"Doesn't anyone here speak Korean?"

[Guest Edgy DC]

These types of articles are generally feel-good portraits and short on actual detail. Good for the Times for doing a little digging, and trying to portray the problems as well as the blessings the Mets have come upon.

[metirish]

Very enjoyable read, from the little I have read about Mr. Koo he seems to be very popular with his teammates.

]Koo plays Texas Hold'em with fellow relievers even though he only knows how to bluff.

]In the Mets' bullpen, relief pitcher Heath Bell often sits near Koo's interpreter so that he can relay jokes and learn some Korean expletives. Whenever Koo sees what he believes to be a bad call and yells, "That's a strike" in English, his teammates howl their approval.

[patchyfogg]

And, that's why Jim Colborn gets over $1M to be a pitching coach. He's been a major league pitcher, a major league assistant GM and a major league pitching coach who also happens to speak fluent Spanish and Japanese.

[seawolf17]

]For instance, the Dominican pitcher Pedro Mart�nez regularly refers to Floyd as "papaya head" and Floyd for some reason does not take offense. Japanese second baseman Kazuo Matsui greets outfielder Mike Cameron with "What's up?" and Jay Horwitz, the vice president for media relations, with "Shalom."

Awesome. I'm referring to Cliff as "Papaya Head" from now on.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Probably takes little offense because (1) Pedro's a meal ticket these days and (2) everybody calls Pedro "Spinach Head" behind his back.

[Valadius]

Heh, "Papaya Head" looks like it fits. I'm glad we're getting some clubhouse chemistry FINALLY.