Mets fans give Delgado welcome fit for a villain

By Joe Capozzi

 

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

 

Sunday, March 20, 2005

 

PORT ST. LUCIE ? If Saturday was any indication, Carlos Delgado can expect a hostile reaction when the Marlins play at Shea Stadium this season.

 

Delgado, who signed a $52 million contract with the Marlins after rejecting a similar offer from the Mets, was booed loudly and jeered during his three at-bats in Florida's 6-0 loss.

 

"Maybe they like me. Maybe they wanted to show me they really, really wanted me," said Delgado, who grounded out, lined out and flied out at the right-field wall, all to the delight of 7,053, the largest crowd at Tradition Field since the ballpark opened in 1988.

 

"They were singing God Bless America when I came up to the plate in my last at-bat," he said, laughing. "Boy, oh, boy, I love fans."

 

While he was playing for the Toronto Blue Jays, Delgado was booed at Yankee Stadium because of his refusal to stand at attention during the singing of God Bless America. He said his chilly reception Saturday was "probably a combination" of his political protest and his rejection of the Mets' contract.

 

"I was dumbfounded, to be honest with you," Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis said of the crowd's reaction. "I was surprised."

 

The Marlins play nine games against the Mets at Shea Stadium this season: April 15-17, July 1-3 and Sept. 20-22. Delgado can expect to hear the "Car-Los! Car-Los!" taunts he herd Saturday.

 

"If getting booed at Shea Stadium is the worst thing that can happen to him this year, we're going to have a great year," third baseman Mike Lowell said.

 

Delgado, who was also booed after making a leaping catch of Andres Galarraga's line drive to first base in the fourth inning, said he has never been a villain in his 12 years.

 

"In New York, I might be," he said. "They've got a new idol now."

 

Delgado is 2-for-20 (.100) in seven at-bats this spring after missing the first nine because of left elbow tendinitis. His first hit came in Jupiter last week, a home run against the Mets.

 

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I just about spit up my coffee laughing when I saw this. Hilarious.

They must have really really wanted him, to go through all the trouble of jeering and booing and singing. Frankly, Im glad they did because it shows we got Delgado and theyre angry we did.