An enthusiastic high-five and an ecstatic dugout after Valdespin homers. (Gordon Donovan)
This is getting utterly ridiculous…
According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Mets Manager Terry Collins said that he could see the Pirates retaliating against Jordany Valdespin for his admiration of his ninth-inning homer on Friday night, but added that he doesn’t think Pittsburgh would go after David Wright.
“I think every situation is different. I don’t think you retaliate on David Wright,” Collins said.
“You don’t take it out on David Wright. Now will they throw at Valdespin? I have no idea. Fifteen years ago the answer would have been yes. I can’t say that’s going to happen in today’s game. They won the game. I’m sure it’s over with. But, you know, a lot of teams have long memories.”
What is the matter with this guy? Is his brain going soft?
Why even raise the spectre of Wright being beaned in retaliation for Valdespin’s dramatics in the first place?
Still don’t think there’s some kind of agenda here? Every day they only add another log onto the bonfire…
Let’s get the fans to turn on Valdespin by projecting the image of fan favorite David Wright getting beaned because of him…
Great idea…
Of course we all remember how often Gary Carter got beaned when Darryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra would do the same thing. Remember all those life-threatening beanballs?
As I wrote in last night’s recap, Valdespin clouted a ninth-inning homer into the second deck in right center and then stared defiantly into the dugout, flipped his bat, and took a quick glance at his blast before trotting around the bases. Good for him…
“When you hit the ball, you got to enjoy your hit,” he said. “Every time I hit the ball, homer or something, I enjoy that. Every hit, I’m enjoying, my family’s enjoying, my friends enjoying.”
During the post-game last night, Collins sighed, grimaced and paused for 30 seconds when asked about Jordany’s home run.
“I know he’s trying to make a statement because he hasn’t been in the lineup. I know he’s trying to make a statement to everybody of what he can do. If he keeps homers, he can stand at home plate all he wants, I guess, as long as they keep coming at the right time.”
Regarding his flair, Collins added, “Do I like it? I don’t know if it really matters. I can’t change the game.”
We don’t need to change the game, because this has been going on for over a hundred years. But we do need to change the manager.
