Former Mets hitting coach Dave Hudgens yesterday "fired shots at the owner’s suite," indicating Mets co-Owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz "haven’t given [GM] Sandy Alderson enough financial resources to build a winner," according to Mike Puma of the N.Y. POST. Hudgens during an appearance on ESPN Radio 98.7 N.Y.'s "The Michael Kay Show" said, “If they want a winner in that town, I would let the purse strings loose and let Sandy do what he wants to do." Alderson responded to Hudgens' comments prior to last night's game against the Pirates, saying, "We spent $85 million and we expected a little more at this point in the season than we’ve gotten, so I don’t believe payroll is the issue." Puma notes the Mets "continue to struggle at the gate, playing in a mostly half-empty Citi Field." Alderson previously had "hinted that fans need to show up if the Mets are to increase revenues and payroll, but the GM has changed his tune." Alderson: “We have to put a good product on the field and have to demonstrate the team is worthy of support and as a result get more people out here. It’s not incumbent on them. It’s incumbent upon us to change that situation” (N.Y. POST, 5/28). ESPN N.Y.'s Adam Rubin noted some fans "groan when Alderson suggests revenue has to precede spending, because they interpret that as fans not showing up being responsible for the low payroll." But Alderson countered that he is "not precisely saying that." Alderson: "The old adage you have to spend money to make money, I don't entirely believe that. Does it raise the probabilities? Yeah, it probably raises the probabilities somewhat. But it doesn't ensure anything. ... The first few years I was here, the goal was to acquire talent, get some flexibility with the payroll and try to win as many games as possible in the meantime without compromising the acquisition of talent or the payroll flexibility" (ESPNNY.com, 5/27).
