Steve Cohen shows that these are not the same ol’ Mets

Over the years, the phrase “Same Ol’ Mets” has come to mean different things. It has been a cry of frustration about the team not spending enough to get that missing piece. It has decried ownership, or an incompetent front office, or players not meeting expectations. No matter the reason, that phrase had come to take on a life of its own.

That was meant to change when Steve Cohen purchased the team. He had discussed changing the culture around the organization, turning the Mets into the larger market team that they should be. His money had been put where his mouth is, as they have been amongst the more active teams in the offseason.

These are not the same ol’ Mets

Cohen’s first real test came on Monday night. Late in the evening, news broke about Mets general manager Jared Porter having sent lewd and harassing photos and texts to a female journalist five years prior. Those statements were already being put to the test.

It did not take long for Cohen and the franchise to take action. Porter was fired by the time most people were reaching for their first cup of coffee in the morning, with Cohen tweeting out the news at approximately 8:00 am.

As he stated, integrity and accountability were going to be hallmarks of his ownership. Cohen has been transparent and engaging, interacting regularly with Mets fans on Twitter. He has built plenty of good will in his brief time as the principal owner of the franchise. But good will can only go so far; when push comes to shove, he needed to prove that his actions would match his words.

Monday night was his first real test. Yes, he did his part by improving the Mets, being active in free agency and giving the green light to the trade that brought in Francisco Lindor. But integrity and accountability apply to everyone in the organization. A slap on the wrist was not going to be enough.

Steve Cohen did what he needed to do. These are not the same ol’ Mets after all.