Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409160053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The New York Mets said Thursday that Gooden ``has committed additional violations of both his aftercare program and the commissioner's office drug policy.''
``After the investigation has been concluded, including receipt of a report from baseball's medical advisor, a determination will be made regarding Gooden's status,'' the commissioner's office said in a statement.
The Mets, meanwhile, said they would await the commissioner's office report before making a decision on their pitcher.
``We're still trying to absorb all of this,'' Ed Lynch, a special assistant in the Mets front office, said during a telephone news conference. He said Gooden's future with the Mets has become a secondary consideration.
``Our concern right now is for Dwight as a person,'' Lynch said. ``We're rooting for him to get his life back in order.''
Gooden's agent, Jim Neader said the No.1 priority is to get Gooden's life straightened out, ``then think about baseball after that.''
Gooden voluntarily checked into the Smithers Center for treatment of cocaine addiction in 1987 and missed a month of the season. He has been regularly tested since then.
On June 28, he was suspended for 60 days without pay when he failed two random drug tests.
``I'm truly sorry it happened,'' Gooden said then. ``I want to apologize to the club, my teammates and to the people of New York. I want to thank everyone for their past support. I will be back stronger and better. I want to earn your respect back.''
The pitcher, scheduled to earn $3.7 million this season in the final year of a three-year, $15.45 million contract, was on the disabled list early this season with a toe injury. He was 3-4 with a 6.31 ERA in 411/3 innings and had the worst outing of his career just before he was suspended, allowing nine runs in 51/3 innings of a 9-4 loss to Pittsburgh.
Gooden lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., and is dividing his time between New York and St. Petersburg.
``He's going to have to continue with an aftercare program and continue to work with their doctors and get himself physically and mentally back to the 100 percent level,'' Neader said. ``He's working out, also. He's not letting himself go.''
While he has had losing records the past two years, Gooden is best remembered for 1985, when he was 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts and at the age of 20 became the youngest Cy Young Award winner. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1984.
In his first three seasons in the majors, Gooden posted a remarkable 58-19 record. He has a career record of 157-85, the second-best winning percentage among active pitchers, with a 3.10 ERA.
The suspension in June was only the latest in a series of problems.
In December 1986, he was arrested and charged with battery on an officer and resisting arrest with violence after his car was stopped in his hometown of Tampa, Fla. He was placed on three years probation.
Before the 1992 season, Gooden and teammates Daryl Boston and Vince Coleman were accused of raping a woman in March 1991 at a Florida home Gooden had rented for spring training. The charges were later dropped.
MARLINS OWNER BLAMES PLAYERS: Florida Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga blames the players' union for the labor stalemate that led management to cancel the rest of the season.
``The players walked out, and they didn't want to negotiate on the necessary issues,'' Huizenga told the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale. ``The owners had no power to make them come back to work unless we gave them everything they wanted.
``Remember, none of these guys are standing in the bread lines. The average salary this season was $1.28 million.''
The players might counter by noting that Huizenga's fortune is estimated at $1 billion.
The video magnate, who became wealthy running a garbage collection business, said he had never seen the type of stalemate existing between the owners and the players union.
``In previous work stoppages, the union has come out ahead,'' he said. ``You can only take, take, take for so long. Eventually there is no more to take. When you're so accustomed to coming out ahead, it's hard to negotiate on any terms but your own.''
by CNB