The Mets showered, shaved, dressed and used the express-lane exit out of Turner Field on Sunday night. No wonder: the weekend was an ugly blur for the Mets, who not only lost two of three to the Braves, but were taken for a roller-coaster ride by the Reds in the on-again, off-again Barry Larkin trade.
Only, now, it's off -- permanently. Not only did Larkin turn his back on the Mets, but he proceeded to sign a three-year extension with the Reds, leaving Mets' GM Steve Phillips in a state of shock.
|  | | Rick Reed's gem on Saturday was the only bright spot in the Mets' lost weekend. |
"I'm astonished," Phillips said Sunday night. "I'm astonished because I was told Barry was going to play out his contract (with the Reds) and test free agency. I guess I helped Barry get a contract. Maybe I should call (agent) Eric Goldschmidt and collect some sort of fee."
Phillips was smiling, but well short of kidding. He felt used by the Reds, and was particularly offended by GM Jim Bowden, whom he said "didn't have the courtesy to call me" when Larkin's deal was being finalized.
The Mets spent two glorious days thinking they'd actually have a chance to acquire the 11-time All-Star, having taken Bowden at his word that Larkin would agree to the deal. Yes, Phillips had heard that Larkin was demanding a long-term pact as a condition to any trade, but when the two teams completed their part of the swap, Phillips specifically asked Bowden if Larkin could be persuaded to wear a Mets uniform.
According to Phillips, Bowden said, "Yeah, yeah, don't worry about it. He'll accept the deal."
Not only did Larkin reject the Mets, he never allowed Phillips to fly to Cincinnati for a one-on-one meeting. In fact, the shortstop was so disinterested in being rented by the Mets, he cut off talks two full days before the 72-hour deadline expired.
No wonder the Mets were shocked. No wonder they were embarrassed. Phillips dialed "every number I had for (Bowden)" on Sunday, seeking an explanation. Bowden couldn't be reached. In desperation, the Mets' executive finally called Goldschmidt, who informed him that Reds' ownership became involved in the Larkin stalemate, and thus sealed the deal.
Yet, that information failed to soothe Phillips, who admitted he learned of Larkin's press conference only by watching ESPN. It was Mets' PR director Jay Horwitz who broke the news to his boss -- by cell phone.
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It's been brutal
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The Mets are 2-16 against the Braves in Atlanta over the last two years. Below is a rundown of their futility:
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Date
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Score
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Result
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7/23/00
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1-0
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Loss
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7/22/00
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4-0
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Win
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7/21/00
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6-3
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Loss
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10/19/99
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10-9
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Loss
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10/13/99
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4-3
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Loss
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10/12/99
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4-2
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Loss
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9/23/99
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6-3
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Loss
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9/22/99
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5-2
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Loss
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9/21/99
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2-1
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Loss
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6/27/99
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1-0
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Loss
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6/26/99
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7-2
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Loss
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6/25/99
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10-2
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Win
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9/27/98
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7-2
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Loss
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9/26/98
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4-0
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Loss
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9/25/98
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6-5
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Loss
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7/5/98
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3-2
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Loss
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7/4/98
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4-1
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Loss
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7/3/98
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3-2
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Loss
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"Are you sitting down?" Horwitz asked Phillips. "Larkin is signing a three-year deal with the Reds."
Stunned, Phillips said, "Are you (kidding) me?"
Phillips finally gathered himself and promised to move on. It'll be a long time before he ever talks trade with Bowden again, but he has pressing needs today -- which include finding an every day shortstop and strengthening his relief corps.
Apparently, the Mets are in hot pursuit of the Orioles' Mike Bordick, are intrigued by the Indians' Manny Ramirez, and are waiting to see if Texas makes John Wetteland available. These sub-plots will all be resolved in the next eight days. In the meantime, the Mets still have to find a way to solve the Braves at Turner Field.
Sunday's 1-0 loss was the Mets' 16th in their last 18 games in Atlanta, and even though Bobby Valentine is right when he says the two teams have played seven close games this year, it's also true that sooner or later, the Mets have to win those close contests.
In fact, all the weekend really demonstrated to the Mets was Greg Maddux' vulnerability. Rick Reed out-pitched Maddux 4-0 on Saturday afternoon -- the Mets' third straight regular-season victory over the right-hander.
But that doesn't change the fact that Robin Ventura, on the disabled list with shoulder problems, hasn't picked up a ball in two weeks, and is hitting only .235. And without Edgardo Alfonzo, who missed the entire Braves series with a sore right hip, the Mets are being forced to bat Jay Payton and Lenny Harris in the No. 3 spot.
Of course, the Mets won't dare say they're worried about their position in the East -- six games out with only six games remaining against Atlanta. But they may eventually take comfort in their position in the wild-card race, where they're a half-game behind the Giants.
Most teams would be satisfied with a strong foothold in the playoff landscape, but not the Mets. They had wild, vivid dreams of ending the Braves' reign in the East, surpassing the Yankees as New York's sexiest baseball product, and reaching the World Series for the first time since 1986.
That was the fantasy. The reality has become a little harsher. The Mets are having the same, dreary problems beating the Braves -- and they couldn't even convince Larkin to join their sprint to October. Even more insulting, it appears they were duped by the Reds.
Refusing to start a public war with Bowden, Phillips said, "I don't think there was malice in anyone's intentions."
Perhaps not. But no one was calling the last 72 hours the finest in Met history, either.
Bob Klapisch of the Bergen (N.J.) Record will write his Baseball in the Big Apple column throughout the season.
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ALSO SEE
Barry happy: Reds extend Larkin's contract after all
The day after: Everybody's happy in Reds land
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Steve Phillips says the Mets could not work out a contract with Barry Larkin.
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