Friday, June 14, 2002
Chambliss named Mets' batting coach
Baseball notebook
The Associated Press
Chris Chambliss, a former player and coach with the New York Yankees, was hired as the New York Mets' batting coach on Thursday.
Chambliss, who had been minor-league hitting coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates, replaces Dave Engle, who was fired by the Mets on Monday.
His appointment comes on the eve of a three-game series between the Mets and Yankees.
“Having played in New York and succeeded, having coached in New York and succeeded, having been a left-handed slugging first baseman, he's going to have a real impact in dealing with our hitters,” general manager Steve Phillips said. ” He's a winner, a first-class guy.”
The Mets rank near the bottom of most National League offensive categories despite one of the highest payrolls in baseball.
The reference to a left-handed slugging first-baseman was a reference to Mo Vaughn, who was expected to be a major addition to the team but is hitting .230 with four home runs.
Chambliss was chosen over Willie Upshaw, a minor-league instructor with the Cleveland Indians, and Bill Madlock, the former Detroit Tigers hitting coach.
The 53-year-old Chambliss spent five seasons as the Yankees' hitting coach from 1996-2000 under manager Joe Torre. Before that, he was Torre's hitting coach with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1993-95. He also managed five minor-league teams from 1989-1992.
Chambliss played 16 major-league seasons with three teams, the Indians, Yankees and Braves, and had a .279 batting average. He's best remembered for a ninth-inning home run in Game 5 of the 1976 AL Championship Series that gave the Yankees their 30th pennant.
MARINERS: Seattle shortstop Carlos Guillen was arrested for investigation of drunken driving early Thursday, police said.
Guillen, 26, was stopped by police in suburban Clyde Hill for allegedly speeding. The police said he then refused to take a Breathalyzer test when he was taken to the police station.
That refusal will mean automatic suspension of his driver's license.
“It appears that Mr. Guillen had been drinking,” Clyde Hill Police Chief Bill Archer told KING-TV. “So the officer made an arrest for driving while intoxicated. Mr. Guillen refused to take a Breathalyzer test.”
Archer did not immediately return a telephone call from The Associated Press. Another officer who answered the phone refused to discuss the case.
Police alleged Guillen was driving 89 mph in a 60 mph zone in his 2002 Mercedes.
The Mariners did not immediately return a call for comment.
INDIANS: Paul Shuey, Cleveland's top setup reliever, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a groin injury Thursday.
The club said Shuey was hurt during a pregame, on-field workout Tuesday. The Indians made the move retroactive to Monday and recalled reliever Jerrod Riggan from Triple-A Buffalo.
Riggan got the win Thursday as the Indians beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in 10 innings.
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Chambliss named Mets' batting coach
