Q&A: MetsBlog and Minaya on Gritty Players
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog: I think a lot of fans were excited when they heard Jerry Manuel in his press conference talking about going back to a hard nose, gritty kind of fundamentally-sound type of offense. I think Mets fans love those type of players, that is kind of what the history of the team is and they love that stuff.
However, Dave from Princeton asks, “How do you evaluate and identify a ‘gritty, clutch player?’ Is there a stat that you look at? Is it just reputation? How do you define gritty?”
Omar Minaya: Well, you identify it by seeing the player in the trenches. A lot of people think that some guys are ‘clutch players,’ but the reality is that they are not really ‘clutch,’ it’s just the perception. A lot of it has to do with perception. People want to perceive one guy to be one thing, but in reality you don’t know if these guys are good ‘team players’ or ‘selfish players’ internally, you don’t know these things… I know a lot of players that are considered really ‘tough players’ and they’re not – they are basically ‘selfish players.’
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog: Plus, you then have to apply that to New York. I imagine that brings a whole other level.
Omar Minaya: Yeah, I mean, it is all perception. The perception of how players are and the reality of how they are, a lot of times, they just don’t correlate.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog: Do you feel it out by asking other players who may have played with him? Like, is it word of mouth? Or, is it…
Omar Minaya: Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is a combination of listening to all the players and listening to the other coaches and managers, listening to all of these things to make a true evaluation. I’ll tell you that we do have some guys here that are finding it out. Also, a lot of times, the fans don’t know which players are playing hurt either.
Matthew Cerrone, from MetsBlog: Right, like with Beltran, I would think. I know he spoke with reporters a lot this season, and played through a ton of injuries, and ran out there, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for that.
Omar Minaya: I mean, Beltran is one of the ‘toughest players,’ who grinds it out as much as he can and does it in a smooth fashion. But fans, because he is so smooth, fans don’t see that, you know… I mean, Carlos Beltran, the last few years down the stretch, has been banged up, but he went out and played outstanding, while being really, really hurt. That’s ‘tough.’
Question 5, which deals with the bullpen, will post at 1 pm.
To read a full transcript of this entire interview, click here.
