“OK, settle down everybody. We’ve got Spring Training coming up in a couple of weeks, so this meeting is important as it allows us as an organization to address the issues that might be holding us back from succeeding in 2012. First on the agenda is deciding how to replace Jose Reyes’s output at the top of the order. Any suggestions?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“Good idea. Now what about helping Ruben Tejada break in as the starting shortstop. That’s a big job.”
“Deny Howard Megadal’s press credentials.”
“All right. Ike Davis and Johan Santana are each coming back from injuries and we’re going to need them to return to form. How do we do that?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“This is going better than planned. We have high hopes for Lucas Duda’s bat, but his glove might be a project. What’s the best way to bring him along in right?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“We are really rolling. Listen, we all love Murph, but his defense is going to be a tough fit at any position. Can we improve his pivot on the double play so he can be at second every day — anybody?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“Beautiful! We have a whole new bullpen this year, with everybody moving into new roles. Any suggestions so the late innings aren’t a nightmare?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“Nice going. Catching’s a little thin. Is there a way to enhance what we have between Thole and Nickeas?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“That’s some real forward thinking there. The walls are coming in, but Jason Bay may need more than that. Do we tinker with his stance, get him counseling or what?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“I’m writing that one down. Next on the agenda is Pelfrey…need I say more?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“Nail on the head! On the off-field issues, what about attendance? It’s been down the last couple of years and the lack of any big acquisitions isn’t necessarily going to fire anybody up. What to do?”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“Taken care of. Finally, the ownership thing…that’s a mess you’d need a whole book to explain fairly and clearly. We need an out-of-the-box solution. The floor is open…”
“Deny Howard Megdal’s press credentials.”
“Splendid! Apparently we’ve solved all our problems. Somehow we just knew it was all Howard Megdal’s fault.”
That’s true – everything was perfect until Howard wrote that book….
It’s true, he’s just that effective a writer.
Right on Greg. Ready. Fire. Aim. #TeamMegdal
Circular firing squads R us!
Brilliant! My moral outrage can be found here: http://mets360.com/?p=9254
#FreeHowardMegdal
He’s free, just not free to roam. (And backatcha.)
Sadly, handling things in an embrassingly petty, unprofessional and awkward fashion is as much a part of Mets tradition as the color orange.
But props to you, Greg, for unequivocally voicing your disdain with your customary eloquence and piercing wit without apparent concern for the fate of your own well-earned access.
Years from now, after Jerry Seinfeld writes a big check and delivers us from the Wilpons, we’ll look back on this and shake our heads.
Maybe you’ll even get a haircut from Jeff Wilpon’s barber someday.
I was going to thank you for your supportive words, RR, but now I’m stuck on the idea that somebody cuts that hair so it falls just so.
Denying someone press credentials because they’re critical of the team’s performance and infrastructure? By that logic, shouldn’t the New York press in its entirety have been banned a while ago?
In that alternate universe, the Mets finished 77-nothingtoseehere last year.
They can’t legally keep out anyone who’s in the BBWAA. The whole reason they did this is because they can’t keep the snotty beat reporters out, so they have to pick someone else (not BBWAA-protected) to kick. And it’s not like they’re going to scare any of the snotty beat reporters off by doing this. Those guys never lose their jobs unless they literally break the law.
What really sucks about this is that they have to hide behind Horwitz/Howard/Alderson to do this crap. “They,” of course, meaning El Jeffy, who I suppose looked into a libel suit and was told by every lawyer he called to go pound sand. At least George Steinbrenner put his own name on the shit he pulled.
The return of Banner Day couldn’t be more timely. Be sure to let your feelings known that day…unless Banner Day is canceled, too.
THIS BANNER
STILL HAS ITS
CREDENTIALS
I wonder what would have happened if Rachel Phelps in the movie MAJOR LEAGUE had been “outed” in a book by a fan/writer like Howard Megdal for her intent to move the Indians to South Florida. It would have been funnier than this.
And typical (fictitious) Mets in your one act play that it took hearing something 10 times before getting the message and acting on it.
I think the Mets have created a martyr.
I have a much better appreciation of Nelson Doubleday now…any chance of the Wilponz putting him in the Mets Hall of Fame?
“Mets Brain Trust” – there’s an oxymoron if ever there was. As in, using the words “brain” and “trust” in the same phrase as “Mets”…
So…..I’m reading a Mets spokesperson gave this reason for revoking his credentials:
“The author’s desperate self-promotional campaign for relevance has led to perpetuating baseless speculation and complete inaccuracies.”
Is this the same Mets spokesperson (Dave Howard) who ripped Erin Arvedlund on her book on a FOX interview back in May 2009? The same one who, in response to Erin’s opinion that the Wilpons would likely have to bring in an investor or two shortly – or even sell,…had this to say about her reporting and said opinion? (and I quote):
‘Outrageous, unfounded, irresponsible, grossly irresponsible’
#onlythemets
[...] a credential to any Mets game this year is insane. Greg Prince shows how this decision came to be. http://www.faithandfearinflushing.com/2012/02/07/mets-brain-trust-figures-it-out/ Keith Law picked Domingo Tapia as the Mets’ top sleeper prospect. Law’s story is an ESPN [...]