MET NOTES PHOENIX – Bobby Jones’s moment of reckoning is perhaps just three days away. Jones, who received a cortisone shot in his aching right shoulder Thursday, will throw in the next day or two and if he feels pain, his season will be over.
Jones, who was 3-3 with a 5.81 ERA when he went on the disabled list May 23, rejoined the team before last night’s game after visiting Angels team physician Dr. Lewis Yocum in Los Angeles to get a second opinion. Jones said Dr. Yocum confirmed Mets team physician Dr. David Altcheck’s diagnosis that his strained rotator cuff tendon was healed, but that he has bursitis and a slight tear of his labrum, which most pitchers have anyway.
Jones cannot throw until at least tomorrow and possibly later if his shoulder is still weak from the shot. If he does feel pain, he must decide whether or not to just shut it down until next spring or have exploratory surgery.
“That would be the final alternative,” he said. *
The only person unhappy after Friday night’s game was reliever Billy Taylor, who said he was embarrassed by his performance. Taylor allowed three straight hits, got nobody out and allowed two runs to score in the ninth inning. He had to be bailed out by Armando Benitez.
“It’s embarrassing as hell,” Taylor said. “I’ve been closing for a while now. This is new to me. I have to adjust to this new role. I know I can do it. Every game is important to this team and hopefully [Bobby Valentine] will give me more chances to pitch.” *
Although Edgardo Alfonzo is in the midst of a great season, he isn’t so cocky that he can’t come out early for some extra batting practice with the substitute players. After feeling off-balance at the plate for about a week, Alfonzo did just that last night and before Friday’s game, when he went out and battered the Diamondbacks with a 3-for-4 performance in the Mets’ 6-3 win. He also scored two runs and knocked in another and raised his average to .315, the same average with which he finished the 1997 season.
In his previous eight games Alfonzo had only three hits in 30 at-bats, a .100 average. It really isn’t that long a slump, but Alfonzo’s determination to end it now is part of why he is so good. He doesn’t wait around for things to get worse.
The two runs gave him 100 on the season. That puts him in striking distance of Lance Johnson’s team record of 117 set in 1996. *
No decision has been made about whether Rick Reed will make another minor league start. Reed joined the Mets yesterday and said his nine-run, three-inning sting wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked.
“There wasn’t a ball hit hard,” Reed said. “That’s what I say. They [Triple-A Charlotte hitters] would probably say they were all frozen ropes.” *
John Franco threw 29 pitches in batting practice yesterday, facing live hitters for the first time since he injured his right middle finger July 3. Franco looked good and reported no pain. He will do that a couple of more times and then maybe pitch in a Double-A game in New Haven next weekend. He is hoping to be activated and ready to pitch for the Mets by the middle of next week … Bobby Bonilla went 0-for-4 for Norfolk last night .
