One of the greatest joys for Atlanta Braves fans from the 2023 season wasn't just how much they dominated the competition (although that was great), but also because the New York Mets fell on their face in spectacular fashion. Despite the fact that the Mets spend close to the entire national budget of a small country on their payroll, the Mets ended the season 29 games back in the division.
However, this is where the story takes a bizarre turn.
Mets GM Billy Eppler resigned earlier today, but it wasn't all that surprising. New York had just made their hiring of David Stearns official and with Stearn installed and most of Eppler's moves imploding this season, the writing was on the wall. However, some very interesting news broke this evening that Eppler is currently under investigation by MLB for alleged improper use of the injured list.
Former Mets GM Billy Eppler is under investigation by MLB
The details so far are very fuzzy right now as the investigation literally just got reported, but what is known is that Eppler is being investigated for using the injured list in ways that could run afoul of MLB's rules. Every team uses the IL in some questionable ways with "phantom IL stints" being a running joke throughout the league. If MLB is investigating Eppler, there must have been something more serious than that going on.
However, can we all fully appreciate just how much of a disaster the Mets have been in 2023? New York had a $344 million payroll on Opening Day after signing basically anyone with a pulse last offseason and had an owner that wasn't afraid to spend EVEN MORE than that.
What do the Mets have to show for it? A fourth-place finish in the division, having to trade away several of the players they signed during their attempt to buy a World Series title, and now have yet another former front office employee who appears to be on their way to an ignominious exit.
Aside from getting joy and warmth from the Mets' dumpster fire, this should give Braves fans for what Alex Anthopoulos has brought to the organization. AA joined the Braves in the wake of Atlanta's own scandal and not only re-established the Braves in the public eye but has done so without compromising himself or creating any unnecessary drama (unless you count free agents leaving, which one shouldn't).
It is a good time to be a Braves fan. Not only is this team legitimately and historically great, but one of their bigger rivals appears to be continuing to implode in on themselves. Now if only some of this bad juju the Mets have could rub off on the Phillies before this weekend...