LEAD 'EM & REAP
'Dominican Mafia' benefiting from Valverde's vet presence
PORT ST. LUCIE — In less than two weeks with the Mets in spring training, Jose Valverde has emerged as the leader of, what the reliever calls, the team’s “Dominican Mafia.”
The members include young pitchers Jenrry Mejia, Jeurys Familia, Rafael Montero and Gonzalez Germen, and meetings are held in a corner of the clubhouse near Valverde’s locker. Another veteran Dominican pitcher, Bartolo Colon, also presides.
“It feels like we are brothers here,” Mejia said Tuesday.
Valverde views his leadership of the “Dominican Mafia” as part of the job description, as he attempts to land a spot in the Mets bullpen, after signing a minor league deal with the club this month.
The 35yearold Valverde, three seasons removed from going 49for49 in save chances with the Tigers, could eventually compete for an eighthinning role, leading into closer Bobby Parnell.
Valverde has spent 11 seasons in the major leagues with the Diamondbacks, Astros and Tigers, and has been selected to three AllStar teams.
He would like to believe he has found a home with the Mets, a team he rooted for growing up.
“I’ve never played with a team like this — the manager talks to us like a father,” Valverde said. “All the players know it, and to play with Bartolo and Mejia and [for] a guy like [Collins], it’s great.”
Collins received a positive review on Valverde from his friend Jim Leyland, who managed the pitcher with the Tigers for four seasons. Last year, Valverde made 20 relief appearances for the Tigers, going 01 with a 5.59 ERA before he was designated for assignment in June. The righthander spent the remainder of the season at TripleA Toledo.
“You can’t get bigger accolades than what [Leyland] said,” Collins said. “He said, ‘You’re going to love this guy, he comes with a smile every day. He works and he’ll take the baseball any time, any place.’ I think those are the things we’re looking for in that clubhouse.
“And those young, especially those young, Latin pitchers, he calls them the ‘ Dominican Mafia.’ It’s a great title. That’s what they are, and they follow a good leader.”
If Valverde has an explanation for his struggles last sea son, he isn’t saying. But an industry source who has watched Valverde said the pitcher’s workload in recent years is probably a significant factor. Three years ago, he led the American League in appearances with 75,
and he appeared in 71 games in 2012. “What happened in the past will stay in the past,” Valverde said when asked about last year’s struggles. “It’s no big deal. I think everybody will have a back and forth, up and down. If somebody is perfect, they will make a lot of money. Nobody is perfect.”
Valverde is viewed as somebody who can fill the leadership void created in the bullpen by LaTroy Hawkins’ departure. The 41yearold Hawkins signed a oneyear deal worth $2.25 million with the Rockies in November after going 32 with a 2.93 ERA and 13 saves for the Mets last season.
The formation of the “Dominican Mafia” tells Collins Valverde brings the same kind of presence to the clubhouse.
“It just tells you the quality of person he is,” Collins said. “You can be the biggest star, but if you don’t have the heart that is needed to be around younger guys, you’ve got your own agendas and everything else, they don’t gravitate to you. This guy wants to help.”
Valverde said he considers it part of the job.
“I like so far what I see in Mejia, Familia, Germen and Montero,” Valverde said. “I think this team has a lot of opportunities for everybody. Not only for young guys, for veterans, too.”