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Monday, May 15, 2000
Agbayani to bat
Star-Bulletin wire services
leadoff for MetsNEW YORK -- Seven years and 40 pounds ago, Benny Agbayani batted leadoff at Hawaii Pacific University. He looked and played the part.
Agbayani, the New York Mets' 6-foot, 225-pound outfielder, no longer looks lean enough to be a conventional leadoff hitter, but manager Bobby Valentine has never been interested in convention. Several Mets will be used in the leadoff role after Saturday's release of Rickey Henderson -- Joe McEwing started there for the second straight game yesterday -- and Agbayani will be among them. So will Jon Nunnally.
When Valentine managed the Texas Rangers, he used Brian Downing, a former catcher, as his leadoff hitter, with good results. Downing had little speed, but he could get on base and drive in runs.
"I remember when he managed Texas, people said, 'This guy isn't a leadoff hitter' " Agbayani said, referring to Valentine and Downing. "People look at me and say, 'He doesn't look like a baseball player.' If I lead off, they're going to say I'm not a leadoff hitter. You've got to prove people wrong."
Agbayani has batted leadoff only three times in his major league career, once this season. He has always had Valentine's support, and he will be among those who get a chance for several reasons.
More than 40 percent of Agbayani's and Nunnally's career hits have been for extra bases; McEwing's ratio is about 30 percent. Agbayani is hitting .293 this year, Nunnally .200, and McEwing has two hits in eight at-bats in his two games.
"Speed at the leadoff spot is the most overrated, talked-about thing in baseball, in my opinion," Valentine said. "The guys who hit the most extra-base hits bat third or fourth. The leadoff hitter's usually on base when they're hitting. Why in God's name do we want the guy who runs the fastest scoring on home runs?"
