Mets All-Stars Tight-Lipped After Not Being Used In Midsummer Classic
SAN DIEGO (CBSNewYork) -- Mets pitchers Jeurys Familia and Bartolo Colon didn't play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, and afterward they didn't really want to talk about it.
The Mets' Terry Collins managed the National League team and hand-picked the closer and 43-year-old starter for the team. But he did not send either to the mound in the Midsummer Classic, which the American League won 4-2.
Colon declined to talk to local reporters after the game, an unusual move, the New York Post noted.
Familia initially refused interviews, too, walking away from reporters who were gathered at his locker. A Mets spokesman said it was because he did not appear in the game, the Post reported. Familia seemed visibly disappointed, the New York Daily News reported.
After Collins was informed of what happened, he twice spoke with Familia, the Post reported. Then, after the locker room had cleared out, Familia finally spoke to reporters and tried to shrug off the the events of the night.
"No, I wasn't disappointed I couldn't pitch," Familia insisted. "He told me before the game if there was a save situation in the ninth, I would pitch."
Collins' plan for Colon was to use him as a long man if the game reached extra innings.
The Mets were the only National League team that did not have a player used in the game.
"Our guys are going to get their day in the spotlight," Collins said. "Let me tell you something -- our pitchers are tired. One of the things I get asked all the time time is 'gosh, you are using this guy a lot.' That's correct. We are. He's on pace to be in 77 games. We have to be careful."
Yoenis Cespedes and Noah Syndergaard were also selected for the NL. Cespedes did not play because of a quad injury, and Syndergaard was scratched after leaving his last start early with arm fatigue.