BALTIMORE — From red state to blue state.
It鈥檚 not a political change, but rather a change in uniform for Tyler Clippard. For six years, he 鈥済ot his red on鈥� with the Washington Nationals, as a steady presence in the Nationals bullpen as both a middle reliever and closer, twice making the All Star Team.
Now, Clippard is trying to beat the Nats wearing New York Mets blue. Washington鈥檚 division rival acquired him in a deadline trade from the Oakland A鈥檚 in late July, and he鈥檚 glad to be back in the National League East.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a division I鈥檓 used to, places I鈥檝e been before and it鈥檚 a comfort level that鈥檚 kind of nice right now,鈥� he told 草莓传媒 last week when the Mets was in Baltimore.
The Mets seem to be getting comfortable in first place — opening up a season-high 6.5-game lead through Wednesday — and Clippard points to the fact that the winning has become contagious in Flushing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a nice feeling coming to the ballpark everyday expecting to win, having that feeling like you鈥檙e going to win,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he roster is a really good fit from top to bottom. Everybody plays with each other really well. It鈥檚 been fun.鈥�
The one big difference he sees between the Mets and Nats is age.
鈥淭his team is a little bit younger,鈥� he said of the Mets. 鈥淜ind of two different animals, but we鈥檙e winning and that鈥檚 all I care about right now.鈥�
Clippard keeps in touch with his former teammates on a weekly basis, and he got in the last word on the Mets sweep of the Nats three weeks ago, appearing in two games.
鈥淭here was a lot of ribbing and trash talking going on,鈥� he admitted. 鈥淏ut it was friends talking to friends.鈥�
His best friend on the Nationals is Drew Storen. Clippard was surprised by Washington鈥檚 acquisition of Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon at the trade deadline, since Storen had twice as many saves at the time.
鈥淭he Nationals were trying to improve their ball club like everybody else at the deadline,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut, when a guy has that much success in the ninth inning, no matter who it is — he just happens to be a friend of mine — it鈥檚 surprising. At the end of the day, though, we鈥檙e all professionals. We don鈥檛 get to choose where we pitch.鈥�
The Nationals won two division titles in three years with Clippard, so he鈥檚 very familiar with how big the expectations are D.C. What does he think is going on in his former clubhouse now that they鈥檙e in an unexpected battle for first?
鈥淭here鈥檚 a sense of urgency that they鈥檙e feeling a little bit. They鈥檝e struggled with some injuries. It鈥檚 a matter of time before they get it straightened out, but from our perspective, we hope they don鈥檛, because right now we鈥檙e feeling pretty good where we鈥檙e at.鈥�
Soon after the Mets acquired Clippard, they overtook the Nationals in the standings.
鈥淪ince I got here, we were three games back and we caught them real fast and we鈥檝e played good baseball since. We鈥檙e playing like a first place team.鈥�
So, does that mean he now likes the way he looks in blue?
鈥淵eah man, we鈥檙e winning, absolutely,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the bottom line.鈥�
Nationals fans can check out the new, blue Tyler Clippard on Labor Day when the Mets come to D.C. in what Nats fans hope will be a showdown for first place.
