Monday Morning, September 23, 2002
The last week of the 2002 season is upon us! The Mets will head to PNC Park for a three game series against the Pirates, and will then return to Shea for their final series against the Braves.
Player of the Week - Mike Piazza was named the National League's Player of the Week for September 9-15. During that time he compiled a .458 batting average and hit four home runs. This is the 12th time that Piazza has been named Player of the Week, and his third time as a Met.
Met of the Month - Steve Trachsel was chosen as Sharp's Mets Pitcher of the Month for the month of August. He was presented with the award prior to last Wednesday's game.
MVP - Roberto Alomar was presented with the 2001 Latino MVP award prior to last Thursday's game at Shea, after being honored during a luncheon earlier that day.
Changes at the Top - The Mets have announced a restructuring of their executive officers. Fred Wilpon is the chairman and chief executive officer; Wilpon's brother-in-law and longtime partner, Saul Katz, is the president; and Wilpon's son, Jeff Wilpon, is the executive vice president and chief operating officer. Jeff Wilpon will work with his father on a daily basis on all baseball and business matters.
Health Watch - A week ago Saturday in Montreal, Roger Cedeño gave the Mets a scare when he collapsed on the field during the 6th inning. His dizzy spell was apparently the result of a sinus condition and stomach condition. He had stopped taking Claritin for his sinuses because Mets trainers were concerned about the interaction between that and the antacids he was taking. Between the sinuses, the antacids, and perhaps a bit too much coffee, Cedeño suffered an irregular heartbeat that caused him to fall down while trying to field Endy Chavez's double. Cedeño, who has a family history of heart problems, was checked out by Mets team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito in New York last Monday as a precaution, and was deemed fit.
Suspension News - Last month, Bobby Valentine and David Weathers were disciplined because of events from the August 25th game in Colorado, when Weathers hit Juan Uribe with a pitch after Kent Merker hit Timo Perez earlier that day. Valentine was suspended for one game, while Weathers was suspended for three games and fined $1,250.
After Thursday's game, Weathers arrived at a deal with the Commissioner's office where he dropped his appeal in exchange for a reduction in the suspension from three games to two. Weathers served his suspension by sitting out Friday and Saturday's games. The fine, however, was not reduced.
Valentine's appeal of his suspension was supposed to have been heard on Friday, but has been postponed until some time this week.
Up in Smoke? - Last Friday's Newsday ran a story that could lead to the Mets' biggest scandal in years. Running a photo of reliever Grant Roberts, as a minor leaguer, smoking marijuana from a bong and citing unnamed sources, the article alleges that as many as seven Mets may have smoked pot this season. That photo, by the way, was reportedly given to Newsday by a woman Roberts knew in the past who has been blackmailing the young reliever.
In a press conference Friday afternoon, Steve Phillips and Bobby Valentine denied Newsday's allegations of rampant drug use on the Mets. Roberts also addressed the media, saying, "I'm sorry and I'm very embarrassed by this situation. I made a mistake. The picture was taken in the offseason in 1998. The woman who gave up the picture tried to threaten me and get me to do things and give her things. Obviously, I did not. I want to apologize to the Mets organization and the fans. I love and respect the game a lot. I look forward to putting this behind me and moving on."
The issue of marijuana use first came into play in June when then-Met Mark Corey had seizures after smoking, and teammate Tony Tarasco reportedly owned up to smoking along with him. Tarasco and Corey are now in Major League Baseball's drug program as first time offenders.
While illegal drug use is certainly not a problem exclusive to any one team, it is likely that last week's events will certainly focus attention on the Mets. This is a breaking and evolving story, but it's a sure bet that the ramifications of these reports will be felt strongly, and for a long time.
An Early Halloween? - No, it was just the annual hazing of the Mets rookies. Organized by team captain John Franco, the rookies were dressed in the visitors clubhouse in Montreal last Sunday and were required to stay in costume until they reached the team's charter plane back to New York. Mike Bacsik was dressed as a spotted cow, udders and all; Satoru Komiyama was a mad scientist; strength coach Jim Malone was a French Maid; and Ty Walker, Jason Middlebrook, Esix Snead, Jaime Cerda and Jason Phillips wore dresses.
Last year, Franco required the rookies to sing in a karaoke bar.
And the Winners Are - The Mets awarded their Doubleday Awards and Sterling Awards prior to yesterday's game against the Expos. The Doubleday Awards (likely to be renamed next year, in light of the severing of Nelson Doubleday's connection to the Mets this season) are awarded to the top Mets minor leaguer at every level, while the Sterling Awards are presented to the pitcher of the year and player of the year on the minor league level.
The Sterling Award for the Pitcher of the Year went to David Mattox, while the Sterling Award for the Player of the Year was awarded to shortstop Jose Reyes. Reyes was also named USA Today's Minor League Player of the Year last week!
The Doubleday Awards went to:
Triple-A Norfolk - Marco Scutaro
Double-A Binghamton - Prentice Redman
St. Lucie - Craig Brazell
Capital City - Justin Huber and David Wright (co-winners)
Brooklyn - Kevin Deaton
Kingsport - Jamar Hill
In the Community - Every Tuesday this season, the Mets hosted families of rescue workers who perished on 9/11/01. Not only did these families receive game tickets, but they were treated to dinner in the old Jets locker room as well. Players from the Mets and the visiting teams stopped by for autographs and pictures for the survivors of the slain heroes.
Pedro Astacio and Sammy Sosa are promoting the upcoming October 19th telethon to aid the families of victims of last year's Flight 587 crash. The two participated in last Wednesday's press conference with New York Governor George Pataki publicizing the event, and are donating autographed merchandise to be given to the first 50 people who donate $250 or more during the telethon.
John Franco is this year's local winner of the Roberto Clemente Award, which is presented for charitable services to the community and contribution to society.
Bobby Valentine, along with Mets Senior Vice President Dave Howard and Vice President Paul Danforth, participated in the Face of America Cycle Ride from Ground Zero to the Pentagon. On Friday, Valentine addressed the assembled bikers before they departed on their 3-day, 270 mile trek, and he rode the first three miles along with them. Howard and Danforth rode the entire distance.
The Hit Men and the Kid Who Batted Ninth - As reported this spring, that's the name of David Siroty's new book about Mo Vaughn, John Valentin, and two of their Seton Hall teammates who made it to the major leagues. Last Friday, Vaughn and Valentin appeared at the Mets Clubhouse Shop on 54th Street in Manhattan to sign copies of the book.
Stars of Tomorrow - The Mets honored the Harlem Little League team prior to last Friday's game.
Trading a Racquet for a Bat - Tennis great John McEnroe took batting practice with the Mets last Friday.
A Bittersweet Anniversary - Last September 21st, the Mets played the Braves in New York's first baseball game following the September 11th terrorist attacks. The Mets won that game when Mike Piazza hit a spectacular 8th inning, 2-run home run. Recording artist Terry Cashman was inspired to write "A Tattered Flag in the Breeze (Michael's Song)" after that game, and on the one year anniversary of the event Cashman performed the song at Shea. That night was also deemed "I Love New York Night" at Shea - adult fans in attendance received commemorative long sleeved T-shirts, and New Yorker Cyndi Lauper performed the National Anthem. Fittingly, the Mets won the game in dramatic style on a 12th inning home run by rookie Esix Snead.
For more information about Michael's Song, check out this special feature.
Winter Plans - Among the Mets players and prospects in winter ball this offseason will be Jose Reyes and Ty Wigginton in the Dominican Republic; Tyler Walker in Venezuela; and Pat Strange in Mexico.
Meet the Manager - On Sunday, September 29th, after the last game of the season, "A Tribute to Bobby" will take place at Bobby V's Sports Bar and Restaurant from 5:00-8:00 PM. The dinner will be sponsored by MetsFanClub.com, QSAC, GrandSlamSingle.com, MetsFanSite and MetsHome.com. Bobby Valentine will be in attendance, and will be honored for the charity work that he has done in the wake of 9/11/01. Tickets for the event are $30 apiece, and include a full buffet dinner. For more information e-mail QSACMETS@aol.com or call (718)204-7601.
Parting Thoughts - This is my last weekly column for the year 2002. Starting in two weeks I will publish monthly updates on the first Monday of each month. This has been my second season of writing Monday Morning Mets, and I have found it to be a wonderful experience. I have always been a Mets fan, but writing these columns has caused me to follow the team with a closer eye than I ever did previously. This has enhanced me, and I hope that I have been able to help my readers gain some insight as well. My goal each week is to tell my readers something that they otherwise wouldn't know about. I'd like to think that I've achieved that goal most weeks.
I want to thank KC for giving me this opportunity. When he approached me with this idea, I didn't know whether I had it in me to keep up with the news week after week. Thank you for giving me the platform where I can work on becoming a sportswriter.
A special thanks to Dave Whitham - for the story ideas, for letting me bounce things off of him, and for all of the amazing pictures we have used in MMM and on the website this season!
And, of course, thanks to Kevin Chapman. My husband, my friend, and my source of encouragement and inspiration for all of these years!
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.
