The Mets in the 18 full seasons under the Wilpons' control missed the postseason 15 times
An era of Mets history "likely ended" yesterday with the team's '20 season finale, as prospective Mets Owner Steve Cohen is "expected to bring an aggressive approach to free agency and rebuilding the organization's infrastructure," according to Mike Puma of the N.Y. POST. In the 18 full seasons under control by Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, the Mets "missed the postseason 15 times," and they "finished with a losing record in nine of the last 12 seasons." The first significant decision for Cohen's pick for team President Sandy Alderson "will be whether to retain" GM Brodie Van Wagenen. By extension, manager Luis Rojas' job status "would come into question" (N.Y. POST, 9/28).
OUT WITH THE OLD: In N.Y., David Waldstein wrote across the Wilpons' tenure, there "were some exalted moments, like when they reached the World Series in 2000 and 2015, and some comical and puzzling missteps, the worst of which was the [Bernie] Madoff debacle." The Mets "could be exciting in the Wilpon years -- even uplifting." But in the 19 seasons since the group bought out Nelson Doubleday, the Mets "made the postseason just three times, and fans grew weary of its reign" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27). The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Deesha Thosar goes with the header, "Wilpons' Last Mets Team Was A Frustrating And Fitting Finale To Their Ownership" (9/28).
IN WITH THE NEW: On Long Island, Tim Healey writes every indication has been that Cohen "indeed will get the necessary support" to purchase the Mets, but the bigger unknown is "when that might happen." MLB already has owners meetings scheduled for mid-November, so that "would seem to be the latest a vote would occur." A source this month said that a vote is "likely to be held well before then." In the meantime, Cohen is "allowed to consult on Mets decisions" (NEWSDAY, 9/28).
