Vince Coleman

In the dugout: Leo Gomez got his second straight start on the strength of his four-RBI performance Saturday. "His reputation is when he gets hot, he's hot," manager Phil Regan said beforehand. "I'm hoping that like the weather, he's hot." Gomez flied to center and grounded back to the pitcher yesterday. Look for Jeff Manto to return tonight.On the field: Rafael Palmeiro has turned around his 0-for-25 drought with style. He's 5-for-12 since then,including two home runs in the Kansas City series.

BaseballAthletics: P John Briscoe cleared waivers and has until tomorrow to accept assignment to Triple-A or become free agent.Blue Jays: Placed P Juan Guzman (right pectoral strain) on 15-day DL, retroactive to May 23.Brewers: Placed OF Turner Ward (strained right shoulder) on 15-day DL, retroactive to Sunday. Added P Terry Burrows to 40-man and 25-man rosters.Cubs: Signed IF Felix Fermin to minor-league contract.Giants: Named Larry Baer executive VP and chief operating officer.Mets: Signed P Todd Kutchins, P Andrew Zwirchitz, OF Anthony Johnson and OF Cory Patton.

Los Angeles authorities pitched a felony charge at Mets star Vince Coleman yesterday in the firecracker-tossing incident outside Dodger Stadium 12 days ago that left three persons injured.The charge was far more severe than the misdemeanor that had been expected because Coleman is alleged to have thrown the equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite, said Bill Hodgman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles district attorney's office.But Coleman, 31, was charged only with one felony count of unlawful possession on an explosive device.

In the dugout: Leo Gomez got his second straight start on the strength of his four-RBI performance Saturday. "His reputation is when he gets hot, he's hot," manager Phil Regan said beforehand. "I'm hoping that like the weather, he's hot." Gomez flied to center and grounded back to the pitcher yesterday. Look for Jeff Manto to return tonight.On the field: Rafael Palmeiro has turned around his 0-for-25 drought with style. He's 5-for-12 since then,including two home runs in the Kansas City series.

BaseballNew York Mets -- Placed OF Vince Coleman (torn rib cage) on the 15-day disabled list. Called up OF D.J. Dozier from Triple-A Tidewater.CollegesTuskegee -- Announced contract of men's basketball coach Alfred Barney will not be renewed.FootballNew England Patriots -- Signed CB Waldy Clark, CB Kevin Whitley, G Charles Esty, OT Greg Lahr, S William Price, S Greg Tucker, WR Kelvin Means, WR John Tappin, WR Jeff Smith and LB Troy Wilkes.New York Giants -- Signed OL Bob Dressel, OL Kevin Mancini, LB Mike Poloskey, NT Micah Haley and P Eric Bruun.

NEW YORK -- The ownership of the New York Mets, in the first step of what it promised would be a significant cleanup of the clubhouse, announced yesterday that Vince Coleman's playing career with the team was over.The decision effectively brings to a conclusion the abjectly unsuccessful project embarked on when the Mets signed the outfielder to a controversial four-year, $11.95 million contract before the 1991 season.Co-owner Fred Wilpon, while saying the club would delay taking formal disciplinary action against Coleman until he is arraigned on a felony explosives charge in Los Angeles next month, was unequivocal in stating that Coleman would not put on a Mets uniform again "in the interests of both Vince Coleman and the Mets."

There really is no point in keeping Vince Coleman around anymore. He is bad news, in the way George Foster and Dave Kingman became bad news once, and the New York Mets should cut their losses now and eat the remainder of Coleman's contract immediately if not sooner. Enough is enough.Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday have sinned enough paying Vince Coleman $11.95 million over four years. Coleman has been an embarrassment right from the start, starting with that Port St. Lucie rape investigation that could not prove guilt and later mean-spirited altercations with Mike Cubbage and Jeff Torborg and an accidental golf swing that struck Doc Gooden behind the right shoulder 30 minutes or so before Gooden was scheduled to start a game in April.

BaseballAthletics: P John Briscoe cleared waivers and has until tomorrow to accept assignment to Triple-A or become free agent.Blue Jays: Placed P Juan Guzman (right pectoral strain) on 15-day DL, retroactive to May 23.Brewers: Placed OF Turner Ward (strained right shoulder) on 15-day DL, retroactive to Sunday. Added P Terry Burrows to 40-man and 25-man rosters.Cubs: Signed IF Felix Fermin to minor-league contract.Giants: Named Larry Baer executive VP and chief operating officer.Mets: Signed P Todd Kutchins, P Andrew Zwirchitz, OF Anthony Johnson and OF Cory Patton.

BOSTON -- It was shock enough to venture into baseball's sacred ground, Cooperstown, and see how the money-changers have invaded the temple. Hawkers, shysters, memorabilia buffs now slime up to the very doors of baseball's Hall of Fame itself, selling and buying everything and anything.Not all, but many of baseball's greats were here, there and everywhere, selling their autographs, and the soul sank at the sight. Couldn't the schlocking take just one weekend of the year off?But even worse was to venture into baseball's heart and find the game no longer has a soul.

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Perennial stolen base leader Vince Coleman just might be the fastest player in the National League, so it's no wonder it took the New York Mets about two months to catch him.But the former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder slowed down long enough to accept a four-year contract worth a reported $11.95 million, highlighting another day of free-agent mania at the 89th winter meetings.Coleman was one of the most sought-after players in this year's bumper crop of front-line free agents.

NEW YORK -- The ownership of the New York Mets, in the first step of what it promised would be a significant cleanup of the clubhouse, announced yesterday that Vince Coleman's playing career with the team was over.The decision effectively brings to a conclusion the abjectly unsuccessful project embarked on when the Mets signed the outfielder to a controversial four-year, $11.95 million contract before the 1991 season.Co-owner Fred Wilpon, while saying the club would delay taking formal disciplinary action against Coleman until he is arraigned on a felony explosives charge in Los Angeles next month, was unequivocal in stating that Coleman would not put on a Mets uniform again "in the interests of both Vince Coleman and the Mets."

BOSTON -- It was shock enough to venture into baseball's sacred ground, Cooperstown, and see how the money-changers have invaded the temple. Hawkers, shysters, memorabilia buffs now slime up to the very doors of baseball's Hall of Fame itself, selling and buying everything and anything.Not all, but many of baseball's greats were here, there and everywhere, selling their autographs, and the soul sank at the sight. Couldn't the schlocking take just one weekend of the year off?But even worse was to venture into baseball's heart and find the game no longer has a soul.

Los Angeles authorities pitched a felony charge at Mets star Vince Coleman yesterday in the firecracker-tossing incident outside Dodger Stadium 12 days ago that left three persons injured.The charge was far more severe than the misdemeanor that had been expected because Coleman is alleged to have thrown the equivalent of a quarter-stick of dynamite, said Bill Hodgman, a spokesman for the Los Angeles district attorney's office.But Coleman, 31, was charged only with one felony count of unlawful possession on an explosive device.

The last thing the despicable New York Mets need is another seven-figure free agent who can't play baseball. But they are probably going to get one whether they need her or not.Her? Yeah, her. If I know anything about personal injury juries, the men who administer baseball's Devil's Island will be wise to offer the parents of Amanda Santos, age 2, the little girl with the burned face you might have seen on ESPN Wednesday night, something close to the $2.5 million a year Vince Coleman steals.

There really is no point in keeping Vince Coleman around anymore. He is bad news, in the way George Foster and Dave Kingman became bad news once, and the New York Mets should cut their losses now and eat the remainder of Coleman's contract immediately if not sooner. Enough is enough.Fred Wilpon and Nelson Doubleday have sinned enough paying Vince Coleman $11.95 million over four years. Coleman has been an embarrassment right from the start, starting with that Port St. Lucie rape investigation that could not prove guilt and later mean-spirited altercations with Mike Cubbage and Jeff Torborg and an accidental golf swing that struck Doc Gooden behind the right shoulder 30 minutes or so before Gooden was scheduled to start a game in April.

* BRAVES: Rafael Belliard's pinch single in the seventh against the Padres was his first hit since April 27. . . . Damon Berryhill entered the game with four hits in eight at-bats, but was hitless in four trips. . . . Pete Smith has gone only 6 2/3 innings in his past two starts, giving up 11 hits and nine runs.* CARDINALS: Erik Pappas has hit in 15 straight games (19-for-51, .373), the longest by a St. Louis catcher since Ted Simmons hit in 19 straight in 1975. . . . Reliever Paul Kilgus won in his first major-league appearance since 1991 when he was with the Orioles.

* BRAVES: Rafael Belliard's pinch single in the seventh against the Padres was his first hit since April 27. . . . Damon Berryhill entered the game with four hits in eight at-bats, but was hitless in four trips. . . . Pete Smith has gone only 6 2/3 innings in his past two starts, giving up 11 hits and nine runs.* CARDINALS: Erik Pappas has hit in 15 straight games (19-for-51, .373), the longest by a St. Louis catcher since Ted Simmons hit in 19 straight in 1975. . . . Reliever Paul Kilgus won in his first major-league appearance since 1991 when he was with the Orioles.

The last thing the despicable New York Mets need is another seven-figure free agent who can't play baseball. But they are probably going to get one whether they need her or not.Her? Yeah, her. If I know anything about personal injury juries, the men who administer baseball's Devil's Island will be wise to offer the parents of Amanda Santos, age 2, the little girl with the burned face you might have seen on ESPN Wednesday night, something close to the $2.5 million a year Vince Coleman steals.

The Montreal Expos bought Tim Wallach's house for $180,000 Canadian (about $143,000 American) to induce him to waive his place on their protected list for tomorrow's expansion draft. And they told him he still could live in it while he plays for them. The Expos also will give Wallach $450,000 if he is selected by the Colorado Rockies or the Florida Marlins.The Oakland Athletics opened two spots on their protected list by agreeing to give Bob Welch and Dave Henderson $1 million each if they are drafted.

BaseballNew York Mets -- Placed OF Vince Coleman (torn rib cage) on the 15-day disabled list. Called up OF D.J. Dozier from Triple-A Tidewater.CollegesTuskegee -- Announced contract of men's basketball coach Alfred Barney will not be renewed.FootballNew England Patriots -- Signed CB Waldy Clark, CB Kevin Whitley, G Charles Esty, OT Greg Lahr, S William Price, S Greg Tucker, WR Kelvin Means, WR John Tappin, WR Jeff Smith and LB Troy Wilkes.New York Giants -- Signed OL Bob Dressel, OL Kevin Mancini, LB Mike Poloskey, NT Micah Haley and P Eric Bruun.