EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

	NEW YORK METS
	2000 Spring Training Schedule
	2000 Regular Season Schedule

1999 Record: 97-66, (2nd place, NL East, 6.5 GB)

1999 Payroll: $71.5 million (8th)

1999 Team Statistics (NL rank) Batting Avg. .279 (7th)         Opp. Average .252 (4th) Runs Scored 853 (5th) ERA 4.27 (5th) Home Runs 181 (9th) Fielding Pct. .989 (1st)

1999 Recap: The Mets won 97 games and reached the postseason for the first time since 1988. Edgardo Alfonzo, Mike Piazza and Robin Ventura each drove in more than 100 runs, but it was the defense that made this team special. New York committed just 68 errors and allowed only 20 unearned runs in 1999 - both major league records. Armando Benitez emerged as a dominant closer and manager Bobby Valentine used his crowded bullpen effectively to ease the load on his aging rotation.

1999 Highlight: Robin Ventura's Game 5 grand single in the 15th inning to send the NLCS back to Atlanta.

1999 Lowlight: Faltering in August and September against Atlanta and having to settle for the NL wild card.

Manager: Bobby Valentine (285-233 with Mets; 866-838 in 12 seasons)

Coaches: Mickey Brantley (hitting), Dave Wallace (pitching), Mookie Wilson (first base), Cookie Rojas (third base), Bruce Benedict (bench), John Stearns (catching), Al Jackson (bullpen)

Camp Site: St. Lucie County Stadium, Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Reporting Dates: Pitchers and catchers on Feb. 19; full squad on Feb. 22

Additions LHP Mike Hampton, 1B Todd Zeile, OF Derek Bell, LHP Jesse Orosco, LHP Bobby M. Jones, LHP Bill Pulsipher, LHP Rich Rodriguez, INF Charlie Hayes, RHP Dennis Springer, OF Jon Nunnally, INF Kurt Abbott, OF Curtis Pride, INF Garth Brooks

Subtractions: OF Bobby Bonilla, 1B John Olerud, LHP Kenny Rogers, RHP Orel Hershiser, RHP Octavio Dotel, OF Roger Cedeno, LHP Chuck McElroy, RHP Masato Yoshii, OF Shawon Dunston, RHP Billy Taylor, INF Luis Lopez

Spring Cleaning: With the departure of first baseman John Olerud, the man in Port St. Lucie with the most to work on is Keith Hernandez. Yes, Keith Hernandez. The Mets have brought back the 11-time Gold Glove award winner to work with first baseman Todd Zeile, who figures to be the weak link in an otherwise air-tight infield. Beyond Zeile's transition across the diamond, the Mets hope that Ventura's throwing shoulder recovers from off-season surgery.

Glove Affair 1999 fielding statistics for 2000 infield   Alfonzo, Ordonez and Ventura  Todd Zeile  Errors  18  25  Fielding Pct.  .990  .980  Chances/error  100.2  16.8

Ventura played like an MVP until torn cartilage in his left knee wrecked his final month of the season. He had surgery on that, too, but his shoulder remains the big question. Another issue facing Valentine is who will fill out his rotation. NL Cy Young Award runner-up Mike Hampton joins Rick Reed and Al Leiter as a solid 1-2-3 punch, but the rest of the staff is still a question mark. The Bobby Joneses will audition along with Bill Pulsipher, Glendon Rusch, Dennis Springer and Paul Wagner. With Roger Cedeno gone, the pressure will be on Rickey Henderson to repeat his 1999. The ageless one stole 37 bases, posted a .423 on base percentage and scored 89 runs last year. Derek Bell is hoping a change of uniforms will help him regain his old form. After burning bridges with teammates and management in Houston, Bell's average slipped to .236. He joins a line-up that is already full of right-handed bats. Finally, Garth Brooks will attend camp as a non-roster player and participate in some spring games. The country singer hit .045 for the San Diego Padres last spring (1 for 22) with one RBI.

Key Acquisition: Mike Hampton was acquired by the Mets along with outfielder Derek Bell for outfielder Roger Cedeno, pitcher Octavio Dotel and a minor leaguer. The lefty went 22-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 1999 while establishing career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched. A ground ball pitcher, Hampton is expected to be the staff ace and should benefit from the stellar defensive behind him. Although just 4-6 lifetime against Atlanta, GM Steve Phillips is hoping that he is the missing component to overtaking the Braves.

The Future is Now: Although he will not be on the Opening Day roster, Paul Wilson could be a key to the Mets second half. The former No. 1 overall pick showed flashes of brilliance in 1996, but has been sidelined by injuries and surgeries ever since. He is finally expected to make his return to Shea Stadium this season. Any contribution down the stretch would help and might keep Steve Phillips from having to trade for another arm.

Opportunity Knocks: With Roger Cedeno now in Houston, the oft injured Jay Payton will get some time in the outfield. Left-hander Glendon Rusch will get a chance to break into the starting rotation. Jorge Toca, a 29-year-old rookie, hits for average and power and could see action at first base or off the bench.

Prospects to Watch: RHP Eric Cammack, OF Alez Escobar, OF Jay Payton, RHP Grant Roberts, 1B-OF Jorge Toca, LHP Jason Tyner

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