.
“Would you sell your business if you lost money in the market or would you do all you could to stay afloat? It is easy to judge others,” he said. “The Mets had a $155 million payroll in ‘17. That’s not cheap! The Indians, Astros, Diamondbacks, Twins and Rockies all spent less and made the playoffs.”
To read the entire thread, Phillips’ Twitter can be found here.
