NEW YORK -- It was a long, surreal weekend for the Mets family -- a time of mourning their World Series collapse, but also, an appreciation of the
franchise's best October in 14 years. There was some bliss, some pain, but mostly, the five-game steel-cage match with the Yankees was an education for
the Mets.
"Hopefully, we can grow from this," said Mike Piazza. "We faced a great
team in the Yankees, obviously, but I was honored to be a Met. It was an
honor to catch Al Leiter (in Game 5). I think we'll be back next year."
|  | | Mike Hampton won 15 games for the Mets. Will he sign with the Mets this offseason? |
Will they? The Giants and Cardinals, not to mention the Braves, are
wondering if the Mets were merely a wild-card team which caught fire for two weeks, or if they're truly embarking on a golden era, like the Yankees circa 1995.
General manager Steve Phillips says there are lessons to be learned from the Bombers' rebirth in the mid-'90s, which was born in the realization that, as Phillips says, "If the core works, work around the core."
Meaning, the Yankees finally abandoned the philosophy of annual, wholesale changes, and started building around a fixed core: Derek Jeter,
Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Paul O'Neill.
Obviously, the Bombers will have a slightly different look in 2001 -- the laws of nature dictate it - but the franchise's underlying stability
impressed the Mets. Their own core of Piazza, Todd Zeile, Robin Ventura and
Edgardo Alfonzo is staying put, but with nine free agents, expect a busy
winter at Shea.
Here's a list of the key players who may or may not return.
Mike Hampton: The left-hander had a successful, although less than
breathtaking, summer with the Mets, and even though there were 15 scoreless
innings against the Cardinals in the NL Championship Series, Hampton was outpitched by Roger Clemens in Game 2 of the Subway Series.
He was honest enough to admit the Yankees were thoroughly prepared for
his arsenal of two-seamers and sliders, saying, "They were a lot more
patient that I expected them to be. You can't say the Yankees were lucky or, 'what if this' or 'what if that.' They just beat us."
Nevertheless, the Mets are hoping Hampton's introduction to New York -- winning his first pennant, pitching in his first World Series -- will earn
his loyalty this winter as a free agent.
Did it? Hampton was markedly neutral about his October experience, which hardly bodes well for the Mets.
"I definitely have a hunger in my stomach for another World Series, but whether it's here, we'll see," he said. "I'm going to go home, think things over, see what's best for me and my family."
Hampton is at least planning to listen to the Mets' initial offer before testing the market, but it's hard to imagine they can sign him before he determines his value elsewhere.
Rick Reed, Bobby J. Jones: If Hampton flees to, say, the Astros or Cardinals or Rangers, the Mets will need pitching, pitching, pitching, which will give Reed and Jones, their Nos. 3 and 4 starters, enormous leverage. But neither pitcher will use it, as the two want to remain with the Mets in 2001. The sentiment is reciprocated.
And Jones threw what was arguably the greatest single game in Mets history, clinching the Division Series against the Giants with a one-hitter in the clinching Game 4 victory.
Derek Bell: One member of the organization said, "We were a better team the day Timo (Perez) took over in the outfield.
'Nuf said: Perez replaced the injured Bell in the Division Series, ensuring Bell's departure this offseason.
John Franco: The little left-hander chose to remain with the Mets in 2000 because he said, "I thought we had a chance to win the pennant." He was
right, and hitched along for the ride -- even though it cost him the closer's role.
Franco had told friends during the summer that, despite all the winning, he was finished as a Met and had no desire to be Armando Benitez's set-up
man in 2001. But that equation may have changed.
The Mets realize that Benitez is still too unreliable, despite his 97-mph fastball. Sensitive and self-doubting, he often looks for support in the Mets dugout between pitches. Who does he lean on? Franco, of all people.
Franco has become a real friend, but not even he could prevent Benitez from blowing a save in Game 1 against the Yankees, despite being just two
outs away from a 3-2 victory. "That was the whole Series right there," said one Mets official, which is why Franco will be courted heavily this winter to return in 2001.
Bobby Valentine: The manager, whose contract expires Tuesday, says he wants to remain at Shea, and all the Mets have to do is pay him
market value.
Just how much is that?
"Well, I don't deserve as much as Joe Torre ($3 million per) but I should be making more than most everyone else," Valentine said. If Dusty Baker is
making $2 million and change, Valentine will likely ask for the same amount -- and will get it.
The Mets can't possibly make a managerial change now: Valentine has grown the franchise steadily since 1996, as the Mets have made money, gained
legitimacy and are on same radar screen as the Yankees, finally.
In fact, this is such a no-brainer, club officials say they'd be surprised if Valentine doesn't have a three-year or maybe even a four-year deal within a week.
Bob Klapisch of the Bergen (N.J.) Record covers baseball for ESPN.com. | |
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