Corporate Clutz

Well this is another interesting development by ownership … well, maybe only to me. But here’s a tidbit from Adam Rubin …

New York Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon was apparently so displeased with his team for not seeking retribution against the Oakland Athletics for hitting Justin Turner in the first inning Thursday, he took action.

Immediately after the series finale, which the Mets won 4-1 against the A’s at Citi Field, Wilpon scolded the team for not retaliating, two clubhouse witnesses told ESPNNewYork.com.

Apparently upset that Turner had made little effort to evade the Wednesday night pitch, Oakland right-hander Graham Godfrey hit Turner in the leg in his first at-bat in Thursday’s matinee. It was seen as intentional in the eyes of many in the Mets clubhouse, with Turner among those in the minority who were unsure if there was any motivation. (…) That did not sit well with Wilpon, according to team sources, and he chided the team in the clubhouse afterward.

The funny thing is that I agree with him. The Mets never, ever retaliate for anything, and it pisses me off. Now honestly, I didn’t feel that when Turner got hit. I didn’t even realize that it might have been intentional. Had I been able to spot it, I would have been the first one to ask for blood. I usually am, but I’m old school. And if it was Terry Collins was the one who orchestrated this, I would have been 100% behind it. Problem is, Collins can’t orchestrate it publicly. He would get fined.

Instead, Jeff Wilpon complains when it doesn’t happen, and probably isn’t going to be fined for it (but probably should be … and the last thing the Mets need is a fine). And though I agree with the sentiment, it has no business coming from the owner, much less the owner’s son. There was a time when all of this stuff stayed within the sanctity of the clubhouse. Now, the suits want to interject themselves into every little aspect of everything in America, whether it’s ordering the execution of a tool box for good luck, or deciding when pitchers should retaliate. Honestly, it drives me crazy. It’s just another in a long line of aspects of life where corporate America wants to think for us and use our brains for us and keep us at the level of cogs in the machine instead of letting people do the jobs they’re hired to do. And last I checked, Terry Collins was hired to take care of things like this.

Either that, or it’s a last desperate attempt of the chosen son to remain relevant. Where Jeff Wilpon was once the slam dunk heir to the New York Mets, now he’s the C.O.O. who is hoping that his father can pay back David Einhorn within three years before his chance at inheriting the New York Mets slips away. You thought Jim Riggleman was unhappy being a lame duck manager, how must it feel to be lame duck middle management? Or lame duck ownership? You think anyone in that clubhouse is listening to him? If managers get tuned out after a certain amount of time, how about ownership that’s holding on to this team by a string? After preaching how this was more of a business than a team for years, now the Wilpons want to show us they care? They want to rant and rave about how their players aren’t that good and then complain about retaliation like a common blogger? We see right through it. And I’m pretty sure the clubhouse does too.

And I’m tired of hearing “it’s their club, they can do what they want with it.” Yeah, well … to paraphrase Chris Rock: If you own a car, you can drive it with your feet if you want. Doesn’t make it a good f***ing idea.