Sunday, January 27, 2002
Baseball insider
Mets' Duquette may replace cousin as Red Sox general manager
Enquirer news services
Latest word along the grapevine is that Jim Duquette, a Mets senior assistant general manager, could replace his cousin, Dan Duquette, as general manager of the Boston Red Sox when the new owners assume control next month.
“He has a pretty good shot,” one baseball official said. “That's what I've heard lately.”
Members of the John Henry group have been careful not to get ahead of themselves in disclosing their plans, saying they will not do anything until the deal closes. That business step is supposed to take place in the latter half of February.
“We know Tom Yawkey's closing was Feb.25, 1933,” Larry Lucchino, incoming president and chief executive, said, “so we'd like to get it done before then if possible.”
Some baseball people have speculated that the timing, so close to the start of the season, would preclude the new owners from making changes in critical positions. But Lucchino has never been shy about making moves he thinks can improve his club, and he does not figure to remain aloof if he thinks changes could help.
That thinking would apply to manager Joe Kerrigan as well as the general manager who made him the manager with 43 games left last season, only to have the Red Sox plummet from two games behind in the wild-card race to 19 1/2 at the end of the season.
HOT TICKET:
The season's first real snowstorm couldn't keep Seattle Mariners fans from waiting hours to secure 2002 tickets when they went on sale Saturday at Safeco Field. Many camped out overnight.
“They're wearing Eskimo jackets and night slippers with linings,” said Mariners parking attendant Mellita Morgan, who along with Erlinda Sabog directed some 700 cars into the stadium parking garage by midday.
Nine-year-old Danny Thomson's mother would agree to let him stand in line with his dad only if he wore his snowpants.
It was a good thing.
He and his father, David, stood in line for more than four hours for single-game tickets to see the team that tied a major-league record with 116 wins last season.
“I think if we knew it would be a four-hour wait, we might've called Ticketmaster,” said David Thomson, who wore six layers of clothing. “But a lot of people are depending on us. We're buying for four other friends, but next year I expect them to return the favor.”
CONE WAITING:
David Cone is playing the waiting game.
With spring training scheduled to start in less than three weeks, Cone on Saturday said he has not received any formal offers to pitch in the 2002 season.
“I'm just throwing, working out on my own and waiting for an opportunity,” Cone said before taking part in the David Wells charity softball game at Legends Field.
Cone pitched last season for the Boston Red Sox, going 9-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 25 starts.
There has been speculation that both the New York Mets and Yankees are interested in the 39-year-old righty. Cone was a 20-game winner with the Mets and pitched a perfect game for the Yankees.
“Nothing firm, no,” Cone said. “The Mets, I've got a couple friends over there that have lobbied for me, John Franco and Al Leiter. I appreciate that. No contact with the front office.”
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