In this week’s installment of the weekly Mets Report video with Kerel Cooper of On The Black, we talk about our predictions for the Mets this year. The Vegas line is 77.5 wins this year and check out the video to see if we took the over or under.
Also this week, we talk about our first impressions of Terry Collins as the manager of the Mets. He had a terrible ending to his managerial stint in Anaheim and gets another (and probably final) chance with the Mets.
I was incredibly impressed with the response to my last posting. The traffic was tremendous and I can only assume, especially since there were only five comments, it was because there is a silent majority of Mets fans out there who are thinking the same thing. This is the first Spring Training in history (at least in my history) where hope is not Springing eternal and here’s why…
For me, this Spring Training started out as any other. The players showed up, most in great shape, Terry Collins proved pretty quickly that he runs a tight ship and I am a huge fan of Sandy Alderson. He’s the only person qualified to handle this unique mess.
One thing bothers me though…. The current ownership group was exposed for flat out lying to the fans by stating their Madoff losses would have no effect on the team. At the same time we are finding out the exact opposite from the traditional media.
The NYTimes reports the Mets lost $50 million last year. They stand to lose an additional $50 million this year. Forbes has shaved off $100 million in worth from the Mets in 1 year. The Mets, now valued at $700 million, minus $500 million of which is debt, means the Wilpon’s have a team worth $200 million to them. Continue to lose $50 million a year and the team is worthless in 4 years.
As Mets fans do you accept that? Do you accept being a worthless, potentially last place team in the largest media market in the world? Oh yeah, you also compete with the NY Yankees so many of those paying fans are never coming back.
We all think that payroll is being freed up for major acquisition’s but it really looks like payroll is being freed up to cover losses. When you lose $50 million a year you’re not going out and signing any big free agents. The Mets just don’t have the money and since they’re already awash in debt they can’t borrow and spend their way out of this predicament. Continue reading “Lost My Mets Hope Springs Eternal – Spring Training Magic”
Kerel Cooper of On The Black and our own David Daniels talk about the 2011 version of the MLB At Bat app for the iPhone. Now is the perfect time to invest in the app before the season starts next week. I have the Android version and love it. I’ve been listening to the Mets spring training games, even when they’re not broadcast on WFAN by tuning into the opposing team’s broadcast.
The app has real-time game tracking, a scoreboard, MLB news, and let’s you pick your favorite team. It’ll customize the experience to your team as well. MLB Advanced Media really did a nice job with this version. It’s worth the $15 if you’re a big fan.
It’s a bad time to be trying to sell a piece of the Mets. The 2011 Forbes MLB valuations are out and the Mets are down 13% from 2010, the biggest drop of any team. On average, team values increased by 7%. So the Mets are down 20% from the average team. Forbes noted a $6 million operating loss by the Mets last year and a 25% reduction in gate receipts in their valuation.
Throwing dirt on the Wilpon’s grave, Forbes also noted today that the Mets 2011 ticket sales are frighteningly dismal. They cite a report at MLB offices noting that the Mets have only sold 600,000 tickets so far and are projecting 3 million for potential buyers. The author writes that this translates to only 7,000 season tickets sold to date. That’s hideous!
I have to think the Forbes report will impact the sale of the a minority stake in the Mets. It’s been well reported that the debt against the team is heavy and a lower valuation of the asset is just what the Wilpons don’t need right now. I still think that they’ll have to relinquish their majority ownership at some point in the future.
Let’s see… Johan Santana may be out for the year, Carlos Beltran is one slide away form blowing out both knees, Jose Reyes is one hard run from blowing out a hammy, and Krod is one fight away from prison. We have a rookie catcher, two pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery, Mike Pelfrey’s Psychiatrist passed away so the yips may be back, the franchise 3rd baseman has yet to step up and be a leader, an ongoing hole at 2nd base and the team can’t/won’t be spending any money anytime soon. Did I miss something?
And let’s not forget the team is owned by the Three Stooges of Real Estate investing (Katz, Wilpon, Wilpon Jr.) who admit knowing nothing about investing and obviously even less about running a baseball franchise. I fully expect MLB to have to step in and take over the day to day operations of the team while it’s owners go through bankruptcy. You think it’s hard to take down a middle eastern dictator? Wait till you see the fight the Wilpons put up to keep the Mets. It’s gonna get ugly!
Don’t expect any help from the free agent market either. No free agent hitter in their right mind would want to play at cavernous Citi Field even if we had the money to spend. Pitcher’s looking to prolong their careers may consider Citi Field but are you, the fans, really going to spend your hard earned money to watch a bunch of retreads prolong their careers? Hit up Stubhub starting in June for $1 seats that season ticket holders will be trying to get rid of.
So with opening day upon us I proclaim the Mets will finish dead last and the current owners will be fighting well into 2012 to try and hold onto this team. I see little hope for this year and certainly see no hope for 2012 if the Wilpons are still the owners.
Although I am seeing a lot of positives coming from the current management team of Collins and Alderson, there are still an awful lot of flaws on this team and something current management can’t control… What happens in the owners box.
Following the releases of Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, I’m really optimistic about the Mets turning into a team of players I like to watch every day. I’m curious to find out if anyone else has a sense of optimism about this team. I’m not delusional about the Mets chances to make the playoffs. They’re still the fourth best team in the division.
At this point my standards have been lowered so much that I can be satisfied with watching a team of players that I like and believe that the best baseball is in front of them. Take the poll below and let me know if you’re optimistic about this team’s future too.
Here’s this week’s video that I did Sunday night with Kerel Cooper of On The Black. We did this video before the official announcement of Oliver Perez’ release was made. We also talk about the release of Luis Castillo, Jason Bay’s comeback from injury, and the latest on the Madoff lawsuit.
The Mets Report 