Add Tim McCarver to the list of people who do not think the Wilpon family will be able to hold on to ownership of the Mets.
“I personally feel the Wilpons have to sell the ballclub,” McCarver said.
The broadcaster and former player believes the threat of a lawsuit is too much for the Wilpons to overcome — even if they are able to sell a portion of the team, as they are trying to do.
“I don’t see how they can escape by selling a minority position, particularly when they don’t allow any control,” McCarver said during a conference call yesterday to promote Fox’s baseball coverage this season. “I can’t see any other way for them to go but to sell the ballclub.”
The Mets are embroiled in a potential $1 billion lawsuit brought by the trustee for victims of the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme. McCarver said he does not envy anyone in the organization that he worked for as a broadcaster from 1983 until he was let go in 1998.
“It’s deplorable,” McCarver said. “I would not want to be a player on the Mets right now. Not because they are not talented enough, but because of all the questions surrounding the team this year will be about the off-the-field problems. It’s very difficult to play under those circumstances.”
McCarver said he thinks the Mets will be able to compete on the field, maybe even battle for a playoff spot in the NL East.
“If they finish second or a close third, it wouldn’t surprise me as far as their talent on the field,” he said. “However, they are going to be asked questions about these off-field matters all year, every place they go.”
Mets fans also will have to hear about it on television.
“It’s very difficult to broadcast under those circumstances,” McCarver said of the SNY crew of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling. “That’s just because you have to tell what you deem to be the truth. It can’t be a soap opera about the owners every day, and I’m sure Gary, Keith and Ron will keep it between the lines.”