Just over a week ago, with the Mets in disarray during an eight-game losing streak, two outfielders were placed on irrevocable waivers. One has become a more severe cancer to the team than he was before; the other hit a game-clinching homer yesterday in the Mets’ 5-4 win over the Red Sox.
While Bobby Bonilla mopes on the bench and refuses to enter games, Brian McRae has flourished.
“I don’t really read the newspapers or anything, so that stuff has no impact on me,” said McRae, who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and hit his seventh homer.
But manager Bobby Valentine explained that he had a conversation with McRae after the story broke, addressing the situation.
“I told him, ‘You’re on the team and we’re gonna need you,'” Valentine said. “Since then he’s been real clutch for us, both defensively and offensively.”
“There’s nothing I can do about what the [front office] does,” McRae said. “I try to stay from all that stuff and do my job. That’s why it will be good to get out of New York [today]. We’ve been here way too long with all of this stuff.”
It’s a lot easier after a game like yesterday’s. With the Mets clinging to a 3-2 lead, Mike Piazza led off with a double, chasing Boston starter Mark Portugal. Robin Ventura followed by flying out to left off reliever Jim Corsi.
“After Robin didn’t get Mike over, I wanted to pick him up,” McRae said. “Fortunately, [Corsi] threw me a changeup and he left it up.”
McRae took the 0-1 mistake and left it over the right field wall, giving the Mets the last of their five runs, including what proved to be the winning one.
“It’s always frustrating when you’re losing, but this game goes like that,” McRae said of the past two weeks. “Sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re down. That’s what I like about this team: We’re the same no matter what the situation is. You see guys playing in cards here all the time, no matter what. We’re real level-headed.”