METS MAY HIRE ADVISER TO AID TEAM BEHAVIOR

After a season in which the Mets were occasionally embarrassed by the
actions of some players, they have plans to create a special adviser's
position in the organization. The adviser would act as a liaison between
the players and the front office and try to help the Mets avoid a repeat of
their unfortunate behavior.

Two Mets smoked marijuana after a game at Shea Stadium last year. Roberto
Alomar and Roger Cedeno got into a fight over the picture from a baseball
card from 1988. Armando Benitez and Rey Ordonez refused to participate in a
promotional photograph day with fans. Finally, Cedeno was arrested for
driving under the influence last November.

Soon after Cedeno's arrest, a club official said that the owner Fred Wilpon
broached the subject of adding an adviser. Wilpon said on Wednesday that no
single event had started the discussion about an adviser, but he
acknowledged that "there wasn't total harmony or chemistry" in the
clubhouse last season.

"We have talked about bringing in a person who could be helpful to the
players and in their lives," Wilpon said. "We haven't decided what we're
going to do yet."

Wilpon said there are a few candidates for the position, but he declined to
identify them. One is Ray Negron, 47, who is the cultural liaison with the
Texas Rangers and worked extensively with the former Yankee Ruben Rivera.
The Mets have received permission from Texas to interview Negron, who is
scheduled to meet with General Manager Steve Phillips on Jan. 20.

Negron was also an adviser for the Cleveland Indians for five years, where
he developed a strong relationship with Alomar, and he worked for the
Yankees for three years when Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry were with
the team.

Alomar hit .266 last year, his lowest average since his rookie year in
1988, and never seemed comfortable during his first season with the Mets.
Alomar has conceded that he had difficulty adapting to New York. Alomar had
dinner with Wilpon after the season to discuss his troubles and mentioned
Negron, who is bilingual, as someone who could possibly help him and other
players.

"It's a position I'd be interested in, but I don't think I should comment
on it until I meet with the Mets," Negron said.

The Mets employ Allan Lans, a psychiatrist, to work with players. Lans is
the director of the Mets' employee assistance program and is rarely seen in
the clubhouse. Wilpon said a clubhouse liaison would deal with any problems
or concerns the players had and work as a bridge between them and club
executives.

When Wilpon was asked what qualifications the adviser needs, he said: "Just
someone the players could go to on a confidential basis. Maybe the person
will have some motivational skills or some other skills that will help the
players in their lives."

The Mets signed the free agents Tom Glavine, Cliff Floyd and Mike Stanton
this off-season for what they can do on the field, but the team was also
impressed by how they could have a positive influence in the clubhouse.
Obviously, the Mets feel they could strengthen their clubhouse personality
by hiring a liaison.

One American League official said the clubhouse liaison could be a tricky
addition because the liaison receives a paycheck from the team, but his job
involves being someone the players can speak with confidentially. In a
delicate spot, is the liaison loyal to the team or to the players? Despite
the possible potholes it might bring, the Mets seem ready to add one to
their 2003 clubhouse.

"It certainly is one of the ingredients we think makes for a championship
club," Wilpon said. "I only have to look across the bow at how successful
the Yankees have been with players who are fabulously terrific in the
clubhouse."