Gooden, Strawberry lead inductees into Mets' Hall
Former Mets right fielder Darryl Strawberry speaks during the 2010 New York Mets Hall of Fame induction ceremony prior to the game against the Diamondbacks, Sunday. (August 1, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, along with former manager Davey Johnson and general manager Frank Cashen, were inducted into the Mets' Hall of Fame Sunday afternoon, becoming the franchise's first inductees since 2002.
"It feels good to be home," Gooden told the Citi Field crowd while standing at a podium on the outfield grass behind second base.
"This is where it all started for me," Strawberry added.
Seated with the inductees during the pregame ceremony were Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez, Bud Harrelson, Rusty Staub and Ralph Kiner, all members of the club's Hall of Fame.
During his speech, Gooden thanked nephew Gary Sheffield for his support. "You've been a tremendous influence on me,'' Gooden said.
Sheffield, who played for the Mets last season and essentially is retired this season, watched the ceremony from a suite rather than sit with Gooden's family members in front of the Mets' dugout.
Trainer's room
Jason Bay, who still is experiencing concussion-related headaches, did not travel with the Mets to Atlanta after yesterday's game. The Mets leftfielder has not been at Citi Field since he was placed on the disabled list Friday.
Bay suffered the concussion when he collided with the leftfield wall at Dodger Stadium on July 23, but he said he did not begin to experience headaches until two days later during the team's cross-country flight to New York.
He was diagnosed with what the Mets called "a mild concussion" on July 27.
With Carlos Beltran off to a slow start (12-for-55) since his return from knee surgery, Jerry Manuel spent time alone in the video room Sunday morning watching Beltran's recent at-bats and looking for a solution.
Afterward, Manuel met with Beltran and told the centerfielder what he saw.
"Just a few fundamental things that he's doing wrong," Manuel said. "He probably has to get back to hitting the ball the other way, to left-center. When he hits a line drive to left-center batting lefthanded, I think he'll be on his way. His balls have been pulled, and that's not Carlos."
Beltran did not start Sunday after playing five straight games.
