Benitez gets the job done
February 22, 2003 - There are many reasons why Cliff Floyd is happy to be a Met. One of them is sitting across from him in the home clubhouse at Thomas J. White Stadium.
Floyd's locker stares directly into that of Armando Benitez and as the slugger is quick to point out, that's the only way he wants to be viewing New York's closer from now on. The thought of staring down the barrel of a Benitez fastball is enough to give Floyd the sweats.
"When you knew he was coming into the game the first thing you thought was 'Uh-oh'," said Floyd, who is hitless in seven career at-bats against Benitez with three strikeouts. "He always has a way to get the job done. That's the reason he's been so successful. He's got a funky delivery and a good off-speed pitch. That's what makes him unique. He can finesse you for three hours and it's not even finesse with how hard he throws."
Benitez' 100-mph fastball, combined with a sharp slider, have been the main reasons why he has been one of the game's premier closers over the last three seasons. In fact, over that stretch, Benitez has been the best closer in the game statistically. He has converted 90.7 percent (117-of-129) of his save opportunities, edging out San Diego's Trevor Hoffman (124-of-137, 90.5 percent).
The 2001 Rolaids Relief Man Award winner, Benitez, 30, is also the only pitcher in club history to record 30 or more saves in three consecutive seasons. His 599 strikeouts over the last five seasons are also tops among Major League relievers.
Shinjo makes his return
February 18, 2003 - Tsuyoshi Shinjo ambled into the clubhouse at Thomas J. White Stadium on Tuesday looking a lot like a cowboy. He had his bag slung over his shoulder and was wearing jeans, a denim jacket with the collar turned up, cowboy boots and a belt that sported a large silver buckle.
Tsuyoshi ShinjoShinjo was making his first appearance since re-signing with the Mets last month and the Japanese media was scrambling. They had been camped outside the Mets clubhouse since Monday afternoon, hoping to get pictures of everything from him getting out of his car to him walking into the clubhouse.
He didn't disappoint, smiling and laughing as he made his way into the building. After a year's hiatus in San Francisco, he returns to the Big Apple and couldn't be happier.
Shinjo had a solid rookie season with the Mets in 2001, hitting .268 with 10 homers and 56 RBIs. He was stellar in the field that year, tying the club's rookie record for assists by an outfielder [12], which was set in 1969 by Rod Gaspar. But in December 2001, he was dealt to San Francisco, along with Desi Relaford, for Shawn Estes.
He hit only .238 with the Giants, collecting nine homers and 37 RBIs. Shinjo was once again plagued by the leg problems that severely limited him for long stretches during his rookie year. Though he had seven postseason at-bats, including six in the World Series loss to Anaheim, Shinjo was not happy with how his year played out.
Cone agrees to minor league deal
February 29, 2003 - Days of speculation about David Cone's future ended Thursday morning when the Mets announced they had signed the veteran pitcher to a minor league contract.
Cone, 40, will be given a chance to earn a spot on the New York staff, either as a starter or in long relief. He last pitched with Boston in 2001, going 9-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 starts. Cone spent last season working as a broadcaster but recently expressed interest in making a comeback and his old team is more than willing to give the former Cy Young winner a chance.
"I'm excited about the opportunity," said Cone, who has a career record of 193-123 with a 3.44 ERA in 445 games with the Mets, Royals, Yankees and Red Sox. "I'm ready to do whatever [manager] Art Howe wants me to do. I had a lot of good years at Shea Stadium with the Mets and I'm ready to try and help this club any way I can."
However, he does offer an intriguing alternative for general manager Steve Phillips, providing a no-lose proposition. If he makes the club, his salary will be $550,000. He can earn another $250,000 through incentives.
Cone, who has played on five World Series championship teams, was 80-48 from 1987-92 with the Mets. His best season in Queens came in 1988 when he went 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA as New York won the NL East.
Jay BellFebruary 11, 2003 - Though Mets general manager Steve Phillips continues to insist he is happy with how the left side of his infield -- particularly third base -- is configured.
He hasn't stopped tinkering, adding veteran Jay Bell to the mix on Tuesday evening.
The free agent was signed to a minor league contract and will be part of the Major League camp when position players report next week.
Mets sign veteran Muņoz for bullpen depth
February 6, 2003 - The Mets are attempting to add depth to their bullpen with Thursday's signing of former Montreal and Philadelphia reliever Bobby Muņoz, who pitched for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk last season.
Mets sign Cerda, Yates, Duncan
February 5, 2003 - There wasn't much that Jaime Cerda didn't prove last season when called on to come out of the bullpen. Cerda was rewarded for his effort Wednesday, when the Mets signed him to a split one-year deal. The club also signed pitcher Tyler Yates and outfielder Jeff Duncan to split contracts. All three were invited to Major League camp.
Cerda, 24, will earn a Major League salary of $300,000 and a minor league salary of $88,400 if he is sent down to Triple-A Norfolk of the International League. If Cerda continues to pitch as well as he did over the second half of last season, however, he might not have to worry about what kind of salary he would be making in Norfolk.
Yates, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back from Tommy John surgery last June. The 25-year-old hurler was acquired from Oakland in December of 2001 along with Mark Guthrie for David Justice. Yates was 2-2 with six saves and a 1.32 ERA in 24 games for Norfolk before suffering the injury.
Duncan, 25, played with Class-A St. Lucie of the Florida State League and Class-A Capital City of the South Atlantic League last season. He hit .343 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 29 games for St. Lucie after batting .393 with four homers, 17 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 40 games for the Bombers.
Mets hire Butler as instructor
February 3, 2003 - The Mets continued reaching into their past on Monday in an effort to help their future by naming former Major Leaguer Brett Butler as a part-time outfield and base-running coach.
Butler, whose 17-year career included a season in New York, joins former Met Gary Carter as an organizational coach. Carter, who was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame last month, was named as the club's roving catching instructor in December. Butler, who will report to Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Feb. 16, will spend a week each month with the Mets minor league teams.
Butler, who hit .311 in 90 games for the Mets in 1995, was a Spring Training instructor with the Dodgers last season. He retired following the 1997 season after successfully battling throat cancer the previous year. Since his retirement, Butler has served as a baseball coach at the Greater Atlanta Christian School and as a motivational speaker.
Butler was a .290 career hitter, collecting 2,375 hits and 558 stolen bases in 2,213 games with the Braves, Indians, Giants, Dodgers and Mets.
Glavine's brother joins Mets
February 4, 2003 - Two Glavines are better than one.
At least that's how the Mets are viewing things after signing Mike Glavine, the younger brother of ace Tom Glavine, to a minor league deal on Monday.
Roberts signs deal, ready to throw
Grant RobertsRoberts, 25, will make $310,000 if he makes the Major League club and $170,000 if he pitches in the minor leagues. Though the New York pen is crowded from the right side -- David Weathers and Scott Strickland will also serve as setup men for right-handed closer Armando Benitez -- Roberts earned considerable respect last season despite two stints on the disabled list.
When healthy -- Roberts had a rotator cuff strain and tendinitis -- he performed. Roberts went 3-1 in 34 games with a 2.20 ERA. He struck out 31 batters in 45 innings, demonstrating much of the power and promise that made him one of New York's top starting pitching prospects in the mid-90s.