Financial Woes May Be Doom For Mets

Being a Mets fan isn't easy. The team takes us on a constant roller-coaster ride every season. Now that we're coming upon the beginning of spring training, we fans have something new to worry about. 

The owners of the Amazin' New York Mets, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, are involved in a lawsuit due to their involvement with the infamous Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. It is reported that the pair made $300 million off of the scheme and might have to pay up to $1 billion dollars to those who got swindled.

To raise some money Fred Wilpon has decided to sell 25% of the franchise. Which is a lot easier said than done. You can't just put an ad in craigslist and give a part of the Mets to the first interested buyer. Who ever buys into the organization must be approved by the MLB and must appeal to fans. Also Fred Wilpon has stated that he does not want to give up any control of the team. With all these factors involved, many believe that the chance of Wilpon and Katz accomplishing their goal is going to be difficult if not impossible. 

So what does this mean for the New York Mets? Well, if some big name celebrity doesn't come around with some cash, Wilpon and Katz are going to have to come up with another strategy. This also puts them at risk at losing the whole franchise. All of this is similar to what happened with the Texas Rangers in 2009. Tom Hicks, the previous owner, also tried to find investors when he was low on cash, with the same stipulations. Over the year, Hicks was forced to sell the team to Pittsburgh lawyer Chuck Greenberg and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz may be in the same boat. As fans we may not be as lucky as getting someone who cares about the Mets as much as Nolan Ryan does about the Rangers.

So now I'm worried how the Mets will do in 2011 and who is going to run the team in 2012. Oh the life of a New York Mets fan.

METS STEP IT UP TO POSTPONE PHILLIES CELEBRATION PARTY

When the players of the Philadelphia Phillies woke up Sunday morning, they expected to be the division leaders before the day was through. The New York Mets had different plans in mind. Though the season may be pretty much over for the Mets, they were determined not to let the Phillies have any more fun at their expense.

After a season full of injuries and disappointments, the Amazin' Mets are determined to finish with a bang. They provided a flurry of attacks with a two run double from Nick Evans, an RBI single from Jose Reyes, and a solo home run by Mr. David Wright. Center fielder Carlos Beltran was the the star of the game with two home runs, a single in the fifth and a two-run homer in the ninth.

Beltran is batting .364 with five home runs in his last 17 games. These astounding stats leave one to wonder what the season would have been like if he had not missed the first half of the season due to knee surgery.

"I wanted to finish the season as strong as I can and go to the off-season feeling good about how I finished, and working hard to come back healthy and ready to go next year," said Beltran after the Sunday's game.

Even though the Mets are beginning to look ahead towards the 2011 season, they were able to leave Citizens Bank Park with their heads held high. They may not have prevented their rivals from reaching the playoffs, but they were able to give the Phillies and their fans the figurative finger on the way out.

Road Kill

The Mets take their winning combination of timely hitting and great pitching to the road. R.A. Dickey has proven that he can pitch with the pelfreys, and the Nieses. His knuckler dips, spins, and confuses both batter and catcher. But however he does it; he knows how to pitch; and he knows how to win.

This is a highly impressive win. As I have advanced in a previous column; it will be the road that determines if this team is for real. And it is particularly encouraging that it comes against a mediocre team. As we well know; The Mets famously lose to all the weak and anemic teams. And in fact they do it by beating themselves.

But again, this team is starting to put all the pieces together. If they can continue their winning ways on this road trip, we might just have an interesting year. This might be the start of a thrilling....

METventure!!!

DEFINING MOMENTS

With every championship team there is a game, series, or moment that becomes a statement. A declaration that says they are as good or better than any of the competition.

In the early part of the 1969 season it was evident that The Mets were a much improved team.Tom Seaver was coming into his own, and was widely regarded as a great pitcher. Jerry Koosman was coming off a 19 win rookie season, and the rest of the staff was composed of capable veterans and young studs. the hitting was not great (let"s face it; Agee led the team with a paltry 26); but it was situational and timely. There was little question the team would improve on their 1968 showing.

But it was the July series against the first place Chicago Cubs (highlighted by Seaver"s near perfect game) that made the rest of league take notice. More importantly it was the moment that the team began to believe in themselves. Championship team exude confidence and swagger.

The 2010 Mets need to find that moment. But in order to do that they have to be able to recognize it, grab it, and run with it. I believe that moment must come on the road. We know they can win at home. They know they can win at home. What nobody is sure of is their ability to play on the road.

The Mets hit the road this weekend. I believe we will find out alot about this team"s character and resolve. I think they are capable of winning big this year. This weekend we will find out how much THEY believe it.

Mets Matter

It has been ages (it seems) since The Mets mattered in this town. Mets
fans have been complaining for years that The Yankees own the back
pages of the local tabloids. But let's be honest here; The Yankees put
out a winning product on the field year after year. The Mets tease and
ultimately disapoint. This year might be different. I can't explain
it; but the vibes around this team are very positive. There is
electricity in the stands and a hopefulness in the play by play voices
of Gary, Keith, and Ron.

But again, Jerry Manuel has to step up and act like a manager of a
championship calibar team,which means he has to expect and demand
greatness from his players. We have the right players. I hope we have the right manager.

METventure

The METventure chat room is now up and running. Go check it out on the left under "PAGES" or click the following link:


METventure chat room

So That Explains It!

Oliver Perez has been placed on the 15 day disabled list. Perez and his agent Scott Boros have been fighting The Mets over their desire to reasign (demote) him to Buffalo. They needed space on the roster for the returning Jon Niese. As we know it is part of Ollie's folly that he believes his 6 plus ERA is an asset to the team.
It is more than likely a face saving deal between Boros and The Mets. It says little for the integrity of Perez or his agent.  The Mets , for their part were not left with many options. My take, if upon investigation, the MLB voids this arrangementThe Mets should just cut Perez. Sure they would have to eat his salary, but they will be rid of this distraction. The Mets, for all their problems have a legitimate shot this year. Don't let this side show deflect from the main event.

What Was He Thinking?

I post this as the Padres tie the score in the 9 th inning. Regardless of the final outcome; why can't Jerry let Santana win or lose his own game? I dont get it. And it just confirms my conviction that Manuel over manages, and allows his ego to get in the way of what is farely basic and effective baseball decision making. This is not Quantum Physics or a philosophical discourse. And Jerry's no Socrates or Albert Einstein although he may think he is.

I would say this to Jerry: demonstrate that you have a feel for the game as a game. Don't overthink it. it's not about you! And sad to say Jerry; but as much as we love it; baseball is not going to save the world. The only thing green about  the game is the grass. That's why I contribute money to worthy causes like the Sierra Club, and my two cents to forums like this.

What's your two cents worth Jerry?


Camille Uliano

7TH INNING STRETCH

Ok summer is upon us, and even diehard Mets fans take a break and open 
a book. From time to time I will be recommending books. In particular, 
works that delve into Mets history, and not just on the Glory Years. The fans born after the '70's, know little about what came before.

My first recommendation has to be Amazin' by Peter Golenbock. It 
covers the team from its inception....the politcal haggling involved 
in bringing National League baseball back to New York, the colorful 
characters on the early Mets, and anecdotal remarks and recollections 
from the players. Memories that capture the spirit of METventure!

Camille Uliano