Nymet31
09-04-2003, 12:28 PM
NEW YORK -- Vance Wilson couldn't help but joke when he saw his name in the starting lineup Wednesday afternoon.
"I have to remember if I bat left or right," Wilson said. "I guess I'm out of witness protection."
Wilson is understandably frustrated at the lack of playing time he's had since Mike Piazza returned to action last month. Wednesday represented his first start since Aug. 17 against Colorado, the same day he had gotten his last official at-bat. But Wilson is not foolish. He understands the situation better than most and knows how valuable Jason Phillips' bat has become to Mets.
So when Piazza has sat, Phillips has slid behind the plate with Tony Clark jumping in at first base. That leaves Wilson as the odd man out, putting him in a situation in which he isn't very comfortable. While he's able to joke about it, sitting for prolonged a prolonged period of time isn't easy.
"It's been real tough," Wilson said. "More so because no one has said anything to me. I don't know how to look at it. You start searching to see if you did anything wrong. I know Jason has been swinging a hot bat and Tony adds power.
"So I just try to stay prepared mentally and think about the things I've done well and try to understand that with us being out of it, a lot of guys are going to get opportunities. When you've proven yourself and guys know what they have in you, you're going to suffer."
When Piazza tore his groin muscle in May, Wilson stepped into the starting role and immediately excelled. He had his batting average up to .307 on June 15 and was still hitting .291 in the middle of July before falling into a horrific slump in which he still finds himself. Wilson has six hits in 67 at-bats after doubling in the eighth inning in Wednesday's 9-3 victory. Wilson has already posted career highs in games, at-bats, hits, homers and RBIs.
"I still believe Vance deserves playing time," manager Art Howe said. "That's why he's in there today."
Wilson is arbitration eligible this year and his agent has made it known to the Mets that he isn't about to make any ridiculous demands. He wanted to re-sign with the club and stay in New York if possible. But he'll worry about a contract when the time comes.
"I'm trying not to think about anything long term," Wilson said. "If they don't want me in their plans or they don't think I fit then I don't have a say. But I would like to stay here the rest of my career. I'd like to be a Met my whole life.
"I want to play where I'm wanted and I don't think they're just going to get rid of me. They know what they have in me."
General manager Jim Duquette indicated Wednesday that Wilson doesn't have a great deal to worry about because he wants him back next season.
"When we go through our planning sessions, we see him in our plans for next season," Duquette said. "It's been that way, even at the beginning of the year before Jason Phillips came up and started doing well. I still think that there are scenarios where we can get enough at-bats for all three guys. The plan is still to have Vance around."
Velandia chips in: Jorge Velandia wasn't even expecting to be a September call up. But after Jose Reyes sprained his ankle on Sunday, the Mets were looking for another infielder and Velandia got the nod.
The Venezuelan native has had a checkered career with the Mets, one that has been curtailed by a series of injuries. Broken hands, strained rib cage muscles and fractured fingers have contributed to keeping him in the minor leagues. But he played for Howe in Oakland from 1998-2000 and the skipper wasn't shy about using Velandia right away.
Velandia, meanwhile, rewarded Howe's faith with a career-high three RBIs, collecting his first career triple and a double. They were his first hits as a Met.
"I pretty much didn't think I was going to get called up this year," Velandia said. "And I feel bad for Jose. He's like my little brother. We lived together [in Norfolk]. At the same time, I've been hurt the last three years. I'm here, I might as well go for it."
Howe heaped praise on Velandia before the game for his defensive ability, quickly echoing his sentiments afterwards.
"Jorge's not in awe of being here," Howe said. "He knows how to play and he has some juice in his bat. You can't take him lightly."
This and that: Reuters and the Mets will host The Boys Club of New York "All-Star Game" Thursday at Shea Stadium. Former Met and current broadcaster Keith Hernandez is scheduled to throw out the first pitch. Game time is 10 a.m. ... Jeff Duncan snapped an 0-for-31 streak with an RBI single in the ninth. He later scored on a Danny Garcia sacrifice fly, which was the second baseman's first career RBI. ... Orber Moreno made his long-awaited Mets debut, allowing two runs on a long Javy Lopez homer in the ninth. It was his first Major League action since June 9, 1999 against the Cardinals while he was with Kansas City.
"I have to remember if I bat left or right," Wilson said. "I guess I'm out of witness protection."
Wilson is understandably frustrated at the lack of playing time he's had since Mike Piazza returned to action last month. Wednesday represented his first start since Aug. 17 against Colorado, the same day he had gotten his last official at-bat. But Wilson is not foolish. He understands the situation better than most and knows how valuable Jason Phillips' bat has become to Mets.
So when Piazza has sat, Phillips has slid behind the plate with Tony Clark jumping in at first base. That leaves Wilson as the odd man out, putting him in a situation in which he isn't very comfortable. While he's able to joke about it, sitting for prolonged a prolonged period of time isn't easy.
"It's been real tough," Wilson said. "More so because no one has said anything to me. I don't know how to look at it. You start searching to see if you did anything wrong. I know Jason has been swinging a hot bat and Tony adds power.
"So I just try to stay prepared mentally and think about the things I've done well and try to understand that with us being out of it, a lot of guys are going to get opportunities. When you've proven yourself and guys know what they have in you, you're going to suffer."
When Piazza tore his groin muscle in May, Wilson stepped into the starting role and immediately excelled. He had his batting average up to .307 on June 15 and was still hitting .291 in the middle of July before falling into a horrific slump in which he still finds himself. Wilson has six hits in 67 at-bats after doubling in the eighth inning in Wednesday's 9-3 victory. Wilson has already posted career highs in games, at-bats, hits, homers and RBIs.
"I still believe Vance deserves playing time," manager Art Howe said. "That's why he's in there today."
Wilson is arbitration eligible this year and his agent has made it known to the Mets that he isn't about to make any ridiculous demands. He wanted to re-sign with the club and stay in New York if possible. But he'll worry about a contract when the time comes.
"I'm trying not to think about anything long term," Wilson said. "If they don't want me in their plans or they don't think I fit then I don't have a say. But I would like to stay here the rest of my career. I'd like to be a Met my whole life.
"I want to play where I'm wanted and I don't think they're just going to get rid of me. They know what they have in me."
General manager Jim Duquette indicated Wednesday that Wilson doesn't have a great deal to worry about because he wants him back next season.
"When we go through our planning sessions, we see him in our plans for next season," Duquette said. "It's been that way, even at the beginning of the year before Jason Phillips came up and started doing well. I still think that there are scenarios where we can get enough at-bats for all three guys. The plan is still to have Vance around."
Velandia chips in: Jorge Velandia wasn't even expecting to be a September call up. But after Jose Reyes sprained his ankle on Sunday, the Mets were looking for another infielder and Velandia got the nod.
The Venezuelan native has had a checkered career with the Mets, one that has been curtailed by a series of injuries. Broken hands, strained rib cage muscles and fractured fingers have contributed to keeping him in the minor leagues. But he played for Howe in Oakland from 1998-2000 and the skipper wasn't shy about using Velandia right away.
Velandia, meanwhile, rewarded Howe's faith with a career-high three RBIs, collecting his first career triple and a double. They were his first hits as a Met.
"I pretty much didn't think I was going to get called up this year," Velandia said. "And I feel bad for Jose. He's like my little brother. We lived together [in Norfolk]. At the same time, I've been hurt the last three years. I'm here, I might as well go for it."
Howe heaped praise on Velandia before the game for his defensive ability, quickly echoing his sentiments afterwards.
"Jorge's not in awe of being here," Howe said. "He knows how to play and he has some juice in his bat. You can't take him lightly."
This and that: Reuters and the Mets will host The Boys Club of New York "All-Star Game" Thursday at Shea Stadium. Former Met and current broadcaster Keith Hernandez is scheduled to throw out the first pitch. Game time is 10 a.m. ... Jeff Duncan snapped an 0-for-31 streak with an RBI single in the ninth. He later scored on a Danny Garcia sacrifice fly, which was the second baseman's first career RBI. ... Orber Moreno made his long-awaited Mets debut, allowing two runs on a long Javy Lopez homer in the ninth. It was his first Major League action since June 9, 1999 against the Cardinals while he was with Kansas City.