Floyd
visits clubhouse
By Kerry Sheridan / Special to MLB.com
8/30/2003 6:33 PM ET
NEW YORK -- Wearing a thick, boot-like cast that rose to
his knee, Cliff Floyd hobbled into the Mets' clubhouse on
crutches prior to Saturday's game and showed his sense of
humor was fully intact.
"I can play now," he joked.
Floyd was in good spirits as he returned to see his teammates
and trainers for the first time since he left on Aug. 18
to prepare for surgery on his ailing Achilles tendon.
The procedure took place Friday at Union Memorial Ambulatory
Surgical Center in Baltimore, MD.
Dr. Lou Schon performed the operation, which involved shaving
down a chunk of bone that was grating against Floyd's tendon.
Floyd said Dr. Schon had been surprised at the size of the
bone he had to remove, but that his tendon had not been
torn.
"The doc said everything went well," said Floyd.
"He's expecting a full recovery."
Still, the pain that has nagged Floyd all season is far
from a forgotten memory.
"The pain has been unbelievable," said Floyd,
adding that he felt the generic pain killers he'd received
weren't strong enough. "Basically, I've got to sit
down and chill out."
Floyd will have to wear the cast for 10 days, limit his
activity and keep his foot elevated as much as he can. He'll
use his crutches to get around until the cast comes off,
then he'll receive a walking boot.
The slugger said he had been able to lose a few pounds leading
up to the surgery, as he had hoped. Now, his challenge will
be slowing down long enough to allow himself to heal, eating
right so he doesn't add weight due to inactivity, and eventually
working to restore his alignment and core strength so that
he can rebalance the strength in both legs, which has been
compromised for most of this season.
Floyd expects to begin limited baseball activities in December,
and plans to report to Spring Training in February. (go
to list)
Floyd not 'injury-prone'
By Kerry Sheridan / Special to MLB.com
08/18/2003 1:42 PM ET
NEW YORK -- On his last day on the
Mets' active roster this season, Cliff Floyd spoke frankly
about his distaste for being classified as an injury-prone
player who couldn't handle playing in pain.
The left fielder, who has suffered a strained Achilles tendon,
a sore wrist and a hobbled knee this season, played his
last game Monday against the Rockies at Shea Stadium before
preparing to have surgery later this month.
Injuries never landed Floyd on the disabled list in 2003.
Weakened and often in pain, he managed to play in 108 out
of 124 games, become the team's home run leader (18), and
accumulate a better batting average (.291) than he has seen
in four years.
Floyd said his wrist injury was so severe that his hand
was nearly "falling off," and that he tore up
his knee while sprinting the bases and trying to score the
winning run of a game. Yet, Floyd said people focused on
the injuries, not on how hard he was playing when he incurred
them.
"Things like that were frustrating, because no one
was getting the big picture," Floyd said.
"That label has bothered me for some time," said
Floyd. "I wanted to go all season. I could have played
the whole year. I was in denial. To be able to go out there
and play the way I did this year makes me think my pain
tolerance is getting higher."
Floyd's teenage brother, Julius, who lives with him during
the summer and came along to the clubhouse Monday, confirmed
that his brother made the decision to quit the season for
one reason only.
"Pain," said Julius. "Too much pain."
Mets manager Art Howe praised Floyd for his stamina.
"I've seen him deal with pain on a day-by-day basis,"
said Howe. But whenever Floyd seemed to be at his limit,
Howe added, "Somehow, the next day, he'd say, 'Skip,
I can go.'
"He hurt his knee because of his Achilles. So he had
both wheels wobbling. When you don't have your foundation,
your base, that's where your hitting comes from -- your
legs."
Before he gets his ankle operated on, Floyd plans to try
to lose a few pounds over the next two weeks by eating right
and doing cardio-focused workouts, in the hopes of counteracting
any weight gain that might occur due to inactivity following
surgery. He hopes to weigh in at 225 pounds for Spring Training,
about 10 pounds less than he weighs now.
Overall, Floyd characterized the season as "challenging,"
and added that he's leaving with a sense of optimism.
"The younger guys have impressed me a lot," said
Floyd. "This game is very humbling to a guy who has
been around 10 or 11 years."
Howe expects to announce a roster move Tuesday, which will
serve to fill the vacancy left by Floyd.
(go to list)
Floyd goes out with
a bang
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
08/17/2003 5:52 PM ET
NEW YORK -- Cliff Floyd hinted several
times last winter and again during Spring Training that
he had somehow gotten a bad reputation during his career,
insisting that there were back-room whispers about how he
wouldn't play hurt or that he couldn't be counted on all
the time.
He was reminded of those comments Sunday afternoon as he
stood in front of his locker, fresh off a career-high four-hit
game against Colorado. The Mets had just defeated the Rockies,
6-4, at Shea Stadium, extending their winning streak to
five games. New York has also won nine of its last 12.
Floyd was greeted with a standing ovation as he walked off
the field for a pinch-runner after receiving an intentional
walk in the eighth inning. The Rockies had denied him a
chance for the first five-hit game of his career. In doing
so, they showed him the respect that he felt he hadn't always
been accorded earlier in his career. The walk capped a banner
three-game stretch for Floyd, who has 10 hits in his last
11 at-bats.
Floyd has five RBIs and five runs scored during that stretch.
He does not appear to be someone who will shut down his
season following Monday's series finale against Colorado.
Floyd is slated to have surgery on his Achilles tendon at
the end of the month, and will go on the disabled list following
the current homestand.
The Mets will fly to the West Coast to begin a nine-game
road trip, but Floyd will remain in New York to get himself
in better shape. He'll be sedentary for three weeks after
the surgery and wants to use the next two weeks to keep
from going soft.
"I'm going to work out for the next few weeks with
a personal trainer and get in better shape, because I won't
be able to do anything for three weeks. I won't even be
able to drive."
He'll also use that time to reflect on what he's accomplished
of late, particularly with an injury.
"This will make some people shut their mouths a little,"
said Floyd, who collected the eighth four-hit game of his
career. "When I was healthy, I played hard. When I'm
not healthy, I try my best to play hard. I've learned a
lot about myself. I can play with the pain, and my pain
tolerance has gone up."
If anyone was questioning Floyd's ability to play hurt,
those questions certainly haven't come from the home clubhouse
in Queens. The Mets have been impressed with their left
fielder, who raised his batting average to .291 while collecting
his team-leading 67th RBI.
"We respect him so much for what he's been doing,"
said Joe McEwing. "He busts his butt and plays hard,
and the guy can hardly walk. That's what the team is made
of, guys like Cliff. We're definitely going to miss him."
Though Floyd knows that surgery is the only way to solve
his Achilles problem once and for all, his recent hot streak
has given him some cause to pause and think about what he's
doing. Logic wins out over passion, however, every time
he has the debate.
"It's weird, because I feel real good right now,"
he said. "It's kind of scary, because I do feel pretty
good. I really want to keep playing, but I have to say no
and be firm with my decision. This is a serious thing, and
you can't mess with surgery."
While the pain in his Achilles will keep Floyd out of the
lineup, it will be the outfielder's absence that will cause
manager Art Howe discomfort.
"It's almost painful to think that he won't be in there,"
Howe said. "But we'll get nine more innings out of
him [on Monday]. Today was another big day for him. It's
fun to watch, and if we could delay [the surgery], we would.
At least now we got a little picture of what we'll get next
year."
There's still one more game to be played, though, one more
chance for Floyd to quiet any remaining naysayers. But how
could he top a four-hit effort?
"Four home runs would be awesome tomorrow," he
said with a smile. (go
to list)
Howe
ready to lose Floyd
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
08/15/2003 7:23 PM ET
NEW YORK -- Art Howe has had to manage by making more out
of less for almost the entire season. So, the knowledge
that this will be Cliff Floyd's final weekend of action
didn't seem to bother the Mets' skipper too much.
Floyd is scheduled to play through the end of the homestand
and accompany the team to San Diego Monday night. He is
expected to go on the disabled list Tuesday as he prepares
for surgery on his aching right Achilles tendon at the end
of the month. Dr. Lew Schon of Johns Hopkins and the New
York Hospital for Joint Diseases will shave the bone around
Floyd's Achilles down in a procedure that is scheduled for
either Aug. 28 or 29.
The recovery time for such an operation should have Floyd
back on the field when Spring Training begins in February.
"If we're going to go down that road [surgery] then
we're not going to put Cliff through, 'Well, you might play
tonight, you might pinch-hit tonight.' We're not going to
do that to him," Howe said. "He's got some things
on his agenda before he goes under the knife. The trainers
have to prepare him while we're on the West Coast and that
has nothing to do with playing.
"We'll try and get him through the homestand and see
what happens at that point. I'm pleased and surprised [he's
lasted this long]. He's in an awful lot of pain. He's a
special kind of kid. He has a great endurance level."
Floyd didn't seem to be in a great deal of pain Friday night,
though, going 3-for-3 and scoring a pair of runs as New
York posted a 5-0 victory over Colorado. He was hit in the
right shoulder by a Darren Oliver pitch in the fourth. He
stole second, went to third on an errant throw by catcher
Charles Johnson and scored on a Ty Wigginton double. Two
innings later he legged out a double and scored on a Jose
Reyes homer.
"It's certain nights," said Floyd, who also dropped
a Chris Stynes fly ball in the second. "I told myself
I only have a couple of days left so I don't want to leave
anything in the tank. And after I dropped that ball I felt
a little down.
"This [performance] is what I can do, though. As big
as I am, I can run. And, when I got hit by that pitch, it
made me mad. I had to steal a base."
(go to list)
Floyd
nearly done
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
08/12/2003 8:13 PM ET
NEW YORK -- The end of Cliff Floyd's
season is drawing near.
The pain in his right Achilles has gotten so severe that
he has trouble walking. Therefore, he said on Tuesday that
he would announce the date that he will have surgery on
his foot before the end of the homestand. Floyd is expected
to have the bone under his Achilles shaved down so it will
no longer irritate the tendon.
The only thing Floyd was waiting on was a meeting with Dr.
Lew Schon of The Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York
and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He met with Schon
Tuesday evening and a decision will be made accordingly.
Schon worked on former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing's
Achilles.
"Somehow or another I want to get this season over
with so I can get this right," said Floyd, who returned
from Florida after visiting his sick father, Cornelius.
"I've got too much stuff going on in my head right
now. I have to get this taken care of soon. It will certainly
ease the tension.
"I think I'll have something before the next road trip.
Something will be said. I don't have anything to lose and
everything to gain. That's the only reason I'm considering
it. It could make me a whole lot better. It would be dumb
not to take advantage of it."
Floyd said that his Achilles hurt so bad that if he really
said how it felt, "you'd be bleeping everything out
that I said."
He then joked around, boldly predicted that he would steal
28 bases next season with his repaired Achilles.
"You see me now," Floyd said. "I'm like 'Sanford
and Son.' I can't run. I'm walking around here like Grady."
(go to list)
Floyd
wears hobby on his sleeve
Mets outfielder collects vintage sports jerseys
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
08/11/2003 2:32 PM ET
NEW YORK -- Ask Cliff Floyd what
one of his most embarrassing moments would be, and the answer
will surprise you.
Dropping a fly ball in left field? Nah. Tripping while rounding
first base? Nope.
How about running into a former ballplayer while you're
wearing his jersey? That's the one.
The chances of that happening to Floyd increase weekly.
That's because the Mets left fielder has a vintage jersey
collection that numbers in the hundreds, and he constantly
adds to it. It's not unusual to see Floyd come into the
New York clubhouse sporting an old ABA replica jersey or
an NFL jersey.
He has recently started adding vintage replica baseball
jerseys to his collection, and one of his biggest fears
in running into a player whose jersey he is wearing.
"That would be embarrassing," Floyd said. "I
hope I never do. I've never seen one of these guys when
I was wearing their jersey. I have a Doc Gooden, the pullover
with the v-neck from the '80s. Imagine if I see Doc this
offseason while I'm wearing it."
Floyd, who began collecting jerseys in about 1995, said
he won't wear his baseball jerseys during the regular season.
That's winter garb. But he's not shy about wearing his replica
Oscar Robertson jersey from when the NBA great was winding
down his career with Milwaukee.
Floyd also has a baby-blue Earl Campbell Houston Oilers
jersey and an old Montreal Canadiens home sweater with a
drawstring neck. One of Floyd's favorites is his old Philadelphia
76ers jersey with the name Bryant stitched on the back.
It's a replica jersey of Joe Bryant, father of Kobe, who
played in Philly nearly three decades ago.
"A couple of years ago I saw a guy wearing an old Denver
Broncos jersey," Floyd said. "It was blue and
orange. It was hot. I thought I wanted to see what that
was all about. I was buying a Rolex and trying to be all
classy, but that wasn't me.
"A jersey is perfect for me. So I bought a Denver Bronco
one, the white one with the blue and orange numbers. It
was John Elway. Now I have over 100 [jerseys], easy, basketball
and football. You think about all the styles that come and
go, but jerseys don't ever leave. There are just so many
different colors."
You like Bo Jackson as a Raider? Floyd has it. Tony Gwynn
as a Padre? He has that one, too. Kirby Puckett with the
Twins, Reggie Jackson with the A's, even Tom Seaver as a
Met -- Floyd has them all.
He even has an old Vancouver Canucks jersey, the test-pattern
outfit the team wore in the early '80s.
And it's not just a matter of putting on the jersey, either.
The hat has to match, and so do the shoes, creating an entire
ensemble.
Floyd's girlfriend, Marianne Manning, takes care of the
shoes, making sure all the colors match the jerseys and
the hats.
"I have the Oscar Robertson Bucks jersey, and I have
the green hat and the retro Nike uptowns," Floyd said.
"I had a guy put the colors on the shoes. That way
if I go out on the town for a special night with my girl
I can wear it.
"It's such a big thing right now. So many of my boys
back home are like little kids: 'I bet you don't have this
one or I bet you don't have this one.' "
Floyd said he has to be patient, though, and not try to
buy them as quickly as he sees them. It's a pricey hobby,
even for a millionaire ballplayer.
"You go to the stores, but you have to be patient,"
he said. "You can drop two or three thousand quick.
The minute you do that, some new one comes out and you're
like 'Man, I should have waited.'
"I'm just going to keep going with it and someday I'll
give them to my kids. I don't want authentic, game-worn
jerseys or anything unless I'm going to take it home and
hang it up on a wall or something."
Floyd said he tries to keep his collection in as good a
shape as possible. He had a jersey dry-cleaned once, and
the numbers became all bunched up, so he's careful about
whom he lets handle them now. He doesn't want to take any
chances because he's had a few ruined.
He plans on purchasing a Walter Payton jersey next, as well
as an "old school" Billy Cunningham jersey from
when he played with the 76ers. But the one he really wants
has been hard to find.
"I want the White Sox one with the black and white
lettering and the collar," Floyd said. "The one
they wore when they played in shorts. I don't want the shorts,
just the jersey." (go to list)
Floyd's
tendon trouble
Left fielder forced out of the lineup due to injury
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
08/08/2003 9:14 PM ET
PHOENIX -- A day after Cliff Floyd spoke about having surgery
on his aching right Achilles tendon, he was forced out of
the starting lineup because the tendon was swollen.
Floyd aggravated the tendon Thursday night in Houston after
catching a Geoff Blum fly ball in the fifth inning. Richard
Hidalgo was on third base and tagged up as Floyd planted
and fired home. While all eyes were on the play at the plate
-- Jason Phillips couldn't handle the throw and Hidalgo
scored -- Floyd came up limping and eventually left the
game.
Manager Art Howe wasn't taking any chances with Floyd on
Friday in the series-opener against Arizona, starting Timo
Perez in left at Bank One Ballpark.
"It (the tendon) is barking on him a little more than
normal," Howe said. "We'll give him the night
off because that throw really aggravated it."
Floyd is planning on traveling to Miami on Monday to visit
with Dr. Robert Mills, the Florida Marlins' foot and ankle
surgeon with whom he has worked in the past. He may also
visit John Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore next week
and get a third opinion, though he appears to have his mind
made up about having the bone shaved down around his Achilles.
"At least I'm going to see the doctor Monday,"
Floyd said.
When asked if Floyd's latest flare up is an indication that
surgery is needed, Howe was evasive.
"I have no opinion about that," he said. "Certain
things will aggravate it more than others."
In the event Floyd does miss the last few weeks of the season
because of surgery, Howe said he would consider using Tony
Clark in left field, especially if he continues to swing
a hot bat. Clark took fly balls in left during the spring
and even saw some game action.
"Left field is an option for him," Howe said.
"Every once in a while he goes out there and takes
fly balls."
Don't expect to see Jeff Duncan in left, though.
"He's our best defensive center fielder," Howe
said. "Why would I put him anywhere else?" (go
to list)
Needs
time to prepare for surgery on right heel
ESPN.com news services
Friday, August 15, 2003
NEW YORK -- New York Mets left fielder Cliff Floyd, hampered
by an right achilles injury for much of the season, said
on Thursday that Monday would be his last game of the season
before he prepares for surgery later this month, The New
York Times reported Friday.
Doctors plan to shave a bone so that it no longer irritates
the tendon. Floyd said he expected the surgery to be done
around Aug. 28, according to the report.
"It'll be nice to get this behind me and be able to
think about next year," Floyd said yesterday to The
Times, before the Mets game against the San Francisco Giants
was called off because of the area's power failure. "It's
not something you want lingering around."
Floyd told the paper that he needed time before the operation
to rid his body of the anti-inflammatory medicine that he
has been taking and to get into better shape. In his first
year with the Mets, Floyd is batting .271 and leads the
team with 18 homers and 62 RBI. (go
to list)
Floyd
plans surgery
Season-ending surgery likely in August
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
08/07/2003 11:14 AM ET
HOUSTON -- Cliff Floyd says he expects to have season-ending
surgery sometime within the next month, most likely by the
end of August, to alleviate the severe pain in his right
Achilles tendon.
Floyd, who has been playing with the injury for the entire
season, is planning on having the bone shaved around the
tendon. With less bone to rub against, the tendon will not
get as irritated and hopefully will leave Floyd pain-free.
He is planning to travel to Miami on Monday to visit with
Dr. Robert Mills, the Florida Marlins' foot and ankle surgeon
with whom he has worked in the past. If Mills concurs with
the diagnosis provided by Dr. Kenneth Mroczek, an associate
of Mets team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito, Floyd will likely
go ahead and have the surgery.
"If you get two doctors [who] don't know each other
who say the same thing, that puts it over the top,"
Floyd said. "If Dr. Mills says something different,
then I'll have to weigh my options. Just him saying the
same thing as Rokito's man will make my decision easier."
Floyd added that he might also consult a foot specialist
in Baltimore. While Mets general manager Jim Duquette endorsed
Floyd going to Johns Hopkins to hear another voice, a third
opinion probably won't change Floyd's mind. The only decision
he has to make now is when to have the surgery. He said
he should have a better idea by the end of next week.
Mike Piazza's imminent return seemed to be influencing Floyd's
decision of when to go under the knife. Floyd seemed eager
to play a few games with Piazza and then pass the baton
to him as the go-to man in the lineup. Floyd knows, though,
that the quicker he gets the ailment taken care of, the
less chance there will be of his missing time in Spring
Training.
"They told me the recovery time was three to four months,"
Floyd said. "And that way I can still do Spring Training.
If I wait and I have a relapse, then here comes Spring Training
and I miss a whole month. I do have to make a decision quick
and do what's best for the team.
"The only reason I'm allowing this thing to go through
is because they're not messing with the tendon. That would
be a nine-month thing. I'll play until next week and then
we'll get this figured out."
Manager Art Howe said he would talk to Floyd sometime Thursday
or Friday about his decision. While he'd be thrilled to
have Floyd and Piazza in the same lineup, he knows what
kind of pain Floyd has been in.
"Anyone [who's] had any kind of Achilles problem knows
the pain is pretty excruciating," Howe said. "That
he's played on it as long as he has is a credit to his desire.
We want him to do what's best for him and the organization.
I guess we'll find out what that is in the near future."
Floyd was hitting .279 with 18 homers and 62 RBIs heading
into Thursday's game against Houston.
(go to list)
New
spikes aid Floyd
Diaz living up to expectations in Double-A Binghamton
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
07/25/2003 7:32 PM ET
NEW YORK -- Cliff Floyd has never been shy when speaking
about the turf in Montreal. He hates it, blaming the artificial
surface at Olympic Stadium for many of the leg problems,
including his current knee and Achilles' woes, he has experienced.
Yet, Floyd played both games in Montreal this week after
playing two games on the turf in Philadelphia, and was back
in the lineup for a fifth consecutive game Friday night
when the Mets opened their homestand against Cincinnati
at Shea Stadium. The secret to Floyd's newfound success
North of the Border is metal spikes.
Floyd has been a plastic-spike man for the last few seasons,
admitting that he didn't like going the metal route. But
he decided to make a switch and it paid off. He said he
used them primarily because he was afraid of slipping in
the batter's box or in the dirt boxes around the bases in
Olympic Stadium.
"It gave me confidence," said Floyd, who used
metal spikes again Friday. "I felt good in the box.
I never did that before. I've been wearing plastic all year
but I feel more comfortable wearing metal. I used to hate
wearing them. I always felt something would snag. But I
got real comfortable up there at the plate.
"I went out there and I felt better. Does it cure the
problem? No. But I felt better and that's what I was shooting
for."
Floyd went 3-for-6 with a pair of walks in Montreal and
ran the bases as well as can be expected considering the
condition his legs are in. He's feeling well enough that
he didn't meet with team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito or
have the MRI he was planning on having Friday. Floyd did
leave Friday's game after six innings because of dizziness.
Removing him from the game was precautionary.
"There was no MRI and they [the Mets] were cool with
that," Floyd said. "It's in my hands. They're
leaving it up to me and I appreciate that. It's my call
to get an MRI so we'll go with that. It's about my pain
tolerance. When I think I've had enough, I'll talk to the
people in charge and get this handled."
Floyd said that if it comes to it, surgery would be the
first option he would look at in order to be ready for Spring
Training. Rest alone has never helped his Achilles in the
past, a fact that was driven home quite painfully once again
after the All-Star break.
"It's not torn," Floyd said of the tendon. "Maybe
it's bone rubbing on tendon. Maybe they have to shave down
the bone and not mess with the tendon to get relief."
(go to list)
Floyd
unsure of plan
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
07/19/2003 5:30 PM ET
ATLANTA -- The pain that Cliff Floyd
feels in his tender right Achilles appears to be nothing
compared to the anguish he is experiencing while trying
to decide what to do with the rest of his season.
The slugger admitted Saturday that he is torn about how
to proceed -- battle through the pain in his foot, not to
mention the ache in his left knee, or shut it down and consider
having surgery to correct the problem. Floyd and manager
Art Howe talked about the situation for 15 minutes in the
Turner Field dugout before Atlanta's 7-4 victory over New
York, coming to few concrete conclusions.
The one thing both agreed on was that for the time being
Floyd would approach each game as a separate entity with
the left fielder letting Howe know how he is feeling each
day. Floyd was in the lineup Saturday and went 1-for-3 with
a triple, an RBI and a run scored but will have Sunday off.
The Mets travel to Philadelphia and Montreal for four games
beginning Monday and it is unlikely that Floyd will see
much if any action on the turf in those cities.
"Art's open to me going out and playing and making
the decision on how good I feel," said Floyd, who missed
the seven games prior to the All-Star break with a wrist
injury. "He wants me to let him know how I feel and
be honest with him and not try to hurt myself or the team.
At this point, though, I'm kind of tired talking about it.
Every time you open the paper, you read about my foot or
my wrist. If I'm going to play, I'm going to play."
Floyd will meet with team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito when
the club gets back to New York on Friday. He'll have more
MRI exams on all the parts that ache, after which he will
probably have a better idea of what course of action he
will take. As of now, he said he hasn't been given a definitive
solution for his Achilles problem.
He had 10 days off before returning to action Thursday night
yet his Achilles showed no improvement. Floyd was clearly
hobbled on the field and was pulled from Friday night's
game after the Braves took a big lead. So while it would
have taken a great deal of convincing to get Floyd to sit
out or consider surgery a few weeks ago, he said it wouldn't
take as much arm-twisting these days.
"I have to be able to look at this from a career standpoint,"
said Floyd, who signed a four-year, $26 million deal in
December. "I have to be able to go out there and be
myself. I'm torn. I don't know what to do. I can't go through
this next year and still be accountable to management and
my teammates. When you sign a contract you kind of count
on that person. When you're hurt, there goes that.
"A lot of this is because I'm stubborn. I don't want
to shut myself down. I'm torn because I don't know if sitting
is going to help. I sat out three months at one time and
here it is again."
Should Floyd decide to have surgery or sit out a significant
portion of the second half, it would leave the Mets without
their last big bat.
"I'd love to have him out there," Howe said. "But
not at the expense of his health."
Floyd even wondered if the Mets would send him to Dr. Dan
Kanell, the Marlins' team physician who treated him for
several years, since he is familiar with the situation.
(go to list)
Floyd
stands alone in Mets' lineup
Slugger surrounded by young hitters
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
07/17/2003 10:44 PM ET
ATLANTA -- Cliff Floyd returned to the lineup Thursday night,
his aching right wrist healed after 10 days of inactivity.
The lineup he returned to, however, was not the one that
he last had around him in Cincinnati on July 6.
The New York lineup was minus Jeromy Burnitz when the second
half of the season began against Atlanta, the slugging outfielder
having been traded to the Dodgers over the All-Star break.
How Burnitz's absence will ultimately affect Floyd remains
to be seen. It's clear, however, that Floyd will be the
lone big gun for the Mets until Mike Piazza returns to action,
perhaps sometime next month.
Floyd knows pitchers will be more selective when facing
him, especially since Ty Wigginton, Jason Phillips and Vance
Wilson will be hitting behind him and not Piazza, Burnitz
or Mo Vaughn. It won't be the first time, however, that
Floyd will be left unprotected by a big-name slugger.
He was without "traditional" protection for five
games back in May while Piazza, Vaughn and Burnitz were
on the disabled list together. During that five-game stretch,
he hit .313 (5-for-16) with four homers, seven RBIs and
four walks. Overall, before Thursday he had played in a
lineup void of the aforementioned trio nine times this season,
hitting .300 (9-for-30) with five homers, eight RBIs and
four walks.
Floyd has also played 19 games in which Vaughn, Piazza or
Burnitz have hit in front of him but where he had none of
the three behind him. He hit .270 in those games with four
homers, 18 RBIs and four walks.
While he may suffer long-term without that "traditional"
protection, he has shown he can handle himself without it.
That said, he lamented the loss of Burnitz, who was hitting
.274 with a team-leading 18 homers. His 45 RBIs were second
only to Floyd.
"It's going to affect me a lot," said Floyd, who
drove in his 48th run with a first-inning single Thursday
night. "We lose his presence on the field and in the
clubhouse."
Floyd said he felt "tension" during the break
when he realized that he would be the lone veteran big gun
in the lineup for a while upon his return.
"You realize the importance of veteran guys,"
Floyd said. "I would talk to Burnitz about hitting.
I go up there to hit and I don't want to take anything away
from Jason Phillips, but it's about having guys around who
you take chances with. I'll be pitched around sometime without
Burnie.
"When you have a guy who's not around the league [hitting
behind you] it's not the same. I've been there before when
I was hitting behind Bobby Bo [Bonilla in Florida]. They
would walk him to face me. I'm going to try and ease my
mind though and pick my spots."
Wilson, Phillips and Wigginton have each had solid seasons,
combining to hit .283 with 18 homers and 94 RBIs. Yet, they
are two rookies and a largely unproven backup catcher, hardly
as formidable as the trio of Piazza, Vaughn and Burnitz.
Phillips, however, doesn't view the treatment to Floyd as
a slight. In fact, he expects it.
"He's proven himself over time," Phillips said.
"I'd rather face me than Cliff Floyd. He can hurt you
more than I can. That's just the way it is. It takes a few
years to prove you can hit in those situations.
"Cliff is Cliff. Look what he's done. He's left-handed
with pop. You're going to try and face a guy who isn't going
to hurt you as much. We have to try and get to be guys where
they have to pitch to Cliff."
Wilson said he isn't upset by the notion some people have
that Floyd is "naked in the lineup." He knows
it's a difficult situation to overcome and that building
a reputation as a clutch hitter isn't easy.
I'm not a 40-home run guy and Jason's not a 40-home run
guy," Wilson said. "We just have to continue to
try and have big at-bats. And we have to come through. That's
just part of the game. If you're a young guy they will take
a chance with you instead of the guy who is established.
"I don't know if it ever stops for a guy like me. But
Jason is younger. If he continues to burn it up, teams will
stop. But I'll always have to prove myself and that's fine."
Manager Art Howe said he is looking forward to giving some
of the younger players an opportunity to fill the void left
by Burnitz's departure. Floyd said he would do his part
and try to be more selective at the plate, though he admits
that he's "been known to swing a lot."
In the meantime, he's hoping the youngsters mature quickly.
"They'll go through growing stages," Floyd said.
"I've been through it."
And now he's on the other end. (go to list)
Floyd hopes to
return soon
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
Cliff Floyd is being cautious about
returning before his right wrist is healed.
NEW YORK -- Cliff Floyd swung a bat Thursday afternoon and
remains hopeful that his achy right wrist will improve enough
for him to return to the lineup before the All-Star break.
The slugger cautioned, however, that while his wrist is
feeling better, the progress he's making is not as dramatic
as the improvement he felt earlier in the week.
"I would definitely like it to feel better than it
does for me to be a full go for this weekend," Floyd
said prior to Thursday's game. "I want to play this
weekend but I'm not trippin' about it. On the other end,
though, I'd hate to miss more games. We've already lost
three in a row.
"This is nothing against Jason Phillips or anyone else
hitting behind Jeromy (Burnitz). But you don't want to see
him just get walked. Jason's a young guy and a lot of managers
would rather take a chance with him. I don't want that to
happen."
Mets site Floyd missed the entire Atlanta series and figures
to be out at least until Saturday. While manager Art Howe
said Floyd's status is day-to-day, there is the possibility
that they will just shut him down until after the break.
Though he hit some soft-tossing on Thursday he opted not
to take batting practice.
"If we feel it's beneficial that he doesn't play until
after the break then that's what we'll do," Howe said.
"We're just going to take each day as it comes."
Floyd did say that he would like to avoid having to get
a cortisone shot if possible.
"If it doesn't come around more than it does now then
it's something to think about," said Floyd, who added
that the time off has helped his sore knees and Achilles
tendon. "It's just sitting there right now. It's just
tight and sore. If I do take the shot I expect to come back
after the break. I'm just trying to avoid the shot because
I want to play this weekend." (go to
list)
Mets could use
break
By Kerry Sheridan / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- With four more games to play
before baseball's All-Star break and several top Mets players
out of commission due to injuries, manager Art Howe was
iffy about pushing any of them to make appearances before
next week's three-day respite.
Mets site Howe said Cliff Floyd is "day-to-day"
because of tendinitis in his wrist. When asked if Floyd
could return to the field before the All-Star break, Howe
said, "I'm hopeful. I can't say I'm optimistic about
it." (go to list)
Floyd
has tendinitis
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Though Cliff Floyd was out
of the lineup for a second consecutive game on Tuesday,
the prognosis on his injured right wrist took a turn for
the brighter in the 24 hours since he last addressed the
media.
Mets site Dr. Martin Posner, the Mets' hand specialist,
examined Floyd on Tuesday morning and took an X-ray of the
affected area. The pictures were negative and it was determined
that Floyd had nothing more than a case of tendinitis. He
aggravated the tendon Sunday while diving for a Jose Guillen
fly ball.
While Floyd was still experiencing discomfort on Tuesday,
he said he felt considerably better and was targeting a
weekend return to action, adding that he would try to swing
a bat if possible on Wednesday.
"Seeing him today really eased my mind," said
Floyd, who had an electronic stimulator attached to his
wrist. "He said it would just be a couple of days and
that the tendon is irritated. He seemed pretty optimistic
about [being to play in] three or four days. If it's not
better in a couple of days we'll talk about a cortisone
shot. But I don't want a cortisone shot. I had cortisone
shots before and I definitely don't like it.
"I'm not even thinking about the disabled list. I want
to pick up a bat tomorrow if it feels better than today.
If that happens, then I'll definitely be picking up a bat."
Floyd said not going on the disabled list and playing through
the pain has become a source of pride for him. Though he
would never fail to disclose an injury to the club, he still
remembers some of the criticism he took while playing for
Florida. Some members of the media questioned his toughness
because he didn't play hurt.
"No doubt this is about pride," said Floyd, who
has battled problems with his Achilles and knees throughout
the season. "In the past if I was hurt I didn't feel
like going out there and playing. Now I have a different
perspective. When I was hurt in the past with the Marlins,
there was some things said that bothered me and I felt like
I let the team down.
"But there's going to be a time when we're in first
place or we're doing well and I want to be counted on. Accountability
is important to me."
Floyd is hitting .272 with 15 homers and a team-leading
47 RBIs. Tuesday's game marked the eighth game he has missed
this season. (go to list)
Wrist
injury shelves Floyd
By Kevin Czerwinski / MLB.com
Cliff Floyd aggravated his wrist when he dove for a Jose
Guillen fly ball on Sunday.
NEW YORK -- Cliff Floyd sat out Monday's game against Atlanta
and could be on the shelf through the All-Star break after
a nagging wrist injury became too painful for him to play.
The Mets outfielder has been playing with a sore right wrist
since June 11 when he was accidentally hit with an errant
Mike Stanton toss during batting practice at The Ballpark
in Arlington. The freak injury occurred while Floyd was
standing in the outfield, not while he was in the batting
cage.
While the outside of the wrist has been sore, Floyd aggravated
it Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati while diving for a Jose
Guillen fly ball. He didn't make the catch but flopped over
on his sunglasses and bruised his upper abdomen as well.
The bruise is not a problem, but the wrist is so painful
that Floyd cannot even hold a bat. He is scheduled to see
a hand specialist Tuesday morning in Manhattan.
"Hopefully he [the hand specialist] will have some
great ideas for me or a good solution," said Floyd,
who saw team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito on Monday. "I'll
get an MRI or an X-ray just to see what it is. I have to
find out quick what it is. This just doesn't make sense.
Usually I know if something is broke or torn."
Floyd had the wrist X-rayed when the Mets were in Florida
two weeks ago. While those X-rays came back negative, Floyd
isn't sure if he did any more damage on Sunday. He spent
Monday receiving treatment and was hoping to see some improvement
by Tuesday morning.
"It has to improve for me to even consider swinging
a bat," said Floyd, who continues to play with a nagging
Achilles injury. "I played the whole game with it yesterday.
It was a little sore, but it wasn't like I wasn't able to
hold a bat. I've had problems with this wrist before. I've
had tendinitis and had the hammate bone removed."
Floyd said the original injury occurred when Stanton and
Pedro Feliciano were playing catch in Arlington. Stanton
threw a ball that sailed past Feliciano and struck the unsuspecting
Floyd.
"I got scared right away then," Floyd said. "If
it's going to happen, it's bound to happen to me I guess.
You hear a lot of crazy stuff about what goes on in batting
practice. The chances of getting hit like that are slim
and none and I guess I'm slim.
"I don't blame it on that, though. I blame it on the
dive. I don't know what I can do now. I can't pinch run.
I can't run." (go to list)
Floyd's
Achilles' troubles
Outfielder says pain from injury
affected calf Tuesday
NEW YORK -- That Cliff Floyd was
out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive game
on Thursday shouldn't be surprising. He is, after all, dealing
with that dicey Achilles' tendon, an injury that could cause
him to miss significant time at any given moment.
Still, it's odd not to see Floyd's name on the lineup card
considering how much he has played through already this
season.
"He's been a warrior and he's kind of spoiled me,"
manager Art Howe said. "You just pencil him and forget
he's dealing with what he's dealing with. So for him to
say it's bothering him, that's something."
Floyd, who continues to pop anti-inflammatories, said the
pain in his right Achilles' began creeping into his calf
Tuesday evening. He tried to take batting practice on Wednesday
and was unable to deal with the discomfort. It didn't take
long for him to decide on Thursday that he wouldn't be playing.
"It's really sore and I just don't want to take any
chances of pulling a calf muscle," said Floyd, who
is hitting .273 with 14 homers and 42 RBIs. "Then you
get into a situation like Timo [Perez] had and it's straight
to the disabled list. I'll attempt to play tomorrow. We'll
see how it goes.
"It's gone beyond frustration. At least I was still
able to go out and not have it affect me. But once it starts
affecting the things you do like going back on balls or
knowing that you can't even steal a base, that's when it's
discouraging. I'm still proud of myself, though, and hopeful
that I'll be able to get back out there in the next couple
of days."
Howe said that it is likely he will use Floyd as a designated
hitter this weekend against the Yankees.
Kevin T. Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. The Elias
Sports Bureau also contributed to this story, which was
not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or
its clubs. (go to list)
Floyd
at peace with big city team
Slugger happily arrives Sunday to Camp Tranquility
By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The first four days around Thomas
J. White Stadium have been about as peaceful and calm as
anyone could have possibly imagined. Many of the Mets continue
to mention how laid back and tension free Spring Training
seems to be this year.
That's just what Cliff Floyd wants to hear. The free agent
slugger tiptoed into camp on Sunday, not generating the
kind of excitement that accompanied the arrival of Mo Vaughn
and Roberto Alomar a year ago. Rather, it was a quiet entrance
followed by a subdued question-and-answer session with the
media.
That's okay with Floyd. He isn't shy about talking about
his search for stability. Floyd, 30, was looking for a setting
where he could relax, pressure free, and play his game.
While New York doesn't seem to fit that description -- when
is the pressure ever off in the Big Apple? -- Floyd believes
he has found the nirvana for which he has been searching.
It's easy to understand why Floyd gets just a bit jittery
when talking about settling down. He played with three teams
last season, including his second tour of duty with the
Expos, and has had to cope with playing for Florida and
Montreal during unsettled times for those franchises for
most of his career.
By the time Floyd arrived in Boston (the third stop on his
North American Tour) last summer, his head was spinning.
Though he eventually began to fit in with the Red Sox, he
never got comfortable. All that changed when he signed with
the Mets back in December.
"I'm very thankful to have the opportunity to stay
somewhere for at least four years and hopefully longer,"
Floyd said. "I try to do my job and help the team win,
but when you're not comfortable with your surroundings and
things are not going the way you would like them to go,
it starts to make you wonder about your ability. You wonder
what you can do. Are you a bad person in the clubhouse?
It's all things you don't want to bother with. The health
of the team plays a big role in how you play."
Floyd hit 28 homers last season and
drove in 79. He also hit .288; four points higher than his
career average but 29 points lower than he did in 2001 with
the Marlins. He said he never got comfortable because of
all the uncertainty, though he steadfastly refuses to use
that as an excuse for his play.
"I was just trying so hard to get accepted," Floyd
said. "I tried to get comfortable in Montreal and then
BAM. [Manager] Frank [Robinson] said one night that I could
get unpacked and settle in and then after the game he calls
me in and I'm thinking it's something simple. But I got
traded. And it's a whole different game in Boston.
"I tried to settle in with Boston but they were in
a pennant race and you can't get comfortable in a week.
They need you right now. But I don't know any of these pitchers.
I have no clue. I haven't seen them before. I tried as hard
as I could but it didn't work out. But it all worked out
and I ended up in a great situation and a great place."
Floyd never figured on landing in Queens. He had heard all
along that the Mets wanted to move some salary before they
signed a big-name free agent. So he was as surprised as
everyone else when general manager Steve Phillips came calling
just before Christmas.
Now, he's looking for a long run on Broadway, providing
the left-handed protection for Mike Piazza as well as being
a stabilizing force in the outfield.
"I can't that say I've ever been in a settled situation,"
said Floyd, who drove in from his Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.,
home. "Even those few years in Florida. They were talking
that if things don't go right by the All-Star break, I'm
out of there. When you're on a team, and I'm not taking
anything away from the Florida Marlins, that doesn't have
anything good going for them at a particular time, the top
players on the team are always in doubt. Why continue to
lose and pay these guys this amount of money?"
Floyd won't have to worry about such whispers in New York,
especially if he produces. Based on the way he looked Sunday,
he could step into a game now if need be. He's been working
out all winter and working with a nutrionist. Floyd says
he's in as good a shape as he's ever been in the offseason,
crediting a maturation that was aided by last year's trials
and tribulations.
He added that a month and a half in Boston prepared him
for the rigors of the big city, particularly the fact that
he'll be playing before bigger crowds than he saw in Montreal
and Miami.
"I was overwhelmed when I stepped on the field in Boston,"
Floyd said. "Before I knew it, I was down and out and
couldn't handle it. Never in my career had I played before
a full house like that at home every single day. I just
tried too hard. After a while, I just chilled out and said
I'm going to have fun with this thing. That approach worked."
Some folks, however, didn't see it that way. Floyd got stung
over the winter when searching over Internet sites that
rated this year's free agent class. In several reports,
he was tagged with a label of not giving 100 percent every
time he's on the field.
It left him with a bit of a bee in his bonnet.
"I just want to put that not hustling thing to rest,"
he said. "I won't go out there right away and try to
do something extra because before you know it, you blow
out because you're trying something crazy. The way I played
the game in the past should prove to whoever said that that
they are wrong. It hurt me that people question me like
that.
"I approach the game with a lot of pride. When they
said that, it ticked me off. I don't know where it came
from. I never, ever, ever dogged a game and said I'm not
playing today because I'm mad. When I step between the lines
I'm trying to help my team win.
"Wherever it came from, I just hope they go somewhere
and chill and leave me alone because I play the game a lot
different than I see a lot of other guys playing it."
Floyd won't have to worry about too much of that, at least
not in Port St. Lucie. Things are calm and quiet with the
Mets. Floyd wouldn't want it any other way. (go
to list)
By
BOB PACCITTI, Scripps Howard News Service
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (January 12, 2003
2:12 p.m. EST) - Cliff Floyd got off of baseball's merry-go-round
only to land in the circus that's known as New York City.
But that's all right with the New York
Mets outfielder, who joined his fourth team in the past
six months when he signed a four-year, $6.5 million deal
Dec. 21.
"I'm going to make it a good time,"
Floyd said. "I'm going to welcome it."
Floyd began the 2002 season with the Marlins,
before being traded to Montreal and then Boston. He acknowledges
the changes wore on him.
"I never thought it would be where
it was tough for somebody to want you," Floyd said
of his whirlwind tour. "For the first time I've felt
like I'll be doing everything I want to do."
What the 30-year-old, left-handed, power
hitter feels he can do now is concentrate totally on baseball,
something he said he didn't do last season.
"I was worried about off-the-field
stuff. I wasn't thinking about fastballs, I was thinking
about where my suitcases were," Floyd said.
To familiarize himself with his new teammates,
Floyd attended the first two days of New York's mini-camp
last week before leaving for California Thursday.
"I got a chance to come here for
two days, meet everybody, hit a little bit, throw and see
where my arm's at, and see where I am in terms of running,"
Floyd said.
He got to mingle with the likes of John
Franco, Roger Cedeno, Timo Perez, Joe McEwing and Vance
Wilson, who suffered through the Mets' 2002 season.
"I asked what happened last year
from the guys who have been through it," Floyd said.
"What happens is: When you're winning, it's something
you expect to do regularly because you're enjoying it.
"The same with losing. Once you get
to losing, you expect it. You don't walk into the clubhouse
expecting to lose, but you get down by one or two runs and
it's, 'Here we go again.'"
Floyd is expected to open the season in
left field. Last year he hit .288 with 28 home runs and
76 RBIs in 146 games with the three clubs. In his 2001 All-Star
season he hit .317, slugged 31 homers and drove in 103 runs.
The Mets would love to see those numbers, and Floyd is relaxed
enough now to do it.
"This is peace of mind," Floyd
said of being with the Mets. "My blood pressure has
gone down."
After working out with the Mets for the
first two days Floyd felt even more energized.
"I'm coming in here feeling like
a rookie again," he said.
Floyd has a home in Fort Lauderdale and will return again
in February to meet the rest of his teammates during spring
training. He describes himself as a shy person who would
rather live in the suburbs than Manhattan.
"I'm a suburban guy. I want to look
across the river and see the city," Floyd said about
New York. "I have no clue about New York - none other
than the restaurants I go to when I come to play."
He'll soon learn all about New York and
what it's like to be in the center ring under the Big Top.
(go to list)
A real Cliff-hanger
Dodgers close in on signing free agent Floyd
By Brian Dohn
Staff Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Dodgers emerged
Sunday as clear-cut leaders to sign free-agent slugger Cliff
Floyd. General manager Dan Evans worked diligently to clear
payroll or find a creative way to sign Floyd in the next
few days, sources said.
Floyd's agent, Seth Levinson, and the Dodgers discussed
parameters of a three-year, $24-million deal. A contract
offer was not made, but it is up to the Dodgers to make
the deal work, sources said.
The message of how much the Dodgers wanted Floyd was conveyed
when manager Jim Tracy called Floyd last week. Although
the conversation involved several topics, Floyd said Tracy
made it clear he would like to see him play for the Dodgers.
Evans and assistant general manager Kim Ng told Levinson
repeatedly of their interest, Floyd said.
"I would love to play in Los Angeles," Floyd said
from his Florida home. "When you hear things, like
the manager of the team and what they're saying, you want
to go there. The Dodgers are one of the teams on the top
of my list. They said they really liked my bat and would
like me on the team. "
Floyd is arguably the top bat in the free-agent class and
is poised to leave Boston. He turned down a three-year,
$24-million offer from the Red Sox earlier in the offseason
but there are indications he would take a similar deal with
the Dodgers because of his relationship with Tracy.
Floyd added that his position wouldn't be an issue. He has
played left field, right field and first base in his career
and said he was willing to play wherever the Dodgers thought
best.
"I'm definitely going to give the Dodgers every opportunity
to sign me and it's something I'm very interested in,"
Floyd said. "I told them already I'll do anything I
have to. I'll play anywhere. I don't want to come in and
mess up the chemistry of the place. If I come in, I would
like everybody to feel comfortable. (Left fielder) Brian
Jordan, (right fielder) Shawn Green, we all would talk about
it."
Tracy, who managed Floyd in Double-A Harrisburg (Pa.) in
1993, said he wanted to speak with Floyd because the two
rarely get the opportunity to talk away from the baseball
field.
"We talked about a lot of things, but it wasn't just
the Los Angeles Dodgers," Tracy said.
Meanwhile, Evans met with his staff to try to create more
payroll flexibility to sign Floyd and remain under the $117
million luxury tax threshold in 2003. Evans has about $4.5
to $5 million with which to work, and is trying to clear
more before negotiating a deal with Floyd.
There has been moderate interest in trading Dodgers right-hander
Andy Ashby, but the Dodgers would likely have to exchange
salaries with another club or pick up a portion of the $8
million Ashby is owed this season.
Several clubs, including the Kansas City Royals and Tampa
Bay Devil Rays, are aggressively pursuing Dodgers middle
infielder Alex Cora, who could make approximately $2 million
in salary arbitration after batting .291 with five homers
and 28 RBI.
Also, the Dodgers will add depth to the middle of their
infield. Former Atlanta second baseman Quilvio Veras is
close to signing a minor-league deal that would pay him
about $450,000 if he makes the big-league club, a baseball
official said.
Evans also continued with contingency plans in case the
Floyd signing falls apart. He met for the first time with
Fred McGriff's agent, Jim Krivacs, but contractual issues
were not discussed.
"I think it was very general and informal," Krivacs
said. "I think they're going through the evaluation
process right now."
Evans also continued his discussions with other teams and
continued to compile a list of outfielders and first baseman.
The current list, sources said, includes Florida's Juan
Encarnacion, Kansas City's Raul Ibanez, Boston's Trot Nixon
and Minnesota's Jacques Jones.
"We're in the early stages in some cases," Evans
said. "To say that we're close to making a decision
wouldn't be true. The important thing is we're finding out
there are some players who find the Dodgers an attractive
place. It's good to know at this point in our decision making.
The player has to come to our club and we have to want the
player."
Floyd batted .288 with 28 homers and 79 RBI last season
with three teams. It is the type of output the Dodgers need
to complement Jordan and Green in the lineup after Eric
Karros hit .271 with 13 homers and 73 RBI last season.
"It would definitely be a great place for me to play,"
Floyd, 30, said. "I know they are trying to trade guys
to get out of there. Until they trade somebody, I'm willing
to wait. They said they really like my talent and would
like me on the team."
The Red Sox remain in the running, but sources said they
are not a serious option at this point. Boston acquired
outfielder/first baseman Jeremy Giambi from Philadelphia
on Sunday, but Boston general manager Theo Epstein said
it will have no impact on the club's pursuit of Floyd.
Floyd has until Thursday to accept salary arbitration from
the Red Sox, but he made it clear he wasn't interested in
a one-year deal.
"I would like a multiyear deal," Floyd said. "The
way things are going in the offseason, you have to weigh
all your options. That's the way it is." (go
to list)
Floyd starts
to settle in with Mets
By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com
01/09/2003 11:55 am ET
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- At last, Cliff Floyd has some peace
of mind.
Coming off an unsettling 2002 season in which the one-time
All-Star outfielder was traded twice, Floyd feels he finally
has some stability with the New York Mets, with whom he
signed as a free agent last month.
Floyd attended the Mets' mini-camp Wednesday at the team's
Spring Training complex, and performed some basic drills.
"So far, so good," said Floyd, who brought his
gear in a Boston Red Sox bag. "I'm coming in here feeling
like a rookie again."
Floyd, with his fourth club in six months, used the first
day of mini-camp to get acquainted with teammates and key
members of the Mets' organization.
"I want to just be settled," said the 30-year-old.
Floyd opened last season with the Marlins before being traded
on July 11 to the Expos. A few weeks later, he was headed
to Boston, where he hit .316 with seven homers and 18 RBIs
in 47 games.
The season was an emotional roller coaster, filled with
battling through aching knees and personal uncertainty.
He managed to combine for a .288 average with 28 homers
and 76 RBIs. But it was the first time in three years he
failed to hit .300, and it was off the mark from the .317
average, 31 homers, 103 RBIs he compiled in 2001.
Prior to the All-Star break, Floyd thought he was going
to end up with the Yankees. But there were so many rumors
floating around, the 2001 All-Star felt he could wind up
anywhere.
Even the day he was dealt to Montreal was awkward. Floyd
was on the Marlins' team flight to Chicago for a series
with the Cubs when the trade was consummated. Pushing that
transaction through was a simultaneous trade than sent pitcher
Ryan Dempster to the Reds.
Floyd spent the night in Chicago, in the Marlins' team hotel,
and he shared a cab with Dempster for a ride to the airport
the following morning.
Going to Montreal wasn't ideal for Floyd, who clearly wasn't
happy subjecting his tender knees to the Olympic Stadium
artificial turf.
The addition of Floyd failed to close the gap in the National
League East. While the Expos had a respectable season, finishing
83-79, by late August the Braves were running away with
the division.
So Floyd, who was eligible for free agency, was sent to
the Red Sox.
Again, Floyd didn't know what to expect.
On the day that deal was done, Floyd had his bags packed
and asked if he was going to be traded. Expos manager Frank
Robinson told him he wasn't being traded.
Floyd said the year of anxiety caused his blood pressure
to rise. But he feels the adversity has made him stronger.
"My blood pressure is down," said Floyd, who makes
Plantation, Fla., a Fort Lauderdale suburb, his permanent
home. "I'm working with a personal trainer."
Floyd and former Marlins catcher Charles Johnson, who now
is with the Rockies, work out at the gym together.
With the Mets, Floyd is projected to play left field, although
he played right in Florida.
"We've got what it takes in the clubhouse to make it
a good time," Floyd said of the Mets' chances.
While being accessible and open with the media, Floyd calls
himself "shy." He knows little about New York,
but enough to know he wants no part of living in the city.
"I have no clue about it -- none," he said. "Other
than a few good restaurants I've gone to. I'm going to live
somewhere across [from] the city and look at it. I'm staying
away from the limelight."
Not a fan of traffic, arrangements are being made for Floyd
to take car service to Shea Stadium. He doesn't want to
get behind the wheel of a car.
Being on the fringe suits him fine, which is one reason
he decided not to live in downtown Miami during his days
with the Marlins.
Yankees outfielder Rondell White has been Floyd's closest
friend since both came up through the Expos' system. White
offered Floyd some terse advice about playing in New York:
"Just be ready."
After the whirlwind season Floyd had in 2002, he is definitely
ready for a fresh start. (go to list)
Floyd looks
for a good start with the Mets
(AP) 2003 Mets Player Outlook
- Cliff Floyd
By John C. Sinclair
Date: Feb 25, 2003
It seemed like Cliff Floyd bounced around
more than a ping-pong ball in 2002. After making his first
All-Star game appearance in 2001, he started the 2002 season
with Florida, ended it in Boston, and played for Montreal
in between. That was hardly an opportunity for him to get
comfortable and make a run at matching his 2001 success,
but he did well anyway. This year, however, provides him
an opportunity on the grandest stage of them all - New York.
2002 Review :
Continuation from Introduction.
Right before the All-Star break, Floyd was sent back to
the team he broke into the major leagues with - Montreal.
Readjusting to artificial turf proved tough, and he was
traded to Boston just about two weeks later. Boston did
signal some interest in re-signing Floyd towards the end
of the season, but that never did materialize. The Mets
signed him as a free agent in December.
Statistically, Floyd had a relatively fine season last year
(.289-28-79). Prone to a run of nagging injuries in the
past, he still managed to play in 146 games with a sore
knee for most of the season.
Success Demonstrated :
Floyd had a keen eye for pitchers trying to sneak a first-pitch
fastball by him. He usually made them pay. When pitchers
got away with it, though, Floyd demonstrated good patience.
He walked a career high 76 times last season, and 19 of
them were intentional. Floyd demonstrated equal power to
all fields.
Floyd still showed good speed and has learned to pick his
spots well. He was successful in 15 of 20 base stealing
attempts. Defensively, Floyd did well in Boston against
the backdrop of the Green Monster, adjusting to the experience
rather quickly.
Failure Demonstrated :
Floyd has had a career-long habit of running hot and cold.
His 2002 season was again indicative of that. Floyd started
fast hitting .313 in April, cooled to .224 in July, and
got hot again in August hitting .325.
Floyd's batting average dips slightly (.246) against left-handed
pitching. Even though he has a knack for hanging tough against
the lefties, his on-base percentage drops precipitously
against them (.304 compared to .420 against right-handers.)
2003 Outlook :
It's Up to You, Cliff Floyd, Cliff Floyd
Do I hear a song there? With all due respect to the baseball
environs of Florida, Montreal and Boston, playing in New
York is unlike anything Floyd will experience in his career.
His on-field moves (and sometimes off-field moves) will
be examined under bright media spotlights and a huge fan
base that can turn on a dime. He may be ready. He says he
is, and he comes to camp 20 pounds lighter than last year.
Just in case, though, he should be prepared for the subtle
mental adjustments that may be necessary for the challenge
of playing in New York, New York.
Shea It Isn't So :
Floyd's batting average at Shea Stadium last year was a
paltry .182. That may be nothing more than an anomaly given
few chances, but his batting average at Shea has decreased
steadily over the last three years. During that three-year
span, he is batting just .250. Floyd's batting average will
need to become a lot healthier - a lot nearer his career
average of .284 - to satisfy the Mets. So, you see, it might
not just because I Shea so.
Being Out in Left Field :
Let's hope that being out in left field doesn't dredge up
the thoughts a lot of people have when we refer to someone
being out in left field. After alternating playing time
in both left field and right field last year, Floyd comes
to the Mets as the everyday starter in left. Here's a funny
thing, though. Of all the outfield positions Floyd's played
in his career - and he's played them all - his fielding
percentage in left field is the lowest. That could be easily
attributed to far, far more chances playing in left, but
the Mets can ill-afford to have any outfielder having mental
lapses in crucial situations. Floyd's career .966 fielding
percentage in left field will have to improve a tad before
everyone involved - team, media, and fans alike - become
comfortable with him 'being out in left field.'
Lineup Spot :
Floyd is expected to bat third in the Mets' lineup. Last
season, he hit just .228 batting third, spending the majority
of the season getting used to batting fourth and ringing-up
a .302 average in doing so. Floyd, though, has plenty of
experience batting third in the order. Over the last three
years, he has significantly more plate appearances hitting
third, and has hit .302 during that span. This kind of performance
is exactly what the Mets are expecting.
What Must Be Changed in 2003 from 2002?
Floyd will have to exhibit more offensive consistency and
work hard to prevent long cold spells. Being new to the
team and fans alike, doing so will go a long way to endearing
Floyd to his new team and surroundings. Dry spells on a
team that is built and expected to win now could prove disappointing.
Speaking of consistency, Floyd must put behind him those
nagging injuries that have reduced his paying time in the
past. In the past two seasons, he has done a good job of
doing that, playing in 149 and 146 games. The Mets are counting
on Floyd logging significant playing time in 2003, and working
to stay healthy is a big part of that.
What is Expected?
Floyd put up .289-28-79 numbers last season. I'm sure the
Mets would take a repeat performance from him - especially
considering the production they got out their left fielder
last season. Simply, Floyd needs to adjust to his new surroundings
quickly, stay healthy, be patient, be consistent, and play
smart. He's demonstrated these abilities before. This time,
though, he needs to do it in New York - on the grandest
stage of them all.
The Mets have spent a lot of money to get more power out
of an outfield position. Here's hoping the Mets and their
fans feel the surge in 2003.
Cerrone's Certain Facts :
-- For his career, Cliff Floyd has stolen an average of
20 bases per full season at a success rate of 83%.
-- Had he not been traded last season, Floyd was on pace
to hit roughly .290 with 33 homers, 110 runs batted in,
and 20 stolen bases for the Florida Marlins.
-- Floyd is only a .267 career hitter against the current
starting pitchers of the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia
Phillies. (go to list)
