Former SNY studio analyst Bob Ojeda, who opted not to return to the Mets' pre- and postgame shows this season, "was his usual opinionated self" in his first interview since leaving the RSN, according to Andy Martino of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Ojeda "defended" Mets co-Owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, and COO Jeff Wilpon, but "was not as kind to the front office." Ojeda: "The Wilpons and Mr. Saul Katz -- the people who say they don’t care about the team are sorely misguided. These are the biggest Mets fans you will meet." He added, "So many times, it’s not the greatest team on paper (that wins). There are so many ingredients that go into creating a winning atmosphere. I think there is some work to be done on that winning atmosphere. I really do. And I think if those things are addressed in spring training, they’ll be on their way. But if the message is the same, that will be detrimental. Because the message is all this positiveness. The reality is six years under .500.” Ojeda: "They are dealing with one intelligent, cagey cat, and that is the Mets fan. You are not going to blow smoke. So I think they need to concentrate on just playing the game.” Ojeda also "launched into an unprompted defense" of SNY Senior VP/Production & Exec Producer Curt Gowdy Jr. Ojeda: "Curt Gowdy is one of the best people I have ever met in my life. I can't thank him enough for giving me this opportunity six years ago" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/4).
