Ground Balls Against Mets Usually Leads to a Sure Loss

Ground balls don’t have a chance. In the holes, up the middle, down the lines, they all wind up in the same place: the glove of a New York Mets infielder. John Olerud, Edgardo Alfonzo, Rey Ordonez and Robin Ventura are turning entire National League infields into grounder graveyards: A place where singles and doubles go to die.

“This is the best infield I’ve ever played for. They pick up everything they should and they pick up ones you wouldn’t expect,” Mets pitcher Orel Hershiser, a veteran of 17 big-league seasons, said. “You get very spoiled. Instead of first and third with none out, it’s two outs and no one on.”

Grass or turf, indoors or out, day or night, the canvas doesn’t matter. Nearly every game, one of the Mets infield artists uses leather to create a masterpiece. The Mets lead the major leagues in fielding percentage (.988), and fewest errors, 56.

Though they should be used to it by now, Mets pitchers can’t help but be amazed. “From my years of experience, I know when a ball comes off the bat a certain way, that it’s a hit. Then all of a sudden you look up and it’s a highlight film,” Hershiser said.

Add Al Leiter, the team’s ace, to the list of those enamored by this season’s glove affair. “It’s fun to watch when I’m not in the game and a pick-me-up when I’m pitching.”

Bobby Valentine recognizes the impact his ground-ball hogs have on a game. “It demoralizes the opposition when hard-hit balls are turned into double plays,” the Mets’ manager said. “They bring us an added edge.”

They also bring a variety of skills. “Their hands and arms--their catching and throwing ability--are way above average,” Valentine said. “They are all intelligent players who anticipate. They know the opposition and they know our pitchers, so they’ll hedge their bets and they’ll cheat a little on positioning. That gives them great range.”

Here’s what each of the four Mets who have made the infield an “out” field in 1999 have to say about their glovework.

* Robin Ventura, third base, age 32: “There are two parts of baseball that really are separate. If your offense isn’t doing well, your defense can help your team win games,” said Ventura, a two-time Gold Glove winner while with the White Sox. “Over the course of my career, I’ve learned to leave the bad at-bats behind me when I take the field.”

That hasn’t been much of a problem this season, as Ventura is among the league-leaders in RBI and is a legitimate MVP candidate. In the past, his bat often overshadowed his glove. Not here. He and Ordonez have made the left side of the infield virtually impenetrable. “Everybody on this infield takes pride in their defense,” Ventura said. “We enjoy playing with each other. We all enjoy watching the other guys make plays.”

* Rey Ordonez, shortstop, age 26. “Of course there is a sense of pride in my defense. I have worked hard, and what happened is I developed my type of defense, my style,” Ordonez said to a Spanish-speaking Newsday reporter.

The two-time Gold Glove winner is by far the most stylish player of the quartet, with his trademark slides to either direction and pop-up, strong, accurate throws from any imaginable angle. He is enjoying the spotlight. “A lot of people say we are the best, the number one infield in baseball. The pitchers can work without thinking because they have good defense behind them,” Ordonez said.

He is also enjoying this season’s reunion with his minor-league double-play partner, Alfonzo. “We work together well. It has helped me pick up my game to have Edgardo at second base now.”

* Edgardo Alfonzo, second base, age 25. “It feels great that when people talk about the Mets, they talk about our defense,” Alfonzo said in the dugout before a recent game, talking to a reporter about his glove while carefully taping the handles of his bats.

Alfonzo played mostly third base in his four previous seasons in New York and there was some question as to how he would handle the switch. “I have to like second base,” he said, laughing. “But I played second base in the minors, and I know how Rey plays. I have to prepare for him. We are two guys who have got to be like one.”

The blending began in spring training, Alfonzo said. “I started doing the little things right away: positioning, working on the pivot. So I’m ready for everything. I have to work real hard, but I feel good about it.” No wonder. He has made only two errors and has combined with Ordonez on a number of highlight-reel double plays.

“I think it makes the pitchers feel safe. Guys like Hershiser and [Rick] Reed throw a lot of ground balls,” Alfonzo said. “I enjoy that. You have to be in the game more. You have to feed off each other.”

* John Olerud, first base. Age 31. “I have the easiest job of any first baseman in the league. I just stick out my glove and they hit it,” Olerud said. “They don’t make many bad throws. They make a lot of diving plays. They get to balls other infielders don’t get to. Rey has made some plays that are surprising. I’m surprised that he even gets to the ball, then I’m surprised at how quick the ball gets to me.”

It’s typical of the soft-spoken, modest Olerud that he deflects talk away from his own contributions. But Valentine recognizes them. “John’s range around the bag is well above average. Not just because of his height, but his knowledge of the angles on throws,” Valentine said. “The few times that Matty Franco has played first base, I can remember him catching balls and tagging the runner. All the times that John’s played first base, I don’t remember him catching the ball and tagging the runner. (Valentine pantomimed a first baseman stretching for a throw.) John knows just where to go to catch the ball.”

Just how good is this infield? “It’s the very best in both leagues, no question,” reliever Dennis Cook said. Valentine, who played for the California Angels in the mid-1970s against the Baltimore Orioles’ brilliant infield, believes this group deserves to be compared with the all-time best.

“You know, because we’ve been so good, I’ve had to give it thought,” Valentine said. “I think that one of the best infields I ever played against was Baltimore with [third baseman Brooks] Robinson, [shortstop Mark] Belanger, [second baseman Bobby] Grich and [first baseman Boog] Powell. It’s a real similar situation here.”

He offered this “around-the-horn” analysis: “I think that Brooks and Robin are like the same player. Robin has a little more power. They both have the same foot speed [extra slow], but both field the ball coming in almost exactly the same. Belanger had the range that Rey does and the steadiness. Grich reminds me of Fonzie. Good hands, good power. Boog is like John--underrated because they are big and slow, but both have range around the bag.”