DOPE FIEND?

by Clyde Hawkins

Manager Graham may be off to a perfect start taking over the reigns from Bobby Valentine as the Mets skipper, but being in New York puts you under a microscope...and Graham may just be getting fried from the heat.

Team officials say the GM walked into the office to congratulate Graham on the game and give him due respect. However, upon entry Graham's stash (Pictured left) was found on the table...in plain view.

McIlvaine said this wouldnt be an issue that would be swept under the rug, because Graham had already gotten busted on a drug test after being named new Manager. "Its really sad the kid just cant play by the rules...we like him alot; but this shit cant happen. You have fans paying good money to come out to see these games....and our manager might make some boneheaded call cause hes blitzed out of his [expletive deleted] skull.

"Listen guys, I'm doing it behind closed doors" Graham said, quick to defend himself. "Its not like im going out in the dugout before games during autograph sessions and offering kids weed and cussing. It goes on in the Managers office, behind closed doors...away from the players" McIlvaine stated  the team will fine graham $1,000 dollars for the infraction. And if it happens again- a possible suspension for a few games in addition to a greater fine.

MLB Commissioner Harry Scanlon sounded off on the issue. "Graham is a fine young man...I've met him a few times, always very respectful; courteous...and just generally a good guy- misunderstood......maybe. But a good guy nevertheless. He's got my support" Scanlon then made this very clear: "Remember.....all fines and punishments have to go through my office...so you might want to think before you try to screw over some poor kid- hes TWENTY-FUCKING-FIVE years old..... hes just a damn kid still, like you all never did shit when you were younger"

Team officials haven't responded to Scanlons rather critical remarks; if anything is going to happen, its going to happen within the next 24 hours, before the Mets take flight to the bay area to play the San Francisco Giants, in Game one of a three game set.

METS SWEEP.... BUT LOSE FAR MORE

Bobby Jones(1-0) was very good in the win.  He didn't give up much, just 4
hits and 3 walks in 8 and 2/3 innings.  San Diego had a chance to come back
in the 9th but they came up short. 

John Franco gained credit for his 2nd save.  Pete Smith(0-1) took the loss in
relief.  He gave up 1 run and 1 hit in 2 and 1/3 innings.

However, their big power guy in Todd Hundley was drilled  by pitch in the 6th inning. Team officials say the injury isnt serious......however he will have to sit out 8 games.

"You certaintly hate to see it happen" Graham said in his post game presser. "It's a shame but this is a 162 game grind, and injuries are just a part of the game..... we might pick up someone from the minors, or go to our bench"

The Mets now are perfect on the season. (3-0)


BOXSCORE: 1997 New York (NL) Mets At 1997 San Diego Padres           4/3/1997

  Mets               AB  R  H RBI AVG     Padres             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  B.McRae CF          3  1  0  0 .200     Q.Veras 2B          4  0  1  0 .182 
  E.Alfonzo 3B        4  1  3  1 .462     S.Finley CF         4  0  0  0 .167 
  J.Olerud 1B         4  0  1  1 .182     T.Gwynn RF          4  1  1  1 .167 
  T.Hundley C         2  0  0  0 .222     K.Caminiti 3B       3  0  0  0 .182 
B-T.Pratt PR,C        0  0  0  0 ----     W.Joyner 1B         3  0  1  0 .400 
  B.Huskey RF         4  0  0  0 .083     G.Vaughn LF         4  0  0  0 .000 
  B.Gilkey LF         3  0  0  0 .200     C.Gomez SS          3  0  0  0 .000 
  C.Baerga 2B         4  0  0  0 .167     T.Worrell P         0  0  0  0 ---- 
  L.Lopez SS          4  0  2  0 .429     J.Flaherty C        2  0  0  0 .250 
  B.Jones P           4  0  0  0 .000     P.Smith P           0  0  0  0 ---- 
  J.Franco P          0  0  0  0 ----   C-C.Shipley SS        1  0  1  0 .500 
                                        D-R.Henderson PR      0  0  0  0 .500 
                                        E-A.Cianfrocco SS     0  0  0  0 ---- 
                                          S.Hitchcock P       0  0  0  0 ---- 
                                        A-C.Hernandez C       2  0  0  0 .000 
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     
         Totals      32  2  6  2                 Totals      30  1  4  1

A-Subbed Defensively (C ) For Hitchcock In 6th Inning
B-Pinch Ran For Hundley In 6th Inning
C-Subbed Defensively (SS) For Smith In 8th Inning
D-Pinch Ran For Shipley In 8th Inning
E-Subbed Defensively (SS) For Henderson In 9th Inning

INJURY: Todd Hundley INJURED (for 8 more games) in 6th inning

Mets............ 1 0 0  0 0 0  0 1 0  -  2  6  0
Padres.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  1 0 0  -  1  4  0

Mets (3-0)               IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
B.Jones WIN(1-0)          8 2/3   4   1   1   3   6   1 106   1.04  A1 D5
J.Franco SAVE(2nd)        0 1/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   5   0.00  D6
Totals                    9       4   1   1   3   7   1

Padres (0-3)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
S.Hitchcock               5 1/3   4   1   1   0   3   0  66   1.69  A1 C2
P.Smith LOSS(0-1)         2 1/3   1   1   1   3   1   0  47   3.86  C3 D4
T.Worrell                 1 1/3   1   0   0   0   1   0  19   3.86  D5
Totals                    9       6   2   2   3   5   0

ATTENDANCE- 19,642 DATE- Thursday, April 3rd 1997 TIME- Day WEATHER- Average
T- 2:53
LEFT ON BASE- Mets: 7  Padres: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Mets: 1  Padres: 1
DOUBLES- E.Alfonzo(2nd), L.Lopez-2(2nd), C.Shipley(1st)
HOME RUNS- T.Gwynn(1st)
STOLEN BASES- B.McRae(1st)
WALKS- B.McRae, T.Pratt, B.Gilkey, K.Caminiti, W.Joyner, S.Hitchcock
HIT BY PITCH- T.Hundley
STRIKE OUTS- J.Olerud, T.Hundley, B.Gilkey, C.Baerga, B.Jones, Q.Veras,
             S.Finley, K.Caminiti-2, G.Vaughn, C.Gomez, C.Hernandez
GIDP- L.Lopez, W.Joyner

METS STEAL GAME 2

Mark Clark pitched 7 and one third strong innings at Qualcomm Stadium where
the New York (NL) Mets beat the San Diego Padres 3 to 2.San Diego threatened
in the 9th but New York (NL) was able to put down the rally. 

Clark(1-0) was the winner allowing 2 runs in 7 and 1/3 innings. John Franco
got the save, his 1st.  Joey Hamilton(0-1) suffered the loss.  He was the
victim of a defensive lapse and did not allow an earned run in the game.


Eric Graham spoke after the game in the clubhouse. "Horseshit...we didnt deserve to win. We played like shit the whole 9 innings and were lucky they have an inept manager and piss poor defense. I will be talking with our closer behind closed doors. Franco came in with a 1 run lead and loaded up the fucking bases. Why dont we just walk off the field and forfeit the fuckin game....we CANT do that shit and get away with it."

Noticeably upset, the media scattered away- maybe well catch him in a better mood

if they sweep. Either way..... rejoice Mets fans!

BOXSCORE: 1997 New York (NL) Mets At 1997 San Diego Padres           4/2/1997
 
  Mets               AB  R  H RBI AVG     Padres             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  B.McRae CF          4  1  2  1 .286     Q.Veras 2B          3  1  1  0 .143  
  E.Alfonzo SS        4  0  1  1 .333   D-C.Jones PH          1  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Olerud 1B         4  0  0  0 .143     W.Cunnane P         0  0  0  0 ----  
  T.Hundley C         3  1  0  0 .286     S.Finley CF         4  0  0  0 .250  
  B.Gilkey LF         4  0  1  0 .286     T.Gwynn RF          4  0  0  0 .125  
  C.Baerga 2B         4  0  0  0 .250     K.Caminiti 3B       4  1  2  2 .250  
  B.Huskey RF         4  0  0  0 .125     W.Joyner 1B         4  0  3  0 .429  
  M.Franco 3B         4  0  1  1 .250     G.Vaughn LF         3  0  0  0 .000  
  M.Clark P           3  1  0  0 .000     C.Gomez SS          2  0  0  0 .000  
  G.McMichael P       0  0  0  0 .000   A-M.Sweeney PH        1  0  0  0 .000  
  J.Franco P          0  0  0  0 ----   B-C.Shipley SS        1  0  0  0 .000  
                                          J.Flaherty C        3  0  0  0 .333  
                                          J.Hamilton P        2  0  0  0 .000  
                                        C-R.Henderson PH      1  0  0  0 .500  
                                        E-A.Cianfrocco 2B     0  0  0  0 ----  
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---      
         Totals      34  3  5  3                 Totals      33  2  6  2
 
A-Pinch Hit For Gomez In 7th Inning
B-Subbed Defensively (SS) For Sweeney In 8th Inning
C-Pinch Hit For Hamilton In 8th Inning
D-Pinch Hit For Veras In 8th Inning
E-Subbed Defensively (2B) For Henderson In 9th Inning
 
Mets............ 0 1 0  0 2 0  0 0 0  -  3  5  0
Padres.......... 2 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 0  -  2  6  2
 
Mets (2-0)               IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
M.Clark WIN(1-0)          7 1/3   4   2   2   0   7   1  92   2.45  A1 C8
G.McMichael HOLD(1st)     0 2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   6   4.50  C9 D1
J.Franco SAVE(1st)        1       2   0   0   1   1   0  22   0.00  D2
Totals                    9       6   2   2   1   9   1
 
Padres (0-2)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
J.Hamilton LOSS(0-1)      8       5   3   0   1   3   0 108   0.00  A1 D5
W.Cunnane                 1       0   0   0   0   1   0   9   3.00  D6
Totals                    9       5   3   0   1   4   0
 
ATTENDANCE- 30,053 DATE- Wednesday, April 2nd 1997 TIME- Night WEATHER- Average
T- 2:39
LEFT ON BASE- Mets: 5  Padres: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Mets: 0  Padres: 0
ERRORS- K.Caminiti-2
DOUBLES- E.Alfonzo(1st), B.Gilkey(1st)
HOME RUNS- K.Caminiti(1st)
WALKS- T.Hundley, G.Vaughn
STRIKE OUTS- J.Olerud, B.Gilkey, B.Huskey, M.Franco, Q.Veras, C.Jones,
             K.Caminiti-2, C.Gomez, M.Sweeney, C.Shipley, J.Flaherty,
             J.Hamilton
 

METS TAKE OPENER

Rick Reed came through with a solid 7 innings at Qualcomm Stadium where the
New York (NL) Mets beat the San Diego Padres 4 to 2.San Diego had a chance in
the 9th but they came up short. 

The win went to Reed(1-0) who allowed no runs in 7 innings. Cory Lidle
recorded his 1st save.  Andy Ashby(0-1) suffered the loss.  He allowed 2 runs
and 6 hits in 6 innings.  

SS Rey Ordonez was lost for 4 games in his first at bat.
BOXSCORE: 1997 New York (NL) Mets At 1997 San Diego Padres           4/1/1997

  Mets               AB  R  H RBI AVG     Padres             AB  R  H RBI AVG
  E.Alfonzo 3B        5  1  2  1 .400     Q.Veras 2B          4  0  0  0 .000 
  B.McRae CF          3  0  0  0 .000     S.Finley CF         4  1  2  1 .500 
  J.Olerud 1B         3  1  1  1 .333     T.Gwynn RF          4  1  1  0 .250 
  T.Hundley C         4  0  2  0 .500     K.Caminiti 3B       4  0  0  0 .000 
  B.Gilkey LF         3  0  1  0 .333     W.Joyner 1B         3  0  0  0 .000 
  B.Huskey RF         4  1  1  1 .250     G.Vaughn LF         3  0  0  0 .000 
  C.Baerga 2B         4  1  2  0 .500     W.Cunnane P         0  0  0  0 ---- 
  R.Ordonez SS        1  0  0  0 .000   D-T.Beamon PH         1  0  0  1 .000 
A-L.Lopez  ,SS        3  0  1  0 .333     C.Gomez SS          3  0  0  0 .000 
  R.Reed P            2  0  0  1 .000   E-C.Jones PH          1  0  0  0 .000 
  G.McMichael P       1  0  0  0 .000     J.Flaherty C        3  0  2  0 .667 
  C.Lidle P           0  0  0  0 ----     A.Ashby P           1  0  0  0 .000 
                                        B-R.Henderson PH      1  0  1  01.000 
                                          T.Worrell P         0  0  0  0 ---- 
                                        C-M.Sweeney LF        1  0  0  0 .000 
                     -- -- -- ---                            -- -- -- ---     
         Totals      33  4 10  4                 Totals      33  2  6  2

A-Subbed Defensively (  ) For Ordonez In 3rd Inning
B-Pinch Hit For Ashby In 6th Inning
C-Subbed Defensively (LF) For Worrell In 8th Inning
D-Pinch Hit For Cunnane In 9th Inning
E-Pinch Hit For Gomez In 9th Inning

INJURY: Rey Ordonez INJURED (for 4 more games) in 3rd inning

Mets............ 0 1 0  0 1 0  0 2 0  -  4 10  1
Padres.......... 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 0 2  -  2  6  1

Mets (1-0)               IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
R.Reed WIN(1-0)           7       3   0   0   1   4   0  90   0.00  A1 C6
G.McMichael               1 1/3   3   2   1   0   0   1  32   6.75  C7 D5
C.Lidle SAVE(1st)         0 2/3   0   0   0   0   1   0   5   0.00  D6
Totals                    9       6   2   1   1   5   1

Padres (0-1)             IP       H   R  ER  BB  SO  HR  PC    ERA  SCORESHEET
A.Ashby LOSS(0-1)         6       6   2   2   2   3   1  92   3.00  A1 C6
T.Worrell                 1       2   1   1   0   0   1  18   9.00  C7 D1
W.Cunnane                 2       2   1   1   1   3   1  35   4.50  D2
Totals                    9      10   4   4   3   6   3

ATTENDANCE- 19,232 DATE- Tuesday, April 1st 1997 TIME- Day WEATHER- Average
T- 2:43
LEFT ON BASE- Mets: 6  Padres: 5
DOUBLE PLAYS- Mets: 1  Padres: 3
ERRORS- B.Huskey, G.Vaughn
DOUBLES- S.Finley(1st)
HOME RUNS- E.Alfonzo(1st), J.Olerud(1st), B.Huskey(1st), S.Finley(1st)
STOLEN BASES- C.Baerga(1st)
CAUGHT STEALING- C.Baerga
SACRIFICE HITS- R.Reed
WALKS- B.McRae, J.Olerud, B.Gilkey, W.Joyner
STRIKE OUTS- B.McRae, T.Hundley-2, B.Gilkey, C.Baerga, G.McMichael, S.Finley,
             G.Vaughn, C.Gomez, C.Jones, A.Ashby
GIDP- B.Gilkey, B.Huskey, R.Reed, S.Finley
WILD PITCHES- G.McMichael

GM BACKS GRAHAM

By Jake Skikowski [New York Daily News]

Just hours before first pitch tomorrow at Qualcomm Stadium, GM Joe McIlvaine put to rest any doubts on whether or not Graham would stay at manager of the team. Despite controversary flowing across the media- cheers and jeers from the mets community, and front page headlines of the New York Times, McIlvaine confirmed Graham is to stay.

"Hes our guy, we wanted him after the season, we wanted him all offseason, and we're not letting him go over a minor infraction." "We already spoke briefly about the situation, he hung up on me when I brought it up.... but I'm pretty sure he's sorry about it, so it's good enough for us." Graham is expected to not be available for comment before the game.

The Mets community is torn- half are terrified their children are being exposed to some drug abusing monster. "His attitude is shit." Keisha Roberts said. "I dont want my kids to look up to some fool that gets high all the time." Other fans however were out in full force in support. "Finally.... a manager with some balls, a real firecracker" Lionel Masterson said.

Either way you look at, Graham isn't going anywhere..... get used to it folks.

OPENING DAY

By Clyde Hawkins

Opening day is right around the corner folks! The New York Mets will travel to San Diego to take on the Padres for the first three games of the season. The projected matchup will feature Mets ace Rick Reed (13-9, 2.89 era) vs Joey Hamilton (12-7, 4.25 era). First pitch at 2:05, from Qualcomm Stadium.

Nerves are running high for both managers. Graham was reached for quote at the Mets practice facility: "Yup.... here we go, I think we're ready....no.......I KNOW we're ready, this is what we train for folks" "We know what we have to do to win....and we're ready"

Toeing the rubber for the visiting Mets, Rick Reed will have to attack the lineup early- trying to avoid the Padres big bat threat Tony Gwynn (.372 avg, 17 HR, 119 rbi)... WOW!!! "Yeah.....were completely aware of what hes capable of" Graham said. "No [expletive deleted] idea how we're going to attack him, hes an incredible talent."

The Padres Joey Hamilton will have his hands full as well, battling a lineup with good power at several different positions. Olerud....Hundley...Gilkey, they'll all  take you deep if you leave one up in the zone or make a mistake. The Mets are also solid defensively, no more so then on the left side of the infield which features Edgardo Alfonzo and Rey Ordonez. (Both 1 fielders)

It has all the makings for an exciting day of baseball. These days only happen once a year in baseball, lets sit back and enjoy.

WHAT A DOPE!!

By Clyde Hawkins

New manager Eric Graham (Pictured left, with Tigers manager Mat McNeil) has gotten off to a shaky start. He has failed a preliminary drug test required upon entry to the league. Report say the test came up positive for THC.

Mets officials were reached for comment earlier today. "We're terribly dissapointed, but we're not hanging our heads over it. We want everyone to know we still support him 100%, despite his questionable decisions", GM Joe McIlvaine reports.

Graham was also reached at his household for comment: "Shit who cares.... I seen tha pic, eyes bloodshot, stoned...fuck it. Weed aint dangerous fellas', aint snortin powder or nothin, aint really see tha big deal" The league has yet to come down with a disciplinary action for the skipper, if there is one at all, but hopefully he's not lightin up in the clubhouse before games, or we might be seeing some weird [expletive deleted] go down on the field this season.

Players  were quick to jump to Grahams rescue. Todd Hundley weighed in on the issue: "Shit I take steroids and ya'll dont bust me....." Its good to know the players havent turned yet. Lets hope he can get clean by opening day.