Bill Singer terminated as special assistant to the GM
Bill Singer during his playing days.The announcement was made following a comprehensive review of the incident between Singer and Dodgers Vice President and Assistant General Manager Kim Ng.
Singer reportedly made fun of the Chinese language after asking Los Angeles assistant general manager Kim Ng questions about her background during a general managers meeting in Phoenix in November 2003.
As widely reported by ESPN and the Los Angeles Times the exchange went as follows:
Singer: What are you doing here?
Ng: I'm working.
Singer: What are you doing here?
Ng: I'm working. I'm the Dodger assistant general manager.
Singer: Where are you from?
Ng: I was born in Indiana and grew up in New York.
Singer: Where are you from?
Ng: My family's from China.
Singer: Nonsensically mock Chinese, then "What country in China?"
He later apologized and blamed the Atkins diet and being drunk as the reasons for his remarks.
General Manager Jim Duquette said, "As a matter of policy our organization can not and will not tolerate any comment or conduct by an employee that suggests insensitivity or intolerance to any racial, ethnic or religious group.
Any deviation from this standard is not acceptable."
Singer, a two-time 20-game winner during his career, joined the Mets as a special assistant to general manager Jim Duquette on Nov. 6, 2003 -- only 12 days before he was fired.
Newspapers claim Piazza wants out
November 14, 2003 - A pair of published reports on Friday, citing unnamed sources, made claims that Mike Piazza is unhappy with the Mets and intends to ask for a trade in the near future.
Mike PiazzaNeither Newsday nor The Newark Star-Ledger, each of which reported the story, quoted Piazza or his agent, Dan Lozano. Both stories, however, said that Piazza would prefer a situation in which he could catch and DH rather than move to first base.
"We have no knowledge of Mike requesting a trade or wanting to leave the Mets," said general manager Jim Duquette on Friday through a team spokesman.
Piazza is a ten-and-five-year player, though, and has the right to veto any deal the Mets might make. He also has $30 million due to him over the final two years of his contract, as well as nearly $4 million in deferred bonus money from the original seven-year, $91 million deal he signed in the winter of 1998.
According to Newsday, Piazza has told friends that he wants to play for the Orioles and their new manager, Lee Mazzilli.
Several factors would hinder a trade, though, whether to Baltimore or any other club. The market is off to a slow start where big contracts are concerned, and Piazza is 35 years old.
The Mets would probably have to pay part of his salary, something they are likely unwilling to do considering how much the club's management has spoken about spending money wisely this off-season.
In addition, Piazza's numbers have declined in recent years, and he is coming off a season in which a severe groin injury limited him to only 68 games. He needs four homers to tie Carlton Fisk for the most by a catcher (351).
The former All-Star hit only 11 homers this past season and finished with a career-long homerless streak of 88 at-bats.
Mets' Wright has the right stuff
November 14, 2003 - When David Wright makes his way to third base in Shea Stadium for the first time, the first person he might want to call to tell about the experience is a guy who spent eight years in that very spot.
Howard Johnson put up some gaudy numbers while manning the hot corner for the Mets in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including three 30-30 seasons.
But more important for Wright's developing career, Johnson was the hitting instructor for the Class A St. Lucie Mets in 2003.
"He's taught me a lot," said Wright, recently rated the No. 2 prospect in the Mets organization by Baseball America. "We talk a lot about the mental side of hitting. I love just sitting down talking to him, about hitting, defense, game situations.
"He's been through what I'm going through. I know the experience he has can't [do anything but help]. I learn the most just sitting down and talking baseball with him."
It's pretty evident that the lessons are paying off, though Wright had considerable talent to start. A supplemental first-round pick in 2001, he hit the ground running by hitting .300 in his first taste of pro ball, in the Appalachian League.
Wright jumped to the South Atlantic League in 2002, and while his average dipped a bit, he hit 11 homers, drove in 93 runs and, emulating his future hitting mentor, stole 21 bases. This past season, in the Florida State League, Wright hit 15 homers and stole 19 bases.
Though he won't turn 21 until December, Wright has shown an excellent knowledge of the strike zone, compiling a .370 career on-base percentage. This season he cut his strikeouts down, from 114 in 2002 to 98.
David Wright's numbers from 2001-03.
| YEAR | TEAM | LEVEL | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| 2001 | Kingsport | A | 36 | 120 | 27 | 36 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 16 | 30 | 9 | 1 | .300 | .391 | .458 |
| 2002 | Columbia | A | 135 | 496 | 85 | 132 | 30 | 2 | 11 | 93 | 76 | 114 | 21 | 5 | .266 | .367 | .401 |
| 2003 | St. Lucie | A | 133 | 466 | 69 | 126 | 39 | 2 | 15 | 75 | 72 | 98 | 19 | 5 | .270 | .369 | .459 |
Is Roger Cedeño on the market?
November 12, 2003 - The rumblings regarding Roger Cedeño's future with the Mets continue almost daily, with reports that general manager Jim Duquette is shopping his right fielder, possibly in the hopes of obtaining a closer.
Change of scenery might benefit Roger Cedeño. Somewhere he could be the DH, not in the outfield.Though a change of scenery might benefit Cedeño, the speedy outfielder isn't so sure that he wants to leave the Big Apple.
"This is my first time hearing these rumors and that something might happen," he told MLB.com.
"I think I can make things work in New York, though. Right now I'm just spending time with my family and getting the past out of my mind. I haven't read anything [about any deals], so it's tough to say [what will happen].
"Whatever, though. I've been traded so much, you know? But after not being traded the last three years, you kind of just start preparing for baseball and next season. But you know how baseball is."
Cedeño said that he hadn't spoken to manager Art Howe or Duquette since the end of the season and that he wasn't sure when or if he'd be speaking to them any time soon.
He plans to start working out next week, and as far as he is concerned, he'll be in Queens next season.
Cedeño hit .267 in 2003, with 14 stolen bases and a .320 on-base percentage. He had his best month in August, while batting leadoff just ahead of shortstop Jose Reyes.
Cedeño hit .346 (36-for-104) in August, while Reyes had a blistering month, hitting .355 while setting the club's record for hits in a month by a rookie (39).
Duquette hires two assistants
November 6, 2003 - Jim Duquette's search for two of his primary lieutenants ended Thursday afternoon when he announced the hiring of Al Goldis and Bill Singer as special assistants to the general manager.
The duo, which will possibly become a trio in the next week or so, will report directly to Duquette, spending the majority of their time working to improve the Mets at the Major League level. They will also be expected to work on the high levels of the amateur draft, work on international scouting, with the Far East being a particular specialty of Singer’s, and contribute ideas on how to improve the minor league system.
"I've been doing a lot of work on this for two or three months," Duquette said. "They will form the core of our evaluating team. I’m still looking for a third person. I haven’t closed the door on that. But I felt like I identified these two guys immediately."
Principal owner Fred Wilpon and Duquette have made a point of saying that New York has been lacking in terms of an evaluating team since the departure of Dave Wallace, Omar Minaya and Carmen Fusco. These moves surround Duquette with the “gray-haired” baseball men Wilpon has been seeking.
Goldis, 60, comes from Cincinnati, where he was a special assistant to the GM since 1996. He spent the four years prior to that as the vice president for scouting and player development as well as a special assistant to the general manager of the Cubs. He played a major role in the drafting and signing of Kerry Wood.
Singer, 59, has served in the same capacity for the Pirates in each of the last two seasons. He began scouting for the Marlins in 1991, a position he held for seven years. He then served as the national crosschecker for the Dodgers in 1998 before returning to Florida to take over the same position in 1999-2000.
Peterson named to 2004 coaching staff
November 5, 2003 -
Rick PetersonPeterson replaces Vern Ruhle who was reassigned to other duties within the organization last Sept. 30.
"Rick's record of success as a pitching coach speaks for itself," said Mets General Manager Jim Duquette. "He brings an approach and a passion to the job which will be a tremendous plus for our organization."
Rick, who has been a major league coach for 10 years, was born in New Brunswick, NJ, and now makes his home in Wall, NJ. Last year Oakland led the AL with a 3.63 ERA and had a 3.58 mark in 2002.
Under Peterson's guidance Oakland has finished in the top three in ERA in the AL in each of the last five years. Tim Hudson, Barry Zito and Mark Mulder flourished under Rick's tutelage. Each became a 20-game winner and Zito captured the 2002 Cy Young Award.
"I'm thrilled about the chance to come back home and work the Mets," said Peterson. "I told Billy (Oakland General Manager Billy Beane) that I needed to change coasts so I could be with my family in New Jersey. Billy made it possible and IB.ll be eternally grateful.
"I look forward to working with Art (Mets manager Art Howe) and Jim (Duquette)," added Peterson. "It's the perfect atmosphere. I couldn't ask for a better situation for me and my family."
Vina interested in joining Mets
Fernando VinaFernando Vina, a Gold Glove-caliber second baseman formerly with the Cardinals, is available. Is a marriage a possibility?
Vina, who played for the Mets under Dallas Green in 1994, told MLB.com on Tuesday that he could envision a return to the Big Apple and the chance to work with Jose Reyes.
Vina, who will turn 35 on April 16, is coming off an injury-plagued season but has a pair of Gold Gloves on his mantel and would appear to be a good fit with New York's young shortstop.