My Conversation With Heath Bell
Posted by Steve Sidoti
I arrived inside Citi Field last night shorty after the gates opened at 4:40. My intentions were to get inside the stadium early and maybe catch a BP home run ball. I quickly sat in the big apple seats in right center field. I got to run down to row one, which is the spot I stayed at for both team's BP.
Pitchers Brian Stokes and Oliver Perez shagged fly balls right in front of me. Unfortunately I was unable to get a ball. Next up, was the Padres. Jody Gerut, who would later hit the first (real) home run at Citi Field, shagged a couple of balls. Heath Bell, the Padres closer and former Met was seen doing some stretches in the outfield.
I was aware of Bell's situation and thought I understood the move by Minaya. It just was not working with the Mets, and for some reason, Bell was uncomfortable in his time in Queens.
I screamed to the former Met, "You are going to get 40 saves this season!"
He then walked over to me, looking up and saying "Boy, I hope so."
I was in shock that he actually walked over to me to answer to my statement. I then said to him, "For whatever reason, it just did not work out in New York."
His answer shocked me.
"Yeah you know what, Willie didn't like me. You know, Omar and Willie did not really get along. Omar said to Willie, listen you have to play this kid and Willie was basically like I do not have to play anyone. It was unfortunate but hey, I am a free agent in a couple of years, we will see, I liked it here."
I mean I knew he was misused with the Mets, and many actually did blame Willie Randolph for his failures with the team. Bell was able to celebrate the Mets clinching of the NL East in 2006. He was then traded to the Padres in November, with fellow relief pitcher Royce Ring for outfielder Ben Johnson and reliever Jon Adkins.
After that I asked him about their left fielder, Chase Headley, who is entering his second big league season. Headley was a former third baseman, who converted to the outfield because of Kevin Kouzmanoff. Bell told me that he was not going to be a star but is a good hitter. Referring to Daniel Murphy, he said, "he is kind of like that guy you guys got in left."
I said, "Hey least he has a full year out their you know." (about Headley)
Bell laughed and said, "Yeah but he is still a little shaky."
I have gone on long enough, but I was just amazed at how friendly Bell was to me and the other fans present. It is a shame that it did not work out in New York, but now I hope this guy gets his 40 saves. Heath Bell. A great man.
13 comments>>:
Steve that is awesome. Bell sounds like a first class guy. I wouldn't mind seeing him back in NY down the road.
Nice I figured it was Willie's fault
What's really interesting about this is Steve makes it sound like Bell is a stand-up guy, however on SNY Gary was trying to make Bell seem like a jerk. Maybe Garyy needs to take off the orange and blue sun glasses.
I was up in the Promenade during BP and noticed Bell spending a lot of time chatting with, I'm guessing you - I was pretty surprised/impressed by that myself.
I actually had the same conversation with Bell a few years back before he got traded (I used to work at Shea). He pretty much said that Willie did not like him and that he was going to ask for a trade in the offseason. Sure enough he was gone a few months later.
Does it not strike anyone as a bit messed up that Bell would so freely comment about a teammate's upside not being star level? That doesn't sound so standup-ish to me...
sure he sounds very friendly but i don't know about carelessly free-speaking to a fan about the willie situation and headley
I always believed that Willie did not like Heath and that this was his big problem in NY. Also explains the trade.
I bet if you asked any of the Mets beat writers who covered the team in 2006 they would confirm that this is the truth (off the record of course).
this makes me even more sad that he and duaner were booed when they were announced.
I always liked heath.
I used to work for an IT reseller and I was cold calling some minor league clubs back in 2005 and one I called on was the Triple A Mets. I think they were in Norfolk at the time if memory serves. Anyway, I was chatting with the GM (who is a GM by title, but doesn't have the responsibilities of a MLB GM) and I todl him we needed some bullpen help with the big club, so who you got? Without hesitation he told me Heath Bell. He said the guy was a hard thrower and would be successful and help the Mets. He said to keep an eye out for him because he was going to turn some heads with his play and his attitude. I always liked Bell and couldn't believe how stupid that trade was. Between the Bell trade and the Bannister, Owens and Lindtrom deals, the Mets have shot themselves in the foot and could have had a bunch of top notch bullpen guys finishing games for us the last couple years instead of the Schoewenweises and the Ayalas of the world.
Man those were some stupid trades by Omar, but you can't win every trade. I really wonder if Heath Bell has looked at his blog. Lol.
When the Mets visited Seattle in 05 or 06 I talked to Bell for a while as well. Cool guy, I than got him to sign a ball for me. He was on the top step of the dugout, I threw the pen to him which he caught. I then underhanded him the ball which he dropped. I always thought that was kind of funny.
The Mets visited Seattle in 2005. I was at those games. I remember the Mets didn't score a run for the first two games. I think Bell has always had that funny corky attitude.
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