Billy Eppler is catching heat from Mets fans amid reports of his insistence of Buck Showalter playing Daniel Vogelbach on a daily basis, but Sal is still standing by the general manager.
“Billy Eppler with the Mets has one great year to his record, and this year, I think he did a great job at the trade deadline,” Sal said. “Yes, it took the backing of Steve Cohen financially, but what he did took some guts as well, trading those guys, with the financial support of Cohen, and maximizing the return in an otherwise lost year.
“I think Eppler’s done a decent job. He has to take a hit for this year, they were dreadful, but I think he’s done a good job. And it’s not about him anymore. It’s about Stearns.”
Sal believes someone in Showalter’s camp likely leaked the story of Eppler forcing Vogelbach onto him, and he has trouble believing the story in the first place.
“I think it’s very easy to believe. I also think it’s also sour grapes from a guy who just got fired,” Sal said. “And where were the better options? I couldn’t stand Vogelbach. I didn’t want him last year. Show me the better options.
“I could not be happier with the owner and the structure of the Mets. I would rather have no one. Not in football, any other sport. I would rather have no owner than Steve Cohen running the New York Mets.”