Peeved Mets Fans Flood Manfred Q&A, Demand Answers On Wilpons
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred may be the king of the ball at this week's All-Star festivities in Cincinnati, but he's not nearly as popular in Flushing.
Mets fans went online to vent their frustrations while baseball's new boss was fielding questions on Twitter for a town hall meeting ahead of Tuesday's Midsummer Classic. The anger was focused on ownership -- Fred Wilpon, Jeff Wilpon and Saul Katz -- for failing to spend like a big-market team following their entanglement in the Bernie Madoff mess.
"Exiling the Wilpons would placate 1000s, possibly millions, of fans that's cherish your sport," one fan wrote on Monday. "Why don't you? #AskManfred"
@MLB are Fred Wilpon and Emperor Palpatine really the same person? #AskManfred pic.twitter.com/lWjJzE3myP
— 40yr old BigDave ™️ (@BigDavesRants) July 13, 2015
What needs to happen for @MLB to oust the Wilpons? Is there anything a fan could do to expedite the process? Please be specific. #AskManfred
— Chris (@tpgMets) July 13, 2015
The commissioner, like his predecessor Bud Selig, has been firmly in the Wilpons' corner. In March, Manfred told WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts he was aware of the angry "undercurrent" regarding ownership, though he believed much of it to be unfair. He also said Fred Wilpon "was a victim" of Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
The Mets are 47-42 and two games behind NL East-leading Washington.
@howardmegdal not saying you're a puppet, but can u speak while Fred Wilpon drinks water? #AskManfred
— crazybaldhead (@alexbaldman) July 13, 2015
Why won't you respond to any wilpon related questions? #AskManfred
— S ex 6od (@JohnnySparacino) July 13, 2015
If Yankees were being operated like @Mets would @MLB sit back and allow it to continue? #AskManFred
— Rich Anthony (@RichAnthony76) July 13, 2015