PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -Ryan Church came back from two concussions last year and did all he could to try and help the New York Mets down the stretch.
It wasn’t much.
“That wasn’t me at the end of the season,” Church said Monday. “I would step in the batter’s box and see four pitchers. I would see a pitch and couldn’t attack it. For me, everyone was counting me out, saying he’s done, he won’t make it back. I was taught to give whatever you’ve got on that given day and I struggled. But I’m healthy now.”
And ready for any role.
A day after manager Jerry Manuel said he might play Fernando Tatis in right field against left-handed pitching, Church said he’s up to the challenge and will do whatever it takes to help the Mets win.
“He’s the boss,” Church said. “He’s our general and I’ll go to war with him any day. I take it as a challenge. Even if he didn’t say anything about it, I would be like, hey, I’m here to win a championship. I just want to play and do my part.”
sibility that the right-handed hitting Tatis could share time in right with Church, who bats from the left side.
Manuel also said Tatis would be a good right-handed option off the bench and could fill in on occasion for third baseman David Wright and first baseman Carlos Delgado.
Church thrived as an everyday player last season, his first with the Mets, before he was sidelined in May by his second concussion. He also sustained one during spring training.
Church said Manuel approached him on the field Monday and told him not to read into his recent comments.
“He came up to me and said, ‘You’re preparing to be the everyday right fielder for the Mets,”’ Church said. “I wasn’t paying much attention to it anyway. Every year you have to go out and prove yourself.”
rally for two runs on three hits in the eighth to win the game 2-0. … Tatis was scheduled to start at third base for Alomar Jr.’s Mets, but was scratched due to a sore right hand. Tatis said he expects to be ready to play Tuesday. … RHP John Maine and RHP Freddy Garcia are scheduled to start Tuesday’s intrasquad game.
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