Corey awaiting additional tests
Published 12:00 am Sunday, June 30, 2002
NEW YORK
-- Mark Corey's first set of medical tests didn't reveal what caused his seizure, and the New York Mets pitcher still wasn't talking about his reported marijuana use.
Corey was stricken Wednesday night shortly after the Mets' 6-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves. On Friday, Newsday said the player admitted smoking marijuana just before falling ill in a parking lot outside a hotel near Shea Stadium.
The Mets said further tests on Corey are expected to be completed by Monday, when he is scheduled to be examined by a neurologist.
Asked on Friday whether marijuana could have caused his problem, Corey said: ''I'm open to that.''
Several reports Saturday said Mets teammate Tony Tarasco, who drove Corey to the hotel and was with the pitcher when he was stricken, used marijuana with Corey.
The New York Post reported that Tarasco was asked by police where the marijuana was bought and if it was laced with a substance, but Tarasco could not provide the information or a sample of the drug.
The New York Times reported that police did not search Tarasco's car for drugs.
Corey, a seldom-used reliever who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday, was not with the Mets as they opened a three-game stand at Yankee Stadium in another round of Subway Series interleague play. The Mets lost 11-5 Friday night.
The 27-year-old Corey said he was to meet with Mets psychiatrist Allan Lans, coordinator of the Employee Assistance Program. He also said Mets general manager Steve Phillips talked to major league baseball about his collapse.
Tarasco declined to talk about alleged marijuana use.
''Guys, I can't comment right now,'' he said as he dressed for Friday night's game.
''I'm really concerned about that kid's health,'' he said. ''He's been going through a lot of trauma.''
Tarasco said major league baseball had not talked to him about Corey's seizure. ''I don't expect they will,'' he said.
Tarasco said the Mets had not spoken to him, either. Phillips said there was no off-the-field issue to discuss with Tarasco.
The New York Daily News reported Saturday that Corey and Tarasco have been instructed to follow major league baseball's program for first-time offenders.
Duquette said if any test results showed that Corey's seizure was caused by drug use, the Mets would not be allowed to reveal that information.
''It would be something that we would turn over to the Employee Assistance Program,'' Duquette said.
There have been a lot of issues surrounding the Mets lately beyond their poor play. There was a dugout skirmish between Roberto Alomar and Roger Cedeno, a lingering feud between the club's co-owners and now Corey's seizure.
''I feel it's a constant struggle to get everyone into a baseball mode because there are a lot of other thoughts and questions,'' manager Bobby Valentine said.
The players' union said it had no comment regarding Corey's seizure and the marijuana report.
Corey's collapse came less than a week after Darryl Kile of the St. Louis Cardinals died in his sleep in his hotel room in Chicago. An initial autopsy found that the 33-year-old pitcher had severe blockages and hardening of the arteries to his heart.
Kile's death and a separate issue, increasing concerns about steroid use among players, have raised many questions for baseball executives.
Phillips didn't want to get too specific, but hoped heightened awareness might produce some good.
''If the tragedy of Darryl Kile and the mistakes of other players lead to a change in structure that can help prevent further occurrences, then that would be the legacy,'' he said. The Associated Press