Will Fred Wilpon Die Reviled?

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Clik here to view.Mike:

When I spoke with fellow Mets fans after Matt Harvey got injured, I got an interesting and consistent reaction. The number one fear wasn’t that Harvey might not pitch in 2014. As much as people love Harvey it was not even about Matt. No, the number one fear was that the Wilpons would use his injury as an excuse to punt 2014.

Now, as we enter the last series of 2013, the Mets are in a “battle” over a protected draft pick in the 2014 draft. Again, when you speak to people or read blog articles on this topic, the number one fear has nothing to do with the pick itself. It is that the owners will use it as an excuse to not pursue free agents, to not spend money.

No one trusts this ownership group to do the right thing by the franchise. Why that has come to pass is well documented and, frankly, fully warranted. With the relationship so broken, my question for us today, Jimmy, is this: Can that relationship ever be mended? Or has the ship sailed, is Fred Wilpon guaranteed to die reviled?

Jimmy:

Never say never, right? Winning would change a lot — especially if he’s perceived as a positive Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.contributor (compared to his role with, theoretically, an Alderson-led team that wins with a low payroll). We’re a forgiving bunch. When Fred spent, he was not usually the target. You know, hardcore Mets fans live in a hyper-informed world. The regular fan, the guy you talk to across the backyard fence, he just wants to root for the team. All this shit doesn’t matter as much. If the team wins, he’s happy. If they lose, he spends more time doing other things. Tags along with the wife to Bed, Bath & Beyond. Or watches football.

Mike:

Agreed.

I can tell you that Fred and I will probably never become friends. Not only do I have no interest, but I don’t fit his target demographic either. I’ve never done time. But that’s me, I’m just one guy, and because I love his team, despite him, I come in peace with meaningful September advice. It’s not too late. Fred Wilpon could still win back the overwhelming majority of Mets fans. But he needs to get busy, and soon.

Look at Leon Hess. For years and years Jets fans alternately laughed at and despised Hess. He moved the team to freaking Giants Stadium so he could make money on a deal on Monmouth racetrack, then ran the team into the ground with idiotic moves. The narrative was clear and loud, the best thing for the “New York” Jets would be if Leon Hess died. Then one day Hess jolted up from a nap or something and realized that is not a great legacy. And he said, “I’m 80 years and I want results now!”

Jimmy:

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Clik here to view.And thus inspired, like Coleridge in the opium den, Leon went out and hired — wait for it — Rich Kotite! Two consecutive 1-15 seasons. (That’s a 2-30 record, for you folks reading at home.) My point: Passion for your team is nice, and it’s swell to wish for a lasting legacy, but some intelligence is still required.

Mike:

But stay with me, Jimmy, because he meant what he said, and next he did whatever it took to get Bill Parcells. Until Hess’s death the Jets had their most successful and professional run in a long time. And now, Jets fans, stuck with Woody Johnson, miss the guy.

Jimmy:

The devil you know. Though I have to say, I find it very difficult to imagine a new owner coming along who could be any worse than Fred.

Mike:

Leon, though, is not the most obvious example, I saved that one. Go watch Seinfeld episodes from before 1996. George Streinbrenner is portrayed as a clown. “What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?”

Jimmy:

Yeah, who’s laughing now, right.

Mike:

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Clik here to view.This was an accurate depiction of how Steinbrenner was looked at by Yankee fans. They loved their team and hated their owner. Of course, one thing that had happened was the team on the field had hit bottom. There was also Howie Spira, and all the rest of the constant embarrasments that George generated. What people now say about Fred, flip back to 1994, and that was what people said about George.

But as soon as the winning started the majority just forgave and forgot. Statues of George have gone up. There has been talk, a lot of it, about George Steinbrenner going into the Hall of Fame.

Jimmy:

I think he should be in the Hall. He impacted the game in a lasting way. It’s not about approval or disapproval. He’s an important part of baseball history.

Mike:

People have short memories, and the last ones can define you. It’s not too late, Fred, and I know you are saving room at Citi Field for the statue.

That has to be the reason there is still no statue of Tom Seaver, since I can’t think of another one.

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