Paul Lo Duca "Upset" With Mets Latino Players

Paul Lo Duca seems to be very angry lately. He went apeshit on umpire Marvin Hudson arguing balls and strikes during Saturday's win over Oakland and was suspended two games for his actions. Following last nights rainout, Duke went off to the press about, of all things, the Latino ballplayers on the team and the New York press: Admitting he was "in a bad mood all day," Paul Lo Duca announced in a near-empty clubhouse last night - and on the eve of the Mets' key NL East showdown with the Phillies - that some of his Spanish-speaking teammates need to be held more accountable by the media. "I'll do this (interview), but you need to start talking to other players," Lo Duca announced loudly after he was approached by a radio reporter after the Mets-Cardinals series finale was washed out by rain. "It's the same three or four people every day. Nobody else wants to talk. Some of these guys have to start talking. They speak English, believe me." A crazy-eyed Lo Duca, of course, also had a few choice things to say last Saturday night to umpire Marvin Hudson to earn a two-game suspension that still is pending an appeal. But the fact that Lo Duca's words last night were directed more at his Spanish-speaking teammates' interaction with the media was a telling admission in one of the most diverse clubhouses in baseball. Before the rainout, Lo Duca's ire similarly had been raised when he was asked for an update on his appeal of the ban and for his availability for this weekend's four-game series in Philadelphia, which starts with a day-night doubleheader today. "Listen up, everybody," LoDuca had shouted. "Stop asking me when I'm going to drop my suspension (appeal). When are you guys going to drop it? I'm tired of talking about it. Go ask Tony (Bernazard) or Willie (Randolph). God almighty, it's like the president got killed." Billy Wagner couldn't resist the obvious follow-up query, deadpanning to Lo Duca, "So, when are you going to drop it?" Lo Duca's marital problems, gambling habits and personal life were publicly scrutinized throughout last season. He snapped at a reporter two months ago when he was asked about a photograph of himself and a woman in the winner's circle at Aqueduct. Asked for the woman's name, Lo Duca erupted, "That's my life. That's my personal life. That's none of your business. How would you like it if I went to your house and took pictures of your wife?" Lo Duca had to be held back by Mets public relations director Jay Horwitz, while teammate Julio Franco hurried from the other side of the clubhouse to get between Lo Duca and the reporter.