As if the Mets don't have enough problems re-signing their free agent pitchers, a star international pitcher they expected to introduce to the New York media this week changed his mind and signed with the Orix BlueWave in Japan.

Dae Sung Koo, a 30-year old left-handed Korean whose fastball has been clocked at a consistent 93 mph and who was considered his country's best pitcher, was to arrive in New York Monday for a physical. The Mets had outbid the Yankees for the services of the 6-1, 180-pound reliever, who's averaged 24 saves and a better than a 3-to-1 strikeout-walk ratio the last six years. The deal with the Mets was thought to be contingent upon his passing a physical.

But Koo visited the BlueWave over the weekend. He was asked, "Would you rather be the head of the dragon or the tail of the dog?" The Wave, flushed with money and needing public relations help after selling star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to the Mariners, convined Koo to be the head of the dragon -- or, as they say in Saxapahaw, the big fish in the little pond -- and he signed Sunday night.

The Mets were informed Monday morning of their reveral of fortune.