Mets Owners Requested Casino, Settle For Mall

[Buster]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Jet

Walk?

At least be accurate.... they dealt him for one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball and another top pitching prospect, #3 in the Jays system.

They traded an aging pitcher at his highest value; thats not a bad move if you look at it impartially.

The facts as I see them are:

They traded a proven MLB pitcher who was going to get a big bump in pay for a couple of guys who have shown to have a lot of potential but zero MLB production.

The move dropped the Mets team payroll for the 2013 season.

[Buster]

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/stor...cial-woes-past


Fred Wilpon: Mets' money woes over... So we are building a shopping mall!

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon said his family is free and clear of past financial woes and that general manager Sandy Alderson has the financial flexibility to make major free-agent signings in upcoming offseasons.

Wilpon, 76, favorably settled a lawsuit brought by the trustee trying to recover funds for victims of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme last year.

He added that the family's improved financial complexion also is the result of the rebound of real estate, his primary business, as well as stock-market gains and the thriving of SportsNet New York, the television network in which the family owns a majority stake.

"It's all in the rearview mirror," Wilpon said about past financial woes Wednesday after arriving at the team's spring training complex. "... The family is in great shape. The family really is in great shape. Sometimes luck is the residue of design."

Wilpon originally faced a $1 billion lawsuit regarding the Madoff scheme, but the settlement will result in the family ultimately having to pay no more than $85.7 million -- and likely far less than that.

Wilpon said the payroll, slashed in recent seasons under Alderson, could return to past levels if the team is prudent. The payroll went from a high of $148 million late in Omar Minaya's tenure as general manager to roughly $95 million last year.

Wilpon pointed to bank debt as a primary reason for an un-New York-like payroll in recent years. The Mets have produced four straight losing seasons and have not reached the postseason since 2006.

"It wasn't, as people have written, the reason," Wilpon said about the Madoff issue and payroll slashing. "It was a balance there, because we had to make sure the banks got paid off all of the debt. There's no one in my family -- there's the Katz family, the Wilpon family, kids -- [that now] has any personal bank debt. Zero. Everything has been paid. We don't owe a dollar to anybody. We have mortgages on buildings and stuff like that, but we don't owe a dollar.

"That's what made us tight. We were still getting revenues. Lots of revenues. But those revenues were going to pay off debt. That's done."

The Mets did pursue free agent Michael Bourn until he agreed this week with the Cleveland Indians, so some of the recent financial constraints have resulted from the conservative bidding by Alderson as opposed to an ownership mandate.

Will the team be aggressive bidding next offseason?

"I think we would anticipate being big investors if that were appropriate," Wilpon said. "That depends on what the market is. If the market is such that that's where we have to be to be competitive and winners, yeah.

"This is, to me, a break-even business. I always strive to break even. I'm not looking to make any money. I strive to break even. So if [fans] don't show up, that's hard. So you have to balance it. We fed it pretty good the last five or six years. I think if the market was such, yes, the payroll could go up, but not to just have payroll go up so you can write headlines -- if that, in fact, improves the team.

"I don't know what the market will be at that point. But the payroll will be commensurate with anything we've ever done because we can do it. Remember, the people have to come to the ballpark obviously. If you have a competitive team, they will. Everything that was in the past, that you guys saw the pain that we went through, is gone. It's gone."

On other topics:

• Wilpon said his expectations for the 2013 Mets do not match outside pessimism.

"This team looks like basically a young team with some veterans, and hungry," Wilpon said. "I think Sandy and the staff did a terrific job of getting some real good prospects for the bullpen. ... I'm hopeful and optimistic. The hunger is throughout. And I think we have really good arms. You look at our pitching staff and, on paper, you've got to say they really have a good chance of producing W's. Any of the teams that have surprised people, whether it's Oakland last year -- just go through the last 10 years -- it's pitching that brings it up to that level. So I'm very encouraged about that."

• The Mets do not plan to discuss extending manager Terry Collins' contract until the end of the season, when it is due to expire.

"He's done an excellent job in all respects," Wilpon said. "He handles the public relations side very well. He's honest. You guys believe him. ... I think he knows talent. We will evaluate Terry at the end of the year, not only from where the club lands, but what his overall job was."

• David Wright could be a Met for life. Wright signed an eight-year, $138 million extension in December.

"David is a unique player. He's an All-Star," Wilpon said. "I think David is an All-Star in all things. He's a great person. To me, he's our [Derek] Jeter. And I think you need a core. I don't want to put it all on his shoulders. But he gets it. As far as I was concerned, he was not going anywhere."

[32green]

Originally Posted by Buster

Sometimes luck is the residue of design

So...the rest of Madoff's victims didnt "design" as well as the Wilpons, apparently.




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[JumbalayaJet]

He's a clown. So now he admits he was lying but we can expect spending. I'll just head right over to the box office.

[Tucker134]

Originally Posted by Tucker134

We'll see how packed the filthy South Bronx is this year with a sh#tty Yankee team in ridiculously expensive seats. Laughable.......

alright i wrote the above on way home from Knicks game with 10+ beers in da system last night...

[Scott Dierking]

Originally Posted by 32green

So...the rest of Madoff's victims didnt "design" as well as the Wilpons, apparently.




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Shall we talk about the Steinbrenner family and what upright citizens and people they are?

[Brooklyn Jet]

Originally Posted by 32green

You guys are easy.

And you feel for Mets fans

But good troll, FF2...

[Brooklyn Jet]

Originally Posted by Buster

The facts as I see them are:

They traded a proven MLB pitcher who was going to get a big bump in pay for a couple of guys who have shown to have a lot of potential but zero MLB production.

The move dropped the Mets team payroll for the 2013 season.

You present only part of the whole equation....

http://www.scoutingbook.com/players/p2581

The Book on Travis d'Arnaud

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prospect Info and Scouting Report

Travis d'Arnaud / C, NYM
Born 2/10/1989 (24 yrs old)
Lakewood, CA, USA
School: -
Height 6-2
Weight 195
Bats/Throws R/R
20 | 12/18/2012

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Travis D'Arnaud is one of the very top catching prospects in baseball today. Not to be confused with infielder Chase, Travis is an offensively gifted catcher who's ready for major league ball, at least from an offensive perspective: he slashed .333/.380/.595 last year at AAA Las Vegas, ticking off 16 homers in 67 games. A major prize in the sell-high trade of RA Dickey in December 2012, d'Arnaud also has above-average speed for a catcher to go along with a great eye for the strike zone. While his game-calling and defense aren't quite ready for prime time (yet), he'll be pushed along quickly. He should be hitting high in any Mets batting order in 2013, and for years to come.

He should be part of the major league lineup in 2013 - probably not to start the season, but at some point.

Again, the Wilpons put the team in a ****ty position. Alderson made a sell high trade to net a potential offensive stud at a defensive position, who could make an impact in 2013, along with acquiring another highly rated pitching prospect, in a move almost universally deemed as a win-win for both sides.

[Tucker134]

Originally Posted by Buster

The facts as I see them are:

They traded a proven MLB pitcher who was going to get a big bump in pay for a couple of guys who have shown to have a lot of potential but zero MLB production.

The move dropped the Mets team payroll for the 2013 season.

as an aside, you come across as very d**shy there, Buster Brown

[JetinHuntersville]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Jet

You present only part of the whole equation....

http://www.scoutingbook.com/players/p2581



He should be part of the major league lineup in 2013 - probably not to start the season, but at some point.

Again, the Wilpons put the team in a ****ty position. Alderson made a sell high trade to net a potential offensive stud at a defensive position, who could make an impact in 2013, along with acquiring another highly rated pitching prospect, in a move almost universally deemed as a win-win for both sides.

And nobody is even remembering we got John Buck. Low average, decent catcher, pop in his bat. Yankmees would kill for a guy like that right now.

[32green]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Jet

And you feel for Mets fans

But good troll, FF2...

Its very complicated...I was born on Woodycrest ave. in the Bx....(couple of blocks from Yankee stadium) raised in Queens to a diehard Yankee fan mother...but taken to Met games by my friends parents in the 70's...while my mother snuck us into Yankee stadium with the "COn Ed kids". (look it up)

I have no animus against the Mets, only their shrieky, Yankee hating fans.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Jet

You present only part of the whole equation....

http://www.scoutingbook.com/players/p2581



He should be part of the major league lineup in 2013 - probably not to start the season, but at some point.

Again, the Wilpons put the team in a ****ty position. Alderson made a sell high trade to net a potential offensive stud at a defensive position, who could make an impact in 2013, along with acquiring another highly rated pitching prospect, in a move almost universally deemed as a win-win for both sides.

I think I just put it more succinctly. Guys who have done very well in the minors but have not played a game in the Majors.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by Tucker134

as an aside, you come across as very d**shy there, Buster Brown

I look at the facts and come to a different conclusion then you do. And thus I am d**shy.

[Brooklyn Jet]

Originally Posted by Buster

I think I just put it more succinctly. Guys who have done very well in the minors but have not played a game in the Majors.

If you mean presenting half the picture, in a vacuum, then yes, I agree its succinct.

But everything you stated was factual. And accurate. Just not complete.

[Buster]

Originally Posted by Brooklyn Jet

If you mean presenting half the picture, in a vacuum, then yes, I agree its succinct.

But everything you stated was factual. And accurate. Just not complete.

Look who’s talking (or posting)

You are posting (impressive) stats accumulated in the minor leagues mostly against pitchers who won’t sit the bench in MLB game let alone throw a pitch. MLB stats are meaningful minor league stats are a hint to what may be.

Vacuum indeed

[Scott Dierking]

Originally Posted by Buster

Look who’s talking (or posting)

You are posting (impressive) stats accumulated in the minor leagues mostly against pitchers who won’t sit the bench in MLB game let alone throw a pitch. MLB stats are meaningful minor league stats are a hint to what may be.

Vacuum indeed

It's a wonder that any minor league players ever get promoted to the mlb.