Read: At Home with K-Rod in Caracas
In a long, 2,800–word, fascinating article, Christian Red of the Daily News traveled to Venezuela to talk with 
Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez at his new home in Caracas.
Red talks with K-Rod about his family, his new home, playing in the WBC, the estranged relationship with his parents, how and why he learned to play baseball, and his nickname at home, ‘The Kid Rodriguez.’
Rodriguez, speaking to Red about the Mets, and ‘The Collapse,’ and what it means to him, said:
“Everybody knows the story. Unfortunately the last two years, they fell short. They didn’t get the goal that was to get into the playoffs… I cannot speak for them because I wasn’t there… Every ballplayer comes to spring training with one goal – you don’t think about numbers or yourself. You think about what’s best for the ball club and the one goal, which is to win a championship. I believe that’s got to be everybody else in that clubhouse’s goal, too.”
…this is a cliche’d response…that said, this is why the Mets need some new blood…they need some new, impact players who do not have the Stink of September on the them…sure, goals, championship, blah, blah, blah, i’ve heard it before…
…however, when this sort of lingo comes from a new player, coming from in a different enviornment and a different experience, while playing such an important position, it re-establishes the idea of new, which the Mets are desperate for…it’s not the words that K-Rod will speak, it’s his words plus his energy and actions that will have an impact…
…also, this is a tremendous piece of ‘reporting,’ a word that is taken for granted in the blogosphere i think, and red deserves a ton of credit…i envy his ability to travel, and have time to create this type of work…well done…
