That subject line comes courtesy of Jimmy Rollins - good-natured parting words for David Wright on the plane ride back to camp after the two spent about three weeks as teammates on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
After agreeing that Team USA would come before Phillies or Mets, the pairing of Rollins and Victorino vs. Wright and J.J. Putz can resume the natural rivalry. As Wright arrived back in camp Monday, his teammates joked with him, prodding him with little digs about his new friends.
"How do you feel about playing with Victorino and Rollins," Jose Valentin asked, although Wright quickly knew where the question really came from as he replied, "He put you up to asking that question," as he
pointed at Jose Reyes.
Actually, the experience seemed to provide an opportunity for the Mets to joke amongst themselves. When Wright asked Reyes what hat they were wearing for workouts today, Reyes told him which hat and added, "I remember when I was a rookie in my first camp." Of course, Wright pointed out that Reyes was only gone for about four days due to the Dominican teams quick exit from the WBC.
Across the room, Carlos Delgado held an animated - joking - attack on Putz, screeching, "My teammate - throws me a 2-1 splitter." Putz joked, "I got lucky," as he had struck out Carlos Beltran and Delgado in succession. Putz actually said that he and Frankie Rodriguez got a chance to spend some time together talking during the tournament even though they were on opposing sides.
The entire contingent was among the players left behind as the Mets departed for Kissimmee to face the Houston Astros, but the players hardly seemed to need a rest. Putz and K-Rod both said that they would play catch today and then pitch tomorrow in a minor league game. Wright sounded ready for whatever was ahead of him. And they were also convinced the experience would benefit them.
"I think if you ask
those 16 guys, I would say every single one would say that they’re more
prepared for the season now than they were three weeks ago or when the classic
started," Wright said. "I think all 16 guys would do it again."
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