In N.Y., Josh Kosman reported the "cash-strapped Mets are confident they will be able to sell several $20 million to $30 million stakes in the team by the end of the year." A source said that during a Sept. 8 conference call with lenders, Mets banker Steve Greenberg "'sounded very confident' the struggling team would be able to raise the money through the deals by Dec. 31." Kosman noted the tone could have been a "result of team owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz pumping some much-needed cash into the Mets." They recently "kicked in an amount believed to be less than $50 million." The call "was scheduled to discuss the team's liquidity." But both a potential bidder and a source close to the situation said that they believe that the Mets "would have a hard time finding buyers for the smaller investment stakes" (N.Y. POST, 9/10).
TAKE ME OUT TO THE CROWD: ESPNCHICAGO.com's Bruce Levine cited a source as saying that the Cubs "will draw 3 million fans for the eighth straight season." However, the team will "lower prices on bleacher seats" in '12. The Cubs are "concerned about a perception of half-empty bleachers on television during games early in the season," so they plan to lower bleacher seat prices. The Cubs' "season-ticket base is close to 26,000 with a waiting list of 100,000" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 9/9).
WARNING TO OWNER: In San Diego, Jay Paris wrote Padres Vice Chair & CEO Jeff Moorad "better be careful," as he is "flirting with a disconnect with dedicated Padres fans that I can't say I've seen since Tom Werner's days of dismal teams. ... Why again did he blow up a squad that won 90 games last year?" (NCTIMES.com, 9/11).
