Wilpon Won't Sell Mets, But His Will Would Allow Family To Do So

Mets Owner Says He Has No Intentions To Sell Team In Near Future

TRIAL BY FIRE: Wilpon yesterday also addressed the June firing of Mets manager Willie Randolph, saying, "I screwed up." Wilpon said Mets GM Omar Minaya told him he intended to fire Randolph following the June 16 Mets-Angels game. Wilpon: "I wasn't smart enough to say,  'And cut the New York press out of it?' I didn't even think of it" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/24). ESPN’s Mike Golic said, "They’re admitting what everybody else already knew. We’re just scratching our heads a little bit that they didn’t want to admit it before” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN, 7/24). Wilpon added, "I should have said, 'Wait a second, let's balance that it may leak with, why not do it the next morning?'" On Long Island, Neil Best notes the day after the firing, the Mets-owned SportsNet N.Y. "bashed the team as spiritedly as did independent media outlets, which Wilpon said illustrated the network was following through on its promise of objectivity." Wilpon: "I know there were doubters, and we really have stuck to it." Meanwhile, when asked about the high price of tickets at Citi Field, set to open next season, Wilpon said, "It's my greatest personal concern, because it is partly a public trust" (NEWSDAY, 7/24).

IN THE BULLPEN: Mets P Billy Wagner, who sat out Tuesday's Phillies-Mets game due to a muscle spasm in his shoulder, yesterday criticized N.Y. Times columnist William Rhoden for writing that Wagner "had second thoughts about not playing after seeing the Mets bullpen get 'slapped around.'" Wagner: "I know right now I didn't say I changed my mind and wished I'd have pitched (Tuesday) after seeing the bullpen get slapped around. I know I didn't say that quote. [Rhoden's] going to stand in front of you guys and this team and apologize" (NEWSDAY, 7/24).

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