Fred Wilpon strolled into the first-base dugout during batting practice Tuesday wearing a monogrammed blue striped shirt and sporting a million-dollar smile. Trailed by his longtime bodyguard, he walked up the dugout steps and out to the field and began a long, animated conversation with Terry Collins, the manager of his baseball team.
Yes, the Mets still are Fred Wilpon's baseball team, much to the chagrin of a sizable segment of the fan base, and much to the obvious delight of the 78-year-old owner.
If anything has been proved about Wilpon's stewardship of the Mets in the post-Madoff era, it's that he is a survivor.