Steve Cohen’s Dodgers-Style Mets Vision Still Unfulfilled

Five years into Steve Cohen’s ownership of the New York Mets, the ambitious plan to replicate the sustained success of the Los Angeles Dodgers has hit some real turbulence. What once looked like a steady march toward joining baseball’s elite has stalled out, and now everyone’s left wondering if Cohen’s blueprint can still deliver.

From postseason promise to organizational unrest, this journey’s been way more complicated than anyone expected.

Steve Cohen’s Vision for the Mets

When Cohen bought the Mets, he didn’t hide what he wanted—he aimed to build a powerhouse franchise, using the Dodgers as his model. Los Angeles had it all: consistent playoff runs, a deep farm system, and sharp roster management.

The Dodgers weren’t just a measuring stick; they were the gold standard for building a modern, winning ballclub.

Early Signs of Progress

By Cohen’s fourth year, it really seemed like the Mets were closing the gap. The team made it to the National League Championship Series, a place that had felt out of reach for years.

Pushing the Dodgers to six games in that series sparked a wave of hope in New York. A lot of people thought this was the breakthrough—maybe Cohen’s long-term vision was finally starting to work.

The Setback Season

But that momentum vanished the next year. The Mets just couldn’t beat teams they were supposed to handle, especially the young Cincinnati Reds.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, kept cruising through the postseason—winning nine of ten games on their way to the World Series. The Mets didn’t even make a real playoff push.

Missed Opportunities and Unmet Expectations

Missing out after a big season revealed some real issues. Depth, consistency, and resilience—those things that make the Dodgers so tough—were missing.

Instead of battling the game’s juggernauts, the Mets just watched as the Dodgers showed off everything Cohen wanted to copy.

Internal Struggles and Organizational Response

The disappointing season set off a wave of problems inside the Mets’ clubhouse. A long collapse led to tension everywhere.

The front office tried to fix things by reshuffling coaches and looking for scapegoats, hoping to regain control. It felt like an organization searching for its identity under a lot of pressure to justify all that spending.

Lessons from the Dodgers’ Success

The Dodgers’ dominance keeps offering a pretty clear blueprint for what the Mets need, if Cohen’s plan is going to work. Their formula rests on a few key things:

• Strong player development – Consistently producing talent from within.
• Smart roster construction – Balancing star power with reliable depth.
• Organizational stability – Keeping leadership and philosophy steady.
• Postseason resilience – Performing when the pressure’s on.

Final Thoughts

Cohen’s willingness to invest heavily in the Mets has given them resources few clubs can match. But money alone doesn’t guarantee a winning team.

The Dodgers’ blueprint is proven. Still, trying to copy it takes patience, adaptability, and a steady hand—none of which come easily.

The Mets have shown flashes of greatness here and there. Yet, becoming baseball’s next perennial contender? It’s nowhere near a done deal.

Over the next few seasons, we’ll see if Cohen’s Mets are just chasing a dream or actually laying the groundwork for something lasting. Are the Dodgers still the gold standard? Probably.

But if the Mets can actually learn from their mistakes and stick to a smarter plan, who knows? That East Coast superpower idea might not be so far-fetched after all.

 
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