MET NOTES
MIAMI – Co-owner Fred Wilpon thinks the fact that New York City is looking to appraise the environmental viability of the site where the Mets’ new $500 million stadium is planned shows progress in negotiations.
“That’s a positive,” Wilpon told The Post yesterday.
The Mets, plus city and state officials, are still in negotiations for the ballpark, and Wilpon hopes to have a deal done before Mayor Giuliani leaves office.
“We’re trying to get it done now,” Wilpon said. “Obviously we don’t know who the next mayor is going to be.”
Wilpon said he is “cautiously optimistic” about getting a deal in place.
Last Friday, an advertisement in The City Record – the newspaper that lists contracts, hearings, and bids involving the city – requested bids to assess the environmental impact a new ballpark would have on the land now occupied by Shea Stadium’s parking lot, the proposed site of the facility.
If all goes according to the revised plan, the stadium will have a retractable roof and be modeled after Ebbets Field.
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The infant son born to Marlin center fielder Preston Wilson – stepson of Met first-base coach Mookie Wilson – died at a South Florida hospital Monday night, 10 days after being born three months premature.
Mookie Wilson was with Preston and wife Trista when the child died, and remained with the family last night. Bobby Floyd coached first base.
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Rey Ordonez left immediately after last night’s game after not starting for the second time in five games. Asked if Ordonez was mad, GM Steve Phillips offered a “no comment.” Ordonez provided a pinch-hit single and scored a run in the fifth, but didn’t stay in the game.