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NEW YORK
SPORTS DIGEST
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RELAFORD PLAYS RESERVE ROLE
AS A NEW YORK MET
The New York Mets claimed Desi Relaford off waivers form the San Diego Padres last October. At the time of the transactions he was shocked.
The Mets at the time had an all-star shortstop in the making in Rey Ordonez. Relaford, who always started, had mixed feelings about coming to the Mets when they had a starter.
He thus became a non-roster invitee to spring training.
During the exhibition season he batted .264 and had a .509 slugging percentage, enough for Manager Bobby Valentine to promote him to the team earlier this month.
Relaford worked hard, hit the ball, stole bases, played defense and showed that he can contribute to the team when needed during pre-season.
He had seen limited action but did start against Montreal on April 7th.
Through contests of April 15, or the team's first 12 games, the reserve appeared in seven contests and struck out three times.
"I'm here to play a utility role-short, third, second, or maybe some outfield," added Relaford, whose actual position is shortstop.
He is finally on a team that is a contender for the top spot in the National League.
It's a lot of fun," he said. "I like to watch these guys play. They play hard and have a lot of talent. It'll be a fun season."
Valentine certainly likes his talents.
"I was attracted to him," the Manager said. "He has the ability to run, hit and be versatile. It seems that he could play every day."
Meanwhile, Relaford is coming off the bench when needed.
Last year he played 45 games with San Diego and 83 contests with Philadelphia.
"Basically I had a down season," the switch hitter said. " I did a few things well, offensively"
He stole 13 of 13 bases, put together a .337 batting average with runners in scoring position and turned in a career high five runs batted in at Los Angeles on May 27.
"However, I had a bad year defensively," added Relaford, who committed 31 errors. "I try not to think about the bade year, but I also had some positives. I don't feel my career is over by any means."
Relaford, whose actual name is Desmond Lamont Relaford, grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he received all-state baseball honors at Sandalwood High School. He turned down a fall scholarship to the University of Tennessee to sign a major league contract.
He was chosen in the fourth round of the June, 1991 free agent draft by the Seattle Mariners and signed right after high school.
He played wit such minor league teams as Tempe, Peninsula, Jacksonville, Riverside, Port City, and Tacoma, all in the Seattle system, and Scranton in the Philadelphia organization.
Relaford was traded form Seattle to Philadelphia in mid-1996 and in 1998 turned in a tremendous season when he had an 1-game hitting streak, which at the time was tops among rookies in the National League. He played in 142 games.
After he had a career 12 game hitting streak in April of 1999, he was placed on the disabled list with a torn ligament in his right wrist. He then underwent surgery.
Relaford returned to action in September of that same year.
After 83 games as a starting short stop last season with Philadelphia, he batted only .221. The Phills let him go. San Diego picked him up. He finished the season with a .201 average. He has speed on the base paths.
After San Diego put him on waivers, the Mets grabbed him.
Relaford wants to help the team any way that he can. Whenever he can get the opportunity to start, he'll try to shine.
LONG ISLAND DUCKS
ELEVATE McCORMACK
Don McCormack was a fixture with the Long Island Ducks as their pitching coach for the second half of last season. This year, he will be guiding his team on the field in an attempt to lead them to the Atlantic League playoffs.
Although 2001 will be his first year managing the Ducks, McCormack is no stranger to minor league baseball. He began his baseball career as a catcher in the Philadelphia Phillies' organization form 1974 to 1981, appearing with the major league team in 1980 and 1981.
After retiring as a player in 1983, he coached high school baseball for two years, then went back to the Phillies organization as a roving catching instructor form 1987 to 1988.
McCormack then spent the next seven years managing various Philadelphia minor league clubs, including the Batavia Clippers (1988-1989), Reading Phillies (1990-1993), and Clearwater Phillies (1994-1995).
In 1995, he was named as manager of the Florida State League all-star team.
With the Phillies' minor league clubs, McCormack had the opportunity to manage players such as Mike Liebenthal. Bobby Estallella, Todd Pratt, Scott Rolen, Andy Ashby, Kevin Stocker and Ricky Bottalico.
"One of the best things about being manager of the Ducks is the opportunity to be in front of over 6,000 screaming Long Island fans on a nightly basis," said McCormack.
"It is also the opportunity to put the tam on the field that you've created, and had the opportunity to make better. They're pretty much your product, and not a product that somebody's given you."
The Ducks will also have a new pitching coach on staff for the upcoming season in former major league pitcher Rick Wise.
Wise, who spent last year with the Atlantic League's Aberdeen Arsenal, enjoyed an 18-year career in major league baseball as a pitcher with the Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, and Padres.
Wise certainly brings some credibility to the Ducks.
On June 23, 1971, some 30 years ago, Wise became the only pitcher in major league baseball history to pitch a no-hitter and hit two home runs in one game. It happened while he was wearing a Philadelphia uniform.
His career highlights also include a two-time all-star selection in 1972 and 1973, where he was the starting and winning pitcher.
Starting in 1985, Wise has been a pitching coach every year in various levels of minor league baseball. he has coached in the A's, Astros, Red Sox, Phillies, and Angels organizations. The 2001 season will mark his 39th year in professional baseball.
Remember, fans are urged to come out to Suffolk County to see baseball in May.
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