Monday Morning, July 1, 2002
The Mets are on the road this holiday week, with three games against the Phillies at Veteran's Stadium followed by a four game series against the Marlins in Florida. kcmets.com wishes all of our readers a safe and happy Fourth of July this week!
Headed to Milwaukee - Congratulations to Mike Piazza, the Mets' lone representative on this year's All Star team. This was Piazza's 10th All Star selection, and the 9th consecutive year that he was voted to the starting lineup.
Men of the Month - Edgardo Alfonzo was named John Gerald Jewelers Mets Player of the Month for May, and was presented with a watch to commemorate the honor prior to last Sunday's game at Shea. Meanwhile, Timo Perez was named Mets Player of the Month for June by the jeweler, and was awarded his watch prior to Thursday's game.
Burnitz Needs to Get a Grip! - Jeromy Burnitz has made an unfortunate habit of losing his bat in the stands this season. The latest victim is 13-year-old Shanyla Gottesman of Lawrence, Long Island, who attended the June 23rd game at Shea with her father and some friends. Gottesman needed 80 stitches to repair a gash in her ear that resulted from Burnitz' bat flying into the stands. Gottesman is expected to make a full recovery. The Mets gave Gottesman tickets to last Wednesday's game. Prior to the game, Burnitz signed Gottesman's bat and gave her four Mets hats and a Mike Piazza bobblehead doll.
Health Notes - After rest and rehab didn't work, reliever Kane Davis is having season-ending surgery on the flexor tendon in his right arm today. Davis, who underwent Tommy John surgery in 1997, expects to be fully healed by spring training.
Reliever Mark Corey had a seizure about an hour after last Wednesday night's game. Corey had not played in the game, although he did warm up in the bullpen that evening. Corey was released from The New York Medical Center early Thursday morning. Corey was being driven back to his hotel by teammate Tony Tarasco when he suddenly succumbed to the seizure and collapsed in his hotel parking lot. Coach Juan Lopez happened to be in the parking lot and rushed back to Shea to find a trainer while someone else called for an ambulance.
According to published reports, Corey admits to using marijuana prior to the seizure. However, that is not necessarily related to his seizure. Corey has been dealing with several personal issues this year - he was divorced last winter, and his mother died after a long bout with cancer on June 9th. Hopefully he'll have the opportunity to deal productively with these issues while he is on the disabled list (see Roster Moves, below). Corey is receiving counseling under the Employee Assistance Program, and under MLB rules, as a first time offender, he will not be subject to discipline but will have to undergo random drug testing. It is reported that Tarasco may be subject to the random testing as well.
Reliever Grant Roberts pitched in a rehab start with the Binghamton Mets at Reading last Friday and reported feeling fine afterwards.
Mike Piazza bruised his foot in last Wednesday's game. He sat out during Thursday's ultimately rained out game, but was available as a designated hitter over the weekend.
Roster Moves - Following his collapse, the Mets placed Mark Corey on the disabled list and recalled Jaime Cerda from Norfolk. Cerda began the season in Binghamton, and was 0-0 with a 0.43 ERA in 12 games with Norfolk before being called up. Cerda made his MLB debut Friday night against the Yankees - coming in with the bases loaded and Robin Ventura at bat with one out. Ventura hit a sacrifice fly, but then Cerda induced Jorge Posada to fly out to end the sixth. The 23-year-old rookie then came back to strike out the side in the 7th!
That strong performance earned Cerda an extended stay with the Mets. Grant Roberts was activated from the disabled list yesterday, and Saturo Komiyama was sent to Norfolk to clear a roster space for him.
Managerial Milestone - Congratulations to Bobby Valentine on his 500th win as a Mets manager last Tuesday. Valentine becomes the second Mets manager to reach this milestone, behind all time leader Davey Johnson, who won 595 with the team.
Stealing Home - When Roger Cedeño stole home against the Yankees on Saturday, it was the first time that a Met stole home since Todd Hundley did so against the Yankees on June 16, 1997. Further, it was the Mets' first straight steal of home since Tommie Agee did it against the Cubs on July 31st, 1971!
Fight Between Friends - Last Tuesday, Roberto Alomar and Roger Cedeño had a dispute which spilled over into the dugout. Reportedly Alomar was upset about a clubhouse game of dominoes, as well as the fact that Cedeño and other teammates were kidding him about his picture on a rookie baseball card. Television cameras caught the two in a shouting match, with Mo Vaughn stepping in between them. No punches were thrown, and afterwards the two were seen laughing together. "It was a misunderstanding," said Alomar. "He thought I said something and I thought he said something."
Considering that Alomar homered in the first inning and Cedeño stole a base in the game, perhaps these two should fight more often?
Another Fight Heading to Court? - Mets co-owners Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday may be heading to court soon. Wilpon is supposed to purchase Doubleday's share of the team, but Doubleday is unhappy with independent appraiser Robert Starkey's valuation of the team at $391 million. Doubleday points out that the duo were offered $500 million for the team on two occasions, and says that he will sue in order to challenge the amount. Wilpon says that he will rigorously defend the appraiser's valuation.
Upset Over Shrinking Closet Space - Armando Benitez was reportedly upset that Jaime Cerda was given the empty locker next to his. Although Benitez later claimed that his ranting at clubhouse attendants on the subject was a joke, others reportedly feel that it was not a laughing matter, according to the Star Ledger.
Honoring his Father's Wishes - When Tony Tarasco's father died in May, he had a dying wish that his ashes be spread in various baseball parks. Tarasco has honored that wish, and some of his father's ashes have been spread on Shea Stadium's warning track.
Helping Mets of the Future? - On Tuesday, Edgardo Alfonzo and Rey Ordoñez took part in the Mets and Children's Aid Society's "Home and Home" program. They ran a baseball clinic and a question and answer session for the kids. The program will be completed later this month with the same two players conducting an infield clinic at Shea.
Speaking of Stars of the Future - Justin Huber (from Australia) and Jose Reyes (from the Dominican Republic) were chosen to represent the World Team in Major League Baseball's fourth annual Radio Shack All Star Futures Game, prior to the All Star Game. The Futures game will take place on Sunday, July 7th, at 5:30 EDT, and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Learning from a Pro - Former Padres great and current ESPN color analyst Tony Gwynn gave an impromptu hitting seminar at Shea last Wednesday afternoon. Joe McEwing, Tony Tarasco, Al Leiter, Chris Chambliss and Gary Sheffield from the Braves listened to the future Hall of Famer's advice.
The Finer Things in Life - After last Sunday's game Mike Piazza, Shawn Estes and Steve Trachsel went to Bennett's Steak and Fish Restaurant in Stamford, Connecticut for an evening of wine tasting. The restaurant is owned by NBA referee Bennett Salvatore. The trio tasted several wines and wrote down their comments about each one.
Sharp Dressed Man - Mike Piazza decided that Vance Wilson was in need of a makeover, so last Tuesday he treated his backup to one. Wilson received a haircut and coloring from famed hairstylist Frederic Fekkai, an eyebrow waxing, a straight shave at the Paul Lebrecque Gentleman's Salon & Barbershop, and a blue gray wool suit from the Hugo Boss store on Fifth Avenue.
When Wilson complained about the pain of the eyebrow waxing, Piazza quipped, "You should have your back waxed. Now that hurts!"
Pad-Gate - The Mets complained about the size of the elbow pad that Gary Sheffield wore during last Wednesday's game. Matt McKendry, assistant to MLB disciplinarian Bob Watson, measured the pad and discovered that it was illegal. The Braves will likely be fined as a result. However, Sheffield's grand slam from that game will still stand.
Congratulations - To former Met pitcher Orel Hershiser, who has been named pitching coach for the Texas Rangers.
Condolences - To former Mets player and current Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire on the passing of his father, Clyde, last Wednesday.
Making the Pitch - Olympic Gold Medal figure skater Sarah Hughes threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to last night's Mets/Yankees Subway Series game at Yankee Stadium.
Helping a Good Cause While Watching the All Stars - The Brooklyn Cyclones Booster Club is sponsoring a dinner on July 9th, with the proceeds going to help QSAC (Quality Services for the Autistic Community). Watch the All Star Game at Keyspan Park, enjoy a buffet dinner, and meet some of the Brooklyn Cyclones, all for $30 per person. For more details e-mail gmaffei@qsac.com, cyclonesboosters@aol.com or check out cyclonesboosters.org.
Meet the Mets - On the Road - Delta Airlines and the New York Mets have teamed up to sponsor a contest that should interest any Mets fan. The grand prize winner and three friends will be flown to San Francisco in August, with tickets to two Mets games and accommodations at the team's hotel. The winner will also be able to have breakfast with Bobby Valentine, meet the Mets before a game, and attend batting practice. Second and third place winners will be awarded Delta SkyMiles and other merchandise. Entries must be received by August 1st, and winners will be notified on or about August 7th.
To enter the contest, visit www.delta.com/mets.
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.
