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Wilpon stops in for a surprise checkup – Metro US

Wilpon stops in for a surprise checkup

Jerry Manuel found out yesterday that a five-game losing streak with a $130 million payroll you gets you a road visit from the chief operating officer.

Manuel doesn’t want to discover what a seven-game skid will mean. And that’s exactly what will happen if the Mets can’t turn things around during a two-game set in Atlanta that began last night. The game ended too late for this edition.

“I didn’t come here to fire anybody, guys. I’m sorry,” said Mets’ COO Jeff Wilpon, who had a 90-minute visit before the game with general manager Omar Minaya, assistant GM John Ricco and Manuel. “That’s not what we’re doing here.”

Wilpon frequently checks in with the trio, but several coaches, including pitching coach Dan Warthen, also sat in on the meeting. The session was incredibly public, in plain view of players and media in a room just of the clubhouse at Turner Field.

“We have such meetings on a regular basis,” Manuel said. “They wanted to find out, or to see, what we can do to make it better. It’s baseball.”