Heath Bell pitched 11 major league seasons (2004-2015) including three with the New York Mets (2004-2006). He is a three-time All-Star (2009-2011). He also pitched for the San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays.
“Everything in New York was so serious. I should keep my mouth shut, but I never do. In 2005, I didn’t pitch for 28 straight days. I don’t know if I did something to Willie [Randolph, then the manager of the Mets]. I didn’t always get along with [then pitching coach] Rick Peterson. I don’t know if they wanted to make me the scapegoat. It was a bad situation. I was an undrafted player. I was a walk-on. I was the last guy to get to the big leagues. I came in with [former manager] Art Howe, then went to Willie. I was with [former general manager] Steve Phillips, then [former GM] Jim Duquette, then [current general manager] Omar Minaya. No one really saw me. But they heard about me in the papers.” – Heath Bell
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