Mets’ Valentine Gets Message

General Manager Steve Phillips of the New York Mets insists he didn’t fire three coaches to send his manager a message, but Bobby Valentine isn’t so sure.

“I don’t have to be told anything,” Valentine said before Sunday’s 7-2 victory over the New York Yankees. “I know I am not doing my job as good as I should be. I don’t need a message when we are one game under .500 with a $70 million payroll. We’re not doing the job we need to do.”

In a stunning move late Saturday night, Phillips fired pitching coach Bob Apodaca, bullpen coach Randy Niemann and hitting coach Tom Robson from his struggling team.

The dismissals came after the Mets lost their eighth game in a row, 6-3, to the Yankees.

Advisor Dave Wallace, the pitching coach for three years, takes over the pitchers, minor league pitching coordinator Al Jackson takes over the bullpen, and minor league hitting coordinator Mickey Brantley becomes the hitting coach.

*

Florida Marlin Manager John Boles, out with a cervical neck sprain, is scheduled to return to the club today for the start of a three-game series against Baltimore. . . . Chris Carpenter, Toronto’s most consistent starter this season, will miss tonight’s assignment against the Mets because of a tender right elbow. Roy Halladay will pitch in place of Carpenter. . . . Boston recalled right-hander Juan Pena from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Pawtucket. . . . Oakland activated pitcher Kevin Jarvis from the 15-day disabled list and sent him outright to triple-A Vancouver.