Interview: MetsBlog talks with Strawberry
…i had the opportunity to sit down and talk with Darryl Strawberry earlier this week while at the SNY studios…i wanted to talk to darryl, because who, more than he, knows about booing and the relationship between fans and players… To watch Part 1 and 2 of my talk with Strawberry, use the video players below, or scroll down to read a written transcript of the discussion:
Matthew Cerrone: I am interested in getting your response to this topic about Mets fans and booing, and how ‘out of control’ it is. I’m wondering from your days, how does it compare?
Darryl Strawberry: Well, I don’t really think it is that out of control. I think it compares with having a good team, and wanting the team to do well and be successful. I think that’s pretty much what happened in the days when we developed and became a good team, if we didn’t play well then of course the fans would be and let us know. So, it’s part of it, because you know that when you play in New York the expectations are high – and you look at this team the last couple of years, they’ve been very close and when you get close you start spoiling your fans and they want to see you get over to the other side. (The fans) haven’t seen that in a while, so, sometimes they get restless, their emotions come out. I never took it personally. I took it as them wanting us to win and we need to do a better job.
Matthew Cerrone: Did it take you a while to realize that? Or, did you know that then. I mean, you were a young guy then, did you know it then or was it after the fact?
Darryl Strawberry: Well, I think we realized it when we became the kind of ball club we did. You know, we were starting to be successful and we needed to get to the next level and excel. And when you start understanding that the fans are coming out to support you every night and they appreciate the good, but there is bad that comes along with it and they’re gonna let you know when it’s bad and ugly. I really did appreciate the fans, because they make you realize you’re better and you can do a better job and in other cities it’s not like that. You have to respect that because it’s New York.
Matthew Cerrone: What kind of advice would you give to a player on the current team, because maybe the booing gets in their head?
Darryl Strawberry: Well, I think the most important thing is not to take it personal. I think if you get too personal with it, you kind of lose a sense of what your real purpose is. You’re real purpose is to play baseball, and what you do and what you love. It becomes a distraction if you’re overly concerned with it…You have to remember that they’re there to support you and they’re there to let you know, too, at the same time, if you’re not going well.
Matthew Cerrone: It seems to me that one of the big difference is – and I’m new to this, I guess – but I don’t ever remember guys getting so heavily booed before they come in to a game, and…
Darryl Strawberry: (Laughing) No? That may seem much to you, but, back in our days when certain guys before they came in and were announced, oh, believe me, there was a big boo.
Matthew Cerrone: I think one of the other concerns among Mets fans is that it’s probably a minority of fans who are booing, but that’s who gets heard, and there’s a fear that this could kill any home field advantage, or discourage free-agents from signing here. Is that real?
Darryl Strawberry: Well, it’s always been like that. It’s not gonna change just because a player decides he doesn’t want to play here…It doesn’t really ever lose that home-field advantage with the fans, because they can be great too…If you’re out there performing and doing great things, believe me, these fans are 100 percent behind you. At the same time, if you’re sucking up the place, they’re gonna let you know.
Matthew Cerrone: I think I remember hearing you talk once about how when you went out to Los Angeles you missed the energy from New York’s fans.
Darryl Strawberry: Oh, no question about it. I missed it…I was used to the fans yelling when you play like crap. It was kind of motivating. I went to LA and it was different. There it is more laid back and fans didn’t yell as much…They live and die with you (in New York), and that’s a great sign when you have fans like that.
Matthew Cerrone: Have you ever talked with the current players about that? I know you were down in spring training. Do you talk about this with them?
Darryl Strawberry: No…I think it’s a learning process for them to understand that New York is great. You know, there’s nothing greater than winning here. If you ever get in that winning circle, and they get a taste of it, they’ll truly understand what type of fans they have, because they really come out when you win.
…i’ll be honest, there was a point during his first answer when it hit me, ‘I can’t believe I am sitting here eye-to-eye talking with Darryl Strawberry,’ and so i am not sure i heard a single word he said…instead, i was inundated with flashbacks of chasing him down for autographs after a game when i was a kid, or pinning his poster on my wall, etc…once the first question was complete, though, i got it together and was able to focus on the interview…thankfully…
