THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 1996 TAG: 9608270449
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM ROBINSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 72 lines
The last time Bobby Valentine left the Norfolk Tides, it was for diverticulitis. This time, it's for the New York Mets.
Valentine can only hope the latter isn't as painful.
Ending a steady stream of rumor and innuendo, the Mets made it official Monday by firing manager Dallas Green and promoting Valentine from the Triple-A Tides.
Pitching coach Bob Apodaca, in his sixth season in Norfolk, will accompany Valentine. Mets pitching coach Greg Pavlick also was fired, as was bench coach Bobby Wine.
Third-base coach Bruce Benedict, 41, will manage the Tides the rest of the season. Rick Waits, 44, will move up from the Mets' Florida rookie club to become pitching coach.
The move came two years to the day that Valentine's first season with the Tides was cut short by an intestinal ailment that required surgery.
After managing in Japan last year, then being fired in a dispute with management, Valentine returned this season to the Tides in fine health and with a two-year contract.
From the start, however, Valentine, 46, who managed the Texas Rangers for eight seasons, was seen as being in the bullpen to replace Green, 62, should the Mets falter again.
That they did, compiling a 59-72 record, sixth-worst in the major leagues this season.
They were expected to be wildcard contenders. But poor defense, injuries, especially to young lefthander Bill Pulsipher, and the inconsistency of pitchers Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen were large contributors to the Mets' and Green's demise.
``I was expecting in the second half that our younger players would come to the forefront. That didn't happen,'' Mets general manager Joe McIlvaine said. ``I was concerned we were beginning to lose some of the young players.''
Green's contract called for him to be told by Sept. 15 whether he'd be rehired for next season. But the Mets' 2-7 performance, including a four-game sweep by the Los Angeles Dodgers, on their West Coast swing that ended Sunday - they were off Monday - apparently was the final straw.
``I have very mixed emotions, as you might imagine,'' said Valentine, who is signed through the '97 season. ``I have a great deal of elation. But I know the emptiness.''
Valentine first left the Mets, for whom he coached, May 16, 1985 to become the Rangers' manager. He held that job until he was fired July 9, 1992. He compiled a 581-605 mark.
Valentine spent 1993 with the Cincinnati Reds as a scout and third-base coach, but elected to take the managerial post with the Tides in '94. His overall record with the Tides was 143-132.
Valentine and Apodaca are the two best teachers in the organization, said McIlvaine, who said he expects them to bring ``a fresh, energetic, positive-type of approach'' to the Mets.
It is the first time since 1983 that a Tides manager has moved directly to the Mets as manager. Davey Johnson did it after that season.
Before Monday, however, the Tides had never lost a manager to the Mets during the season.
``Although they always kept saying no, I always thought they had their eye on Bobby as a possible successor,'' Tides general manager Dave Rosenfield said. ``In my judgment, there wasn't anybody on the major league staff they would consider.''
The Tides, who return home Thursday, have clinched an International League playoff berth.
Benedict, a former National League all-star catcher, is in his first season with the Mets. He managed three seasons in the Atlanta Braves' organization - 1993 in rookie league Danville and the last two seasons in Double-A Greenville. He has a 170-176 managerial record. MEMO: Virginian-Pilot wire services contributed to this report. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/The Virginian-Pilot file by CNB