Sisk Back With Mets After Stint in Minors

NEW YORK —  Most of the Mets welcomed Tuesday night’s rainout against the Padres at Shea Stadium. Injuries and batting slumps benefit from a night off. But relief pitcher Doug Sisk, just back from Tidewater, wanted the game to be played. “Tonight would have been good because half the people had left,” Sisk said. Sisk fears the Shea fans more than the opposition. It remains to be seen how well he can handle both.

Sisk is back with the Mets after 15 days in the minor leagues. In four games he was 0-2 with a 6.60 earned-run average. He left the Mets 1-1 with an 8.53 ERA. “Well, my record wasn’t real good at Tidewater,” Sisk said. “But when I was sent down they told me they didn’t care what it was.”

Sisk said he found out what he was doing wrong. He was opening him arms too much and corrected that problem by pitching from the stretch.

Sisk was hoping to work out his troubles without leaving the Mets, but realized the team could not carry him. “I just never had it,” he said. “I just kept getting whammed. I think they just wanted to get me the hell out and get somebody to pitch well.”

Sisk remains more concerned with the fans than his pitching. “Pitching in Portland where it was 45 degrees and 150 people in the stands was great,” Sisk said of his minor league experience. “Nobody gives a damn.”

Mets manager Dave Johnson said he sent Sisk down partly because of the fans’ booing. “I did enough in the last month to be totally humiliated,” Sisk said. “I haven’t even talked to my parents since I was sent down.”

Sisk received some unusual help from concerned fans while he was at Tidewater. “One guy sent me a diagram of what I was doing wrong,” he said. “And two girls called to say they were going to church to pray for me. I got my last rites.”

Johnson plans to use Sisk in the same role that he used to be effective in, short relief. “The role I have for Doug Sisk will be right-handed short relief the day after Roger McDowell pitches,” Johnsoon said. In that way Johnson can give McDowell the needed rest the pitcher requires for a surgical elbow and also alleviate the pressure on Sisk. But Johnson wants Sisk to join Jesse Orosco and McDowell as a trio of reliable relievers. “I need Doug, no doubt about it,” Johnson said.

Sisk just wants to get on the mound. “I want to get it over with, how’s that?” Sisk said. “They (the fans) are waiting for me,” Sisk said. “I am gonna get it from them. Some guys told me to wear ear plugs.”

The Mets received more bad news on pitcher Bruce Berenyi, who apparently will be lost for most of the season. Berenyi is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery performed on his right shoulder Wednesday in Columbus, Ga. by Dr. James Andrews. Berenyi, who has been on the disabled list since April 24 with tendinitis of the right shoulder. He was moved to the long term disabled list, meaning he will be sidelined a minimum of 60 days. The exact nature and extent of his injury will be determined after surgery.

Rick Aguilera was to be the Mets’ starting pitcher Tuesday night. The rookie right-hander will pitch in Tidewater Thursday and may start against the Dodgers Sunday if Sid Fernandez is still bothered by an inflamed Achilles’ tendon in his left leg. Fernandez said he is feeling much better. Aguilera, who was not a member of the 40-man roster, will be sent to the bullpen if he is not needed as a starter. Seldom used catcher Ronn Reynolds was optioned to Tidewater to make room for Aguilera. Tuesday night’s game will be made up as part of a twi-night doubleheader on Aug. 23.