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Wednesday, October 13, 1999 By Paul Meyer, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
ATLANTA -- Once more, the fans here are taking hits for not buying enough tickets to sell out a postseason game at Turner Field. At noon yesterday, 5,000 tickets were unsold for last night's game and 9,500 tickets remained for today's second game.
The two division series games against Houston here last week drew 39,119, the smallest Braves' playoff crowd in history, and 41,913.
"It's awfully disappointing," Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones said. "This is an exciting team, a blue-collar team, and this team deserves to have the backing of its fans. I know as well as anybody ticket prices are a little high. If that's their reason [for not coming], that's fine.
"But if they're taking it for granted that we're going to make it to the World Series, the Mets might have a little something to say about that."
"I tell you, it's surprising," right fielder Brian Jordan said. "I've been spoiled because I've been in St. Louis for the last six years and they're true baseball fans. Win, lose or draw, they're always there.
"And to come here and to be in a postseason and not have a sellout crowd is surprising. I know they're used to the Atlanta Braves winning, but I think they should be here. I'm disappointed. But like I said, I'm spoiled from St. Louis."
The empty seats weren't an issue for Manager Bobby Cox.
"Quite honestly I didn't know it wasn't sold out," he said. "I thought it was sold out."
The empty seats didn't bother Greg Maddux.
"I've always been one that never really knows how many people are in the stands," Maddux said. "I think when you're out there pitching and you get locked in, what's going on outside the base lines is not really a factor.
"I've heard pitchers say they feed off the emotion of the crowd and all that. I wish someone would kind of show me how to do that because I never really know if it's sold out or what."
Mets Manager Bobby Valentine's reaction to the non-sellout?
"I guess there's no chance of me scalping my tickets then," he said, jokingly.
Piazza starts
Catcher Mike Piazza, who missed the last two games of the division series against Arizona because of a swollen left thumb, returned to the New York lineup last night.
Yesterday morning, the Mets trainers checked with Piazza, who reported his thumb was fine.
"Actually it was a little better than [Monday], and it was good enough to play then," Valentine said. "He's healthy, so we put him on the roster. Because of that, I decided to play him."
Smart move. Piazza was glad to be back.
"Well, it was obviously very frustrating for me," Piazza said of missing the two games, "but I was very happy the way the ballclub played. It's just a great feeling knowing you're on such a good team. I think when we're playing at our best, it shows the balance we have on this ballclub. It was like they were going to have to do it without me, and that's a good feeling.
"I know my role is big on this team, but it's not like I'm in the spotlight. I know that I'm expected to come through, but the balance is great. You have one through seven in the lineup who can sustain you at any time. That's a good feeling for everybody. And that's something that's been real positive this year."
A Braves fan
Masato Yoshii, who started against the Braves last night, said he was a large Atlanta fan when he pitched in Japan.
"When you look at their starting rotation, each of the pitchers was truly amazing," he said. "I liked them because of their ability and the way they were able to compose themselves."
Take the low road
Jones, who sparked a spate of pre-series verbal skirmishes, took the low road yesterday.
"We'll go out, play hard, keep our mouths shut and play baseball," he said.
Jones summarized his feelings about the Mets rallying to make the postseason.
"I'm not surprised," Jones said. "Certainly their backs were against the wall there for a little while. I think if they hadn't made the playoffs, everybody in this league would have been surprised.
"But now they're here, and it's pretty much what everybody expected. I think the two best teams in the National League all year are playing each other in the LCS, which is the way it should be."
Eight in a row
The Braves are playing in their eighth consecutive National League Championship Series against their seventh different opponent. After playing the Pirates in 1991-92, they met Philadelphia, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Florida and San Diego.
The Mets are in the NLCS for the first time since 1988.
"I really don't know if there's any type of edge there," Cox said. "You're still nervous and have butterflies and all that. But it's fun and it's a big deal for us. We try to get here every year, and we've been lucky enough to accomplish that."
Stuff you hear
If Buddy Bell gets the job as manager the Colorado Rockies, he'll probably keep Rich Donnelly as a coach. However, Tommy Sandt likely won't stay with the Rockies. He could wind up with Phil Garner with some team. Milt May, the Colorado pitching coach, might retire. ... Tampa Bay isn't thrilled with outfielder Jose Guillen and might try to trade him this winter.
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