|
 |   |
EVENTS AD PARTNERS
|  |
Mets displaying leftist tendencies
Posted: Thursday March 02, 2000 11:12 AM
In the latest installment of our continuing series of Spring Training updates from SI's baseball writers, CNNSI.com caught up with Jeff Pearlman in Port St. Lucie, Fla., where he's covering the New York Mets. CNNSI.com: When camp first opened Bobby Valentine talked about how much turnover he was dealing with. Does that still hold true now that the Mets are almost two weeks into things? Jeff Pearlman: Well, that's kind of an exaggeration from Valentine. Todd Zeile is obviously in for John Olerud and then there's Mike Hampton and Derek Bell. So you're really only talking about two new position players. The big thing they did is bring in tons of lefties. I don't know if there's ever been a camp with so many lefties. Bill Pulsipher, Jesse Orosco, the new Bobby Jones -- nine lefties total. It seems as if everyone is a lefty. The major turnover is in the bullpen. But Valentine is known as a manager who likes to go to the bullpen; he's never been afraid to use his 'pen, and he's always relied on it.
CNNSI.com: Are there too many arms in camp? Pearlman: I've never seen anything like this. Everyone has a lot of pitchers in camp, but there are some guys here -- like Glendon Rusch, who is not a great pitcher but who could certainly pitch for a bunch of teams -- who will probably end up in the minors. CNNSI.com: How has the new-look infield performed with the addition of Todd Zeile? And how has Zeile looked playing an unfamiliar position? Pearlman: Valentine said it best when he called Zeile is a great athlete. He is. He made the switch from catcher to third earlier in his career -- Joe Torre moved him to third in St. Louis after Zeile had been a catcher all his life. But down here he's been working with Keith Hernandez, and Zeile said that right now he's probably an average major league first baseman, which is not bad for the time he's spent there. He said the main things he needs to be working on are his footwork when he's around the bag and when he's on the bag. What he likes about playing first is that he figures he won't be as bored. He said it can get boring over at third. CNNSI.com: How does the biggest addition of all, Mike Hampton, appear to be fitting in with his new teammates? Pearlman: Man-to-man, the Mets think they're a better team, and that's not because they've added Dennis Springer. You don't get to trade for too many 22-game winners. I saw Hampton pitch the intra-squad game on Monday -- two innings, one walk, two strikeouts. His control was good, he used some different pitches and he experimented with a cutter. Valentine was happy with the outing, too. CNNSI.com: Should we think of them as a better team? Pearlman: I asked Benny Agbayani how he thought the team would make up for the loss of Roger Cedeno and his speed. He said power. And they have a little more of that because of the additions -- especially if Bell can get back to 1998 form. Plus, you figure Zeile is good for a little more power than Olerud. But they are a better team with Hampton. CNNSI.com: Do the Mets think they are on par with the Braves? Is there a sense they are thinking about the World Series? Pearlman: I think they all realize the road to the World Series goes through Atlanta. The Mets can't consider themselves as equals, because they haven't beaten the Braves. They know that until they do that, they're not equal. Robin Ventura told me they expect to be in the World Series, and they have a right to. It was a talented team last year and they picked up a 22-game winner. So that's what they are thinking. CNNSI.com: Have there been any sideshows? Pearlman: Well, Garth Brooks is here. He's not getting the media swarm he did when he was in camp with San Diego. Back then it was okay, kind of a kitschy novelty. Now it's silly. You are not a baseball player. The fans gave him a really loud cheer for cleanly fielding a rolling ball in left and he actually grounded to third off John Franco. CNNSI.com: Has Franco been able to accept a dimished role with the emergence of Armando Benitez? Pearlman: So far, yes. He hasn't said much about it and the point here is that he hasn't made any news. So far it seems as if he'll be comfortable not being the closer. CNNSI.com: The Mets are all set in the infield and in the top couple spots in the rotation. So who have they been trying out for the No. 5 starting role and in the outfield? Pearlman: Pulsipher and the new Bobby Jones are being looked at for that role, with Pulsipher as the frontrunner. In the outfield, they know Rickey Henderson and Darryl Hamilton are going to start. Competition for the third spot is between Bell and Agbayani. Right now it looks like Bell is the runner-up. But the biggest shuffle will come from the bullpen. They don't have enough room in the to carry the guys they have in camp ... unless they're going to carry 15, they'll have to cut a pretty good pitcher. If you have a question for Jeff, click here, and check back each Thursday during spring training for his responses.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
