Meet the Mets: Owner Wilpon makes rare address to team

Author Photo
Mr. Met and Mets owner Fred Wilpon

David Wright has spent the past 11 seasons with the Mets, and when asked Monday, the captain couldn't remember the last time owner Fred Wilpon addressed the team en masse.

But there Wilpon was Monday morning in Port St. Lucie, giving what outfielder Michael Cuddyer described to ESPN.com as a "motivational, inspirational" speech that emphasized the importance of winning.

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The veterans Wright and Cuddyer offered up generalities when asked about the thrust of Wilpon's words. The man himself declined, as usual, to speak with the media. The New York Post noted he hasn't held court with Mets beat reporters since spring training 2013.

Wilpon seemingly has spent more time around the team this spring than usual, even attending some Grapefruit League games away from Tradition Field. Whether his presence and motivational efforts have any impact on a team that has tallied six straight losing seasons and already has lost Zack Wheeler for 2015 remains to be seen.

But Wright said having the owner step up can't help but be a positive and was nothing different from previous interactions he has had with the boss.

“Fred has always been upbeat,” Wright said, via the Post. “The vast majority of conversations I’ve ever had with Mr. Wilpon have been very upbeat, and this was nothing different.”

Author(s)
Marc Lancaster Photo

Marc Lancaster is a senior editor at The Sporting News