Hello My friends and acolytes ( you know who you are!). I just got back from a four day vacation – sabbatical if you will ,in Newport, Rhode Island. Don’t get me wrong I checked M.L.B game-day for game updates , and following this site primarily ( among others ) for any breaking news that might ve ( but didn’t ) come my way.
It’s funny on my two hundred plus odyssey up to the land of Jazz festivals and lighthouses,, I allowed myself to listen to the tandem of Kim Jones and Steve Phillips on WFAN, because I really wanted Steve’s take on the lack of movement on the Mets part, and if the picture that he painted was accurate about the Fred Wilpon and the way he runs the Mets front office, then I guess Fred is a man who wants to win, but is clueless about going about implementing a plan to do so. Look I take what Steve ” I’M A DOUCHE !” Phillips says with a grain of salt (trading Ike Davis to bring in Prince Fielder, minimizing his role in the signings of Kevin Appier and trading for Mo Vaughn to name a few) . But I have to believe The Douche when he says that Fred wants to win and is not only in it to make a profit. Honestly I do feel that between the Madoff scandal and the bottom falling out of the real estate market, Fred and Sterling Equities took a financial beating. I also think that Fred was committed to keep the payroll as close to Mets Status Quo of the past three or so seasons – but not a penny more. I can’t speak for Fred nor do I know what is churning in vastness of his mind, but I think he knows how he is being perceived by the Media and the fan base alike. I feel that he he might want to release Oliver ” The Sultan Of Suckitude” Perez and ” Luis ” Slappy” Castillo , but he just can’t stomach the thought of eating the combined twenty or so million that is owed to both of them. I also feel that Fred , like most fathers , has a blind-spot when it comes to his son Jeff. I believe Jeff as a whole is a solid businessman, but when it comes to the Mets , he will only go so far to improve the team and at times hamstringing Omar on what decisions are allowed and what aren’t. This is why I wish we had a G.M like Frank Cashen again. Cashen oversaw every aspect of the organization and he had the mythical “complete and total autonomy” that Omar allegedly has. Lets face it both Fred and Jeff come across as medicine show hucksters whenever they are put into a corner. They make promises that they either have no intention on keeping , they misread the market or they misread the fan-base ( see Molina, Bengie) Last week I was generously invited by the media relations arm of the Mets ( thanks again ) and I was utterly amazed when Fred walked in front of me and my fellow blogger brethren whom on the field with me. Fred was dressed to the nines , his hair perfectly coiffed and he looked at me and flashed a big smile ( Julia Alexandria wasn’t around so I believe he smiled at me ). Fred took his time talking to the coaches, players, Jay Horowitz and even Mets icon , Ed Kranepool. My point his to anyone who doesn’t think Fred cares about the Mets , well you are sorely mistaken. I think that this is Fred’s baby – the problem is sometimes parents don’t realize the failings of their children until damage is done. And if the Mets finish this road-trip poorly against the Phillies- well I guess Fred can always say that he is embarrassed and he promises that there will be meaningful games played in August next year.
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
                                                                                        
                                        ” Fred cares – he just doesn’t know how to fix the problem ”
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Happy Birthday wishes go out to the pitcher from ’78 who has the best name in Mets history , Mardie Cornejo. He is 59 (1951) .
John Olerud, possibly the second best first baseman in Mets history is 42 (1968) .
New York Mets traded pitcher, Ken MacKenzie to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher, Ed Bauta on August 5, 1963.
New York Mets released back-up second baseman, Tommy Herr on August 5, 1991. I was happy when this went down because I despised Herr from his days with the St Louis Cardinals !
And Mo Vaughn has officially switched his allegiances from the New York Mets to the Brooklyn Cyclones ! He says that their on the field product is way better ( and much cheaper ) that what you will find at Citi Field !
27 comments
dirtysanchez
8/5/2010-4:29pm at 4:29 pm (UTC -4)
lol..welcome back rus…
I guess thats one way to look at it lol. I think that is mostly the issue…nobody knows how to fix the mets. I can understand that but what I continue to struggle with is the continued employment of oliver perez.
GravediggerHebner
8/5/2010-4:35pm at 4:35 pm (UTC -4)
John Olerud was a freakin’ good baseball player. I always remember when the Mets got him my brother complaining to me and me, who had lived in an AL city and seen him play a lot in person and on TV, telling him not to worry that Johnny O would be very good. For once I was right.
I agree that it would be great to have a GM like Cashen but I think that era has passed and there are just more divisions of responsibility in baseball front offices than back then even if the owners take a hands-off approach.
stickguy
8/5/2010-4:35pm at 4:35 pm (UTC -4)
interesting perspective.
in some ways, lots of posters/fans want contradictory things. They want a cold hearted business to eat money and make ruthless decisions (cut guys, etc.), but they also want a rich super-fan to buy the team and run it from his heart.
the old cake and eat it too philosophy i guess/
rustyjr
8/5/2010-4:41pm at 4:41 pm (UTC -4)
yeah fred is like a mystery wrapped up in a cunundrum – i believe he is damned if he spends money and the team fails – and his also damned when he doest spaens money and the team fails – sad really
rustyjr
8/5/2010-4:45pm at 4:45 pm (UTC -4)
He did pause, though, to say that his his son Jeff, the Mets’ COO, is doing an “excellent” job, and seemed to back general manager Omar Minaya by responding to a question about Minaya’s status as general manager beyond this season.
like I said fred has a blindspot when it comes to the job jeff is doing
Mr North Jersey
8/5/2010-5:37pm at 5:37 pm (UTC -4)
OK on a scale of 1 to 10 what are the odds the Mets claimed Adam Dunn on waivers? Probably like -10 right?
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Washington-Nationals-slugger-Adam-Dunn-claimed-on-waivers-080510
rustyjr
8/5/2010-5:40pm at 5:40 pm (UTC -4)
Like negative infinity
Mr North Jersey
8/5/2010-5:46pm at 5:46 pm (UTC -4)
LoL, well here is another one.
On a scale of 1 to 10 what are the odds that FWICG.com would take someone that openly admits to writing for this blog?
http://www.metsblog.com/2010/08/05/im-looking-for-a-few-new-bloggers/
rustyjr
8/5/2010-5:50pm at 5:50 pm (UTC -4)
Lol matts a nice guy – but I’m happy where I be
Mr North Jersey
8/5/2010-5:53pm at 5:53 pm (UTC -4)
Maybe he is looking for proofreaders?
rustyjr
8/5/2010-5:54pm at 5:54 pm (UTC -4)
Lol like I’d be a improvement ?
Mr North Jersey
8/5/2010-6:11pm at 6:11 pm (UTC -4)
metsfan4decades
8/5/2010-6:30pm at 6:30 pm (UTC -4)
Interesting…..
Given the fact that MC is self proclaimed control freak, good luck to anyone joining his team.
Hazmet
8/5/2010-10:03pm at 10:03 pm (UTC -4)
Ahhaaahaaahaahaaahhaaa, pffft.
Kingman 26
8/5/2010-6:05pm at 6:05 pm (UTC -4)
Rusty’s number 1 acolyte signing in!
I think this is a perfect piece; I really agree with all of it.
You have correctly captured what surely is the dynamic of the Wilpons–Fred truly cares, will spend a lot but not like Steinbrenner, wants to win but not at the cost of losing millions, the economy/Madoff clearly have taken a toll, and of course he supports his son—the writer who publicly asked him to evaluate Jeff is truly a jackass—what the hell is a Dad going to say?!?!
Great job my friend.
stickguy
8/5/2010-7:02pm at 7:02 pm (UTC -4)
suck up.
metsfan4decades
8/5/2010-6:32pm at 6:32 pm (UTC -4)
Very nice write up, Rusty.
I think many of your points are probably closer to reality than we’d like them to be.
And I give you credit for getting through an afternoon listening to Steve Phillips. I just cannot do it. I’m still surprised WFAN hired him.
rustyjr
8/5/2010-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah you and me both – I’m sure some some of what he said was sour grapes – but I do believe it when he says that Fred loves the team and that he hopes to only break even and make the money in the post season.
stickguy
8/5/2010-7:04pm at 7:04 pm (UTC -4)
wait, Stevie boy is a regular host on FAN now? I thought he was just a guest on a show.
I almost never listen to the station though, being out of the area. It will come in, but not always cleanly.
rustyjr
8/5/2010-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
He’s a paid man in the field – he just is doing in studio fill in work for the summer
rustyjr
8/5/2010-7:17pm at 7:17 pm (UTC -4)
Damn I hope Corey Vaughn is up here by 2013
stickguy
8/5/2010-7:33pm at 7:33 pm (UTC -4)
supposed to be quite the athlete. hopefully he really takes the opportunity to be a pro seriously.
Hazmet
8/5/2010-10:09pm at 10:09 pm (UTC -4)
Great read Rusty, I feel bad for Fred at times. On the one hand I keep hoping he jumps in and lay’s the smackdown on some people at this stage but on the other hand I’d almost be scared of the decisions he’d make if he did. He’ in a tough spot, spends a ton of dough, doesn’t spend it wisely most of the time and is strapped with the Madoff shadow. Just heard where Fred spoke today on SNY hopefully will be interesting…
As a coinkydink I’m headed up to Boston than Newport this weekend. I missed the tag in
Hazmet
8/5/2010-10:18pm at 10:18 pm (UTC -4)
Well just heard the yawn of a statement. On the other hand Jerry saying “well it’s a good thing we have a day off” Man this so pisses me off, they should be dying to get back on the field to get the bad taste out of their mouth. Can somebody kick this team in the ass already, oh sweet and soothing Jerry glad they have the day off to get over the latest bad series. WTF! Can he just go away already. Maybe the team’s reflecting the character of the Manager and Jerry needs a day off, hey I have an idea Jerry how ’bout a whole bunch of days off for you old buddy old chum. Man he pisses me off.
oleosmirf
8/5/2010-10:28pm at 10:28 pm (UTC -4)
just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse, Fred Wilpon has to further prove his incompetence. looks like operation hope and pray is still in effect…
Kingman 26
8/6/2010-1:10am at 1:10 am (UTC -4)
I just looked at Robert Carson’s stats.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If we could have gotten three used balls for him, we should have done it.
I am not sure who overrates our (lack of) talent more, the fans or the team.
OMG, look at this guy’s stats!!
gategem
8/6/2010-3:37am at 3:37 am (UTC -4)
Zachary Dotson, a New York Mets pitcher in the Gulf Coast League, tested positive for Methylhexaneamine. Dotson was a 2009 13th round pick.
From MILB:
“Methylhexaneamine is a substance originally intended to be used as a nasal decongestant that has gained popularity as a recreational drug which reportedly gives users an adrenaline rush. Side effects include nausea and stroke. The drug was recently linked to several Jamaican track stars in 2009.”