Monday Morning, June 3, 2002
The Mets continue their longest road trip of the year with four games in Atlanta. Then interleague play begins with the Mets' first series ever in Cleveland's Jacobs Field.
In Memorial - On Memorial Day, one of three recognized flags from Ground Zero flew over Shea. The flag was escorted to the stadium by Major General Jack A. Davis, who also threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Roster Changes - John Valentin, who had been on the disabled list with a torn rotator cuff since May 15th, was activated by the Mets last Friday. Prior to his activation, Valentin played in a rehab game for the Mets' affiliate in Port St. Lucie on Thursday.
To make room on the roster for Valentin, Ty Wigginton, who had his first major league hit last Wednesday, was sent back down to Norfolk.
A Coach Confessor? - Mo Vaughn received help last week from longtime friend and personal batting coach Mike Easler. The two met in a New York hotel room to discuss Vaughn's season-long slump. Mets batting coach Dave Engle was apparently unhappy at that news, but manager Bobby Valentine was nonchalant about it. "Mike [Easler] seems to be a very cerebral guy. I don't think they are swinging much. It's like talking to a priest or your father. Mo's getting on a good track. If he got on that track when Easler got here, then stick with it."
Vaughn isn't the only Met who received outside help with his batting this week. In Florida, Rey Ordoñez took some advice last Thursday from a man he knows only as Archie, and promptly went on a hitting tear, including his first home run of the season Friday night! Ordoñez was introduced to Archie through former Met Alex Ochoa, with whom Ordoñez worked out this past offseason.
Fashion File - Last Monday, Rey Ordoñez and Roberto Alomar wore their socks up high, primarily because Ordoñez wanted to. Alomar explained, "It was something different. No big deal. I'm not going to emulate his hair, but socks are part of the game."
Hot Bod - Look for Jay Payton in the June issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. Payton appears shirtless and doing biceps curls in a story titled "The Best Physiques in Baseball." Payton appeared in a similar Muscle & Fitness spread in the spring of 2001.
Consulting an Expert - Kane Davis, currently on the disabled list, has flown to Los Angeles to consult with noted sports physician Dr. Lewis Yocum about the torn flexor tendon in his right elbow. Yocum is the doctor who performed "Tommy John" surgery on John Franco last month, causing Steve Phillips to quip that the Mets should receive "some kind of group discount" from the surgeon. Dr. Yocum confirmed Dr. Rokito's diagnosis of a partial tear that does not require surgery - Davis will rest for the next four weeks and then begin a rehab program.
Shea's Gone To The Dogs - But it was for a good cause. Prior to last Monday's games, animals from the North Shore Animal League were on the field at Shea, posing with Mets players in order to raise awareness about pet adoption.
Making the Pitch - Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to last Tuesday's game. It's the second consecutive year that Castroneves has won the Indy 500, and the second consecutive year that he has thrown out a ceremonial first ball at Shea.
Going Home - Last Tuesday, Scott Strickland visited the NYU Medical Center and the Hospital for Joint Diseases as part of the Mets' "Going Home" program. Strickland gave goodie bags and game tickets to children being dismissed from the hospital.
In the Swim of Things - Bobby Valentine has teamed up with the International Securities Exchange (ISE) to support St. Vincent's Foundation in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Valentine is the honorary chairperson of Swim Across the Sound, a St. Vincent's fundraiser for cancer victims and their families.
Additionally, ISE will donate $250 per Mets victory to the foundation, with a minimum donation of $250,000 for the season.
Remembering Lou - Last Saturday was Project ALS Day, raising awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), more popularly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. To commemorate the day, Gehrig's famous farewell speech was read in fourteen MLB ballparks prior to the games. In Florida, devoted Met fan Matt Dillon read the speech, and afterwards asked to meet announcer Bob Murphy.
RIP - To Wes Westrum, Manager of the Mets from 1965 through 1967. Westrum died at the age of 79 last Tuesday after a battle with cancer. kcmets.com extends its condolences to the Westrum family.
More For a Good Cause - Ty, Inc. has already raised over $1,800,000 for Rusty Staub's New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund with its Courage and Rescue Beanie Babies. Ty is now looking to add to that total by introducing Rescue and Courage Beanie Buddies, also benefiting the fund. These Internet exclusive plush dogs can be ordered here.
Special Feature: Baseball as America
Special Feature: Talkin' Baseball with Terry Cashman
Unless otherwise stated, these stories have been extracted from reports on www.nydailynews.com, www.nypost.com, www.nytimes.com, www.njo.com, www.newsday.com, www.bergenrecord.com, AP , and www.mets.com reports.
