Hope of of you enjoyed our election recap last night. Today we will cover more important subject matters...
BASEBALL: Mets New Owner:
When it started to look like Steve Cohen was going to purchase the Mets, I got a kick out of everybody spending the guy's $$$. It reminded me of Spaulding from Caddyshack.. "I want a hamburger, no a cheeseburger. I want a hot dog, I want a milkshake.."
But unlike Judge Smails (You'll get nothing and like it!) Cohen seems to be willing to spend. I got to listen to his conference call the other day, and I mean, what was not to like. He said Are we going to act like drunken sailors in the marketplace? No. “ but he also said "I do believe this is a major market team and it should have a budget that is commensurate with that.
I also liked when he said "It's too much work to be considered a hobby" before explaining that his hedge fund Point 72, is still where he plans to make his money.
“I’m essentially doing it for the fans,” Cohen said. “When I really thought about this, I can make millions of people happy. What an incredible opportunity that is.
“It’s really about building something great, building something for the fans, winning, and I just find this an amazing opportunity.”
So now that we've established that, it's my turn to play Spaulding, and let Mr. Cohen know what I want..
We need more starting pitching. The rotatuion is thin after Jacob deGrom. Marcus Stroman, who accepted the Mets qualifying offer, could be a number two starter, but more likely a three or a four. David Peterson was a nice surprise this season, but he's young and unproven. Noah Syndergaard won't be back till June and who knows how he'll be after Tommy John surgery. Steven Matz is done.
So I'd like to see them sign Trevor Bauer. Sounds like new team president Sandy Alderson would like to sign him too. I know he's a bit of a head case and a big mouth, but if he wins, that won't matter. Remember what Ted Turner said, "There's a fine line between being colorful and being an a$$hole." In this town it's not that fine. You win here, you can say whatever you want.
They also need a catcher. Right now Tomas (Positively) Nido is the team's only experienced catcher. I like Nido, but you're not winning with him as your everyday catcher.
So I'd like to see them sign JT Realmuto. Not only is he a solid bat, he'll give the Mets a fighting chance at throwing out a base stealer every once in a while.
(And while I'm spending Uncle Steve's money, maybe we can get a pitching copach in here who can teach these guys how to hold a runner on first, you know while I'm thinking of these things)
He’s has already committed to establishing an improved analytics department, and I’m hoping he invests in some good old fashioned bird dog scouting. I’ve seen enough press conferences in my time to realize that winning a press conference doesn’t always equate to winning period, but at this point, its hard not to be excited as a Mets fan.
Now a word on the outgoing owner, Fred Wilpon. I really believe Fred is a decent guy and in his younger days, a good owner. I think the narrative that Fred was a dunce and Nelson Doubleday was the true brains behind the operation was not altogether fair.
I think the issue with the Mets since Doubleday left was that Fred let his son Jeff run the organization, and Jeff, like other son’s of privilege who will go nameless, was in way over his head. The more Fred delegated to Jeff, the worse the team seemed to do. I know the Bernie Madoff stuff was a huge factor in all of this, but I truly believe that the biggest win here is that Jeff Wilpon is no longer involved with the franchise or at least the day to day operation of it.
RADIO: Changes at the FAN
So with everything going on in politics, we didn’t get to write about all the goings on on WFAN.
First, Joe Beningo announced his retirement and did a week of shows as a farewell. I understand that doing anything for 25 years might make one want to change things up, and at 67, he wasn’t m’t getting any younger. But I would have thought they would have to peel his carcass out of the chair.
Beningo wasn’t a radio lifer, he had a real people job before he joined the FAN. What made him great was that he was a true fan. While most of us watch our football teams on Sunday, then come to work on Monday and kvetch about it (or in my case blog about it). Beningo did the same thing and got paid handsomely for it. Why on earth would you give that up?
But to each his own as they say. So off to Florida goes Joey B, and in his place returns Craig Carton.
I’m very mixed about this.
I do believe that America is the land of second chances, that everyone deserves to earn a living. Carton paid his debt to society (if not his complete debt to those he stole from) and as a radio personality, should have the chance perform his profession.
I think that part of my issue with Carton is that so much of his act is insults and having fun at other people’s expense, and that will always be in the back of my mind as I listen to him rag on other people. It’s the ultimate person throwing stones from the glass house. Unless he comes out a kinder, gentler radio personality, which I tend to doubt he will.
As for this new show Carton and Roberts (Beningo’s old partner Evan Roberts is now paired with Carton) it has potential. The first week of shows I have to admit were entertaining. I didn’t think Boomer and Carton would work out, but it did, so you can’t go by me. We’ll just have to let this one play out.
FOOTBALL: Decisions, decisions
Made the big mistake of watching last Monday night's Jets-Pats disaster at the Meadowlands, which had set up an interesting dilemma.
Rooting for the Jets to win, in addition to being a fools errand, is also counter-productive. At 0-8 going into the Pats game, they're going nowhere. So the best case scenario is for them to lose all their games and secure the number 1 pick.
But I find it nearly impossible to ever root against any of my teams, and it's even more impossible for me to root for the Patriots, quite frankly the team I hate more than any other in professional sports.
So there I was in the peculiar position of kind of rooting for the Jets to lose against a team I never root for to win. And of course being that I am a total wack-a-doodle, I was convincing myself that Bill Belichick was having his team lay down just to cost us the number one pick.
But alas, our boys didn't let us down, boldly snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Our dreams of a winless season and all the trimmings that go with it still intact.
Is this a great time to be a football fan in NY or what?
All right, I'm tapped out right now. Sorry this is a short one.
Stay Safe, Wear a Mask
and Have a Great Week
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