Former Mets GM Steve Phillips defends Wilpons: ‘Mets fans have such little empathy for ownership’
Mets General Manager Steve Phillips, left, takes reporter's question as Chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon, right, looks on after announcing the firing of manager Bobby Valentine on Oct. 1, 2002. Credit: Newsday/Ken Sawchuk
Former Mets general manager Steve Phillips took to Twitter Wednesday morning in defense of his past employers.
In a series of tweets, Phillips took issue with criticism of the Wilpon family, saying the team’s fan base had “such little empathy” for the Mets owners.
“The Madoff situation crippled them financially less than 10 years ago,” Phillips tweeted. “It was a betrayal to the Nth degree. It crushed them spiritually, emotionally, and financially. They never complain about it. They don’t use it as an excuse.”
Phillips, the club’s general manager from 1997 to 2003, said the Wilpon family does care about the fans and team despite criticism.
“They aren’t cheap! They do care! As much or more than the fans who criticize them,” Phillips tweeted.
