Non-Jays/MLB Discussion: The Valdespin 'Drama'?

[fatcowxlive]

So there has been this thing going on in Mets land where Jordany Valdespin hits a homer in the 9th inning (monster shot) as part of a 10-3 losing effort from the Mets against the Pirates. All seemed to go well except that after he hit his homer he bat flips and admires the distance he got on that homer.

 

Apparently there's an issue with that. Both the Mets commentators and Terry Collins started to rip on Valdespin's 'act' of throwing the bat away as if he didn't hustle on a ground ball. The poor dude who's really been a surprise to the Mets and trying to convince his team to start him more often hits a homer then gets everyone pissed at him for doing that.

 

Not only that, but the Pirates hit him in the next game, which according to Collins and the commentary crew, 'was expected'. No one argued, no one made a fuss, the Mets bench was quiet and nobody really showed support for Valdespin.

 

Now my question to you guys is that do you think what happened to him was just? If you were the Mets' skipper would you do the same? Discuss away

[OtisNixonFan]

I think it's alittle uncalled for. He's a young player and doesn't necessarily know all the ins and outs yet. I might think he's a tool but their is no way I drill him. If I'm Collins I call for retaliation next inning. God knows I could see 2011 or even current Brett Lawrie doing this.

[GeorgiaPeach]

I've been commenting on this very behaviour of late and have mentioned it in the past.

 

The "Our team is getting slaughtered and some jackass starts show boating because he hits a HR or makes a nice play"

 

Fatcow....you're in tune with the Hip-hop scene. I'm not being racist here or trying to stereotype, but this behaviour is prevalent in the NBA & NFL, and I see blacks and white guys who could pass for black being the usual culprits acting in this manner. Why is that? Why do players playing a team game get all goofy when their team is taking a beating?

 

IMO its dumb behaviour.

[fatcowxlive]

I think it's alittle uncalled for. He's a young player and doesn't necessarily know all the ins and outs yet. I might think he's a tool but their is no way I drill him. If I'm Collins I call for retaliation next inning. God knows I could see 2011 or even current Brett Lawrie doing this.

 

Tim Collins said in the post-game of the bat-flip game that he's expecting that Valdespin will get plucked, it's not really like he wasn't expecting it, and on top of that he didnt retaliate or yell something at the pitcher, the game kept moving as if its a normal HBP

 

Well, he is only hitting .235/.288/.426 so it's not like they really need him or anything. I think it's just, I've heard in the past that Valdespin isn't a good teammate, it's all about him.

 

He needs to learn these things, and the organization is right in taking a hard stance to get his attention.

 

Huh I never knew that about him. But don't you think leaving him to get hit by a pitch and not back him up is taking this a bit too far?

[fatcowxlive]

I've been commenting on this very behaviour of late and have mentioned it in the past.

 

The "Our team is getting slaughtered and some jackass starts show boating because he hits a HR or makes a nice play"

 

Fatcow....you're in tune with the Hip-hop scene. I'm not being racist here or trying to stereotype, but this behaviour is prevalent in the NBA & NFL, and I see blacks and white guys who could pass for black being the usual culprits acting in this manner. Why is that? Why do players playing a team game get all goofy when their team is taking a beating?

 

IMO its dumb behaviour.

 

I agree with you, when your down you shouldn't act like a fool. His homer was nice, something to admire, but not worth a bat flip in that situation (I guess if you see bat flips as being very rude). In that situation it was uncalled for a bat flip with that scoreline, but does it warrant a public railing by the manager and leaving him to dry after an (allegedly) intentional HBP?

 

As for your question, I think it comes down to cockiness and big egos. I think sports starts have grown to have bigger egos as years went on, especially if you look back decades ago. Maybe it's the Media helping the players build their egos, maybe it's social media, direct fan interaction or pressures of the big paycheques that cause people to do selfish things to get on the highlight reel

[admin]

I don't know, when I read your description I was expecting something very cocky, Jose style lol.

He crushed it. I think he just got caught up in it a bit. I don't think it was much of a bat flip either. Not like the exaggerated ones we see.

[fatcowxlive]

I don't know, when I read your description I was expecting something very cocky, Jose style lol.

He crushed it. I think he just got caught up in it a bit. I don't think it was much of a bat flip either. Not like the exaggerated ones we see.

 

Well I think the bat flip might have had a bit of cockiness in it because he did it as he was looking into the dugout as if its sending a message to someone (unlike walking down the line and fliping it). I didn't mind the fact that he admires it though, it was crushed a long way

 

 

in a league full of steroid using 20 year olds? NO WAY

 

the pirates should have cleared the bench 90s style instead of plunking him 1 time, beat his ass and teach him a good lesson

 

For a bat flip?

[TheHurl]

Eventually intentionally throwing at players (assets) will slow down to almost nothing. One of the biggest problems is that players who grew up in the era where throwing at a player is acceptable are now announcing. It's the same reason that so many fans think JPA is a good hitter. I'm probably in the minority among people my age but I'd rather see a guy be inappropriate than players thrown at.

[GD]

Didn't this guy lose a nut or two to a Verlander fastball or am I thinking of someone else?

[KSaw]

He gets drilled. Everyone in baseball would drill him. No biggie. Lesson learned. He took it like a man. Now if the Pirates had taken it too far and threw at his head, there would have been hell to pay.

[declan_44]

Bonds did that all the time. Sosa was terrible for taking his time snd admiring. Did they get revenge plunks their many round trippers?

[Captain Adama]

Bonds did that all the time. Sosa was terrible for taking his time snd admiring. Did they get revenge plunks their many round trippers?

 

Two possible reasons:

 

1. They were actually good players.

2. It might not of been in the pitchers best interest to plunk Bonds or Sosa and possibly invoke their wrath.

[KSaw]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=kruk/040423

[Figgy1R22R]

I think that is probably the quickest way for a young player to turn on his manager. Managers are there to protect their players, as the article states. He knew what he was doing when he put Valdespin in the game as a pinch hitter in a to be honest no win situation. Don't blame him for throwing a fit when he got back to the dugout. There are a lot of "what ifs" that could have happened that could have caused serious damage. I don't see the point in "teaching him a lesson" if he is on your team. There are other ways to teach lessons, like simply talking to the guy.

[KSaw]

Not how it works. The kid is to never play ever again when the teams face each other? Just get it over with. They'd have waited a long time but still got him. I've seen teams wait months to get a guy because he pulled a stunt on getaway day. Late in the season? No problem. Drill you next year.

[wilko]

Hitting a player after they "admire" a HR or take too long is foolish. It's the pitcher's fault for throwing a tader down the middle of the plate and giving up a HR. Why should their team hit a player for doing their job? So what if they take a bit of time after they hit it?

[Boxcar]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=kruk/040423

 

Today's smaller parks? Like Target Field, Safeco, Petco, AT&T, Marlins Park?

 

They are no smaller than when he played. John Kruk is a moron.

[fatcowxlive]

Eventually intentionally throwing at players (assets) will slow down to almost nothing. One of the biggest problems is that players who grew up in the era where throwing at a player is acceptable are now announcing. It's the same reason that so many fans think JPA is a good hitter. I'm probably in the minority among people my age but I'd rather see a guy be inappropriate than players thrown at.

 

He gets drilled. Everyone in baseball would drill him. No biggie. Lesson learned. He took it like a man. Now if the Pirates had taken it too far and threw at his head, there would have been hell to pay.

 

For a bat flip? I like the idea of the ball thrown at an *******, but Valdespin was being stupid and cocky to his team, and he embarrassed the Mets.

 

Its not like he hit a walk off homer and he bat flip while looking at the opposing team, they were down 8 runs and he did a stupid bat flip lol

[Boxcar]

Not how it works. The kid is to never play ever again when the teams face each other? Just get it over with. They'd have waited a long time but still got him. I've seen teams wait months to get a guy because he pulled a stunt on getaway day. Late in the season? No problem. Drill you next year.

 

^ another reason why dinosaurs are detrimental to the game.

[AdamGreenwood]

Why is it whenever people preface their statement with a disclaimer such as this: " I'm not being racist here", they say something absurdly racist, right after.

 

"I see blacks and white guys who could pass for black being the usual culprits."

[Dr. Dinger]

So there has been this thing going on in Mets land where Jordany Valdespin hits a homer in the 9th inning (monster shot) as part of a 10-3 losing effort from the Mets against the Pirates. All seemed to go well except that after he hit his homer he bat flips and admires the distance he got on that homer.

 

Apparently there's an issue with that. Both the Mets commentators and Terry Collins started to rip on Valdespin's 'act' of throwing the bat away as if he didn't hustle on a ground ball. The poor dude who's really been a surprise to the Mets and trying to convince his team to start him more often hits a homer then gets everyone pissed at him for doing that.

 

Not only that, but the Pirates hit him in the next game, which according to Collins and the commentary crew, 'was expected'. No one argued, no one made a fuss, the Mets bench was quiet and nobody really showed support for Valdespin.

 

Now my question to you guys is that do you think what happened to him was just? If you were the Mets' skipper would you do the same? Discuss away

 

What you may or may not know is that Valdespin has a terrible clubhouse reputation and has been disliked by his teammates long before this incident. The guy has terrible makeup, so this incident is really just the manifestation of a much larger issue. It's pretty likely that the commentators know all about his reputation and had a boiling over moment.

[fatcowxlive]

What you may or may not know is that Valdespin has a terrible clubhouse reputation and has been disliked by his teammates long before this incident. The guy has terrible makeup, so this incident is really just the manifestation of a much larger issue. It's pretty likely that the commentators know all about his reputation and had a boiling over moment.

 

So I learned now.... maybe Collins is tired of his BS or something

[John_Havok]

Hitting a player after they "admire" a HR or take too long is foolish. It's the pitcher's fault for throwing a tader down the middle of the plate and giving up a HR. Why should their team hit a player for doing their job? So what if they take a bit of time after they hit it?

 

I'll agree to hitters stopping showboating when pitchers stop fist pumping or shooting arrows into the sky after getting a guy out anytime after the 5th inning

[wilko]

I'll agree to hitters stopping showboating when pitchers stop fist pumping or shooting arrows into the sky after getting a guy out anytime after the 5th inning

 

Fernando Rodney.

[declan_44]

I'll agree to hitters stopping showboating when pitchers stop fist pumping or shooting arrows into the sky after getting a guy out anytime after the 5th inning

 

Was it a couple of years ago.when Joba did fist pump scream after a K in the 6th? When his team was losing badly. I can remember the yankees faces thinking they were going to get beaned now.