Saturday Seven is a weekly lightning-round of questions delving into the personalities of major leaguers, seven questions at a time.You probably know Padres' closer Heath Bell best as the Guy Who Lost All That Weight Playing Wii Fit. Or the Guy Who Replaced Trevor Hoffman. Either way, you should know that he has some nasty stuff on the mound, and quite a pleasant disposition and sense of humor off it. Look no further than the T-shirt that says "That's how I roll," with a picture of a roll of toilet paper.
On to the questions ...
What do you most remember about being a baseball fan as a kid?
Growing up I used to go to Anaheim Angels games all the time. I always remember sitting in the nosebleeds with my Dad and watching Reggie Jackson, who would strike out or hit a home run. That's all he ever did. He looked like an ant. We were up so high. It was a football stadium then.
What do you most remember about your major league debut?
Putting my head down, jogging in from the bullpen and telling myself, 'This is exactly like Triple-A. This is exactly like Triple-A. Don't look at the fans.' It worked. Four strikeouts. Two innings. One hit.
What player taught you the most?
That would be Mike Stanton, John Franco and Roberto Hernandez. When I first got called up they were all with the Mets. Stanton taught me the fine line between out of control and in control, and how to maintain that. John Franco taught me to believe in yourself and never give anybody any credit. If this is what you want to do, you can do it, because you're here. Don't let anyone take it from you. Make them rip the jersey off your back. Roberto Hernandez was just that Alpha Dog. Go out and destroy the other guys. Hard nosed baseball.
What's the funniest thing you've ever seen on a baseball field?
With the Mets, Pedro Martinez was pitching, his debut in Shea Stadium. The sprinklers came on and he went nuts, running around in the sprinklers during the game.
What's your best moment in the big leagues?
In '04, the very end of the season, I'm walking back to the hotel with my wife and I started laughing and she said why. I said 'I'm a Major League Baseball player.' It just really sunk in then. The season ended, but I could finally say I was a Major League Baseball player. That was one of my best moments.
What's your favorite city to go to on the road?
I love Philly for some reason. I love the ballpark and the fans in Philly. I love their passion. Those fans rag you, but they always come up with new stuff every year. That's what I like about them. They don't say the normal stuff, 'You're fat, blah blah.'
If you were not a Major League Baseball player, what would you be doing?
Honestly, I think I'd be a hockey player. I grew up in So Cal, so we didn't have much hockey, but I played roller hockey. I always said if I grew up in the Northwest or Minnesota, I'd have been a hockey player first and if that didn't work out, I'd play baseball.
