DOWN THE LINE
When Ty Wigginton was disabled this week, the Mets ignored David Wright. They might not be ignoring their top prospect for long, however. Met executives recently discussed a scenario whereby they would promote the third baseman directly from Double-A to the majors in July if he continues his strong play and the parent club is struggling.
Asked about this, GM Jim Duquette said, “I wouldn’t rule it out.” Wright had a strong second half in A-ball last year after reducing his batting practice workload, and the Mets want to see another half to verify the success. Already, Met people are noting Edgardo Alfonzo jumped from Binghamton to the Mets without Triple-A at the same age. Just 21, Wright had 14 extra-base hits in his first 15 games while hitting .364 with a .485 OBP and a .727 SLG.
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ESPN was so aggravated at a Post report that Joe Torre had ratcheted up his and the Yankees’ battle against the network by belittling one of its reporters after Monday’s game that ESPN executives strongly appealed to the Commissioner’s Office to intercede. There were indications Bud Selig, who has a long-standing relationship with Torre dating to Torre’s Milwaukee playing days, was going to ask the Yankee manager about being more cooperative with ESPN.
As a rights holder, ESPN feels MLB should be forceful in making its personnel cooperate with the network. ESPN is concerned that if Torre and the Yanks persist in, for example, refusing to wear mikes or be interviewed during games, other clubs will follow the most powerful one.
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Woe, Canada. The Blue Jays and Expos entered the weekend with the majors’ worst records.
The Expos, though, might finally have a place to land. Washington, D.C. has become the clear favorite for relocation. There is a theory that Baltimore owner Peter Angelos will be handsomely compensated to allow for the Expos to move into his area and then will sell the team. Interestingly, Las Vegas became a major player in trying to lure the Expos and is now viewed as a possible destination for the Marlins if they cannot get a new stadium built in south Florida. However, Selig does worry about putting a team in Vegas while continuing to keep Pete Rose out of baseball for gambling.
As for the Blue Jays, they were a sleeper wild-card pick in many areas and responded by producing their worst 16-game start ever (4-12). Last year Toronto began 7-15 and still won 86 games. In 2002, the Jays opened at 8-19 and went 70-65 thereafter.
“We are just not hitting,” Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said. “We have six guys under .210 (at midweek) and if we don’t hit, we don’t win.”
