Poor Fred Applesauce - Well, not quite, but Met owner still claiming $70 million loss, more reactions to Toobin story

by Joe Budd on May 24, 2011 8:06 AM EDT in Applesauce

Meet the Mets

Day two of the Fred Wilpon/Jeffrey Toobin sh**ty storm and it promises to get even better today as Wilpon has an upcoming appearance in this week's Sports Illustrated where he tells the magazine that he's "bleeding cash" to the tune of $70 million this year (which makes the imminent sale of 49% of the team even more important).

Anyway, there are some really good takes floating out there on this story. Most important are the players' reactions. David Wright takes the high road and says very little while his teammate, Mike Pelfrey, takes the middle road with a little humor.

I.M. Forme thanks Fred for this blogger stimulus package and points out that the Mets in fact signed Carlos Beltran based on that one playoff series.

Ted Berg is also worried about the thought process illustrated by the Wilpon interview.

Howard Megdal takes the deterministic view that this firestorm will not have an impact on the Mets future with these three players.

Scott Boras also has an interesting take on this and he's simply tired of the Mets being unable to keep all this crap in-house.

I usually can't stand Mike Francesa, but I think that he's right with this one comment. There's a significant portion of the fan base that is probably welcoming these comments because they've got a bad case of Yankee envy.

Anyway, it could have been worse. Here are some of the things that Toobin didn't put in the article.

There is some non-Wilpon stuff too. Eric thinks the Mets might be in the market for the Twins' Kevin Slowey.

David Wright is flying out to Los Angeles to get a second opinion on that balky back.

And, Cesar Puello is starting to heat up and get scouts excited with those five tools.

Around MLB

Mike Rizzo and Ivan Rodriguez each snagged a punishment from MLB for their confrontations with the umpires following the Nats' 1-0 loss to the Mets last week.

Chase Utley returned and the Phillies crushed the Reds.

Albert Pujols hadn't hit a home run in a while before last night.

Good news for the Nationals as Stephen Strasburg is throwing from a mound.

Funny stuff from Jeff Sullivan.

Fortunately, there are no Mets on Beyond the Box Score's worst players of 2011. The year is still young though.

And, finally, Julio Lugo is joining the Braves.

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Comments

Looks like it's going to be

another great day!

TerryStopBunting#54
TerryStopBunting#54

by Ownbey4Mex on May 24, 2011 8:12 AM EDT reply actions

SNY's whitewashing of Wilpons comments were despicable

They rationalized it as being something that anyone would say, and how the players would never be offended by those kinds of words, and pretended as if it was a totally reasonable thing to hear on almost every show they had.

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on May 24, 2011 8:59 AM EDT reply actions

Also they made some claim

that Picard was suing the Wilpons for more money that Fred Wilpon actually has, presumably to drum up sympathy. Although i can’t honestly believe Fred Wilpon has less than a billion dollars to his name.

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on May 24, 2011 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I am sure the imposition

of a billion dollar settlement woudl clean him out pretty good. I guess he would be back in the funneral home business after something like that.

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around A look at Maybe you’ll find happiness in your sight shopping heaven and earth You’ll find our price is more suitable for you.

by Coolpapabell on May 24, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

Much less.

by Putnan Prince on May 24, 2011 9:40 PM EDT up reply actions

why

why were you watching? I haven’t’ yet seen anything of value on those silly shows.

Though who am I to talk right? I was listening to Francesa and Michael Kay yesterday (only for 20 minutes!) and they both were spouting inaccurate and ignorant information at me.

-Ceetar, the Optimistic Mets Fan

by Ceetar on May 24, 2011 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions

I honestly was just curious to see what they would say and how they would handle it

I assumed they’d be pro Mets and they pretty much pulled the good cop bad cop routine on them the whole day

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on May 24, 2011 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I'll admit that I turned on Loudmouths yesterday

(why oh why would I do it?!?!) and Adam Schein (I know right…he yelled at me on tv for 5 minutes) actually seemed to be blasting Wilpon for his statements, saying that he never should’ve said anything like that and that anything like this should be kept in-house because you don’t want to offend your players.

I usually can’t stand to listen to him but I do give him credit there. The other jackass who was filling in for Chris Carlin (Eamon something) was giving the whole “well George Steinbrenner did it so it must be okay” and " well, it’s true" schtick.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on May 24, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Load mouths

I am convinced that the show format requires them to pick a topic and oppose one another. The sad part is these guys don’t have any professional integrity to actually deviate and provide some intelligent discourse. Just pick up the check and go home guys.

by Coolpapabell on May 24, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I stupidly watched Daily News Live

Big mistake that made me want to break things. Good god, what a quartet of morons. All of them gave Wilpon a pass for the comments and Beningo was happy about them, basically saying, “It’s about time someone said it!” Not one of them thought to mention the real problem with the team has been guys not named Reyes, Wright and Beltran. Andy Martino knows literally nothing about baseball, and is pretty much a foppish fancy lad (not that there’s anything wrong with that) that agrees that Reyes is “injury prone”. Then the guy with the crazy walrus mustache just talked about how good the Yankees are for 10 minutes, and how much he hates Pelfrey. How do these guys have jobs?

by David G on May 24, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

you do realize that by the show's nature

one guy must take a contrary position, right ?.

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 24, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

The better question is

don’t they realize we have caught on? So why bother having these guys make fake arguements. We know that its fake, which renders it a big waste of time.

by Coolpapabell on May 24, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

As others have already said

Virtually every topic has to be debated on that show; one guy takes the role of the loudmouthed “average” fan who wants the emotional response, and the other one tries to be more factual. Before I turned it on, I knew what Schein was going to be saying,

And the way they played it out was that Schein (who is going to be on the show every day) takes the popular position that the fans agree with, and the nobody fill in takes the unpopular position. Also, they interviewed some random guy from the mets FO whose name escapes me, and basically threw softballs at him and let him throw out the Mets talking points for his five minutes

"I only wanted a few things out of life -- a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." - Turk Wendell

by Rey-O on May 24, 2011 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Chris Carlin is "THE HUMAN THUMB"

by Putnan Prince on May 24, 2011 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I woke up pissed off at the world because of yesterday

then WFAN had Doc Gooden on with Boomer and Carton, and he was talking about all his life struggles, and somehow yesterday became nothing.

Also, I must confess I am a wimp……Carton asked Gooden where he was during the Buckner play (he was in the dugout), and then they played the radio call, and my eyes got moist.

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 24, 2011 9:05 AM EDT reply actions

How did bay not make the worst players list?

by Shea Strausman on May 24, 2011 9:15 AM EDT reply actions

he and vernon wells

can fight to the death for worst contract ever

http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/

by Cory Braiterman on May 24, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

No contest

At least bays deal was only four years and he Plays an ok outfield. But it’s looking like the worst contract in baseball is actually Crawford right now.

A deadline has a wonderful way of concentrating the mind.-Professor James Moriarty
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.- Former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

by Blame-everyone-else on May 24, 2011 9:44 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Bay has actually

Been worth 0.3 war this season, mostly based on fielding. That list is for those worth -0.4 at least.

A deadline has a wonderful way of concentrating the mind.-Professor James Moriarty
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.- Former Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan

by Blame-everyone-else on May 24, 2011 9:41 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Agreed

Vernon Wells takes the cake. Way to go Bavasi!

by Coolpapabell on May 24, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

You mean JP Ricciardi who signed Wells to that deal in Toronto.

Or Tony Reagins who actually took on the entire contract and gave up a good catcher/DH in Mike Napoli.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on May 24, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Bavasi is no longer with the Angels?

Well, bully for him not being associated with that awesome transaction.

I think the signing was foolish, but not nearly as crazy as the Angels trading for him. The Angels already had the benefit of seeing Wells age and stink. Last year was just noise, but the true picture of the player was already revealed, and they still traded for him. What is more, they took on the worst chunks of that contract.

by Coolpapabell on May 24, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

oh hey let's not forget

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/wilpon_citi_dump_B7EUIJFgb8s8IXigpw2lwK

why leave out any of the good news

http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/

by Cory Braiterman on May 24, 2011 9:29 AM EDT reply actions

Oh god! I thought this was going to be serious!

Then I saw it was just Sherman and had a chuckle.

_______________________________________________
$100 to CARE per No-No and $1 per David Wright Homer.

by ScottfromPeekskill on May 24, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

to be fair

he pretty much agrees with what everyone here has been saying.

It would have sounded right from a talk-radio diehard. But from Fred Wilpon it was undignified, rude and — worst of all — counterproductive. He underscored the incompetence of a franchise that built around stars this flawed while subliminally telling both fans and teams interested in trading for these players to stay away.

http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/

by Cory Braiterman on May 24, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

I think you have to back up what you mean by "stars this flawed"

Take away Wright’s ‘09 season where they weren’t winning anything anyway, and he has been in fact a “superstar”. Other than Pujols, and maybe Utley, name a better everyday player in the National League from ‘05 to ’08. Beltran, Reyes and Wright were plenty good enough to win multiple titles with a better team around them in ’07 and ’08. In ’06 they got to game 7 of the LCS starting Ollie Perez, John Maine and Steve Trachsel. If they don’t give 6 awful starts to Brian Lawrence in ‘07 they win the wild card, or possibly the division. If they had a better bullpen they’d have won in ’08. How did the “flawed stars” lose it for them those years?

by David G on May 24, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

R.A.men brother!

_______________________________________________
$100 to CARE per No-No and $1 per David Wright Homer.

by ScottfromPeekskill on May 24, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

OK thats the one point

I don’t agree with. About all I agree is that Beltran has lost a step.

http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/

by Cory Braiterman on May 24, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

What's funny

(to me at least) is that all the guys in the press are now saying, “Oh the horror!” when they say a lot of the same things every day. So they are underscoring their own meaninglessness by putting so much weight to what old Freddy said. “We’re idiots so no one pays attention to what we say, but if the owner says it…”

"Sometimes you make a mistake and you get hit in the head." - Eli Manning

by blains2000 on May 24, 2011 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Please, God, let Fred's recent comments mean that he is selling 100% of the Mets

But does not realize that comments like that do not quite mean taht he can ask for more money.

by Shevshevy on May 24, 2011 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

This

would be great.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on May 24, 2011 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

you don't know that, though

A new owner might not like Sandy, and contracts mean nothing except that checks are being written for the next two and half years.

I think best case he has to sell a 49% interest with the understanding that it comes with some heavy input into decision-making. Well, best case would be a sale to somebody smart, of course, but if some new guy comes in and takes Sandy away from me, at this point, I just don’t know what I would do.

by SuperT on May 24, 2011 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

i have to assume a new owner keeps dandy sandy

And jp. Just for the trial by error success they’ve had with our buffalo team playing in the bigs.

But my this has to get the attention of the mlb. Scrutiny of our owners has to be intensified because fred has unofficially given up and lost it. Those words were from a defeated man who sees his tenure at hand.

I hate Philadelphia so much.

by the caveman on May 24, 2011 6:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Get a life

Fred did not say anything that has not been said here, by the fans, over and over again. Perhaps the players needed to hear it from him, and, in public. Now, perhaps, they will get off there butts and play they way we all expect them to play? LETS GO METS!!!

by PiazzaHOF on May 24, 2011 10:50 AM EDT reply actions

thanks for stopping by

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 24, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs

I was going to

respond with facts but your comment summed it up so much better.

Well done.

by MetsFan4Decades on May 24, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Dear Piazza HOF

Play the way we expect them to play? Really? Reyes leads the league in hits, triples and stolen bases. Beltran is top 10 in OPS, leads the league in doubles, top 3 in extra base hits. Have you watched this year? You moron. Reyes, Beltran and Wright will go down as three of the best players to ever suit up for the Mets. Reyes and Wright already hold almost every team batting record, and Beltran’s contract was in fact, a bargain. You want them to hit .450 with 79 HRs? If you don’t get that an owner can’t say those things, about three of the best players in the franchises’ history you are massively stupid. If you don’t get that an owner can’t say what certain idiotic fans like yourself can say, you are outrageously stupid.

by David G on May 24, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

The first rule of the loudmouth fan:

If any player among TEH CORE is playing poorly, the entire CORE is playing poorly. That, or “at least [Reyes or Wright] is doing something. They should keep him. [Reyes or Wright] is the one they should unload.” Reyes and Wright’s positions in the above will toggle based on the random fluctuation of their performances, and/or nagging injuries.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think you are IDOIT here, dude!

Firts David, we missed the WS in 2006 by one game, as a strike went past Beltran, since then, we collapsed twice, finished fourth and are in fourth now, one game below 500. Your right, what’s wrong with me? I must be stupid, this team is AWESOME!!! WHat more could a fan ask for? Please tell me? I think it is you that is brain dead. I think that Wright and Reyes are the best players this team has seen, but, they have not been surrounded with the best. This team lacks attitude and plays very bad at times. You can’t win six games and them loose the next five. They don’t play consistant, that is the problem. You cannot say any different, Dave. If you are happy with a team that rolled over and dies in 2007 and 2008, then underachieved since then, happy for you, just don’s attack me because I expect more from this team. I have to pay for MLB.TV to watch this team, for me to attend a game with the family takes the whole day, and, cost a couple hundred bucks, so, don’t question my fandom. I think it is you that needs to pull your head out of that deep dark place, and, see this team for what they are, right now. I do think that they can, and, will, turn it around and catch the Phillies. LETS GO METS!!!!

by PiazzaHOF on May 24, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

idoit?

by tmu on May 24, 2011 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Forget it, he's rolling

by dcmetsfan on May 24, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Put a t

in front of rolling.

by wobatus on May 24, 2011 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

THIS guy was on a roll

by bones_boy on May 24, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

LOL

What an IDOIT this David G guy is!

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on May 24, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Man

Nothing you say makes sense. You agree with the criticism of the core, but then you admit that “they have not been surrounded with the best”. Try actually thinking things through before you post and you won’t sound like an “IDOIT”.

David never said that the team is great. He said that Beltran, Reyes, and Wright are great. And he’s right.

"I think Murdertron makes a good point though."

by Joamiq on May 24, 2011 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

With all due respect

this comment is absolutely ridiculous.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Negative Rec

by dcmetsfan on May 24, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Fred did not say anything that has not been said here

Well if this were Metsblog, then perhaps. Guys who says those type of things here ussually get less than warm responses.

“Now, perhaps, they will get off there butts and play they way we all expect them to play?”

I wish I had your optimism, because I am not expecting too much.

by Coolpapabell on May 24, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I think

he refers to the cigarette butts they’re sitting on over there.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This is bad comment.

How did you really expect them to play? Everybody said this was a .500 team at best and lo and behold…they’re a .500 team!!! Without Wright, Davis and Santana they’ve played pretty damn well the past few weeks.

And the reason why him saying “what the fans say” is bad is because he’s the OWNER who actually has to deal with these players on a semi-regular basis. He signs their checks and if they don’t feel appreciated, they can easily pick up and go elsewhere.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on May 24, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Whenever I see a random Metsblog or MMO-type comment

i.e. non-reality bases, predicatable in its mindlessness, always including a passing reference to “fire/’heart/grission” and a ludicrous assumption that players can turn on and off their performance if they either “want it” enough" or are “called out” over it…I look down to the sig, and there you are, PiazzaHOF.

Thanks for your insight and wisdom.

by neoncleon on May 24, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

His comment

is not the worst I’ve seen, although it is slightly less insightful than the spambot fake Armani ads.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

his comment

is a nice comment, but it’s not a superstar comment

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 24, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Get outta here, Jeff.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on May 24, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

i agree with your sentiments

but your attitude is not helping anything.

I think it was Bobby V who said: "You are never as good as you are when you are at your best, and you are not as bad as when you are at your worst."

by gbaked on May 24, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Did you think Piazza was unclutchzz?

by nrmax88 on May 24, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Normally,

I’d say something mean and disrespectful, but I’m gonna let you figure out what’s wrong with your statement.

What's that about?

by Brian. on May 24, 2011 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

It is what it is

(unassailably true!) and it doesn’t seem like there’s much more to be said about it unless someone is baited into saying something, responding, etc., such that we get one of those little “CLICK ME!!!” ESPN.com links, like “Beltran to Wilpon: I give my all” or something similarly meaningless. I’m somewhat heartened that Wipsy-poo and the Mets’ PR machine (which I envision metaphorically as a rusted out Edsel pulled by a mule) didn’t send out an e-mail to fans talking about how much Wilpy appreciates ~~our employers~~ us coming out to the park with our ~~clients~~ families and buying ~~luxury suites~~ hot dogs, and such. Silence is golden. May they finally learn to handle something — anything — in house, other than letting a crook lord over their clubhouse for years.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Who besides me

thinks the Mets PR should have been the first with the boot even before Omar and Jerry and others?

Dang…between all the hole digging Omar did in ‘09 (and I still can’t believe they just let him keep right on digging those holes) and blasting Doc for autographing a wall at Citi field, etc. etc. – you would think someone would have figured out that the Mets PR department leaves something to be desired.

by MetsFan4Decades on May 24, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Dave Howard

Moron. This is the problem with a cozy crew like the Wilp Dynasty. Your buddies never get the axe. It’s only the nameless, faceless underlings who are booted out on the street with impunity. They’ve been the cheesy, garish, “me too”, “let’s get black jerseys” team for far too long.

That said, playing “whack-a-mole” with the Mets PR disasters is probably a bit more difficult than doing PR for, say, North Korea.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs

And I know I'm conflating PR and marketing and such

But it’s however the team communicates with its public and the press

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually, it looks like Daivd Newman is the "communications" guy

Media relations is the venerable Jay Horwitz. Maybe he’s past his prime, but I don’t see whitewashing this sort of thing as his domain.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Jay Horwitz

is 65% of what he was.

TerryStopBunting#54
TerryStopBunting#54

by Ownbey4Mex on May 24, 2011 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

rec

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 24, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

REC'D

& a half.

Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the street: wheredotheygo?!?!? Right here: http://myentireteam.wordpress.com/

by CharlieH on May 24, 2011 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Also

Jay Horwitz is the vice president of media relations? Isn’t he supposed to…I don’t know…deal with the media?!?! Why do we never hear him speak? You’d think it would be his job to speak and to help them avoid these PR fiascos. What does this guy actually do or am I misunderstanding his job?

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on May 24, 2011 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Horwitz

has been at it for a long, long time — he predates the Pons, I think. He’s more about providing player information to out-of-town broadcasters, etc. It’s possible this sort of thing is his domain, and that he just can’t handle the aggressive “new media” environment, the multilevel meta-meta-meta-analyses that create the impact by speculating on the impact, etc.

It seems like this is a higher level problem, however. And, ultimately, it’s tough to handle PR if your owner is this stupid.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes,

I think this goes far above Jay, although if my memory is correct Jay was the one quoted over the Gooden ‘defacing brand new property’ and such. Had to back peddle on that one saying they’d ‘relocate’ it.

Jeeze Jay, you seem to be right up there with Fred on not getting Met fans and their allegiance to Met history.

They just all need to go, IMO.

by MetsFan4Decades on May 24, 2011 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Well

If Fred is forced to sell, the problem may solve itself . . . but it would get worse before it gets better. Heck, fine by me, as long as it gets better.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I volunteer

to be the one to stick my boot up Dave Howard’s ass.

I hate that guy.

One day, this team is going to kill me.

by fxcarden on May 24, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Me.

by SuperT on May 24, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Cry poor? yeah, try paying your rent on time and other necessities you rich asshat

if you can own a baseball team you aren’t poor, end of story.

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on May 24, 2011 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

Anyone think

that these remarks were intentional by Fred to show the Madoff trustee that he is dumb enough to have fallen for the ponzi scheme and not know what was going on all those years?

Who am I kidding? Me neither.

"Sometimes you make a mistake and you get hit in the head." - Eli Manning

by blains2000 on May 24, 2011 11:20 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

You had Fred believing you there for a while, though.

TerryStopBunting#54
TerryStopBunting#54

by Ownbey4Mex on May 24, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Nice

by tmu on May 24, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmm...

SI also reports that the Mets turned to Madoff to help them get rid of outfielder Bobby Bonilla, a clubhouse malcontent, after the 1999 season. If the team released Bonilla, it would have had to pay him $5.9 million for the 2000 season. Mets officials instead offered to pay Bonilla nearly $1.2 million per year for 25 years, for a total of $29.8 million, beginning this July. The payments to Bonilla were based on an interest rate of 8%; the Mets planned on investing the Bonilla money with Madoff, whom they expected would give them a 10% to 12% return.

#BlameBonilla

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)
3rd Place- 2011 AAOP Contest

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on May 24, 2011 11:47 AM EDT reply actions

Bronx face palm

TerryStopBunting#54
TerryStopBunting#54

by Ownbey4Mex on May 24, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions

That's

bat shit insane financial planning. Yeah, I put all the kids college money in Cisco in February 2000.

by wobatus on May 24, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

It takes a true genius to pay a guy $23.9 million more than he's owed to not play for you.

With financial acumen like that, it’s obvious that Fred and Saul lucked into their fortune.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on May 24, 2011 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions

They essentially did

That’s what the Toobin article says. They went around the country buying up property in what they thought were tax havens, and then their real estate value exploded. I’m sure they’ve learned something about real estate since then, but the initial money that went into their buying the Mets was a result of pure dumb luck.

"I think Murdertron makes a good point though."

by Joamiq on May 24, 2011 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep, I read it.

They basically bought a winning lottery ticket by accident.

"And that's why anybody who invested with Lenny Dykstra should really call that number. Lawyers are standing by."

by BobbyV_Incognito on May 24, 2011 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah.

If everything Toobin wrote is accurate, no wonder they got duped by Madoff. Accidental zillionaires investing in an industry they didn’t even luck into success in.

"I think Murdertron makes a good point though."

by Joamiq on May 25, 2011 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Owen Wilson Criticizes Mets Players

I saw a headline, “Owner Wilpon….” and thought for a second it said “Owen Wilson…”

I was like f this guy, Rushmore is a good movie and all, but c’mon, where does he get off? Get in a decent new Woody Allen movie and he thinks he’s entitled?

Seriously, my brain works that fast. It was all over in a nanosecond.

by wobatus on May 24, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

Weird...

Scott Boras is the voice of reason.

by JoshNY on May 24, 2011 1:42 PM EDT reply actions

The voice of reason

It’s still kind of sad that perhaps the most logical person was a dang Yankee fan from James’s thread yesterday.

by dcmetsfan on May 24, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

a commentator on Ted's entry

says that Freddy approved all the comments that they published in the NYer. Anyone see this confirmed somewhere?

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on May 24, 2011 3:00 PM EDT reply actions

that would puzzle me even more

if he had the chance to say “oops that shouldn’t go in there” and passed on it, it goes from rather embarassing human error to extreme arrogance

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on May 24, 2011 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

i was thinking that

if it is calculated, then why did he do it?

Aside from the theory that he is a tone-deaf buffoon, I’d say the leading theories are:
1) wanted to show fans that he is one of them, and is disappointed with the shitty team like any other regular Joe, and plus he might know that all the parts he criticized are on their way out! (but the motivation here is unclear)
2) didn’t think he was insulting the core any more than usual (think of the team’s dealings with Beltran in the past…are there other examples?)
3) the conspiracy theory above, that, in line with the main motivation of the article from Fred’s perspective, to show that he was an incompetent, dopey dupe, not the kind of vicious manipulator who could have known what Madoff was doing.
4) he wanted to light a fire under a team that was under-performing even by its own low standards at the time he made the comments (but this doesn’t explain much since he has to know that the article would come out much later)
5) Blogger outreach program, 2.0, as i have suggested facetiously
6) the Sterling intern that was supposed to proof the thing called in sick that day and no one noticed—see previous Met brass decisions
7) In an unseen hard to fathom power struggle with real Met head honcho Saul “LOL” Katz, Fred is maneuvering for advantage by using the press
8) Omar Minaya was somehow in charge (this is a hail Mary catch all theory)

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on May 24, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

You forgot:

9) Alcohol when quotes were uttered and when reviewed and confirmed.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

i really think we was trying to connect with the fans,

but if he really understood the fans, he’d be heaping praise on guys like Wright and Reyes for putting up with all the bullshit thats gone on over the years (unfortunately most fans don’t give beltran the credit he deserves). Even if you accept Wrights best days might be behind him now, that’s all the more reason to realize that Reyes is the single most exciting player left in a Mets uniform, and he should be doing whatever he can to make him feel at home in Flushing. He certainly wouldn’t bring up 2006, (and really who can actually make fun of Beltran for that pitch, that curveball was nasty). Nobody wants to hear the guy who built the team thinks they’re shitty. It’s his fault it’s shitty. He doesn’t get to play sympathetic Mets fan when he’s in charge of fixing whats wrong. I honestly chalk this up to a horrific failure of an attempt to appear down to earth and a real baseball fan (he learned how to sound like a fan from wFAN and the Post apparently).

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on May 24, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

And 10)

He’s a backstabber who loves to shift blame whenever it suits him, which oddly enough, showed itself through the actions of Manuel & Minaya.

What's that about?

by Brian. on May 24, 2011 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs

Fred?

by tmu on May 24, 2011 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions

even the Raiders

seem to be further on the road to respectability than the Mets are.

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on May 24, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I would have liked

Fred to have read a rambling letter accusing Jerry of lying after he was fired.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

i think Warthen handles the

truth/lying dept. But we’re headed in that direction no doubt.

I.M. Forme
"When you get yourself into trouble is when you feel you have to do something, and then you get yourself in trouble." --Omar Minaya

by itsmetsforme on May 24, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I've attaced a prototype jersey that will replace the black "alt"

by tmu on May 24, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

WOW he would look great on a Raider's helmet

or a ship hand on Black Beard’s ship on Pirates of the Carribean.

by Coolpapabell on May 24, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm pretty sure every quote in the New Yorker is confirmed by a fact-checker

Fred may have thought, oh crap, I didn’t realize he was going to use that, but I assume that since the quotes are verbatim they may have been on tape. Fred probably thought he came across well enough, and he was only saying what his buddies tell him everyone thinks, so it would be no big deal.

by SuperT on May 24, 2011 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

it is a job with a certain . . . quiet dignity.

by tmu on May 24, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yankee fan colleague

walks into my office just now, and says “Nice office….not the office of a superstar.”

I said “Ha, I’m on amazing avenue right now reading about that mess.”

He said “I knew you would be. Get back to work.”

He of course agrees with everything Wilpon said.

by wobatus on May 24, 2011 4:02 PM EDT reply actions

Thats because asshat fans are assholes with hats on.

__________________________________
Keep Reyes. Fire Wilponz. #BlameWilponz.

by ScottfromPeekskill on May 26, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Heel heat.

Fred is deliberately unifying the players and fans against himself as a common enemy (like the owner in the original release of Major League, which had to be altered because the male audience didn’t like the idea of being manipulated so easily by a woman).

He’s actually a misunderstood media genius.

Any takers? Any?

I got nothin.’

by Kepler on May 24, 2011 4:13 PM EDT reply actions