And this seals it.
A historic day for the New York Mets. On the eve of free agency beginning, they now have the richest owner in baseball — by a significant margin — and Steve Cohen is intent on building the East Coast version of the Los Angeles Dodgers, an total juggernaut. https://t.co/jObjuob4Yn
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 30, 2020
Make no mistake: today is the most significant day in Mets history since October 25, 1986.
Mets fans will mark down October 30, 2020 as a turning point, a new chapter. No longer will they be a laughingstock of the league.
Many people have grown accustomed to the #LOLMETS hashtag and the inevitable ineptitude following the team – even in the so-called good years. For every moment of prosperity, there had been a Kenny Rogers ball 4, a Timo Perez thrown out at home plate, a wicked curveball taken for strike three, a September collapse and a leadoff home run in the 9th inning against a closer. But that was then. That was under the reign of terror that was the Wilpons.
In professional sports, the culture starts from the top down. It’s not from the product on the field. Can they overcome an inept front office? Sure, but it’s highly unlikely when the best players don’t want to come to your organization because you underpay. It’s unlikely to attract the best front office when you meddle in decision-making. It’s unlikely you attract the best scouts if you are not loyal. It’s just unlikely you overcome a bad ownership group.
Look around Major League baseball. The worst World Series droughts have been ended only when there’s a change in ownership. It re-ignites the fanbase and the players and it brings in the brightest up-and-coming front office execs. The 2004 Red Sox were two years after an ownership change. The 2016 Cubs came five years after an ownership game. The 2020 Dodgers came 9 years after an ownership change. It ALWAYS happens.
The Mets started that transition into a competent organization as soon as the MLB owners approved Steve Cohen. The guy is filthy rich, he’s brilliant, he’s a lifelong fan but most of all, he’s a winner.
Wall Street couldn’t beat him, the SEC couldn’t beat him, not even the New York media constantly running hit pieces on him and posting fluff pieces on A-Rod and J-Lo.
Mets fans caught a break.
You’re not supposed to get bailed out by a $14 billionaire that just happens to be a Long Island native, die-hard Mets fan that considered the team as his prized possession. He didn’t even care that he grossly overpaid or had to deal with the incompetence that is Jeff Wilpon – the same arrogant individual that tried to sabotage his deal not once – but twice. He wanted to stay on as COO for 5 years after selling the team. He wanted to sell the team for less money to A-Rod because he could keep a high-ranking position.
None of that is supposed to happen. The Mets would’ve been lucky to get anyone willing to pay $2 billion to buy the team.
But it’s not just anyone. It’s the perfect guy to re-build the infrastructure of the franchise. The guy known for overpaying for the best minds on Wall Street to deliver a winner. The guy that bought a house in cash for $14 million just because his wife wanted it. The guy that saw his net worth increase by $1 billion during the financial crisis of 2008.
Cohen will donate $17.5 million “to programs developed by the City to make grants to local area small businesses to assist them in these uniquely troubling times,” he says in statement.
He also plans to continue donating to other NYC charities and up Mets Foundation’s giving.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) October 30, 2020
He was smart enough to align himself with Sandy Alderson – one of the most respected executives in MLB history. He was kind enough to pay a stipend to all of the seasonal employees at Citi Field and he’s donating $17.5 million to NYC small businesses that were affected by the pandemic. He’s just about the best case scenario for Mets fans. If you would like a little peak inside who he is as person – it’s pretty easy. Just binge watch Billions .
Or you can read this book – which I highly, highly recommend.
I mean, 2020 has been an awful year for a lot of people. We’ve dealt with a lot of loss both financially and in terms of lives. But if you are a Mets fan, somehow all was forgotten today when Steven A. Cohen finally sealed his fate in Mets lore, without taking one at bat or throwing one pitch.
