MET NOTES
ATLANTA – The Mets hope that when Edgardo Alfonzo returns from the disabled list, he looks like the old Edgardo Alfonzo and not just an old Edgardo Alfonzo.
Alfonzo, who’s been on the DL since June 14 with a strained back, is eligible to come off the DL tonight, but probably will be held back until Sunday and possibly – after Monday’s off day – even to Tuesday.
“No idea,” Alfonzo said when asked about the date of his return. “As long as I feel good, we’ll see how I feel [today] after swinging hard [yesterday]. Hopefully, everything is going good so it’s the last day of the [Braves series] or the first day of the homestand.”
Both Bobby Valentine and Alfonzo said they want the second baseman to be pain-free so his atypical numbers – .251 average with nine homers and 24 RBIs – can improve.
If Alfonzo were on pace to match last season’s .324 average, 25 homers and 94 RBIs, how much better would the Mets be this year?
Alfonzo was golden with runners on last season, batting .346 (84-for-243). Among the hits, 13 were homers and 17 were doubles, accounting for 82 RBIs. This year, with his back hurting, Alfonzo is hitting just .232 (23-for-99) with just three homers with runners on.
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There have been firings at Shea, The Post has learned. Four people in the ticketing department were let go this week.
With Met players earning an estimated $95.5 million, this move could be a way to cut losses for a team that, entering last night, didn’t appear headed to the playoffs and the added revenue that means for a club.
The four people who were fired received salaries between $22,000 and $35,000, a source said. The source said they were let go for “petty reasons,” such as being five minutes late on occasion. The source also indicated that others who kept their jobs had been late as well.
The salaries for the employees are about the same as the $29,000 per game that Rey Ordonez makes.
GM Steve Phillips said before last night’s 6-2 loss to the Braves at Turner Field that any moves within the organization were “probably merit based.”
Dave Howard, the club’s VP of business and legal affairs, said last night that it’s likely the positions will be filled.
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Rick Reed reiterated that he would be able to pitch Tuesday, despite pain in his lower left back. The pain caused him to only last 22/3 innings in Wednesday’s win at Wrigley Field. Reed, who was on a relaxant, said his back still felt stiff.
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Yesterday was the first Braves’ game at Turner without John Rocker, which prompted the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to ask: “How does the trade of John Rocker affect your desire to attend a Braves game?” The leading response was, “I won’t go back to Turner Field.” This was chosen by 53 percent. Another 10 percent said they didn’t like the deal but would go back.