mets note.....

[Investment Executive]

Mets catcher out 7-to-10 days with broken toe

June 29, 2001


ATLANTA (AP) -- New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza broke a bone in his left big toe Friday night and will be out at least a week.

Piazza was injured when he fouled a ball off his foot in the third inning. He finished the at-bat, hitting a flyball for an out, but left the game in the bottom half.

Piazza will be out 7-to-10 days and will likely need a few more days before he is able to catch, Mets assistant general manager Jim Duquette said.

``It's a hairline fracture ... of the bone at the end of the big toe, underneath the nail,'' Duquette said.

Piazza is batting .269 with 20 home runs and 45 RBIs.

For now, New York has no plans to put Piazza on the disabled list. The team hopes he will be healthy enough to serve as the designated hitter for a three-game interleague series against the Yankees next weekend.

Duquette said it's too early to say if Piazza would be able to play in the July 10 All-Star Game at Seattle.

Piazza, who had a lead of more than 800,000 votes over Florida Charles Johnson in the latest balloting, is a virtual shoo-in to be elected as a starter.

Piazza did not play in last year's All-Star game, having been hit in the helmet by Roger Clemens' fastball three days earlier.

The Mets have been concerned in recent years that Piazza takes too much of a beating behind the plate, and ultimately would like to move him to first base.

 

[Investment Executive]

Mets outfielder asks for his release after arguing with Valentine
By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
June 29, 2001


ATLANTA (AP) -- New York Mets outfielder Darryl Hamilton asked to be released Friday after a heated confrontation with manager Bobby Valentine over a lack of playing time.

Hamilton, batting just .214 with one homer and five RBIs, was supposed to be in the lineup for the Mets' game against the Atlanta Braves.

During a pregame meeting in the manager's office, Valentine and Hamilton argued about the outfielder's role, an issue that has festered since spring training. Their dispute carried into the clubhouse.

``Something happened in the hallway and I said, 'Maybe it would be better for me if I didn't play tonight,''' Hamilton said after the Mets defeated the Braves 3-1. ``When you question my loyalty to this team, it means you don't have any respect for me.''

Valentine said he tried to give an honest appraisal of Hamilton's performance and the outfielder took it the wrong way.

``My sarcasm is what you get with me,'' the manager said. ``It was not meant to belittle him in any way. We were just talking about his play.''

Valentine questioned the timing of Hamilton's complaints.

``It's like being a lawyer when you come into the manager's office,'' Valentine said. ``You really shouldn't come in unless you already know the answer.''

Benny Agbayani started in place of the 36-year-old Hamilton, who asked to be released, according to Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz.

General manager Steve Phillips plans to meet with ownership to discuss the team's options. Hamilton is in the final year of a contract that pays him $3 million this season.

``Hopefully, we will have this situation expedited,'' said Jim Duquette, the Mets' assistant general manager. ``They've had issues going back to spring training. The disagreement came to a head.''

Valentine talked with Hamilton during the game and tried to soothe his bruised feelings. Afterward, Hamilton wouldn't say if he still wants to be released.

``That's tough to answer right now,'' he said. ``I'm still upset about the situation. I'm always telling the young guys in here to think about things before popping off. I'll think about it tonight.''

The Mets had already considered getting rid of Hamilton.

``We talked about it earlier in the year,'' Duquette said. ``But Bobby felt like he was a usable part of the team.''

Hamilton came to the Mets in a four-player trade involving the Colorado Rockies at the trade deadline in 1999. He batted .339 for the remainder of the season.

In 2000, though, Hamilton went on the disabled list early in the season and eventually needed surgery on the big toe of his left foot. He played just 43 games with the Mets, batting .276 with one homer and six RBIs.

In the meantime, Agbayani and Jay Payton took prominent roles in the outfield as the Mets won their first NL championship since 1986.

Agbayani and Payton have continued to get most of the playing time this season, with Timo Perez and Japanese import Tsuyoshi Shinjo (currently on the disabled list) taking most of the starts at the third spot.

Hamilton has played in 52 of New York's 81 games this season, starting 32 times at all three outfield positions.

``They tell us around here that if we have a problem, the manager's office is always open,'' Hamilton said. ``I know I haven't played too well this year. I'll be the first to admit that. But the last three or four weeks, I feel like I've played halfway decent.''

Valentine said it was too early to say if Hamilton had played his final game for the Mets, who have lost seven of nine and trail Philadelphia by 11 games in the NL East.

Asked if he would start Hamilton again, the manager replied, ``Not if he's going to pull himself out of the lineup.''