The relationship between Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry is in a down period once again, but this time, Gooden claims that he’s not going to make amends with his former Mets teammate.
“I’m tired of him taking shots at me,’’ Gooden told The Post as he watched the Mets take batting practice at First Data Field. “Saying I’m homeless and everything else. I’ve always supported him, and now he is still taking shots at me. For 30-some years this guy has been taking shots. I mean, when do I get the message?’’
Back in August, Strawberry talked about how worried he was about Gooden, who he referred to as a “complete junkie addict”. An angry Gooden fired back, and even the Yankees got involved, offering to pay for Gooden’s rehab.
“I hope he really finds peace within himself,’’ Gooden said. “I don’t understand why he constantly tries to take shots at me when I was there to support him. It’s not worth it to reach out to him anymore. What’s the point? Another year or two, he is just going to do the same thing.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that this guy is not your friend, he doesn’t have your best interests at heart, so let it go. So I’m letting it go. I’m not going to live that lie.’’
Gooden then played the “jealousy” card towards Strawberry.
Asked who are his friends in baseball, Gooden was quick to point to former teammates such as Bobby Ojeda, David Cone, Mookie Wilson and Ron Darling.
“All those guys,’’ Gooden said. “They tell me that [Strawberry] has been jealous of me for years. Even the ex-Yankees players tell me that.’’
He also emphasized the need to move on from his relationship with Strawberry because he didn’t know whether or not he’d get attacked again.
“It’s time to cut that cord,’’ Gooden said as we stood in the corner of the Mets dugout. “When people ask, ‘What about Darryl?’ I wish Darryl the best because he was a teammate. I thought he was a friend at one time, but I guess not.
“The one that got me this time — I had just buried my mom. That was a tough time. C’mon, man. And he knew what I was going through in that situation. I told him one day, ‘I feel like I might have to go into a mental institution because I don’t know how I can deal with all that with my mom.’ Losing my mom was so difficult on me.
“Then all of a sudden he’s dropping bombs on me.’’
I have no idea what Gooden is going through in his life. Is he using again? Is he depressed? Was there a falling out between him and Strawberry related to something else? Is he just pissed off at Strawberry? Whatever the case, he almost comes off bitter here, given the relative success and stability Strawberry has had in his life in recent years.
