Sweeney: 'It's a dream come true'
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Sweeney: 'It's a dream come true'
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- This is the face of someone who has spent 16 seasons in the majors without ever experiencing a pennant race: Mike Sweeney, racing around the visitors' clubhouse at Sun Life Stadium to hug his new teammates.
They joked during pregame stretches. The 37-year-old first baseman, well past his prime and well aware of it, grateful for every moment, however big or small a role he may play.
"It's a dream come true," Sweeney said.
The closest Sweeney has ever come to the postseason was 2003 when the Royals were in first place in the American League Central as late as Aug. 29. When he was acquired in a trade Wednesday with Seattle, Sweeney was immediately thrown into the playoff race. It's the best chance he's ever had.
Here is some of Sweeney's chat with writers today:
What is this like?
"It's a dream come true. It's my 20th season professionally and 16th in the big leagues, so to get a chance to come and fight for a chance to go to the playoffs for the first time in my career is something I've dreamed about and worked my butt off toward. To get the opportunity to be a small piece of an already great puzzle is a joy."
Did you have a feeling a trade was coming?
"I knew the clock was ticking in Seattle because I was healthy for the last month. The day the put me on the DL I was ready to play. I spent about 30 more days just biding time. I really didn't know what was going to happen. I knew that I had a great peace about it. So I went down to my rehab assignment and worked hard."
Was that tough?
"Those things happen in baseball. I would never complain about it. That's the hand I was dealt. "
What did you hear about Philly?
"Speaking with Cliff Lee about his experience here last year, he said it was the most fun he ever had. Great teammates, great clubhouse."
Can you play first base regularly?
"I played some at first base pretty consistently before I went on the DL. Whatever Charlie asks me to do, I'll do it."
interesting he mentions one who shall not be named. good pickup.— liberty_bell- If we hadnt traded CLiff Lee, we'd have him AND Mike Sweeney!— jamesiri
- I bet Rube got up and walked out of the room, just like in Chicago, when Lee's name was brought up.— SFPhillyphan
Comment removed.- Shut up.— phillyfan14
- Good pick up by Reuben. Sweeney has always been a class guy.His comments show that.— Quaker
Lifetime .298 hitter. Definitely a good pick up. A little power too. So when Howard comes back he stays.- If i here Lee one more time I'm going to stick it to the person that metioned it. WE have Oswalt what more do you want? Damn it's more annoying than hearing fans criticism about McNabb. We don't have that kinda of money. We're not New York where any team will spend as much on any player. We're not the Yankess. SO SHUT YOUR TRAP— Gotenks
- oswalt is no lee— daoust555
- I wish we had Cliff Lee.— dglass1
- Cliff Lee.
Kwif Wee. He da man.— RAS- Can't Let Idiots Forget Fun Like Everyone Else— riles1875
- I want all of the Lee sympathizers to watch this Summer when their golden child Cliff Lee signs for like 5 years and 80 million w the yankees/mets/dodgers/etc.... the phils offered him the same extension they offered doc. Lee is a year older but turned it down which is why he's now in Texas. If he loved Philly as much as he claims he did, he'd still be here. But he didn't love Philly enough to sign an extension so you guys should seriously shut the h*ll up. We have oswalt and doc LOCKED for 2 years. Lee will sign a monster offseason deal and you'll all complain but had Ruben signed a pitcher who will turn 34 next year to a 4/5 year deal you all would've b*tched about that too. So get behind the team we ACTUALLY have or get off the bandwagon b/c we don't want fans like you anyway.— thomaspfoolery
- Halliday>Lee>Oswalt but whatever obviously the Lee thing is history and I just don't like to even think about it because it makes my brain sad does RA think people will ever let it go? I don't think I will UNLESS they win the World Series this year...— DrTickTock
- Hell, I'm fine with having Halladay and Lee instead of Lee. I just get a kick out of seeing comments posted by grown men who get angry because people keep bringing up Cliff Lee. If you want to get angry about something, go read the articles about DROP.— riles1875
- I meant Halladay and Oswalt, of course.— riles1875
- @foolery 5 years at $80M? He's looking for a 6-7 year deal at $23M per year. And that's about what he'll get.— Mike P
- I watched Mike play in Wilmington years ago. He was a good hitter then but he never ended up on any good teams other then the Blue Rocks. He is a good edition for the Phillies and is grateful for a chance to do anything to help out. The Phillies could use more players like him that are just happy to get a chance to play in the playoffs. A long time coming Mike, good luck.— ritmit60
