TAMPA — Willie Randolph managed the Mets and Carlos Beltran played right field.
Saturday, they spoke glowingly of Shannon Forde, a member of the club’s public relations department who died Friday night at 44 following a long battle with breast cancer.
“She was one of those real gentle spirits who loved the Mets and loved baseball,’’ said Randolph, who managed the team from 2005 to the middle of 2008. “She made my job so much easier. I didn’t have to worry about anything. She was always smiling.’’
Randolph and Beltran remembered Forde as someone who refused to give into cancer.
“It’s just a sad moment because Shannon was a great woman and very supportive of the players, she was always around trying to help and doing things for the organization. And she also was very close with the families,’’ said Beltran, a Met from 2005-11, when he was dealt to the Giants. “When I first heard she was diagnosed with cancer it was very sad news, but at the same time she fought with everything she had. She has beautiful kids and it’s just a tough situation. All my prayers to Shannon’s family, her husband and her kids. We lost a great woman.”
Randolph recalled the way Forde attacked cancer.
“She was such a fighter, how long she fought,’’ Randolph said. “She battled for her kids. It breaks your heart when you think about those kids. It’s so tough for the family. It shows the character and strength with what she was going through and to persevere. She was the same person, great smile. It’s a very sad day for me.’’
Though Aroldis Chapman can’t throw a big league pitch until May 9, Red Sox manager John Farrell knows what every team that faces the Yankees is up against when the gas-throwing lefty reliever is available.
“A dominant bullpen just got deeper,’’ Farrell said when asked what he thought when the Yankees acquired Chapman from the Reds in late December. “He is probably, historically, probably one of the more dominant short relievers in the game in a short period of time. You see a guy who averages almost two strikeouts an inning, it’s almost unheard of. So a powerful bullpen got deeper.’’
Of course, the Yankees’ late-inning bullpen won’t be as powerful since Chapman has to sit out the first 30 games due to violating MLB’s domestic violence policy.
Until then the Yankees will have to make due with Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, a late-game duo that dominated a year ago. Betances was an All-Star and Miller won the Mariano Rivera Award which went to the top AL reliever.
“Score early and keep them out of the game,’’ Farrell said of how to beat the Yankees’ pen.
Nathan Eovaldi threw a two-inning simulated game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday morning and reported no problem with the left groin issue that surfaced last week.
“Everything went good. I was working on fastball location,’’ said Eovaldi, who faced Chris Denorfia and Carlos Corporan.
Next up for Eovaldi is a bullpen session and then an appearance in a game. He mixed in a splitter and slider, but pitching coach Larry Rothschild wanted to wait before adding a curveball.
As for the inflamed right elbow that shut Eovaldi down for the final three weeks of last season: “No issue with the arm,’’ said Eovaldi, who led the Yankees with 14 wins last season. “Everything feels great, ready to go.’’
Rob Refsnyder started his pro career as right fielder and was moved to second base. Sunday against the Phillies in Clearwater he will get a taste of third base for the first time in a game.
“Speed of the game,’’ Refsnyder said when asked about the difference between second and third. “I feel more prepared going from second to third than I did from right field to second.
Williams Jerez, a product of Hanks’ Yanks youth baseball program, worked a scoreless inning for the Red Sox Saturday.
Hank Steinbrenner sponsors the New York-based program.
Training Day
Speed demons
A 6-4 win over the Red Sox was played under perfect skies and in 2:18.
Off the mark
Right-handed reliever Mark Montgomery, who was on the fast track to the big leagues a few years ago, gave up three runs and two homers in the eighth.
Caught my eye
Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-2 against knuckleballer Steven Wright.
Today’s schedule
Masahiro Tanaka makes his spring training debut against the Phillies in Clearwater. He is slated to work two innings or 35 pitches.