Mets' Clippard takes aim at Nationals, calls former team 'beatable'
Reliever Tyler Clippard may not be certain of his role with the New York Mets, but he knows how to make a grand entrance in the Big Apple.
Clippard, acquired from the Oakland Athletics on Monday, met with the media Tuesday and quickly injected himself into the division race by calling the NL East-leading Washington Nationals "beatable."
The 30-year-old Clippard, who converted 17 of 21 save chances with the Athletics, spent seven seasons in Washington before he was traded to Oakland in January. He admitted he was stoked to help New York erase its current two-game deficit against the Nationals.
"It's going to be a lot of fun chasing down my old teammates there in Washington," Clippard told reporters. "There's a lot of incentive for me on a personal level and a professional level to get the job done in New York."
Mets manager Terry Collins said he will use Clippard primarily as the eighth-inning setup man, but he will also serve as closer when Jeurys Familia needs a day off.
"He is an outstanding reliever," Collins said of Clippard. "We got a lot better today."
