Last May, when the Mets were struggling through the first quarter of the season, Rickey Henderson was the first man tossed overboard.
Yesterday, a rejuvenated Henderson returned to Shea Stadium for the first time since his release, mostly taking the high road on the Mets’ similar early season woes. And despite the fact he’s the only player from last year who won’t receive a National League championship ring.
“I’m not going to get a ring? I had never thought about it, so I can’t say about Steve Phillips,” the 42-year-old Padre left fielder said. “But in his heart, if I don’t deserve it, whatever I did for the club doesn’t mean anything, I tip my hat to him.”
Henderson insisted he had nothing against Phillips, who released him last May 13 after he hit .219 in 31 games. Phillips said the club paid Henderson $1.8 million last season “without getting any production,” which was the reason he was snubbed.
Countered Henderson, who still felt he was underpaid heading into last year: “Everything was coming together with the Mets. The first year I played well, the second year I couldn’t get out of spring training for so much negative stuff.
“That goes to show you that sometimes the controversial stuff that people put on your mind affect your game and what you have to go out there and do.”
Thus far, Henderson has enjoyed playing left every day and is hitting .291 with 18 runs, eight stolen bases and a .411 on-base percentage. On April 25, he set the all-time walk record. He’s 50 runs away from Ty Cobb’s career mark and 63 hits shy of 3,000.
Still prone to an occasional Yogi-ism, Henderson said of the Mets’ current position in the NL East basement: “They chose to be in the position, so I guess you’ve got to take the punches with the rolls.”