Right before the Major League Baseball trade deadline on the morning of July 31st, the New York Mets were 7.5 games out in their divison and 6.5 games behind in the Wild Card as they were in desperate need of pulling off at least one headline-making deal. Instead of doing the inevitable, General Manager Omar Minaya just sat there and did nothing; although the blame shouldn't be put on him, but instead it should be place on Owner Fred Wilpon.

As most Mets fans know Wilpon lost a couple of hundred million dollars to Ponzi scheme artist, Bernie Madoff. What the Citi Field Faithful doesn't know, is the total amount that Wilpon forked over to Madoff?

According to an unnamed source, Wilpon lost approximately $700 million to the little menace who is Madoff. After knowing this, the Mets biggest enemy is not the Philadelphia Phillies, but it is instead Madoff.

Since Wilpon lost most of his families fortunes to Madoff, it may be at least several years before the Mets are able to afford any star Free Agent. As the Mets slowly play their way out of failing to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season, their fans should put their anger and frustration on Wilpon and not on Minaya and Manager Jerry Manuel.