THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 16, 1996 TAG: 9605160531
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The speculation has begun in earnest in New York as the Mets search for an answer in rightfield. Whether it's a glance or a long stare, all eyes seem to be turning Alex Ochoa's way.
The Norfolk Tides' rightfielder - the key player in the Bobby Bonilla trade with Baltimore last season - realizes his name is being thrown about with more regularity as the Mets, particularly Butch Huskey, Carl Everett, Chris Jones and Kevin Roberson, continue to struggle.
``I can't start thinking about it,'' said Ochoa, who is hitting .354 and leads the International League in hits with 44. ``Last year when I was in Rochester I started wondering about it (at the time, the Baltimore Orioles' rightfield job) and it affected me on the field.''
It didn't affect him too much, however, as he combined his stints in Rochester and Norfolk to make the IL All-Star team.
His answer to the challenge of speculating about his future this season?
``I don't read about the Mets in the paper,'' Ochoa said. ``I don't read the box scores. I know they're struggling. But I've got to maintain my form here.''
When Mets manager Dallas Green was asked prior to the Mets' series last weekend against Chicago if Ochoa may soon be bound for New York, Green said, ``I think Joe's looking at that very hard,'' referring to Mets general manager Joe McIlvaine.
``Alex, from what they tell me down there, is just having a tremendous spring,'' Green was quoted in a New York Times story. ``He's been hot as a firecracker. He's done everything they've asked of him and then some. He's throwing out runners, showing flashes of defense. But that's something that's really basically out of my hands.''
If McIlvaine needed extra sets of eyes to look at Ochoa this week, they've been here. Jack Zduriencik, director of minor league operations, has been in town this week, as have minor league field coordinator Bobby Floyd and roving outfield/base-running instructor Mookie Wilson.
Tides manager Bobby Valentine, however, was cautionary when discussing Ochoa, who hit .297 in 11 games for the Mets after a September call-up last fall.
``I think he could use some more time here to get through some things he has to get through to be a complete player,'' Valentine said.
Indirectly, Ochoa has been at the forefront of discussions between McIlvaine and Green.
``We've got three or four guys here, and we talked about nobody stepping forward and taking the rightfield job,'' Green said. ``We discussed how much longer that can go on. And we're both in agreement it can't go on much longer. We just can't do it. We can't keep waiting.''
NOTE: Second baseman Kevin Morgan, struggling with a .134 average, has been reassigned to Double-A Binghamton. Morgan will be replaced by Jason Hardtke, who is hitting .276 with nine doubles for Binghamton. Valentine said Morgan will return to shortstop, which he played last year at Binghamton. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Alex Ochoa, who is hitting .354 and leads the IL in hits with 44,
could fill the Mets' need for a rightfielder.
by CNB