New York Mets fans should count their blessings with Steven Cohen in charge

Right now, New York Mets fans have a little over a month to wait for Spring Training – provided that there are no hiccups, of course. There’s a sense of burgeoning optimism that hasn’t been present for quite a while. There’s a new owner and it feels like the future is quite bright.

Still, there are some who might be wary. Perhaps it’s because they have been stung for too long by the previous ownership that they are reluctant to believe that there are really good times up ahead. It’s understandable. Almost all of the moves made during the Brodie Van Wagenen error, I mean, era, are cringeworthy just thinking about.

But that is in the past. Those fans should really take that time between now and Spring Training to sit back and realize how lucky they are as opposed to a mere year ago.

The Mets Have a Functioning Front Office

Over the past decade or so, the real general manager of the Mets, despite whoever actually held the title, was Jeff Wilpon. He fancied himself a real baseball mind, which was not really true. The team was also constrained by the fact that Jeff and his father Fred were still deep in debt. This brought them to act more like a small-market team than a large market one. Yes, they had some bigger contracts, like Yoenis Cespedes, but it was not the same.

That has changed now. Jeff and Fred are in the past. There are real baseball minds, like Jared Porter, occupying the front office and making the decisions. It feels good to know that the team has people in place who have helped build successful teams in the past. They have a plan in mind and are not as constrained by budget as previous front office incarnations were.

The Mets Have an Owner Who REALLY Cares

Cohen has impressed from the minute that he signed the papers to take the ownership reins. He is more than open to talking with fans on social media, soliciting their opinions on the best ways to make the game experience best for them, including how to change Citi Field to better suit them. He’s already not afraid to make on-the-field moves and will likely make more as time goes on.

He is WAY more communicative with his intentions, and here is hoping that he continues to act this way. I see him as baseball’s Mark Cuban – though I hope he doesn’t regularly incur fines for complaining about umpires. Despite all his wealth, it’s also obvious that he’s a longtime baseball fan who wants to see the Mets win another World Series sooner than later. Enjoy this.

Francisco Lindor is Gonna Play For The Mets

Yes. Let’s just keep repeating that. It’s fun. In 2021, Francisco Lindor will be donning the blue and orange and hitting in the Mets lineup. One of the best players in the game will be on the field at Citi for (hopefully) 81 games. He’s just entering his athletic prime. Best of all, Cohen is not going to let this be a one-year rental. Lindor will get a big contract, but it’s nice to know that this is not going to be a situation where it can hamper the rest of the roster.

So, let’s enjoy seeing Lindor play his excellent defense and help strengthen a lineup with hitters like Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto… and maybe, just maybe, George Springer. Pitchers like Jacob deGrom will benefit with him behind them. This deal would not have been made last year.

Yes, baseball is a funny game where the best team may not actually win it all, but having a great team to watch year in and year out is still a blast. With Cohen at the helm, the Mets are going to be a much more fun team to follow than it was with the Wilpons in control.

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Let’s savor the Mets in 2021 and beyond.