Mets Still Acting Like They're Short on Cash
Citi Field turning into a flea market?
Getty Images
If the Mets can't win a ring, they might as well sell some.
The Mets dropped their first game of the second half last night amid word that Carlos Beltran wasn't anywhere close to returning from the disabled list. Mets fans probably shouldn't expect any attempt to fill in that massive hole in the middle of the lineup, though, which again makes us wonder if the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme has made it hard for the Mets to respond to their needs this season.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported Thursday that the Mets aren't even making inquiries about players believed to be available on the trade market, which could be explained by a farm system short on desirable pieces. It could also be explained by an aversion to take on more salary, however, something that the Mets have denied is the case since the Wilpon family's involvement in the Madoff affair came to light.
Evidence to the contrary grows, however, as you move beyond baseball operations. On July 25th and 26th, Citi Field will be home to a gold-buying event that will feature former Mets like Darryl Strawberry and Mookie Wilson shaking hands of people looking to unload gold, silver and other items.
A glorified garage sale is a pretty down-market event to hold at a brand spanking new stadium, and makes it hard to believe that the team isn't desperate to find revenue streams of any kind. When you take into account increased revenue from ticket sales and concessions, the proceeds from selling off the detritus of Shea Stadium and the profits from SNY, that desperation doesn't jibe with claims that all is well in the ledger.
Maybe all of this is grasping at straws for ways to explain the miserable way the Mets season has played out, but perception matters in baseball. Right now, the only ways to perceive the Mets' behavior is that they're short on cash or hoarding it, and neither one does much to make fans better about spending it.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.
