52 Pickup: Mets' Collins To Crack Down On Card Playing
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- 52-Card Pickup just took on a new meaning in the Mets' clubhouse.
New manager Terry Collins unveiled his rules to the team on Monday, and according to the NY Post, a crackdown on pre-game card playing is in order.
"It's my understanding (card playing) was an issue last year," Terry Collins told the Post. "They will be allowed to play cards, but there is going to be a cutoff time before the game."
While third baseman David Wright admits that "it's good to have a firm cutoff," he says it's a part of his game-day routine.
"I get to the park early and I like to, with lunch, play some cards," Wright said. "But for me, an hour before I get on the field it has to be wrapped up."
"Cards are a part of baseball, I think," he added. "But it's very important also that it's not a distraction and it doesn't get in the way of someone's preparation. The way to do it is have a firm cutoff where by a certain time you are focused 100 percent on getting ready for the game."
Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey told WFAN's Boomer & Carton Monday that he has no problem with Collins cracking down on poker before first pitch.
"When there's any proclamation made like that by a manager or coach, you know, you've got to kind of look at the root of it," Dickey said. "I think it's just that Terry expects us to be professionals, and we should expect that of ourselves and of each other as teammates."
LISTEN: R.A. Dickey talks new contract, 2011 Mets with Boomer & Carton
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