NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS 3, DODGERS 2 : Notebook : Strawberry Remarks Get Little Comment

The New York Mets’ reaction Tuesday to Darryl Strawberry’s comments about wishing to play for the Dodgers when his contract ends after 1990 can be summed up in two words:

So what.

Having dealt with this sort of thing before, the Mets responded with a cumulative shrug.

“Just another day in paradise,” Met General Manager Frank Cashen said after reading Strawberry’s remarks in Tuesday’s edition of The Times. “We do not have an unvocal team, to use a double negative.”

When asked whether he was disturbed by the timing of Strawberry’s comments, published on the day of Game 1 of the National League playoffs, Cashen said: “I guess so. But that’s the way it’s been going around here all year.”

Pitcher David Cone, in only his second year with the Mets, agreed that they have been here before.

“We’ve seen it happen before,” Cone said. “We’re used to controversy on this team. We’re a strong unit. It’s not going to affect us.”

Even Met Manager Davey Johnson just shook his head--”Ho-hum,’ he said. “Things like that have a way of happening here.”

When Strawberry finally stepped onto the field just before batting practice Tuesday, he was surrounded by TV cameras and reporters. He, too, shrugged.

“What’s this all about?” he asked.

When told it was about his comments, he did not deny them.

“Yes, about 3 weeks ago (12 days, actually), I talked about coming either here or San Diego,’ he said. “It’s something Eric Davis (of the Cincinnati Reds) and I have talked about doing for a while.”

But, Strawberry added: “Right now, I’m not really thinking about that, and I don’t think my team is thinking about it. I’m wearing a Mets uniform right now, and that’s who I will play hard for. I think my teammates know that.”

Quotables:

Dodger pitcher John Tudor, when asked how his sore left hip felt: “What difference does it make? I’m definitely pitching Friday (Game 3).”

Met pitcher David Cone, about preparing to start in today’s Game 2: “I plan to get a good night’s sleep after I check out the female mud wrestling . . . . As long as I get to bed at 4 or 5 in the morning, I’ll be OK.”