A Good’ place
Doc aims to re-earn Mets’ trust, work with pitchers
PORT ST. LUCIE — Doc Gooden, fresh off working with a Japanese team and their pitchers for two weeks last month, visited the Mets on Thursday at First Data Field and said someday he would like to return as guest instructor for his old team.
“That would really be great, I would love that,’’ Gooden told The Post, “but I understand I have to earn the Mets’ trust back and I’m trying to do that. I totally get that.’’
Gooden was there to watch Matt Harvey pitch and just “enjoy’’ the game.
“I love baseball, and I love the Mets and I love their rotation,’’ he said. “If they stay healthy they will be the top rotation in the game.’’
Gooden said he would love to see his No. 16 retired someday by the Mets, but pointed out that “nowadays to get your number retired by a team it helps if you are in Cooperstown and the major league Hall of Fame. And plus the problems I’ve had in the past, and again I totally get. I have no problems with the Mets, none whatsoever. They’ve been good to me and my family.’’
He said he has a deep desire to teach the game and pitching.
“It was great working with a team from Japan for two weeks over in St. Petersburg, they trusted me,’’ Gooden said. “It was fun to work with their pitchers.’’
Gooden had Hall of Fame stuff, but his career was derailed by a litany of drug and alcohol issues. In past visits to spring training, Gooden looked frail, but he was looking healthier this time around, pointing to the fact that he has completed major dental work that really affected him.
“You take 10 teeth out you are going to lose weight, but I’m eating too good now,’’ Gooden said with a smile as he pointed to his midsection. “I need to lose some weight.’’
Gooden said he wants to help the Mets in any way he can, especially from a pitching standpoint. He had a conversation with Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland during the morning session.
“I’m a Met fan, I’ll always be a Met fan at heart and I worked for Mr. Steinbrenner [with the Yankees} for six years,’’ said Gooden who burst onto the scene in 1984 as Dr. K, won the Cy Young Award in 1985 and a World Series the next year with the Mets, their most recent World Series victory.
Gooden is spending much of his time coaching and watching his 13-year-old son, Dylan, a three-sport star in Maryland, play baseball, basketball and football.
“Football is his love, he is a quarterback and a defensive end, but he is a really good pitcher too,’’ Gooden said. “The main thing he is great in school, a straight-A student. His mom [Monique] has done a great job with him. It’s so much fun to see the success he has had. To Dylan I’m just ‘Dad’ and that’s great.’’