A palpable sense of doom hangs over Citi Field, and it’s not just the shadow of recent losses. The New York Mets, once a beacon of hope under the ownership of billionaire Steve Cohen, are now mired in a quagmire of dysfunction and disappointment. The team’s struggles on the field, coupled with the spectacular failure of Cohen’s ambitious casino project, have raised alarming questions about his leadership and the future of the franchise.

Cohen, a hedge fund titan with a reputation for bold moves and deep pockets, entered the Mets’ ownership scene in September 2020 with promises of transforming the team into a “model franchise.” However, nearly four years later, the Amazin’ Mets are far from the promised land of amazement. The team has lost seven of their last ten games, with their bullpen and lineup becoming a revolving door of ineffectiveness and star players like Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso being sidelined with injuries along with longstanding contract complications for the latter.

Off the field, Steve Cohen’s woes are equally pronounced. His grandiose vision for a sprawling casino and entertainment complex adjacent to Citi Field has been unceremoniously quashed by New York State Senator Jessica Ramos. Citing overwhelming opposition from her constituents, Ramos has declared, “Seventy-five percent of my constituents have expressed that they do not wish to have a casino in our backyard.” This rebuke not only derails Cohen’s $8 billion project but also exposes a growing disconnect between the billionaire owner and the community he is supposed to serve.

Ramos has further accused Cohen’s group of employing aggressive lobbying tactics and ignoring the concerns of local residents. “I have been very clear with them every step of the way about how I’ve received their advocacy,” she said, underscoring the breakdown in communication and trust.

The casino fiasco is merely the latest in a string of missteps and unfulfilled promises that have plagued Cohen’s tenure. Despite investing heavily in player development and infrastructure, the Queens have failed to achieve the sustained success that he primarily envisioned. Instead, they have now become a “laughingstock,” much more prone to embarrassing on-field gaffes and off-field controversies.

A billion-dollar question mark for billionaire Steve Cohen

Jorge Lopez, a struggling reliever, recently added to the team’s woes by hurling his glove into the stands after a disastrous outing amidst a lingering controversy going on about his words that got lost in translation, along with being illogically DFA’d with his ongoing familial struggles. This unprofessional outburst, reminiscent of Luis Tiant’s infamous glove toss in 1980, is emblematic of the Mets’ current state of disarray.

Steve Cohen’s empty promises have become a source of frustration and disillusionment for the Mets’ fanbase. Many are drawing comparisons to the Wilpon era, a period marked by mismanagement and ineptitude. “We sure used to blast Fred and Jeff when the Mets devolved into ridiculousness,” writes Mike Vaccaro, a columnist for the New York Post, in reference to the previous owners. “Only fair to do the same with Cohen.” Can’t argue there.

The team’s current predicament raises some serious questions about Cohen’s leadership and his ability to deliver on his promises. Is he cursed? Is his brash approach and disregard for community sentiment dooming the team to failure? Or can he learn from his mistakes and salvage his tarnished reputation?

As the Mets continue to stumble on and off the field, the answers to these questions remain elusive. What is clear, however, is that the team is in dire need of a course correction. Steve Cohen must address the dysfunction within the organization while rebuilding their trust with the community and delivering on his promise of creating a winning culture. If he fails to do so, the dark clouds that currently hang over Citi Field may never actually lift, God forbid.