Posted at 10:55 a.m., Tuesday, August 7, 2001

Benny's status should become clear today

Advertiser Staff and Wire Services

Waiver purgatory ends for Benny Agbayani tonight.

Agbayani has sat out the past two games as trade rumors involving the Giants — who claimed him at the end of last week — messed with his head.

But tonight in Flushing, barring a last-minute deal, Agbayani is expected to play against the Brewers.

"I'm looking forward to it," Agbayani said,

Agbayani hadn't heard from GM Steve Phillips yesterday, meaning there was no deal in place yet. Waiver trades are difficult to complete so a deal isn't expected, despite discussions.

Sources said Agbayani will know if he is staying or going by tonight's first pitch because his waiver period ends by then. Agbayani doesn't want to be packing his gear to head west.

"I would choose to stay, because I was drafted by this organization and they've treated me with the utmost respect and the fans have embraced me and I have fun playing in New York," the 29-year-old Agbayani said.

Met manager Bobby Valentine didn't start Agbayani on Saturday in Arizona, because he thought the waiver/trade questions were clouding Agbayani's mind.

Valentine said he would've played Agbayani on Sunday, but Jay Payton picked up two hits Saturday, changing the lineup.

Yesterday, Agbayani said his mind is at ease now.

After taking the team charter in from Phoenix, he arrived at his Forest Hills home at 3 a.m., slept for eight hours before running some errands and going to the barber.

"Whatever happens, happens," Agbayani said.

When the phone rung yesterday, he didn't jump, worrying it was Phillips on the other end. But something has rung in Agbayani's mind this second half, which he's dedicated to his baby girl.

This offseason, Agbayani wrote a book, titled "Big League Survivor."

It's a perfect description of Agbayani, because his career has been marked by surviving. This is his challenge again.

The final 50 games of this season for No. 50 are about proving he can be a reliable everyday left fielder. His first-half numbers, .266 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 203 at-bats, were a huge disappointment to him.

"I didn't do anything in the first half," Agbayani said. "Now I need to put up some numbers and go there and play hard every day. I need to have good quality at-bats and get my power numbers up."

He's starting to do it. In the second half, he's hit .360 with a homer and seven RBIs in 50 at-bats.

Although the power numbers aren't good, keep in mind that on a team that can't hit with runners in scoring position (RISP), Agbayani owns a .333 (16-for-48) RISP average. With two outs and men in scoring position, Agbayani is at .321 (8-for-21). So if given the opportunity, Agbayani can drive in runs.

"My ultimate goal is to prove that I can be an everyday left fielder for them," Agbayani said.