Bobby Valentine has managed more than 2,000 games in his career in the majors, minors and Japan. Today, though, will be the first game he’s missed. Valentine’s son, Bobby Jr., will be graduating from high school in Arlington, Texas.
“I absolutely feel conflicted,” Valentine said before the Mets’ 8-0 win last night over the Dodgers at Shea.
The only other time Valentine wasn’t in uniform for a game was when Bobby Jr. was born 18 years ago and Valentine was a coach.
The team will be managed by committee today with pitching coach Charlie Hough handling the pitching and bench coach Bobby Floyd signaling to third base coach John Stearns when the Mets are up. Valentine will return for tomorrow’s game.
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Rey Ordonez has a little bit of a stiff back. Unlike Thursday when he said it was no big deal and acted annoyed at not playing again, Ordonez backed up Valentine’s contention that his back was not right. It was the second consecutive game and fourth in the last 10 games Ordonez didn’t start
“It’s not well enough to play today,” Valentine said before last night’s game.
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Turk Wendell looked tremendous in his three innings, only allowing one-hit. He picked up his first save. The left-handed batting Wendell came up with the bases loaded in the eighth. He struck out against Gregg Olson.
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Benny Agbayani (abdominal) said he could’ve started last night. Valentine knows Agbayani and knows Agbayani’s desire to play sometime exceeds his senses, so he kept him out last night.
“With the weather and stuff, Bobby is being a little more careful,” said Agbayani, who didn’t start for the fifth straight game.
Agbayani said he is fine. He could start today. Valentine started Darren Bragg in left, Timo Perez in right and Tsuyoshi Shinjo in center. Shinjo, who batted third Thursday, moved back to sixth. Todd Zeile, who entered the game with one homer and just 18 RBIs to go along with a .237 average, batted seventh for the first time this season.
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The slumping Mike Piazza went 0-for-4 and his average dropped to .258. In the sixth, Piazza caught a Gary Sheffield foul pop, while falling next to the back wall. Mark Grudzielanek tagged from first and reached second without a throw. But Leiter didn’t allow Grudzielanek to score.
