Batting Around with Cliff Floyd
By Ian Browne / MLB.com

Cliff Floyd has been traded twice in the last month, but the latter move put him on a legitimate pennant contender for the first time in years. The 29-year-old Floyd had played his whole career for the Expos and Marlins, two teams who struggled to win games and sell tickets. Now he's with the Boston Red Sox, who play in front of a packed house and are always the center of the sports universe in Boston. Floyd took some time to share his thoughts on his career and the move to Boston with MLB.com.

MLB.com: First of all, what does it feel like to be part of a team with so much tradition after spending your entire career in Montreal and Florida?
Floyd: It's awesome. I couldn't ask for a better situation to be a part of. Everything is here for you. You just have to go out there and play. I'm very thankful for it and thought I'd be a good fit to come in and help. Just look at all the guys who have played for the Red Sox, all the way back to Ted Williams. And just seeing Carlton Fisk and Eck (Dennis Eckersley) yesterday, it was great. And people told me that guys like that come through this clubhouse all the time.

MLB.com: After just a few days, can you already feel the difference in attitude between being with a contender and a non-contender?
Floyd: Oh yes, definitely. The big thing is that when they lose here, they don't drag. It's not something like when you lose one, you lose five. You just come back the next day and everyone has a new attitude, and you rarely see that when I was with a young team with the Marlins and Expos.

MLB.com: In the last couple of years, you have transformed yourself into one of the game's most productive hitters. What has been the key to that?
Floyd: I was willing to learn and have patience and know that the game takes time. If you're going to be somebody who the team counts on to play every single day, you're going to need patience. Patience is a virtue. It's one of those things where I've been able to focus on the positives instead of the negatives that come out of a season. I think that's one thing that's helped me.

MLB.com: When the trade was made, one of the first names you mentioned was (Red Sox first base coach) Tommy Harper. I know you guys were together earlier in your career when he was a coach in Montreal. Tell the fans what means so much to you about Tommy. Why are you so excited to be back with him?
Floyd: He just stayed on me and stayed with me and made sure that I stayed focused and made sure that when times were down and I was on the outs, he always made sure I kept my confidence. That was one thing that kept me in the league. This game is tough mentally on you. Physically you probably have what it takes to do everything you're supposed to do, but mentally it's tough. Harp stayed on me and I can't thank him enough for that. There were times I just felt like I couldn't do it anymore.

MLB.com: John Henry was your owner in Florida, and now he is again. Talk about what kind of owner he is, and how nice it is to be reunited with him.
Floyd: It's awesome to be back with him. He's always been a man of his word and made sure everyone was happy to be there. When you have a guy like that you can count on, it's always a good feeling. He's always going to do what's right for the players.

MLB.com: Tell Red Sox fans what kind of person Cliff Floyd is. Are you an intense guy, are you fun-loving? Somewhere in between?
Floyd: I'm just easygoing. I don't let too many things bother me. I'm always smiling, I'm always looking for a good joke. I just like to be around people. I like to be in the action. And I love a challenge. This is a great place for me to play because it's a challenge every time you go out there and play in front of more than 30,000 people.

MLB.com: And how would you describe yourself once you get between the lines?
Floyd: I have to relax when I play. Not be so intense. That's when I try and do too much. When I'm relaxed, and just playing my game, everything just flows.

MLB.com: In 1995, you had that devastating injury playing first base at Shea Stadium. The collision with Todd Hundley. Six of the eight bones at the base of your hand were either broken or dislocated. You became an outfielder after that. Would it be tough to ever go back to first base with that memory?
Floyd: It's mentally tough. Any time you have that situation come up, you have to be mentally prepared. It's like going from left field to right field. You have to be mentally prepared for that. When you're going from there to a position where you're in the game the whole nine innings, you have to be ready for it. If you're not ready for it, it can eat you up. If I have time to work at it and prepare for it be ready for it, it could become easy. But it's something that will take time. If I'm needed to go back there, I hope to be told early so I can work on it and prepare for it.

MLB.com: Do you consider yourself a left fielder or a right fielder? You've played a fair amount of both in your career.
Floyd: Left field is more comfortable for me. Right field, you have to be able to throw the ball a lot. Left field is an easier position. They won't run on you if you have a half decent arm. (go to list)

ESPN Zone Atlanta - Quick Questions
Cliff Floyd - Marlins Outfielder
• Named to the 2001 All Star team
• Has produced two 20 home run, 20 steals seasons with Florida
• 1993 Minor League Player of the Year

Cliff Floyd was in the ESPN Zone Atlanta to appear on Baseball Tonight.

ESPN Zone: Who were your roll models when you first started out playing or when you were growing up?
Cliff Floyd: Harold Baines. He just doesn't get recognized like he should. He's raw and plays everyday and he did everything and he's still playing today! And when he wants to walk away from the game he can and that's what every player should do. They should be able to walk when they want to.

ESPN Zone: Pro-player Stadium has the teal tower in left how difficult is it to read the angles and bounces of the ball, and does your fielding practices involve learning how to judge the wall?
Cliff Floyd: It takes a lot of practice. A lot of times before the game I put my time in learning the wall. Now when I go to other parks, its not hard to adjust, because I have the hardest one of them all. Even when I went to Fenway this year, it wasn't hard, our wall is just a little shorter.

ESPN Zone: Favorite pitcher to bat against?
Cliff Floyd: Chan Ho Park. Everybody thinks he's overpowering, but to me he isn't. He doesn't have any of that herky-jerky stuff. He always throws right over the plate and he fits into my power.

ESPN Zone: Least favorite pitcher to bat against?
Cliff Floyd: Curt Schilling. He hides the ball so well. Every time I face him I know he is going to throw a splitter in the dirt, yet I still swing and miss. I've tried everything. I've tried to relax, but nothing works.

ESPN Zone: There isn't an ESPN Zone in Miami as of yet, have you been to others besides here on your road trips?
Cliff Floyd:I've been to the ESPN ZONE in Chicago. The Zone has great scenery and atmosphere and the food is real good.

ESPN Zone: Any fun stories or pranks can you tell about on your road trips?
Cliff Floyd: It's not too crazy, but a lot of us, like to give 6 AM wake up calls to our teammates that like to stay out late around 4-5 AM? so nothing too crazy. (go to list)