“When I really thought about this, I could make millions of people happy, and what an incredible opportunity that is. That’s how I’m thinking about this. I’m not trying to make money here. I have my business at Point 72 and I make money over there. So here, it’s really about building something great, building something for the fans, winning. I just find this an amazing opportunity.”

On first glance, at least in his own telling, new Mets owner Steve Cohen appears to be the polar opposite of "Halligator Arms" Hal Steinbrenner.  

Cuttings from yesterday's Gammonitic gaggle between Cohen and Sandy Alderson, the new Mets GM, should shudder the spines of every Yank fan. There's a new sheriff in town. Said Cohen:

“Only one team wins the World Series every year, so that’s a pretty high bar. But if I don’t win a World Series in the next three to five years — I’d like to make it sooner — then obviously I would consider that slightly disappointing.”

Three to five years? In Yankee time, that's El Chapo's original contract. Cohen intends to win a ring. Meanwhile, Food Stamps Hal chews his old, convenient chestnut about "the Yankees contending every season," a strategy that last worked in 2009. 

Cohen implicitly was suggesting a Mets lineup with the likes of DJ LeMahieu, Trevor Bauer and/or JT Realmuto... this, while Hal's wonks comb their algorithms for cheap pitchers and yet another coach to psychoanalyze Gary Sanchez. 

Okay, breathe deeply. Let's not jump off the bridge. New owners love to talk up their one superpower: Money, which makes them an authority on everything. Let's see how confidently Cohen chirps after he's two Bobby Bonillas into the job.  

You can argue that, in the end, the Mets will still be the Mets. Still, when hearing promises like this, you can feel New York tilting orange. And, really, when has Hal talked about avoiding mediocrity? All we hear is his need to avoid luxury taxes. Can you imagine Hal saying this?  

“I’m not in this to be mediocre. That’s just not my thing. I want something great, and I know the fans want something great. That’s my goal and that’s what I’m going to do.”

So it goes.