Frank Cashen became the General Manager of the Mets organization in 1980. Right before 1980 the Mets were in the National League cellar three years in a row and Payson sold the the team to Doubleday and Wilpon. Doubleday and Wilpon needed a General Manager and they were tipped off to explore Frank Cashen who, as Jeff Pearlman in The Bad Guys Won points out, asked a series of questions to the owners of the Amazins (pg 23):
Yes.
Are you willing to develop a farm system?
Yes.
Will you leave me alone?
Yes.
Are you sure you'll leave me alone?
Yes.
Will you definiteley leave me alone?
Yes.
Seriously-never,ever bug me.
Okay.
Cashen completely re-built the Mets from that moment on, and re-built them in ever way. He focused on talent, development, signnings, trades, media (which was no where near Shea at the time), extending the fan-base (similar issue) and taking the Mets into victory lane.
Memories of his success, especially that conversation with Fred Wilpon, need to especially be remembered today with the whole Wilpon-Omar-Jerry situation. Ownership has to take pressure off Omar to allow him to make the best possible moves because if the Mets want a good new GM, they are going to have to show the baseball community that a GM would want to work for the Mets. If the Mets want a new firey manager, than they will need to show that manager that respect trickles down.
