Master Index of Archived Threads


Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

MFS62 Jan 18 2015 07:51 AM

http://metsmerizedonline.com/2015/01/fr ... ttee.html/ I had to check my calendar to make sure it isn't April First. Later

Ceetar Jan 18 2015 08:13 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

clearly they're going to be forced out any day now.

d'Kong76 Jan 18 2015 08:27 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Kinda hard to fathom this story.

Frayed Knot Jan 18 2015 08:41 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

What that linked article didn't mention, even though the original Madden piece it's citing did, is that Fred, along with a number of other owners* who were viewed as Selig favorites, were removed from the powerful 'Executive Council', making this more akin to a reassignment than a reward. * In what amounts to his first act as commish (though he's not yet officially the boss) Manfred replaced seven of the eight members of the powerful executive council, leaving only StL general partner Bill DeWitt (not coincidentally his biggest supporter in last summer’s contentious election process) as the lone holdover. Out are White Sox board chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, Red Sox owner John Henry, Reds owner Bob Castellini, all of whom opposed Manfred's election last summer. Also Fred Wilpon and Royals owner David Glass who were instead put in change of the committees for business (Glass) and finance (Wilpon). In are Yankees general partner Hal Steinbrenner, Twins owner Jim Pohlad, Rays owner Stu Sternberg, Rangers co-chairman Ray Davis, Pirates owner Bob Nutting, Braves chairman Terry McGuirk and Cubs owner Tom Ricketts.

d'Kong76 Jan 18 2015 08:44 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Thanks, that makes better sense.

Frayed Knot Jan 18 2015 09:07 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

I suspect that every owner and/or managing general partner is on some committee or another. Hell, even Flounder was tapped as chairman of the Transportation Committee, and Alfalfa the president of the Heman's Women Haters Club.

d'Kong76 Jan 18 2015 10:36 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

I was stepped over! ... I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart!

Gwreck Jan 18 2015 11:04 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Frayed Knot wrote: I suspect that every owner and/or managing general partner is on some committee or another. I bet you're right. That doesn't change the fact making Fred Wilpon chairperson of this particular committee is a colossally stupid decision to make, if for no other reason that it gives the perception that MLB is run by idiots.

Lefty Specialist Jan 18 2015 12:19 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

I mean, there must have been some other committee he could have headed, like the Fan Relations Committee or the Uniform Rules Committee or the Nepotism Committee. Heading the Finance committee just screams 'WTF'.

Edgy MD Jan 18 2015 02:08 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

I have a lot of problems with how MLB does their business, but I sure don't expect them to make decisions about who is on which committee based on anticipated fan perceptions. Should we really believe that one dollar is made or lost based on the PR considerations of which owner is appointed to which committee whose authority and mandate we don't really know? If MLB is like most other organizations I've been a part of, the finance committee meets maybe twice a year, receives an accounting sheet from the CFO, 75% of them don't read it, they ask the CFO a handful of questions, 75% of which aren't pertinent to operations, and the chair publishes a financial status letter in the annual report, that he probably didn't write.

MFS62 Jan 18 2015 02:16 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Still, perception can be reality. And making someone involved (even as a victim) in a multi-million dollar con, make one wonder what decisions he might make with MLB's money, whether he has the real power to do it or not. Maybe if he were on the uniform committee, he might do something good, like allowing the remembrance of 9/11 heroes. Later

Mets – Willets Point Jan 18 2015 02:43 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

C'mon guys, Wilpon knows a guy who is going to give them a 50% return on their investment. This will be a time for a big influx of cash into the MLB coffers!

d'Kong76 Jan 18 2015 02:49 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Edgy MD wrote: I have a lot of problems with how MLB does their business, but I sure don't expect them to make decisions about who is on which committee based on anticipated fan perceptions. Who is expecting them too? I feel like you go out of your way to be the Wilpon's devil's advocate. They are SHITTY owners, Edge!

Edgy MD Jan 18 2015 02:51 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Lefty Specialist seems to think it was a "WTF" maneuver. I haven't advocated for anybody. The thing I advocate for is for a fan base having more sense than the to get agitated about another silly fake scandal because Mets.

d'Kong76 Jan 18 2015 02:56 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Ok, so now I need more sense. I won't comment on ownership.

Edgy MD Jan 18 2015 03:08 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

I don't know what you mean by "now." I certainly don't think I've been insulting you.

Gwreck Jan 18 2015 04:14 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Edgy MD wrote: The thing I advocate for is for a fan base having more sense than the to get agitated about another silly fake scandal because Mets. I wouldn't call it a scandal, and I bet you're right that there's not much to this committee that he's the chairperson of. It still reflects poorly on MLB and the Mets. For that alone, fans have plenty of reason to be upset. The team is in desperate need of goodwill (or new ownership). The best possible thing for the Wilpons to do - save selling the team - is to remain as invisible as possible.

Lefty Specialist Jan 18 2015 04:55 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Edgy MD wrote: Lefty Specialist seems to think it was a "WTF" maneuver. I haven't advocated for anybody. The thing I advocate for is for a fan base having more sense than the to get agitated about another silly fake scandal because Mets. I guess I needed to clarify. I think it was a 'What The Fucking Fuck' maneuver, which technically would be a "WTFF" maneuver. It's not a scandal, just tone-deaf stupidity. I wonder if Frank McCourt ever got to head the committee. I'm guessing no.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 18 2015 06:09 PM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

This just in: Major League Baseball is bankrupt.

Ceetar Jan 19 2015 05:45 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

I don't think it comes off as tonedeaf. plenty of people make a bad investment or two, I doubt the other 29 owners think of Fred as some broke dope. The narrative is really fucking tired at this point. The Wilpons are not completely broke nor are they in any danger of eminently needing to sell the team. (Especially just as they get the team to roughly profitable) This, if it does anything, only reinforces that. It's not that the Wilpons need to be 'invisible' it's that we need to stop talking about them. It is what it is at this point and until something changes it's likely the Mets will continue to spend only money THEY have not money Sterling has. No matter how many fans think they're GMs and have the gameplan to success. Every signing another team makes is because the Mets are broke. Every signing the Mets make is intended to placate the fans and pretend compete. It's a lazy narrative.

Gwreck Jan 19 2015 07:38 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Ceetar wrote: The narrative is really fucking tired at this point. I'm sorry you think it's tired, but it remains accurate. There are only three ways for it to go away: 1. The Mets have a payroll commensurate with playing in the largest baseball market in the world; 2. The Wilpons sell the team; or 3. The Mets start winning playoff games. Ceetar wrote: I don't think it comes off as tonedeaf What was the last time you thought the Wilpons or MLB did something that reflected poorly on the Mets? Honest question.

Ceetar Jan 19 2015 08:33 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

Gwreck wrote: The narrative is really fucking tired at this point. I'm sorry you think it's tired, but it remains accurate. There are only three ways for it to go away: 1. The Mets have a payroll commensurate with playing in the largest baseball market in the world; 2. The Wilpons sell the team; or 3. The Mets start winning playoff games. I don't think it comes off as tonedeaf What was the last time you thought the Wilpons or MLB did something that reflected poorly on the Mets? Honest question. Well, I don't get too worked up about image and how it reflects on the Mets. This isn't because I think highly of them, it's quite the opposite really. I think all 30 teams and MLB are mostly a bunch of tonedeaf money-grubbing out of touch assholes to begin with. So when they rearrange (or really demote, as Frayed Knot pointed out) the deck chairs manning committees it really doesn't change my opinion much. And certainly MLBs perception of the Wilpons finances and ability to manage them are infinitely more informed than the fans. I feel this way about much of corporate America. I really can't get worked up about this stuff, I just don't think it matters very much. As far as the narrative being accurate? well, no, not really. We don't really know how accurate it is, and it's certainly being over-applied. I figure the chances that the Mets decision not to go about Scherzer was strictly a financial one are pretty slim. I don't think the argument that everything the Mets do is about trying to be an 85 win 'second wild card' team so they can say "hey look, we're trying!" mess. I don't think there is anything special about New York that demands they build a payroll higher than their revenue. And whatever you want to argue about how the revenue/value dropped so low doesn't change that that's where it is. And yes, winning games is the only way it goes away. I don't know how much the Mets opening the purse strings and splurging would really fix the narrative besides maybe shifting it towards 'spending stupidly' or something. Even if the Wilpons sell, which is a crazy remote possibility, the new guy would literally have to have a Dodger spending spree for the broke narrative to go away.

Edgy MD Jan 19 2015 08:53 AM Re: Fred Wilpon - MLB Finance Chairperson

I can certainly think of a fourth way for it to go away. But it's January. The Mets certainly aren't losing playoff games. Or any games at all. They're in fact riding a two-game winning streak.