NY Mets: Why I can’t put any of the blame on Steve Cohen

What is Steve Cohen’s job as the owner of the New York Mets? I really want to know. Is there some kind of job description he has to sign annually through ADP to ensure he lives up to those expectations? I don’t think so.

It’s funny how in sports some teams have an identity where it’s the owner calling the shots and others have the general manager to point the finger at. In the case of the 2021 Mets, Cohen has been the figurehead turned to for credit and blame despite being nothing more than the owner. It’s understandable. It has been unclear from the moment he took over exactly who has final say. Is it Sandy Alderson or any of the other acting general managers the team has employed?

Mets owner Steve Cohen did just about everything an owner needs to do

My thought on major sports franchise ownership is that the guy at the top has one very important job in regards to what happens on the field. He is the delegator. He hires the President of Baseball Operations to do exactly what his title says: operate the baseball in a presidential manner.

I know the Mets had a lot of craziness occur behind the scenes since Cohen took over. The front office was far from stable, is rocky yet again at the end of the 2021 season, and there’s some fixing that needs to be done. More than knowing what players fit the franchise, it’s Cohen’s responsibility to accurately hire the right people to identify those needs.

Cohen goes above and beyond the responsibilities of most major sports owners. Honestly, how many can you actually name across your favorite sport? Does a Wrigley still own the Chicago Cubs? I have no idea! But I can tell you the names of their last two general managers. Those are the ones who have been delegated with the task to build a championship.

When Cohen bought the Mets, I don’t think anyone regarded him as anything more than a vault. His baseball IQ is completely unknown. Passion from the owner can only get a team so far. It’s the job of those right below him on the organizational chart to make those decisions. Cohen provides the authority.

It’s not Cohen’s fault the Mets couldn’t hit this year. We can’t blame him for the injuries. Zero responsibility falls on his shoulders for anything that occurs in the standings.

But at the same time, it all falls on him because he is the one in charge. When players fail, the general manager takes on blame. When the general manager puts together a below .500 club, it’s the person who hires him that has to answer.

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In only this roundabout yet very direct way can we blame Cohen for anything that went wrong in 2021. Nonetheless, he lived up to his end of the bargain. He spent money and that’s the lone difference fans wanted under his regime aside from a better result on the field.