Welp, so much for that idea. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a Los Angeles Dodger, and the New York Mets are nonetheless the Mets. After placing on a full-court press for the Japanese ace, giving it 115 %, and leaving it all on the field, proprietor Steve Cohen’s efforts amounted to diddly squat. Now it’s again to the drafting board, or as Mets followers extra generally consult with it, a colorless, miserable existence often highlighted by spurts of misguided optimism.
The membership hasn’t accomplished every part proper since Cohen took over, however it was Cohen taking up that was supposed to repair every part the Wilpons couldn’t. Whereas the Mets may not have the essential information but, and who is aware of how lengthy Cohen will hearken to the logic of recent entrance workplace man David Stearns, they possess an proprietor who’s dedicated and keen to spend gobs of cash, a fanbase dying for fulfillment, and a market massive sufficient to draw big-name free brokers.
On the danger of getting laughed out of sports activities writing, what’s so completely different in regards to the Amazins and Dodgers? I do know, I do know, however strip away the organizational stability, participant improvement, and previous decade of success, and the foundations aren’t too dissimilar. What’s to maintain New York’s different crew from leapfrogging its cross-town rival the best way Man Metropolis usurped Man United?
“How long have you got?” asks the viewers.
It’s additionally type of exhausting to change into Man Metropolis when the Dodgers have accounted for more than half of all money dropped in free agency so far. That mentioned, the Mets have been the large spenders a yr in the past, and although it blew up of their faces like a novelty cigar, massive market + hedge fund proprietor = success, right?
That’s most likely somewhat reductive, and overlooks the nuance that goes into constructing a contender, however the Dodgers would possibly’ve set a brand new bar with the Shohei Ohtani and Yamamoto signings. The variety of billionaires and personal fairness teams with unspeakable quantities of cash is rising, and as soon as they’re within the door, it turns into an Aspen downside.
There’s solely a finite quantity of actual property, and ultimately, the multi-billionaire house owners will push out the millionaires, or no less than relegate them to AFC Bournemouth standing. In case you root for a membership whose possession group is price lower than what the Dodgers shelled out this offseason, you may be correct f*cked. And that’s very true in a sport with out a wage cap.
This Cody Bellinger man is fairly good, and he had a constructive influence on the Cubs’ locker room final season. Maybe an overpay is so as if not required. That doesn’t imply Cohen ought to spend superfluously like a procuring addict on a bender; simply overdo it with deserving gamers.
Take Jordan Montgomery for instance. He’s already been run out of New York as soon as, in order that’s a purple flag. I do know Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander had dry rot, however perhaps attempt giving cash to a pitcher below the age of 38? Blake Snell doesn’t suck, is technically nonetheless in his 20s, and gained’t price the Mets any prospects.
“What about the money?”
Sure, what about it? The pundits appalled by the Dodgers’ hostile takeover of MLB clearly haven’t been taking note of enterprise outdoors of baseball. Is that this sustainable? Will it result in the downfall of … one thing? No, sure, and that one thing might be the least rich groups.
And, hey, no less than that’s not the Mets, proper?
