While Willie Randolph insisted to Mike Francesca and Chris Russo earlier this week that the Mets’ dispatch of IF Ruben Gotay was nothing personal, Gotay (whom Randolph described as “one-dimensional” is still ticked off, despite having a personal champion in the form of another former Met. From the New York Daily News’ Adam Rubin :

When Braves officials quizzed Tom Glavine about Gotay, the southpaw recommended claiming him.

“He can hit,” said the 42-year-old Glavine. “I knew we were obviously in a situation where we needed somebody, especially with Omar Infante out for a little bit longer. So they asked me what I thought about him. I told them I thought he was a good player who could help us. They took my recommendation, and I told Ruben he’s got to make me look good.”

Said Gotay: “I told him, ‘Thank you.’ He said, ‘No problem.’ It feels pretty good when a veteran guy who has been around says something good about you. It makes you feel like you’re doing a good job. I just have to keep doing what I did last year – even better – and see what happens.”

During the pregame introductions on Monday night, he received resounding cheers from the home crowd while warming up in the bullpen, something he suspected might not be the case considering his five-year detour to Flushing.

“I couldn’t totally hear it, but I could hear it well enough to know it was good. And it was commented on to me by a lot of people,” Glavine said. “I don’t know if I would say it’s a relief. I guess I expected it to be mostly positive, but it was probably more than I anticipated.”

As for the outing, he added: “There was a different anticipation and anxiousness, similar to when I went and pitched in New York for the first time. The difference is I have a little more – or a lot more – familiarity with here than I did going to Shea Stadium.”

Glavine’s children can’t wait to see David Wright and Billy Wagner this weekend, but their dad noted that he won’t barge into the Mets’ clubhouse as Julio Franco did last year after returning to the Braves.

“I don’t think that went over too well with some folks,” Glavine said about Franco’s entry. “I’ll have to stand outside the clubhouse.”