Indeed, even the talking point from the organization about Wilpon has shifted from “of course he can afford to run a large-market team” to how much he cares about winning, as if that matters even slightly if he lacks the means to make it happen.
And yet, here are the 2015 Mets, their best pitchers excelling and critically in their cheap, pre-arbitration years. Offensive help is on the way from the farm with outfielder Michael Conforto and shortstop Amed Rosario impressing, but how quickly they can arrive in New York and hit major league pitching, no one can say. And without ownership able to lock down these pitchers as they get more expensive, the Mets could find themselves with enough hitting just as it’s time to, say, trade Matt Harvey.
So as Alderson and his lieutenants cast about for more hitting, all too aware that targets with big contracts are likely off-limits (though one never knows; the money for Bartolo Colon magically showed up about 48 hours before the Mets signed him), the team continues to hold the top spot in a division the Nationals have underachieved enough to make competitive.
snip
It’s a strange position for a first place team with good young players in the biggest market in the league. But thanks to MLB continuing to allow Fred Wilpon and his partners to divert that revenue toward financing their company’s debt, that’s reality for the 2015 Mets, and any Mets team, contending or otherwise.
Source: Capital New York
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Howard can always be counted on to remind people that Finances are an ongoing issue, and that ownership is the biggest obstacle to the Mets success.
One point that he made in this article, and it is not the first time, is that Alderson does not know his budget day-to-day which is much worse than just having a small budget. Other than Howard I have not seen this reported and would love a little more detail about that fact.
Michael, your points are well taken, but let’s take it a step further. In fact, the new commish went in SNY earlier in the year to endorse the great job the Wilpons are doing. If MLB is allowing this to continue to take place, the question is why?
A. To make the Mets a model for other franchises in keeping down costs.
B. To keep the Mets as profitable as can be while satisfying banks’ covenants.
C. Because the Wilpons just want to hold onto the Mets until 2017 when the clause in city ordinance kicks in that only the owner of the Mets can build on Shea’s property.
D. Something else.
Not only do we not know, but the Mets will never let the public know until it’s too late. I would venture to guess Medgal knows way more than we do, but the media doesn’t care as long as there is no proof, and there’s no way anyone involved will speak up! So…
Gus what about the Willets Point project? I’d take a guess and say that B and D are critical to the fortunes of the Wilponzi’s. Maybe Fred will build a replica of Coney Island at the Shea site? Lord knows he needs something to deflect the misery and criticism at his beloved mausoleum Citifield
If you’re looking for a model small city team then I would have to go with the Twins. It seems every 4-5 year they come out of their cocoon and play decent enough to make the playoffs. And more significantly they took part of that additional TV revenue (almost 50% of the 50 million) and applied it to this years payroll (from 85 to 108 million)
Pete, as much as the Wilpons may profess their love of the Mets, the Willets Point project is why they still own the team.
From 2 Guys Talking Mets Baseball:
http://2guystalkingmetsbaseball.com/tag/willets-point/
“You see, the Willets Point redevelopment project is a partnership between the Related Cos. and the Wilpon family’s Sterling Equities. It has seemed pretty straightforward all along what the Related Cos. brings to this partnership – – money and solvency. But what the Related Cos. (and everyone else besides the Wilpons) do not have is the ability to build on the site. It was ceded to the owners of the New York Mets way back in 1961. That means anyone who wants to build in the area can’t do it without the Wilpons.
That is what this is all about. Fred Wilpon is not worried about the New York Mets. Saul Katz is not worried about the New York Mets. They are worried about maintaining control of the franchise for as long as it takes to build on the parkland they control, parkland that has been conservatively valued at $1 billion.
Basically the New York Mets are hostage to a real estate deal. The Mets do not have to be good for the Wilpon family to control the land. They don’t even have to be profitable. They just have to belong to them.
Once you understand that, it all makes sense. The goal is to hold the team until Willets Point is done. With little money available, thanks to “Uncle” Bernie, a cost cutter is brought in to slash expenses and lower the annual cash flow risk of owning. All that matters is generating enough money to hang on and pay the creditors. Eventually, once the mall is built, they can sell if they want.”
My take is that Alderson has sold his soul to the devil. He is not a stupid man.
Since this may be his last gig as a GM he is willing to take the money, cover for the Wilpons and try to catch lightning in a bottle (examples: Marlon Byrd, Bartolo Colon, the early season stumbling of the Nats). Spending like a big-city franchise is a pipe dream.
The unfortunate thing is that there are enough Met fans willing to go to the park and pay the exorbitant prices for tickets, food, parking, merchandise. Then, the Wilpons take the money and use it for other purposes.
The Wilpons lie, Alderson abets and the fans get the short end of the stick.
Norme Welcome to Citifield! Land of pipe dreams and broken promises. Sounds like day time soap! And you know how long those can go.
I totally agree about Alderson. He’s an old guy nearing retirement, probably making about $4 million a year, coasting, socking it away. It’s a great gig for him. No pressure. #semiretiredGM.
I’m sure the Wilpons are happy.
Howard is always on point with stuff like this.
BTW, isn’t a big payment due to Bank of America soon? Like next week?
I thought that the money the Wilpons raised for limited partnerships had an opt out clause for 2016 for the limited partners? Whereby a limited partner could ask for their initial investment with interest?
They’re not reaponsible owners and are not in it for the right reasons. They’re bent on developing the real estate around Citi. They dream more about turning that blvd of chop shops into a mall than they do about a world series.
You got that right!
Malls pay rent every month. World Series come once in a lifetime!