Monday Morning MetsWelcome to the debut of Monday Morning Mets. Each week I will be providing a recap of the Mets who have been in the news for their off-the-field activities. Unless otherwise stated, the stories will be culled from the online editions of The New York Daily News, The New York Times, The New York Post, Newsday, The Bergen Record, and NJO.com, as well as Associated Press reports.
As the offseason has come to an end and Met pitchers and catchers have reported to spring training in Port St. Lucie, the news is filled with stories of the players' extracurricular activities. In Las Vegas, Mike Piazza made the semifinals in the 2001 Big League Challenge. Piazza lost to Rafael Palmiero, who went on to win the Home Run challenge. Proceeds from this competition benefited the Major League Players' Association's Trust for Children. Also in Las Vegas, Piazza raised $15,000 for the Leiter's Landing charity by defeating Jane Krakowski and Kevin Sorbo on Celebrity Jeopardy. If anybody is happy that the Mets proposed trade for David Wells did not materialize, it's Glendon Rusch, who most likely would have been sent to Toronto in return. Rusch is very happy to remain a Met, feeling that "the best atmosphere there could be to play a professional sport is New York." In the offseason Rusch had a five day a week workout routine - three days of yoga interspersed with two days of swimming.
Also adhering to a strict offseason workout routine is 40-year-old John Franco, who boasts "I'm in better shape now than when I was 30."
Joe McEwing and wife Julia couldn't wait to leave the cold Yardley, Pennsylvania winter and drove down to Florida in early February. This is the third year that McEwing has reported to Spring Training with pitchers and catchers. Also taking the long and winding road to Spring Training were Kevin Appier and his wife Laurie, who opted to drive from Palola, Kansas because they have three dogs, one of which is so large that it would have had to have been shipped if the Appiers had flown to Florida.
Turk Wendell's number this offseason should have been 9.4 rather than his usual 99. In December, Wendell signed a 3-year contract with a base salary that was one cent shy of $9.4 million (with incentives, the contract could earn him as much as $9,999,999.99). Then, on February 9th, Wendell flew an F-16 "Fighting Falcon" jet and set a civilian air speed record of 9.4 G's. The flight was filmed by This Week in Baseball, and will air in June. When asked by WABC television how he plans to top this next offseason, Wendell answered that he plans to climb Mt. Everest. Wendell is thinking even further ahead, stating that he would like to play for free during the 2004 baseball season. As the Players' Association requires players to make at least 80% of their previous year's salaries unless they are cut, Wendell is considering leaving the union in order to carry out this plan.
On a more serious note, Armando Benitez reported to Spring Training after learning that the Queens District Attorney's Office will not prosecute him for domestic abuse for an incident involving his former girlfriend, Stacey O'Neill. In January, Baltimore prosecutors dismisses a separate domestic abuse case filed by Ms. O'Neill. While details regarding these dismissals have not been made public, Benitez says that no payments of money were involved.
Rey Ordoñez's ex-wife, Hilda Maria Fiallo, is seeking to renegotiate her divorce and child support settlement. Ms. Fiallo was awarded $1.50 a month in Cuba in July 1993, four days before Ordoñez defected at the World Student Games in Niagra Falls. Ms. Fiallo and Rey, Jr. have been living in Florida since July 2000 after defecting Cuba via Spain. Ordoñez is now married to Ms. Fiallo's younger stepsister, Gloryann, and the couple has two young children. Ordoñez is currently making payments to Ms. Fiallo of $6,250 a month, but she is seeking $8,000 a month. Ordoñez has told the press that he expects the situation to be resolved soon.
28-year-old Tsuyosi Shinjo turned down a 5 year/$12 million contract in Japan so that he could play for the Mets for $700,000 this year. Shinjo loves the color red, wearing it frequently and even highlighting his black hair with red. "The red color makes me excited to get ready for playing baseball. It fires me up." For more information about this colorful outfielder, check out www.shinjyo5.net.
Clubhouse attendants have been asking Bobby M. Jones what number he wore when he was in Colorado. Jones, who wore #36 with the Rockies, currently wears #21 with the Mets. Many wonder whether this means that the Mets are trying to acquire Sammy Sosa.
Former Met Rick Aguilera is apparently preparing to announce his retirement from baseball at age 39. Aguilera will always be remembered fondly by Met fans for his pitching in the 1980s, especially as part of the 1986 World Championship team.
Finally, wishes for a speedy recovery to manager Bobby Valentine. In early February, Valentine's car was hit by a speeding taxi in Manhattan while he was pulling out of a parking space. Valentine is now suffering from back pain as a result of the accident, although doctors advise him that the pain should subside shortly.