In a report for Newsday, regarding the team’s media blitz on Monday, David Lennon explains 
why action, not words, are what matter most from the Mets right now.
I agree, 100 percent.
People keep asking why I have been so quiet in my response to Monday’s media tour. I’m quiet because I just don’t think what the Mets say in public matters at this point… and I no longer know what to believe.
It’s hard to take seriously a statement that labels poor results as ‘unacceptable,’ after which essentially every person responsible for the poor results is welcomed back… and that’s the thing, in the end, it’s all just language and window dressing, regardless of whether it is true or not… like Lennon says, now, for the Mets, it’s about action, not words.
The thing is, if the Mets are going to use big language, if they say they plan to spend and make trades and improve the roster, while using words like ‘unacceptable,’ then, guess what, they now have to follow through on those statements. Otherwise, the team will 
look like a bigger failure than it does right now.
Speaking of money, why do the Mets keep boasting, ‘We have one of the highest payrolls in baseball,’ which was repeated on several occasions this week, as if there is some special trophy for this ‘accomplishment.’ I would think, given the on-field results, payroll would be a source of embarrassment for the team, not a source of pride.
The Yankees are impressive. But, spending $200 million on payroll guarantees nothing, and, deep down inside, I believe most fans know this. Instead, I contend, while they may be impressed by the dollars being spent in the Bronx, most Mets fans know success is based on how you spend money, not how much you spend.
I hope the Mets understand this. I’m sure they do. But, emphasizing cost – and not the actual product – makes me fear they believe marketability, advertising and pre-season ticket plans are more important than on-field results; but, to Lennon’s point, in the end, these are all just words. True judgment will come on Opening Day and again next October, on field, and not in an off-season press conference… time to make things happen, gentlemen, just like you said you would.
By the way, to read more from Lennon, specifically how the team might already be lining up replacements for Minaya and Manuel, read his report, here.
{ 19 comments }
Matt
I agree with everything you said, but the reason the Mets are boasting about having the highest payroll in the NL is because they keep reading about how cheap they are and how the fans don’t think they will spend money, so they feel they need to respond. You know this from having this blog, that the fans have killed team for not spending.
I don’t care if the Met’s payroll is $10 Million as long as they win. I understand why the Wilpon’s want to make the point that they spend big money, but I don’t think the real fans really care about that. What the fans care about is winning. It is a shame that the Wilpon’s have been attacked for being “cheap” and “broke” because they are clearly neither. It is the decision making that is the problem and not the money being spent.
I would like Omar, Jeff, Jerry and the entire coaching staff to sit down and watch the Twins/Tigers game from last night and hopefully learn from it.
all due respect Gasface, the Wilpons have been torn to shreds for being cheap by a very many fans.
so.
I realize that. I tried to specify by saying “real” fans. There are still many crazy’s out there that will continue to call them cheap no matter what.
Truth is that while I truly believe that the Wilpons care about the Mets and their fans, I think they are incompetent when it comes to running this team. The thing is that this organization goes on a year-by-year plan. What it needs is a 3-4 year plan and more importantly a vision.
Okay, so we’re not the Yankees. Then what are we? Give us an identity. The fact that Jeff Wilpon could not anticipate the backlash from all the Brooklyn Dodgers stuff around the stadium goes to prove how out of touch he is.
If I were Jeff Wilpon, this would have been exactly what I would have done:
1) Fired Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel.
Both are good men and they could not have prevented the injuries, but when this team was spinning out of control they were not the calming forces that the organization needed. In fact, they added to the turmoil with Minaya’s attack on Rubin and Manuel’s on-going feud with Church.
2) Hire Jed Hoyer as GM and Bobby Valentine as Manager.
I like whats I’ve read and heard of Ricco, but this organization need a clean slate. The Mets have not hired outside of their network since before Cashen. Hoyer is essentially the Red Sox’s Ricco and can bring over some of the tricks he’s learned from the Red Sox. Also, it gives the Mets network a kharmic facelift.
Bringing in Valentine makes the Mets better on the field. I’m not blind to the fact that Bobby is a pain and an ego-maniac but who else is available that’s better than him? Is he better than Manuel? Yes!
3) I keep the Jackie Robinson rotunda name, but take down everything else. We don’t need the giant “42″ in the lobby, the shoe imprints and the TV with Jackie moments. I love Jackie. He was a great man. In fact, when I play softball I often try to land 42 is available, but this is a Mets stadium. It’s okay to name the rotunda after him, but everything is confusing and overboard.
4) Get everybody healthy. Get first and second opinions on each injured player NOW and start the best option immediately whether it’s rest or surgery.
All of this before even turning our attention to the roster itself.
The thing is that this organization goes on a year-by-year plan. What it needs is a 3-4 year plan and more importantly a vision.
Nail meet hammer. You are exactly correct. If I may add – the one-year plan is based on the needs from the prior year.
I hereby nominate MrMustSeeTV as the GM of the Mets! :)
Hey Matt….
“most Mets fans know success is based on how you spend money, not how much you spend”.
You obviously didn’t form that opinion by reading your comments section, or listening to the radio on a regualr basis.
Just listen to Francessa’s interview the other day. All he did was keep trying to hammer home the idea that the payroll will not be decreased. Fans are obsessed with payroll.
For the love of God can someone please hire Bobby Valentine to manage a team other than the Mets so I can stop seeing posts about why the Mets should jump into the Delorian.
Great Post Matt!
This is exactly the kind of insight that made Metsblog the success it turned out to be, and the kind of post taht will not get you invited to the Wilpon Christmas party.
The again if Anna Benson is not going to be there – who cares!
There is still hope for Anna and the party, isn’t Kris a FA this year, if not, he’ll be really cheap seeing that he spent most of the year on the DL and in OK City.
welcome to the anger stage, matt. you sound like me circa 2007.
i’m past acceptance, well into indifference.
Matt:
Two things. 1) As has been said above, the Wilpons are sensitive to being called things like “Freddie Coupon” for so many years, they want to make sure that people know this is not the result of being cheap. they are also indicating that they will continue to have one of the highest payrolls, so despite what we’ve heard about budget slashing, they are asserting that that won’t happen. (we’ll see)
2) For weeks, ad nauseum you have indicated that as long as the Mets determine that Jerry and Omar are the ones to best lead them through a plan, you’re fine, and if they don’t think they’re the guys, get new ones. So even if the results were “unacceptable” they’ve obviously decided that Jerry and Omar are the guys to lead them to “acceptable” results.
You had such poise when saying that you didn’t care who were the right men, but now that they’ve selected them, you don’t get it?
Part of it’s just an oversaturation of media these days.
yes, they should’ve fired Manuel and Warthen. However, at this point there is nothing they can do for a month until the World Series ends. So talk is all we got.
I hope all the talk of ‘highest’ payroll is their way of saying that they will spend money, and will be competitive for Matt Holliday or whoever. It’s better than hearing cliches about spending wisely.
Manuel is a bad manager, but the Mets are a good enough team that with a couple of the ‘correct’ offseason moves it won’t matter how many outs Manuel gives away with bunts.
Off topic but I hope Olly Perez was watching MLB Network last night. They had Cliff Lee on showing how to pitch.
Clearly, Wilpon was trying to address the complaint of some clueless fans that they are unwilling to spend. You would think by now that they would understand they shouldn’t bother, let the clueless be.
While no team could have survived the injuries this year….and the Mets were considered legitimate title contenders, let’s fire Omar….we need our pound of flesh. If I’m not mistaken, 2 Mets farmhands helped the Twins win yesterday and Reyes, Wright, Pagan, Parnell, Pelfrey, Niese, Evans, Murphy, Thole, Martinez, etc, somehow made it through the perpetually bankrupt Mets farm system. Mets had no depth to replace the injured, Lets fire Omar. While handled poorly, Rubin was knowingly not being honest about Mets prospects and was clearly “piling on” as many others are now doing. Lets fire Omar.
The Mets are a #2 pitcher and a 1B/LF away from contending next year and if Pelf and Maine pitch even close to what they are capable of…we could be very good.
Lets fire Omar.
if if if if if if if if if if is all you get out of this regime
wilpon is willing to spend, but only up to a point, and then regardless of how much a marginal investment would help the team, he doesn’t go for it
It’s been ‘tunnel vision’ for a long time around here in “Met Land”–watching, hoping, rooting, & praying can get you just so far..and, also, warp your perspective. I saw GOOD BASEBALL last night(Tigers/Twins) for the first time in a long time.
I miss it, it looked great! I evny the teams in the post season, but, I want my METS to be there again. It is going to take a LONG TIME to built a “REAL” team. We truly are FRACTRURED…no identity, no cohesiveness. Someone had better have a LONG RANGE plan—this is going to require a LOT of patience from the fans. AND, a great baseball MIND to put it all together…I DO NOT think that great baseball mind is anywhere near the MET clubhouse, dugout, or front office. PRAY SOME MORE!? LGM.
With all due respect Matt, when in the past 5 five offseasons have the Mets not followed through on their announced offseason plans? It’s like you’ve joined the irrational fan bandwagon and are essentially stating the Mets should get those players now, and then announce their plans….you know, putting cart before horse has even left the stable. You don’t need to demonstrate you’re still a “regular” fan, by taking a populist opinon and turning it on its head to prove your loyalty.
I’m none more happy than you and many that Omar, Jerry, and Warthen remain in place, but that does not invalidate Jeff Wilpon’s “unacceptable.” It means Mets are giving the three one more chance to get it right, not unlike bosses and companies who put certain employees on probation with clear message of admonishment but also opportunity to make right.
Clearly the Mets have history of GM and managerial firings, so to imply that “unacceptable” lacks teeth given Minaya and Manual escape with their jobs, ignores history, does it not? Omar and Manual know this is no bluff, and many of us – myself included – would gladly show them the exit.
As for repeatedly mentioning high payroll, I’ll add further to what others have already opined – it’s not boasting, but rather the continued necessity to refute the baloney spread in the media that Mets payroll would take steep hit courtesy of Bernie Madoff’’s disgraceful behavior.
Comments on this entry are closed.