Don't Blame Al, He's Just An Inmate



No doubt weary of being blamed for have engineered the dubious deal that sent Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay in exchange for Victor Zambrano and his busted wing, the Mets' Al Leiter spoke to the Daily News' Adam Rubin to refute claims that the lefty Bill Pullman lookalike was pulling the strings.




Al Leiter said he's not playing assistant GM. The southpaw also wants Scott Kazmir to know he has nothing against him - despite reports suggesting Leiter's displeasure with the 20-year-old flamethrower's maturity helped fuel the trade to Tampa Bay for Victor Zambrano. Kazmir makes his major-league debut tonight in Seattle.

"I like the kid," Leiter said.

Leiter suggested Mets personnel are privately saying he was displeased with Kazmir in an effort to spread any heat arising from the trade.

Leiter believes the Mets are built to win now, considering the core includes himself, Mike Piazza and Tom Glavine. But he denies speaking with the front office about personnel. At most, he said, he's shared his opinions with pitching coach Rick Peterson and his teammates.

"My guess, internally, advisers, scouts or people in the front office are like, 'Well, we're not the only ones that had a problem with (Kazmir).' Now I'm like, 'What did I do?'" Leiter said. "So now we're getting to the point where you don't talk to your pitching coach, maybe don't even talk to one of your teammates? Don't talk to anybody, certainly don't give your opinion, because eventually somebody blames you."

Leiter said he had "as good or better relationships" elsewhere with GMs Dave Dombrowski, Pat Gillick and Paul Beeston and used to golf with Marlins owner Wayne Huizenga.

"I do no impressing upon Jeff (Wilpon, the Mets COO and owner Fred's son). There is no dialogue," Leiter said. "I have been accused, Johnny (Franco) has been accused of, this supposed tremendous relationship. I'm not saying it's bad. I'm saying there's a definite separation. They brought in advisers, all these guys. Every team I've been on, there's been a handful of players that have communication and relationships with a scout, manager, GM or an owner - every team I've been on. To think the inmates are running the asylum is wrong."

So there you have it. Al just likes to hang out with cool dudes like Wayne Huzinga and Michael Bloomberg, and he'd never, ever try to use his influence to impact Mets player moves.

After all, that's Tom Glavine's job.

Posted: Mon - August 23, 2004 at 03:18 PM      

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