Ex-Mets Find Happiness Playing for a Contender
By RAFAEL HERMOSO

The New York Times

OS ANGELES, Aug. 22 - Rickey Henderson longed for the off-season, 
when he could relax on the sand and enjoy the cool Caribbean breezes 
before he played winter ball. Robin Ventura sat back in the folding 
chair by his locker, contemplating life in Southern California after 
having transformed himself into a New Yorker. And Jeromy Burnitz 
beamed through his Dodger-blue batting-practice jersey, loving life 
in a playoff race for the first time as a major leaguer.

All three former Mets have found new lives with the Dodgers, but 
Burnitz appears to be the happiest. Burnitz never won with the 
Indians, the Brewers or in two stints with the Mets. His last 
championship run was with Class AAA Buffalo in 1995. 

"I got a regret that I wasn't able to be on a good team for the last 
nine years," Burnitz said. "I wish it happened from Day 1. I wish I 
was Derek Jeter and five years with five rings. Some of us are just a 
little more fortunate in that regard."

Burnitz was ineffective last season as the Mets collapsed, but he 
returned to his slugging ways this season. He was hitting .223 with 7 
home runs and 17 runs batted in since joining the Dodgers in mid-
July. Burnitz sees being traded to a contender as sort of a reward 
for his perseverance, because "nobody's looking for guys who can't 
hit," he said.

Now Burnitz is teammates with a former enemy. He chased Dodgers 
reliever Guillermo Mota across the field in spring training after 
Mota hit Mike Piazza with a pitch, resulting in a $500 fine for 
Burnitz. They have exchanged greetings since becoming teammates, 
Burnitz said, and it helped that they never connected in that 
skirmish on the field. "It was just a chase," Burnitz said, pumping 
his arms in a running motion.

Ventura and Burnitz were acquired to help the Dodgers' offense, which 
has scored the fewest runs in the National League. As left-handed 
hitters, neither started tonight against Mets starter Al Leiter.

Ventura, a Dodgers fan as a child, is living in a hotel 30 minutes 
from Dodger Stadium, and he seemed unchanged from the popular player 
who spent three years with the Mets before playing the last year and 
a half with the Yankees. He still owns a home in Connecticut and is 
not sure whether his children will enroll in school there or in 
California.

Ventura, hitting .246 with two home runs and seven R.B.I. with the 
Dodgers, shrugged at the personal upheaval. He said that the Yankees 
were the best team in the American League and that he marveled at the 
great players who have played for them. When he struggled this 
season, the Yankees traded for Cincinnati third baseman Aaron Boone 
and shipped Ventura to the Dodgers.

"That kind of became normal," Ventura said of the Yankees' constant 
changes. "I think being there, you don't ever get too attached. It's 
going to happen all the time. Obviously, as a team they're not afraid 
to make moves. I think as a team they try to do everything they can 
for September and beyond."

Ventura called the 2000 World Series, when he played for the Mets 
against the Yankees, the highlight of his career. He joked that he 
began the exodus from that Mets team, one that has included Manager 
Bobby Valentine and General Manager Steve Phillips.

The Dodgers salvaged Henderson from the independent Newark Bears, and 
he batted leadoff tonight, going 1 for 3 in the Dodgers' 2-1 victory. 
His quirks have not diminished at age 44. Although he is major league 
baseball's career leader in steals, runs scored, walks and leadoff 
home runs, he said he planned to play winter ball this off-season. He 
did not appear to be joking, although he paused when asked where he 
would play. The Dominican Republic, he finally said.

Burnitz said he would ask Henderson for an autographed bat, base and 
ball to place in his home. "Anything I've ever laughed at or made fun 
of him for, I completely apologize," Burnitz said.

INSIDE PITCH

AARON HEILMAN will be skipped in the rotation next week for the 
second time in three weeks. Heilman had his best start as a Met on 
Wednesday, allowing one run in six innings against the Padres, 
although he walked five.