New York - Mets owner Fred Wilpon -- citing his pre-weekend call for a pennant race postponement due to wet  weather - issued a statement saying, "We knew this would happen. These games should never have been played." The Mets were eliminated from post-season play on Sunday.


Original Story:

Wilpon Cites Ominous Weekend Rain Forecast

 

 

by Special Correspondent Charles Euchner

 

New York - Mets owner Fred Wilpon -- citing a weekend of rain that threatens to devastate the cookout plans of millions of citizens -- has appealed to the Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies to suspend their efforts to win the National League Division or Wild Card titles.

 

"At a time when Americans everywhere have struggled against Mother Nature, from the Gulf Coast to Florida and now to Flushing, I have decided to suspend our efforts to win the Division or Wild Card titles," Wilpon said. "It just seems selfish. All of us need to pull together and roll up our sleeves. This is no time for baseball competition."

 

“They are cowards and losers,” said Philly shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

 

Wilpon said his gesture was not intended to cover up the Mets' weak middle relievers and closers, hide the Mets' latest clutch-hitting problems or distract from an impending second straight September collapse.

 

"Look, you wouldn't say John McCain, a war hero, was trying to cover up his weaknesses by putting off the presidential debate. It's scurrilous to even suggest such a thing." 

 

Wilpon said there's "plenty of time for competition," once the weather crisis passes. He suggested spring, 2009 as one alternative, adding that he hoped the Brewers and Phillies would agree.

 

"I'm trying to take the high road here," Wilpon explained, adding that although he recognized it might be a “tad expensive,” he hoped his rivals would be able to re-sign all of their players for the Spring Playoffs.

 

The “Wilpon Initiative” was met with mixed reactions from Mets players.

 

"We just have to go out and leave it all on the field and forget about last year and play the kind of championship baseball we all know we're capable of," said David Wright, the 698th third baseman in team history.

Told that he had used the same exact words for each of the 39 times that the Mets have blown late-inning leads, Wright abruptly terminated the interview.

 

"We want to do something special, but sometimes other things matter more," said Pedro Martinez, the 5-6 pitcher, from the airport, where he was boarding a plane for his native Dominican Republic.