Mets Designate OF Darryl Hamilton

[Baseball Guru]

Mets Designate OF Darryl Hamilton

ATLANTA (AP) -- The New York Mets designated outfielder Darryl Hamilton for assignment Saturday, one day after he asked for his release following an argument for manager Bobby Valentine.

New York purchased the contract of catcher Vance Wilson from Triple-A Norfolk to provide insurance with Mike Piazza out 7-to-10 days with a broken toe on his left foot.

With Piazza hurt, Todd Pratt had been the only healthy catcher on the Mets' roster.

Hamilton was hitting .214 in 52 games with 1 home run and 5 RBIs in 126 at-bats. His was not at the park Saturday and his locker empty.

During a pregame meeting in the manager's office Friday, Valentine and Hamilton argued about the outfielder's role, an issue that has festered since spring training. Their dispute carried into the clubhouse.

''Something happened in the hallway and I said, 'Maybe it would be better for me if I didn't play tonight,''' Hamilton said Friday night. ''When you question my loyalty to this team, it means you don't have any respect for me.''

Valentine said he tried to give an honest appraisal of Hamilton's performance and the outfielder took it the wrong way.

''My sarcasm is what you get with me,'' the manager said. ''It was not meant to belittle him in any way. We were just talking about his play.''

The Mets have 7-to-10 days to either trade, waive or release the outfielder.

Piazza received a hairline fracture to the bone at the end of the big toe during an at-bat in the third inning.

The Mets didn't put him on the disabled list, hoping he will be well enough to serve as designated hitter next weekend in an interleague series against the New York Yankees.

Wilson hit .246 with 6 home runs and 31 RBIs in 65 games with Norfolk. He threw out 18 of 50 runners attempting to steal and was selected to play in the Triple-A All-Star game.



------------------
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run."

LETS GO METS!!!

HELP BE AN ADDICT AND CLICK ON AN AD!!