BOSTON — Doug Melvin already has had great influence on a New York baseball team — in part because of his wife’s strawberry shortcake.
Melvin pitched six years in the minors, the final four with the Yankees. Melvin, who interviewed for the Mets’ GM position Tuesday, graduated from batting-practice pitcher for the club to the Yankees’ scouting director. In that capacity in 1985 he received a report from scout Roberto Rivera about a 16-year-old he was watching play center field for the Sabana Hoyos in the Mickey Mantle League in Puerto Rico. Rivera looked at Bernie Williams’ long legs and arms and projected the next Dave Winfield.