
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994                    TAG: 9406020652 
SECTION: SPORTS                     PAGE: C3    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940602                                 LENGTH: Medium

METS HOPE DRAFT PICKS FORM A FIRM FOUNDATION

{LEAD} The Tides won't get any immediate help from the free-agent draft that starts today. But with six of the first 64 selections, including the No. 1 pick, the parent New York Mets are primed to restock their farm system after a string of lean years and disappointing first-round choices.

``Montreal's organization and Atlanta's organization were built out of a couple drafts very similar to this,'' said Bob Floyd, the Mets' minor league field coordinator, who has been in town the last few days. ``I think Montreal one year had nine in the first 60 or 70 picks. So you can really throw together the foundation of a strong organization.''

{REST} Besides the first pick, which likely will be Florida State pitcher Paul Wilson, the Mets will choose 20th, 29th, 35th, 63rd and 64th. If they select Wilson, Floyd expects he probably will be assigned to Class-A St. Lucie, with a swift promotion to Double-A likely if Wilson dominates Florida State League hitters.

Longtime Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said he could never remember the Mets sending a draft pick directly to Triple-A.

Wilson is a must-sign for the Mets, but the importance of getting all their top picks under contract this season is greater than usual, Floyd said.

``I would imagine we'd have every intention to sign every one of the players we choose in the first four or five rounds,'' Floyd said.

``You're looking at some players to form that foundation, and you have to have the commitment that you're going to sign them.''

GOODEN GOES TO DOUBLE-A: Dwight Gooden will probably not make a rehabilitation start with the Tides during their trip to Ohio that starts Friday. He is slated to pitch that night for the Mets' Double-A team in Binghamton, N.Y.

If all is well with his healing right big toe, it is believed that it will be Gooden's final minor league appearance before he returns to the Mets.

Even if a third start is needed and Gooden pitches for the Tides, it won't be at Harbor Park. The Tides don't return home until June 10.

DAVIS DOWN: Outfielder Jay Davis spent just six days with the Tides. He was sent back to Binghamton after Wednesday's game. by CNB