Are the Wilpons Getting A Pass In This Whole Bad Ownership Debate?

[metswon69]

To start, I know this might be a little Metcentric and i understand if it's moved to the Mets forum (although i would rather the thread be scrapped if it is because we have talked about it extensively there)

But what is the deal between the Wilpons and Bud Selig?

With what has happened in recent years with Frank McCourt and now Jeffrey Loria why are the Wilpons still allowed to own a big market franchise with all their financial problems?

I understand the McCourts were a different situation (siphoning money from the Dodgers to pay their own personal expenses) and that Loria is within his right to reduce payroll that drastically (although that is pathetic nonetheless after getting 2 billion dollars from the city of Miami to build a new stadium) but these Wilpons have been maybe the worst big market owners in sports and Bud has done nothing about it.

They have significant debts against the team and SNY and have shown they can't compete as big market spenders since the Madoff situation. They have also been bleeding money at the box office the last 3 seasons having lost over 150+ million dollars. They have had to take loans from MLB, Bank Of America, and now have till 2015 to pay off almost 800 million dollars in debt against the team's entities.

Is it nepotism that Bud doesn't step in and do something about it?

I know some posters on the Met's forum have argued its a philosophical change having spent money in the past and not accomplished anything.

But is it more than that?

I just don't understand how a New York team can't afford a 130-140+ million dollar payroll in a growing market of baseball organizations that can. We are in the biggest media market in the United States and somehow this team tries to justify a 90 million dollar payroll (and dropping)to their fans.

I don't get it.

The Marlins at least have the excuse that baseball isn't popular down there (their attendance being lower than the Mets in the first year of a brand new ballpark) and the Dodgers have gotten back into the spending game with new ownership.

Why does Bud allow the Mets to meander in mediocrity?

I know all teams have downswings but the Mets have gone 3 offseasons now without being a player for any significant FAs (or add significant payroll through trade) and the only reason why payroll was past 140 million dollars was because they had committed a large amount of money to a select number of FA before the Madoff scandal.

Just wondering your guys take on the Met's situation? (knowing most of you don't care )

[metswon69]

I want to put this into context though.

Are the Wilpons the worst big market owners in sports?

I know the case can be made for smaller market owners that haven't done much in hopes of helping their team get to the playoffs.

[rcs15]

What exactly do you want done? You want Selig to take the team away because the Mets payroll isn't what you think it should be?

Most people agree the ownership is awful so I don't see how he gets a pass. It's brought up, everyone knows about it, but not really anything you can do but accept it.

[metswon69]

What exactly do you want done? You want Selig to take the team away because the Mets payroll isn't what you think it should be?

Most people agree the ownership is awful so I don't see how he gets a pass. It's brought up, everyone knows about it, but not really anything you can do but accept it.

Yeah i would like Bud to understand the gravity of the Met's (specifically the Wilpons) financial situation and not allow his buddy-buddy nature with Fred cloud his objectivity.

That's why i believe the Wilpons are still owning this team.

Because big market teams that continually slash payroll to me at least are not in the "best interest of baseball"

[Nomar]

Wilpon is bad for sure

[metswon69]

How many big market teams would possibly let two faces of their franchise (Reyes and now possibly Wright) move on in successive years because of money?

The Mets are in that very predicament if Wright doesn't sign an extension. (and it will only be because the Wilpons won't pony up the cash)

[AsfanSince99]

Didn't they lose a lot of money in the Madoff ponzi scheme? Shouldn't they get a pass for this??

Plus, I think they got burnt by bad contracts in the past and I don't see Sanderson doing the same.

[metswon69]

The Mets payroll could conceivably be in the 15 million dollar range for 2014 with one significant FA on their roster in Jon Niese.

[metswon69]

Didn't they lose a lot of money in the Madoff ponzi scheme? Shouldn't they get a pass for this??

Plus, I think they got burnt by bad contracts in the past and I don't see Sanderson doing the same.

Yeah but the problem is if they aren't financially capable of owning a big market team how are continually allowed to do so?

Regardless of how they lost their money, they are at the helm of a major market sports franchise and might not have the money to support owning it.

As for the Madoff thing, they owe the Picard trustees 83 million dollars but its spread it over quite a number of years (that's not bad considering they were sued for over a billion dollars)

[metswon69]

Double post.

[metswon69]

It could be an elongated process because Bud isn't on as commissioner till the end of 2014 and that's under the assumption that a new commissioner would force the sale of the team.

[metswon69]

Now we have to see if we can keep a guy who just won a Cy Young lol.

[abe_froman]

Now we have to see if we can keep a guy who just won a Cy Young lol.

the man is 38 years old,i dont think its wise to put much effort into doing that.

[Sick Of It All]

They are guys that would be alright owners for a small market team, they are terrible in NY.

[metswon69]

the man is 38 years old,i dont think its wise to put much effort into doing that.

He's a knuckleballer, they have more staying power than most pitchers.

It wouldnt be more than a 3 year deal anyway.