Daily Archives: February 3, 2010
Cliff Floyd was a guest of Mike Francesa this afternoon on WFAN.
To listen to the entire 30–minute interview, go here.
Floyd was asked what he thinks is the problem with the Mets, and he said:
“I think they’re missing chemistry. These guys are just not coming together… I have some friends there who say it is just not a good mix… It’s not a good locker room… I mean, you need that… It should never be that way. Having played this long, having been on winning teams, losing teams, no matter what you say about chemistry you need guys on the same page. They need to believe in what they’re trying to do day in and day out, and if you don’t have that you’re gonna find yourself in the situation the Mets have been in, and it’s a shame because their teams have been good enough to go to the World Series.”
Floyd acknowledged that he had a major influence in the team’s locker room in 2006, saying, “I got the guys to believe in what I was saying, and everything was positive… They bought in to it. I was trying to just let Willie do his thing, and allow the clubhouse to be our sanctuary away from the world.”
Floyd said it took him up until the last year or so to realize a team definitely needs veteran players to help show the team’s young players how to approach the game, every night, in the right way.
In Floyd’s opinion, it is up to the players to keep everyone on the same page, allowing the coaching staff to prepare their game plan, instead of wasting time policing the locker room.
He said, in his opinion, ‘it never fails,’ when a player signs his first, big, long-term contract, ‘he’s done, wrap it up,’ and he suggested the same might have been the case with Oliver Perez last off season, he might have become ‘too content.’
He said Mike Cameron hated playing right field, and Floyd told Omar Minaya – at the time – that Cameron and Carlos Beltran could not co-exist in the same outfield, because the two never communicated and played so aggressively.
He said the Beltran and Cameron nearly collided during fly-ball drills in Spring Training.
In 2006, he said the team believed they were about to take over New York City:
“It was the weirdest feeling. I mean, people were writing us in to the World Series… Endy makes that catch and we’re thinking, ‘We’re winning this game, this is it.’”
He said he has never seen a stadium rock like Shea Stadium did following Chavez’s catch.
In regards to Game 6, he said he loves Willie Randolph to death, but, in that situation, when Floyd pinch hit in the game’s final inning, he expected to and should have been bunting, whereas Randolph essentially asked him to hit a three-run home run.
“Man, that was a long walk back to the dugout, it was like walking through Yellowstone Park,” he said. “And I thought about bunting anyway, it crossed my mind.’
Mets OF Fernando Martinez hit a two-run home run for the Dominican Republic in the first inning of today’s Carribean World Series game against Mexico.
Nelson Figueroa pitched a perfect first inning for the Dominican Republic.
The game started at 3:30 pm ET, and is being broadcast on the MLB Network.
Sports business writer Thomas Van Riper, of Forbes, believes Fred Wilpon is making a run at being the worst owner in baseball, saying:
“Wilpon’s two biggest problems: his assumption that New York fans demand a winner each and every year, and his apparent obsession with the Yankees… That one step back that’s usually required to move two steps forward (rebuilding), is one that Wilpon has never been willing to take.”
…i just don’t think the Mets have to rebuild, at least not in the wasteland, start-from-scratch, multiple-years-of-losing way i feel van riper is speaking of… the reality is, the Mets have one of the best pitchers in baseball, two, outstanding, young infielders, a handful of developing young pitchers, a new ballpark, a regional sports television network, a strong revenue stream and a super-passionate fanbase… none of these things should be taken for granted, of course, especially us fans… but, they can turn things around quickly if they just start making better decisions… it’s that simple…
…like i said last week, the off season is what it is… i am slowly starting to learn why things progressed the way they did, but i am still waiting to hear back on a few things before writing about it… but, the point is, the team did nothing to jeopardize its future, and i believe that was the overarching goal of the winter… so, mission accomplished, at least on that front…
…i like the Mets players, i enjoy rooting for them and i want to see them succeed… i have my doubts, of course, but i’m trying to be positive… and so, for me, i’m looking to put the off-field nonsense behind me, for now, (knowing many of the issues that caused these problems still exist), while focusing on the players and the actual games… now, if, again, the Mets are losing and making silly mistakes, off field and on, well, then it’s going to be time to revolt… i see no way around it, and it will be deserving… but, sadly, there isn’t much that can be done between now and Opening Day… like i said, i’m hoping for the best and doing what i can to not lose my mind before Memorial Day…
…by the way, thanks to @drschnip for the link…
The Padres cannot afford to sign 1B Adrian Gonzalez to a long-term contract extension, the player’s agent, John Boggs, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.
“The feeling we’re getting is more than likely they are going to have to trade Adrian Gonzalez because they can’t afford him,” Boggs is quoted as saying.
In 2009, the 27 year old Gonzalez hit .277 with 40 home runs and 99 RBI with a league high 119 walks, and will make $4.75 million in 2010, and the Padres hold a $5.5 million option on him for 2011, after which he can become a free agent.
…basically, there is no rush for San Diego to move him, even if they’re unable to sign him beyond 2011… the reality is, at minimum, they get gonzalez again for Opening Day 2010, at a super-affordable price, to play in front of fans who absolutely love him… he is still going to be valuable in July, before the Trade Deadline… the Padres should be patient, and ask for the moon, because there is no reason not to, especially when teams like the Marlins, Rays and every other team, big market or small, can afford to take on his salary… i still feel his path will be very, very similar to Mark Teixeira, who got traded from the Rangers to the Braves for a package of prospects, who then got a package of prospects of their own when dealing him to the Angels, after which he signed a free-agent deal with the Yankees… i see gonzalez taking a similar route to free agency, as well…
Yesterday, in a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney explained why Oliver Perez could be the key to the Mets rotation in 2010, saying, “His success or failure could be a barometer for how the team fares in 2010.”
Today, Tracy Ringolsby of FoxSports.com says it is John Maine, of whom he asks, “Has he built arm strength or will Dan Warthan be more judicial in trying to push the right-hander?”
Ringolsby also looks at the key pitcher for each National League team, such as Tommy Hanson for the Braves, Josh Johnson for the Marlins, Roy Halladay for the Phillies, and Jason Marquis in DC.
…like i said yesterday, i actually think you can make this case for every pitcher on the staff not named Johan Santana… the fact is, at least two of maine, perez and Mike Pelfrey are going to have to raise their game… personally, i have the most faith in pelfrey, who i feel is on an upswing…
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This is hilarious, there is no other way to put it:
…hat tip to Hot Foot for the video link…
Darryl Strawberry believes the Mets need some attitude, according to David Lennon of Newsday.
To see video of Strawberry talking to reporters, check out this video on MetsBlog.com.
In a recent report for SI.com, Jon Heyman lists the Mets as the biggest loser of the off season, saying:
“The result is that they will take a paper-thin rotation into spring along with a slew of unproven catchers and tons of other questions.”
Heyman believes the Mets could have had Joel Pineiro for two years and $18 million, and they also could have had Bengie Molina for two years and $10 million, “but they played hardball with each and are left lacking at both key positions.”
…oh, and they lost Carlos Beltran for a month due to knee surgery…
Heyman also writes of weak off seasons for the Cubs, Dodgers, Giants and Braves, among others.
In terms of specific players, still available…
Heyman says free-agent 2B Orlando Hudson is dissatisfied with his offer from the Nationals, “and is still looking around.”
Also, Heyman believes the Mariners, Twins and Royals are showing interest in Jarrod Washburn.
Lastly, Heyman says, ‘The Mets are thought to be falling behind in the John Smoltz derby.’
…with all due respect to smoltz, i find it hard to believe there is a derby for his services… from what i can gather, the Mets were initially thinking of smoltz on a minor-league deal, on which he could compete for the fifth starters job, but more likely end up in the bullpen… it seems he would rather just hold out, and try to sign on as a starting pitcher with a contending team later this summer… the same can be said for Pedro Martinez…
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