MET NOTES
MIAMI – Bob Watson banged his gavel and handed out suspensions yesterday, and Bobby Valentine wanted to plead his case to the judge. Met reliever David Weathers received a three-game suspension for plunking Colorado’s Juan Uribe on Sunday, and Valentine was given a one-game suspension for his part in the brushback wars with the Rockies.
Weathers said he would definitely appeal the decision, and the Met manager indicated he wanted a fair hearing as well.
“I don’t know if I can appeal,” Valentine said. “If I can, I will.
“It’s strange: even if you get a speeding ticket, you get to ask if the radar gun is right.”
Colorado skipper Clint Hurdle received the same penalty as Valentine, and Colorado reliever Kent Mercker was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount for intentionally throwing at Timo Perez, whose post-homer antics last Saturday night bothered players on the Rockies.
Denny Neagle was fined but not suspended for throwing at Perez in the first inning, causing a warning to be issued.
Weathers said he thought at most he would be fined and had no idea he would miss games. The pitcher was told the suspensions were issued partially because of post-game comments in which Weathers called Mercker’s actions “brutal.”
“I don’t know what I said that made what I did any worse,” Weathers said. “I didn’t say anything other than Mercker caused the whole thing.”
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Outfielder Raul Gonzalez was named International League MVP for his outstanding season with Cincinnati’s Triple-A affiliate in Louisville. Gonzalez was acquired in the Shawn Estes trade. He hit .333 with 144 hits, 91 runs scored and a .416 on-base percentage.
“It’s maybe the best award I’ve ever received,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve been named to All-Star teams and played in All-Star games, but this is special.”
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Valentine said he and Mo Vaughn spoke at length on Saturday when the two walked from the team hotel to the ballpark in Denver. The Post reported yesterday that, in contrast to a number of teammates, Valentine had not had a closed-door meeting recently with Vaughn.
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Grant Roberts was going to throw a simulated game yesterday, but it was pushed back to Friday because of inclement weather.
“He’ll do that at home,” Valentine said.