(written by a true conspiracy theorist!)
After claiming to be inactive for nearly forty years, the White House Plumbers (or a veritable facsimile thereof) have resurfaced farther north. In Queens, NY, to be precise. The plumbers are “back on the job” to fix some leaks that have exploded in recent years.
How appropriate is it for plumbers to be called in to fix the damage in a location known as Flushing.
Unfamiliar with the White House Plumbers? That’s completely understandable. The last time they were relevant, Nolan Ryan was working out of the pen for the Mets and Buddy Harrelson was playing shortstop. In the early 1970’s, the White House plumbers were a clandestine group put together to stop the leaks of classified information from the Nixon White House to the media.
But now there services have been needed more than ever in Flushing. And it is stunning how none of the bloggers and conspiracy-theorist commenters on other Met blogs have yet to “connect the dots.”
Until now.
Last week the Mets announced they were suspending longtime Mets Clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels indefinitely without pay. Days later, the news breaks that Samuels has bet on baseball.
Maybe the plumbers have found the leak. Maybe.
As a business owner, it must be infuriating to read what has been discussed behind closed doors leaked to the press. How does the media get this information? Who on the inside is talking?
Can’t you just imagine the conversations around the office? “Who the heck spilled the beans about the offer we were about to make to that free agent?” “How did they know we were opposed to including that fourth year!” “Think we can get Bobby V back in here for the minimum?” More importantly: “How could this team blow another game in the ninth inning?” And more importantly, “How many games have we blown in the eighth and ninth innings?”
I suppose when you owe money to bookies, information can be helpful.
As a fan, it has often bothered me that the Mets appear to openly discuss plans to trade players, discuss acquiring others, discuss making changes. I know of no other team — in any sport — that clearly telegraphed their moves over the years. Openly discussing plans seemed like an impediment to forward progress. What team, business, organization would do this?
And this is a problem unrelated to the current (Alderson), past (Minaya) or decades-gone leadership. Roster changes, manager decisions, salary negotiations — nearly everything — seemed to be broadcast in the media. What was going on here?
Perhaps the leak has been repaired. Perhaps this organization — for maybe the first time in years — can be taken seriously again.
Perhaps Samuels may have been part of the problem. We will never know the truth. That is, until it is far too late. If we all choose to kick the can down the road and eschew responsibility, this becomes management’s problem. And thus, becomes ownership’s problem. Maybe the organization can make better decisions in selecting personnel. Then, leaks dry up and go away.
Some dots that need connecting, all sadly involving Samuels, seemingly in one way or another:
- Kirk Radomski, hired by Samuels
- Dominic Valila: Former Groundskeeper at Shea arrested in 2005 for gambling (at Shea)
- Nick Priore (Equipment manager reportedly fired from the Yankees for theft, but then hired by the Mets).
- Paul LoDuca and his alleged gambling issues
- Mike Piazza’a Lexus: OK, Piazza’s father is a car dealer. But a Lexus is a large payoff on a bet with someone who makes $80,000/year, don’t you think? What would Samuel have to pay if he lost the bet?
- Jeff Francouer gives Samuels a $50,000 gratuity when traded this summer.
- K-Rod moves in with Samuels after domestic problems. Why is an employee of the Mets providing shelter for a suspended player making so much money?
- Where exactly IS all those missing uniforms, missing equipment, bats, balls, etc?
I suppose when you owe money to the bookies, many decisions can become compromised.
Before you make a decision or pass judgement, I strongly suggest you take a look at Kirk Radomski’s book “Bases Loaded” about his time working in the Mets clubhouse. It ties in nicely with this unfolding mess. If you Google his name or the book title, you may actually get a chance to read a serious chunk of it online.
Let’s hope the Mets have discovered their ship was running rudderless on the field AND off the field, and have taken steps to get back on track. Whoever is responsible for ending the leaks at Citi Field should be awarded the golden wrench.
Again, conspiracy theories abound, but this does paint a gloomy shadow over the operations at Citi Field.
No related posts.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
haha, actually not a bad concept. Could be true. I’ve never seen a team that more openly telegraphs their plans. Maybe its just media overload, maybe its just nice guys who can’t say “no” to reporters, but it seems like way too much information/over-sharing is done by the Mets over the years.