Jan 30
There is nothing like going to Spring Training with an off season issue-like this Bernie Madoff think that just won’t die.
The Mets are looking for “partner” in some regard. Our Sunday Question regards the Met ownership.
Would you like to see the Mets sold? If so, why?
MLBTradeRumors
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34 comments
njstuckintx
1/30/2011-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
Would I like to see them sold? Yes. It’s not to say that the Wilpon’s have not spent a lot of money in an attempt to make this team good. They have. They just happen to suffer from the “smart father/dumb son” syndrome and with blood being thicker than water, I don’t think Fred is going to learn too much about keeping that meddlesome kid of his (zoinks!) out of the operations in some manner.
I give the Wilpon’s a lot of credit for what they have invested, but incompetence with bucket’s o’ money is not going to get the situation solved.
And my question for Sunday to you is “If the Wilpon’s do sell, will it just be the Mets? And would that mean that they would still retain the rights to SNY? Wouldn’t that be a potential for another clown show?” OK, it was 3 questions, but considering I usually only provide intelligence about 33% of the time, I figured I would cover my bases.
darknova306
1/30/2011-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
I would like to see the Wilpons see for the same reason. Only problem I see is that we don’t know what the next owner would be like. He might be even worse with meddling in the organization. I guess you should tack onto the Sunday Question the question of “If the Mets are sold, who would you like to see as the new owner?”.
I have no clue how the Mets and SNY are dealt with as entities to be bought and sold, but my guess would be that they’re considered separate. One is a TV network, the other is a sports team.
And to your third question: when it comes to the Mets, anything has the potential to be another clown show.
njstuckintx
1/30/2011-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
Mark Cuban! He’s meddlesome, but he puts a winning product out there, and costs be damned!
stickguy
1/30/2011-9:37am at 9:37 am (UTC -4)
so right back to the Omar fascination with old, expensive, FAs?
darknova306
1/30/2011-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
That’s why I’d be weary of the team being sold. I hated Omar’s methodology for years, and would prefer not going to back to that nonsense.
njstuckintx
1/30/2011-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
What does Omar have to do with Mark Cuban?
stickguy
1/30/2011-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
I meant that I could see Cuban coming in, and start signing aging, big name FAs that did not fit the teams needs to overpriced contracts
njstuckintx
1/30/2011-12:37pm at 12:37 pm (UTC -4)
It would be possible, but I know that the Mavs have made the playoffs every year with Cuban at the proverbial helm. He knows winning =’s butts in the seats and that equals money. I know the Wilpon’s make money and are savy biz people (sans a little madoff), but I think Cuban knows how to succeed in the sports biz arena better than the Wilpon’s. Just my opinion, which that and a quarter will get you a bouncy ball out of a vending machine as you exit the Shoprite or A&P.
stickguy
1/30/2011-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
hard to say what he would be, but a behind the shadows stay out of sight owner is not likely to be it.
and making the playoffs in the NBA isn’t quite the same thing! The 2008 and 2007 Mets would have been 4th or 5th seeds using an NBA playoff system.
pfh64
1/30/2011-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
I honestly don’t care at this point, whether they sell or not, as long as they do not sell the team and SNY to the Dolans.
rustyjr
1/30/2011-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
If the Mets are able to sell a minority stake in the team – or if they have to sell it lock stock and barrel, I would prefer it to be by a hands off owner that not be meddlesome ( I’m looking at you Dolan & Cuban !!) If I was to look @ other owners I would say someone like a Wang or a Johnson – hey maybe Ed Kranepool can find a bunch of investors and try to buy the Mets like he tried to in ’79
stickguy
1/30/2011-9:36am at 9:36 am (UTC -4)
hands off is good. Too bad the most common name clammored for is Cuban!
the really sad part is that peole complained for years that the wilpons were really running the show (omar is a puppet), and that they spent plenty of money but made poor decisions.
well, they finally put that concept to rest hiring Alderson to fix the organizatin, and now people think they have to go?
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
My thoughts as well.
Unless money becomes a real issue for the Wilpons with the running of the Mets, I’d just assume the Wilpons remain the owners.
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
For the time being anyway. I have more faith in Fred that Jeff and Fred isn’t getting any younger….
stickguy
1/30/2011-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
I don’t care. As long as the owners hire a smart GM and allow him to run the place the way it should be, anyone is fine that will allocate the capital to have a solid roster (high payroll) and still be a player in the draft and for IFAs.
Hiring Sandy and his boys to me was a huge step in the right direction. THe operating funds for the team, remains to be seen, but there is still no proof of any kind that the wilpons personal cash needs (thanks, Bernie) are in any way draining operating funds from the team.
Someone mentioned the Dolans, which falls in to the “be careful what you wish for, you might get it” category.
People mention Cuban a lot, which is a logical name. It is also someone with a history that suggests he wants to come in and make decisions and moves (as in, everything everyone claimed to hate about Jeffy!). But it will be OK because he might spend like the yankees (and likely end up with a more expensive, older team that might not be any better).
Dolan? Wang? A few other guys that own teams that might want to get into BB too.
If they have to sell because of losses elsewhere, bummer for them, but IMO it will not do anything, especially ST, to make the team on the field better.
kingman 26
1/30/2011-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
It depends on the buyer.
The Seattle SuperSonics were sold to a dishonest carpetbagger who took the team from where it had been successful and supported for 40 years and moved it to Oklahoma.
When Bruce Ratner bought the Nets at their high point of success he got rid of Kenyon Martin and then Richard Jefferson and the team is now among the NBA’s worst.
This issue is not as cut and dried as the whining blatherers of places like FWICG.com, the Ledger, Mets.com and other homes of idiocy make it out to be.
Yes, a new owner could be a Steinbrenner who will outspend so we can win; or he might be like Ratner and use the team to make money for himself and then re-sell it once he has destroyed it.
Not an easy issue; no easy answers.
Yes, the team has largely been a disaster area since the Wilpons became sole owner in 2002—one playoff appearance and an overall sub-.500 record.
But it could definitely be worse.
Donald Trump? Those calling for him should be laughed out of existence. The king of arrogance, default, and bankruptcy.
The team is in a tough spot for sure. But new ownership is most definitely not an automatic panacea. Giving Alderson the benefit of the doubt for a year could indeed put the team on the right track.
stickguy
1/30/2011-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
what, you don’t want the Mets moving to Oklahoma? At least prismo would be happy, if they could get there quick!
although while a new owner could be good or bad, at least we know 100% that the team isn’t going anywhere.
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:09am at 11:09 am (UTC -4)
If the Wilpons sell, I fear the Mets won’t be competitive for sometime to come. By the time they settle on a price, they get a buyer, MLB puts it’s stamp of approval on it, the sale goes through, the new buyer ‘evaluates’ operations, we could be looking at a virtual standstill to all operations associated with the Mets.
And if this new buyer is a conglomeration, rather than one owner, it’ll be business and nothing but business.
I agree the Wilpons were not very smart on who they hired to run the Mets these past decades. Looks like they’re finally conceding that point with the new regime. Problem is, with the Madoff scandal, it might be too late.
Did anyone read that article from that Vodka guy who wants in? He made a formal proposal a few years ago that was politely turned down. He’s trying to get a hold of the WIlpons now to buy in. He said he hasn’t had personal contact yet but went on to publically say the team isn’t worth what was quoted and they’d have to come down on that. Then went on to say he’d only buy in if he would be allowed hands on participation with the operation. Went and on about ‘we’ want a winning product on the field, ‘we’ need to do what’s necessary to bring that back to Met fans, etc. etc.
All I kept thinking was ‘oh, boy’…..
oleosmirf
1/30/2011-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Am i the only person who doesn’t care at all about the ownership “issues”
stickguy
1/30/2011-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
no, you aren’t. unless and until you can show me that it is impacting the team on the filed (for 2011 or beyond) than I don’t care.
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:28am at 11:28 am (UTC -4)
O.K., maybe this guy would be a good owner – as in a Steinbrenner type that would spare no expense: (reporting by the Daily News):
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2011/01/30/2011-01-30_horse_breeder_dreams_of_blue__orange.html
Mike Repole, St. John’s graduate and creator of Vitaminwater, interested in owning piece of Mets.
“I never thought there would be this potential opportunity,” said Repole, owner of Uncle Mo, the champion 2-year-old of 2010 and the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
“I hate the Yankees,” Repole, 42, told the Daily News. “I bleed blue and orange. That’s why my silks are those colors. To see their resurgence would mean so much to me.”
oleosmirf
1/30/2011-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
the Wilpon’s aren’t majority ownership though and that’s all that really matters.
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
?? What do you mean they’re not majority ownership? I thought they owned 99%?
stickguy
1/30/2011-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
I assume he meant the aren’t giving it up?
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
or mean ‘aren’t giving up majority ownership’?
Either way, that makes more sense.
oleosmirf
1/30/2011-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
we need an edit button. I meant they arent giving up majority ownership so it has ZERO impact.
stickguy
1/30/2011-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
well, if they did have to sell out, so far the 2 guys that seem interesting are Repole, and the Russion dude that owns the NEts.
I will go with the russian dude, over the die hard fan.
why? Well, odds are with Repole you get someone that will want to be actively involved (my team, I can GM if I want to), and will have emotional attachments to players, which could get very ugly.
Russian dude though, based on how he runs the nets, is hands off of the team side of things, and would hire (or now, keep) strong pros to do what has to be done. He sets a tone, and expectations, and lets them do the work. He also runs it like a business, and is serious about winning (which makes money, and he likes to win!).
If the Anthony situation proves anything, it is that he sees the big picture and won’t do something stupid to appease anyone.
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Sounds like a plan to me. But we’re probably getting far ahead of ourselves. Wilpons right now have no intention of giving up controlling interest of the Mets. Depending on the lawsuit though, might come down to that.
stickguy
1/30/2011-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
agreed. that lawsuit is the big wild card.
Like playing monopoly, and landing on Boardwalk with a hotel. You end up selling things you never planned to!
njstuckintx
1/30/2011-12:40pm at 12:40 pm (UTC -4)
That Russian dude is dirtier than Madoff. I’m waiting for something to drop on him. Just a hunch.
stickguy
1/30/2011-12:54pm at 12:54 pm (UTC -4)
wait, you mean the russian mob isn’t on the up and up? Well darn, there goes another theory.
hazmet
1/30/2011-11:49am at 11:49 am (UTC -4)
As I posted the other night:
“.511 winning percentage over 30 years
.493 winning percentage since sole ownership in 2002
What exactly am I hanging on to with this ownership? Hey let the Wilpon’s be involved, I have no problem with that but I just wish it was at a 49% stake.”
I would think the current minority owners, whoever they are if any, would have right of first refusal to make an offer so that’s where I’d look first for names. I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing. As for the names mentioned Dolan, Wang, Cuban would all not be very inspiring but if they sell from a fans perspective we’re going to get what we get so I’m not going to get worked up over it. But if we’re throwing names out there how about 2 off the wall entries just to go for drama:
1. How about the ownership group Bobby Valentine was involved with bidding on the Texas Rangers. Oh, that would be rich – Bobby not being the manager but becoming a part or whole owner. That would be a barrel of laughs.
2. How about Cashman after his deal expires with the Yankee’s after this year leading a group to buy the Mets. For those that wonder where the cash would come from look no further than his In Laws who sold their first worldwide cable network to Paul Allen and then recently sold their second cable network to Cablevision last fall.
Well those are my musings for the day. I was so just settled into a nice quiet get ready for spring training mode and then this crapfest breaks loose. Thanks Team W.
metsfan4decades
1/30/2011-11:54am at 11:54 am (UTC -4)
Yes, this winter I thought they were finally on the right track in the new regime. Kind of like ‘just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water’. Now this season will start with all these distractions of $$, Wilpons selling out, conspiracy theories about extending Jose, acquiring help mid season if we’re in contention – and on and on.
It’s never about just playing baseball with the Mets lately…..
Prismo
1/30/2011-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
If they sell it to me, I’ll pay them back over the next few decades! I promise!