MIAMI – Mets GM Steve Phillips is not putting a “For Sale” sign outside the clubhouse anytime soon.
“It’s not today and it’s not tomorrow and it’s not next week,” Phillips said of trading veterans before last night’s 11-5 with the Marlins. “We are playing to win this year. We got to get things straightened out. We’ve got some hurdles. History shows that the odds are against us when only four teams have ever come back from being 12 or 13 down, but it’s been done.
“Those teams that came back at some point have looked as bad as we’ve looked and felt as bad as we feel and they still came back. We’re playing to see what we can do to get back on track and see what we can do.”
Four teams have come back from 12 games back – the 1973 Mets, 1951 Giants, the 1978 Yankees and the 1995 Mariners. The Mets are 12 games out.
If the Mets’ situation still looks hopeless at the All-Star Break, then Phillips will likely start listening to offers.
*
Edgardo Alfonzo didn’t play for the third straight game because of his bad back. Manager Bobby Valentine wouldn’t rule out Alfonzo eventually going on the DL. Benny Agbayani‘s back prevented him from starting his third straight game. The DL isn’t a possibility yet for Agbayani.
*
Dicky Gonzalez knocked his first base-hit. It went through the hole on the right side to lead off the sixth. He scored on Robin Ventura‘s bases loaded walk . . . Timo Perez had two bunt hits and scored a run. He and Desi Relaford had back-to-back bunt hits in the eighth . . . Armando Benitez threw a scoreless ninth. At least four reporters asked him questions following the game. Benitez said he needed the work, having not pitched since Memorial Day.
*
John Franco didn’t yell at a fan Wednesday at Shea. It was reported here in Thursday’s edition that it “appeared” that he did.
When top prospect Alex Escobar returned to Triple-A Norfolk on May 16, he started off slowly, going 1-for-8 and striking out four times in his first two games. But Escobar quickly regained his swing and went 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles and three RBIs.
Phillips said he didn’t expect a return trip to the majors for Escobar in the near future.
page 45 in metro
