MET NOTES
Vance Wilson (nine) has more RBIs than Edgardo Alfonzo (eight). John Valentin has driven in 11 runs, more than all but three teammates. Timo Perez still leads the team in doubles with seven.
While it’s encouraging to the Mets that the aforementioned part-time players are off to decent starts, it’s cause for concern that the regulars haven’t gotten on track.
The “Local .250” from Flushing has a long way to go toward the 853 runs the 1999 Mets scored. In fact, it sounded like manager Bobby Valentine downgraded his hopes before his team mustered just four hits in a 12-1 loss to the Astros on Sunday.
In the offseason, Valentine asserted that this new-look lineup could challenge the record set three seasons ago. Now he’d be happy with 800, which he said the Mets were on pace for. Actually, they have scored 136 runs in 31 games, a pace that would mean about 711 runs.
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Expect to see Rey Ordonez (strained left oblique), who has missed six games, back in the lineup tonight. Ordonez originally injured the area during the last homestand, but briefly tried to play through it.
He started two games and took a cortisone shot a week ago Sunday, but the Mets were careful with it. Ordonez probably could’ve played in the final game of the road trip, but Valentine’s M.O. is better safe than sorry when it comes to injuries.
The status of second baseman Roberto Alomar (lower back stiffness) was probable, according to Valentine. Alomar was asking reporters about chiropractors after Sunday’s drubbing in Houston. Shawn Estes and Al Leiter have used back specialists, so Alomar was considering talking to one of the two starting pitchers about their experiences.
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Before tonight’s game, Marvel Enterprises and Spider-Man will present Al Leiter with a check for $1 million on behalf of the Twin Towers Fund. Leiter is a member of the Twin Towers executive board. After Sept. 11, Marvel Comics produced three tribute issues, with proceeds from the sale going to the fund.
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Mo Vaughn is four hits from 1,500. Mike Piazza is eight RBIs away from 1,000.
