MET NOTES
Chestine Bell’s son has done what she taught him.
From the emotional high of Shea’s Opening Day, when he hit the game-winning homer with his mother on hand, to his batting average reaching .360, to his struggles now, Derek Bell has remained the same.
With his mom scheduled to arrive for this weekend’s Subway Series, Bell continued slumping last night as he went 1-for-4 in the Mets’ 11-3 victory over the Orioles.
His only hit came in the sixth, and it could’ve been ruled an error as shortstop Mike Bordick couldn’t handle a tough hop. Bell struck out his other three times up.
Over the past 12 games, Bell is 4-for-49, which has dropped his average from .360 to .299.
But the 31-year-old right fielder continues to say he won’t change his upbeat personality – and he proved it. During a group interview with GM Steve Phillips before last night’s game, Bell borrowed The Post’s notebook and played reporter at the beginning of the session.
Bell is confident he will end the season around his normal career average – .281 entering this year – because he is keeping his head straight.
“I want my teammates to respect me and know I’m a team player,” said Bell, a free agent at the end of the season. “My personal stats don’t mean much. In the team, it takes me playing defense and coming in with a positive attitude and doing something on that field to help my team win.”
In regards to skipping Bobby Jones in the rotation next week, Bobby Valentine was non-committal. The manager did say he isn’t planning on doing anything “radical.” When asked to clarify what he meant by “radical,” Valentine declined.
Kurt Abbott said before last night’s game of his .181 average: “It’s embarrassing to a point. Well, not really, but to a point. The people around here know I can hit, but I’m not hitting.”
Last night, he hit. Abbott, who came in on a double-switch in the top of the sixth, led off the four-run sixth with a triple. He added a double in the seventh and scored two runs.
Todd Zeile also had a pretty good sixth and seventh, driving in three runs on two singles.
Infielder/outfielder Ryan McGuire, who was designated for assignment June 4, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Norfolk. He has 72 hours to accept the assignment. He could choose to become a free agent.
Unable to find hotel rooms in New York, the Orioles planned on flying back to Baltimore last night and returning today.
Phillips was unhappy with the negative reports – both in print and broadcast – and had some words for any player who questioned his decision to wait until 7:20 p.m. to call Tuesday night’s game.
“We have a 75 to 80 million dollar payroll,” he said. “If we are going to try and play the game or reschedule it on an off date to secure a gate and not have a doubleheader – it’s difficult to win a doubleheader – then that is the right thing for the organization to do.”
Tickets from Tuesday night will be honored tonight.