A source close to the situation told ESPNNewYork.com's Rubin on Thursday that the Mets will now change course. Instead of turning to one of the reported runners-up, such as commodities trader Ray Bartoszek, the team will now try to sell a series of smaller units to family and friends to reach the $200 million stake they desire.

Swiggers wrote:

A source close to the situation told ESPNNewYork.com's Rubin on Thursday that the Mets will now change course. Instead of turning to one of the reported runners-up, such as commodities trader Ray Bartoszek, the team will now try to sell a series of smaller units to family and friends to reach the $200 million stake they desire.

Translation: No one with any brains wants any part of this.

Swiggers wrote:

A source close to the situation told ESPNNewYork.com's Rubin on Thursday that the Mets will now change course. Instead of turning to one of the reported runners-up, such as commodities trader Ray Bartoszek, the team will now try to sell a series of smaller units to family and friends to reach the $200 million stake they desire.

Translation: No one with any brains wants any part of this.

Phan In Phlorida wrote:Maybe we can take up a collection, buy out the Mets, then make the players wear tutus.

New York Mets manager Terry Collins says "hat flap" has become a distraction. Bud Selig would reportedly take it a step further.

Major League Baseball's commissioner called the Mets on Sunday night irate that the club had gone public that his office had prevented players from wearing the caps of Sept. 11 first responders for that night's game at Citi Field, the New York Post reported.

A Mets official told the newspaper that the commissioner said the team threw the league "under the bus."

"Selig got embarrassed by it," the official told the Post. "The game got moved into prime time (on ESPN) because of 9/11, and MLB ended up getting embarrassed."

MLB disciplinary czar Joe Torre claims that the league didn't lean that heavily on the Mets.

"Nothing was ordered," he said during an interview on Sirius XM Radio. "I think they were sent a memo, but in no way was it heavy-handed. I don't think money was ever an issue or they were ever threatened with a heavy-fisted fine. If that's the case, I have no knowledge of it."

thephan wrote:That's it. 2011 is in the books for Wright and the boys. Time for the Mets to work on their short game and adjusting their stance over the tee. I am pretty sure that last night was the night and that the Nats nail the coffin shut, but I am certain that they have been eliminated.

momadance wrote:Apparently MLB sent someone to their clubhouse before the start of the game to physically take the hats from the team

But another source said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon was "back and forth" with the commissioner's office on the matter until the proverbial 11th hour, when it was decided the Mets, on the hook for a $25 million loan from MLB, shouldn't risk the wrath of Selig.

"It was in our control a little bit, but yet it wasn't," catcher Josh Thole said.

When the Mets entered the clubhouse following pregame ceremonies, they put the emergency services caps on a table and signed them for charity. They were not confiscated by MLB, according to multiple sources, as some reports had suggested.