Category: Latest News

Mets 2009 Season Disaster Finally Ending

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Carlos Delgado #21 of...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The 2009 version of the New York Mets will finally disappear into oblivion this weekend. And I can’t wait for them to go away. There’s a chance for the team to wind up losing 94 games this season, the most losses since the Art Howe-era 2003 team that finished with 95 losses. In case you’re wondering, you can find a complete list of the Mets season records here. In a dreadful season, it’s worth taking a look at some past horrible seasons.

Sure, the Mets announced that they’re lowering ticket prices for next season. But don’t mistake that move as benevolence on the part of Mets ownership based on the torturous team they subjected us to this season. Reducing tickets prices is actually a calculated move to fill more seats for more games to meet revenue goals. The team likely didn’t meet their revenue goals for Pity (Citi) Field this season. So they used mathematical projections to determine the most likely pricing scheme to deliver their goals based on price/attendance correlation. Thanks Mr. Wilpon.

Continue reading “Mets 2009 Season Disaster Finally Ending”

Mets 2010 First Base- The Daniel Murphy Conundrum

NEW YORK - JULY 08: Daniel Murphy #28 of the ...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I haven’t written much recently for a variety of reasons. For those of you that know me, I recently started a new job and haven’t had as much free time to devote to the Mets. In addition, you may have noticed that the 2009 version of the Mets are awful. If not, I don’t know where you’ve been. The brand new stadium is near empty. Mets interns are running around the upper deck handing out free upgrade tickets to the Ebbets Club seats so they don’t look so barren on television. It’s a sad state of affairs this September in Metsville.

My attention is turning to other things now that the painful, ugly season is winding down. One of the thing that I’m turning my attention to besides the start of the NFL season this week is what the 2010 Mets will look like.

In this edition I’m thinking about the first base situation for next season. There are several assumptions this will based upon that will be debatable. And I’d like to hear your thoughts on these in the comment section. First, Carlos Delgado won’t be back next season. He’s old, he’s hurt, and his contract is over. Good riddance. Second, the Mets can’t survive another season with Daniel Murphy’s meager offense at first base. A first baseman hitting .259 with 9 HR’s and 53 RBI’s in September doesn’t work unless you’re the Pirates. Third, the Mets have about $40 million in contracts coming off the books this offseason. That means there’s plenty to spend if the payroll is static.

Continue reading “Mets 2010 First Base- The Daniel Murphy Conundrum”

Mets News Aug. 31, 2009 Santana, Beltran, Perez, Thole

IMG_0217
Image by ddoyle1112 via Flickr

The Mets are flying from Chicago to Colorado today. There’s no game but still plenty of news. Today is also the deadline for any trades of players that cleared waivers to play on the acquiring team’s postseason roster.

Anyway, here’s the news:

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets Cancel Fall League To Save Money

Multiple media reports today are covering some comments that former Mets GM Jim Duquette made on Sirius XM Radio. Duquette says that the Mets canceled their fall instructional league to save roughly $300,00. That’s the cost of running the league and housing and feeding the players and coaches.

Duquette says it’s a big mistake to reduce costs by cutting instructional time for the team’s young players. Of course, this adds credibility to the stories that we’ve heard about Fred Wilpon experiencing serious financial problems. So serious are those problems that it’s reported that he may be forced to sell the Mets next year.

Besides the obvious concern about the financial condition of the Mets, there have been serious questions about the quality of players that the Mets are developing. The Mets spent the least money of any team in Major League Baseball on their high draft picks this season. And Jeff Wilpon recently went to Buffalo and Binghamton to apologize to fans for fielding teams that weren’t even close to competitive this season.

The writing will be on the wall in the off-season if the Mets reduce the payroll from their current $140 million. That will be the tell-tale sign of financial trouble for the owner. In a brand new stadium, with new sources of revenue, there’s no reason to cut payroll. Until the free agency period gets going in a few months we’re left to speculate and have plenty of reason to be concerned.

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets News Aug. 30, 2009 Wright, Minaya, Prospects

NEW YORK - MAY 13: Fernando Tatis #17 of the ...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I’ve already written so much about the Mets injuries this season that I’m really tired of it. Unfortunately, the injuries are the theme of the season and I do have some more links on the topic for you today. But we do have something to look forward to as well with news about the Mets prospects and the ones that’ll be joining the roster in a few days.

Anyway, here’s the news:

  • Bill Madden of the Daily News has a great summarizing column about the injuries. The Mets have lost 1,095 days to the disabled list.
  • Bob Raissman of the Daily News wrote a column about Omar Minaya and his communication problems. This topic has been beaten to death but Raissman brings up some good points like whether Minaya has these same communication issues with his staff or other GM’s.
  • Although this isn’t Mets-related, David Waldstein of NY Times writes about players tipping pitches. Specifically, he gets into the allegation that Miguel Tejada was tipping pitches to his friends on opposing teams in 2001 when he was with the A’s (and Art Howe). It’s definitely an interesting read.
  • Dave Singer of NY Sports Dog has a good piece about Mike Pelfrey and the Verducci Effect.
  • Mark Hale of the NY Post wrote about Adam Wogan who’s been filling in for Tony Bernazard since he was fired.
  • Marc Hulet of FanGraphs wrote about the Mets having hope for the future with some minor league talent coming. Specifically, he writes about Kirk Nieuwenhuis a 22-year old lefty in the Florida State League.
  • The NY Times reports on David Wright returning from the disabled list on Tuesday in Colorado. He’ll immediately start wearing the new, more protective, batting helmet that we saw Ryan Dempster wearing yesterday.
  • Adam Rubin of Surfing The Mets has the September call-up list including catcher Josh Thole who will be with the team in Colorado this week.
Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Fred Wilpon Denies Forced Sale Of Mets

Fred_WilponThe big news over the last couple of days is the bombshell that Fred Wilpon lost so much money in the Bernie Madoff scandal that he’ll be forced to sell the team. The story originated from author Erin Arvedlund, who’s writing a book about the Ponzi scheme called “Too Good To Be True”. In an interview promoting the book, she confidently told Marketwatch.com that Wilpon’s losses will force a sale of the Mets as early as next year.

Richard Sandomir of the NY Times spoke to Wilpon from his vacation in Aspen, CO.

“I’m fine, my family’s fine, my business family’s fine,” Wilpon said

It’s a good read from Sandomir. He even gets some quotes from Bob DuPuy, the President of Major League Baseball. Of course, DuPuy says that Wilpon is financially sound, etc. What else would he say? DuPuy isn’t dumb enough to start a panic by telling a reporter that one of his owners is financially distressed, not to mention that he’d be devaluing the Mets franchise. DuPuy just finished dealing with one MLB owner in bankruptcy with the Cubs situation.

It’s hard to tell fact from fiction here. Arvedlund has an interest in making splashy headlines to promote her book. And Wilpon has an interest in denying financial distress to maintain the value of his assets like the Mets and SNY. Each has the motivation to act accordingly.

Only time will tell if Wilpon is forced to put the Mets up for sale. We’ll have to look at some potential buyers for the Mets in a future post here. Do you have an extra $900 million?

Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js

Mets News Aug. 28,2009 Wilpons, Fans, Injuries

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 23: Johan Santana #57 of...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Mets make their annual trip to Wrigley for a weekend series. There are a few stories that peaked my interest today that I thought you might like. By the way, if you haven’t been to Wrigley it’s a fantastic venue for a game. The stadium is still holding up really well, the neighborhood is perfect, and the Cubs are perennial losers so you have a pretty good chance to see the Mets win in most seasons.

Anyway, here’s the news for today:

  • Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports gets into the Mets injury situation. Basically, he accuses the Mets of not taking proper care of their players.
  • Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog links to an article that says that the Wilpons lost so much money in the Madoff scandal that they’ll be forced to sell the team as early as next season. I can think of several readers that will be thrilled to read that.
  • The Daily News has an article about how nobody showed up to watch the Mets-Marlins on Wednesday at the Ziegfeld Theater. Big surprise! Mets fans are smart. This team isn’t worth paying to see.
Enhanced by Zemantahttp://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js