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As noted yesterday, during his appearance on WFAN, SI.com’s Jon 
Heyman expressed concern with the way several people on the Mets treat Manny Acta around the batting cage before playing the Nationals.
According to Heyman, many players and people from the front-office – not Jeff Wilpon – spend two to three hours treating Acta like ‘some sort of returning hero,’ and he feels it is very disrespectful to Willie Randolph.
In today’s Newsday, David Lennon investigates the relationship between the Mets, Acta and Randolph, who tells Lennon:
“How does that happen? How does that become normal? I don’t know. It’s just foreign to me, that’s all. I’m fine with, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ That stuff. I wish that we could enforce it more, really. They talk about it, but I don’t really see anyone policing it. You can’t force people not to talk to someone.”
According to Lennon, Major League Baseball prohibits fraternization with Rule 3.09.
David Wright, as quoted by Lennon, said:
“I’ll keep it down to a quick hello and that’s it. I’ll be the first one to be friendly with other players before we come to the park or after leaving the park. But as far as that time when I have my uniform on and they have their uniform on, I want to go out there and kick their butt…I think it’s important that they know that I’m serious about winning and I expect the same from them.”
…first of all, outstanding job by lennon, with what is a must-read report…second, i think the spirit of Rule 3.09 is essentially dated, considering how fluid free agency has become…i mean, so many of these players and coaches are friends, because so many of them have played together on previous teams, in other countries, in the minors, etc., that they may as well talk around the cage…as a fan, i prefer willie’s and wright’s approach, but i think it’s too late to go back unfortunately…
I want David Wright to do something wrong already! God, is he really perfect? Don’t pay your taxes, get caught at a strip club, get into a bar fight, steal an old ladies purse already!!
I like the old school. Like last year when he started
the shaved head thing. We are very lucky to have him.
seriously, when there is no other story to tell, the media has to come and dig up BS…. its quite sad
espn radio yesterday was saying how it is disrespectfult hat beltran went behind willie’s back to talk to reyes
lets just play baseball
true. leadership is really disrespectful.
And if he says nothing, then “that proves he’s not a leader.”
Beltran can’t win with a lot of people.
everybody at espn and the entire ny media also spent 18 months saying that tom coughlin lost the team and didn’t get along with his players and was not a leader.
they just want a story. ny has a big, wealthy audience so they want any story that catches the city’s attention. media has become gossip in sports and politics.
i agree with wright and willie that socializing should be on the field before the game btw teams or the front office.
*shouldn’t
to be fair, Coughlin DID lose the team in 2006, but he came into training camp and changed his approach, becoming much friendlier and appointing the players council thing where he listened to grievances and whatnot, and he won the team back.
he lost princess tiki barber. that’s for sure.
haha so true. Has any athlete’s stock ever plummeted so much in a single season? Right now he’s just about the most disliked athlete in NY, after being beloved a year ago.
I don’t want to demean the sport, but because of the lack of physical contact in the sport (compared to say football or hockey) and the nature of free agency, this isn’t all that different than actors in a movie who play the protagonist and antagonist. When the director says “action”, you have to play the part of despising your enemy, and look like you mean it. Once the director yells “cut”, most of the time you are respecting a fellow co-worker. That’s just the way that it is.
Remember, these guy do charity events together, some have history of being on a team together, and they essentially all work for the same employer: MLB. Teams are almost similar to different departments within a big company.
Hockey never ceases to amaze me, because all it takes is one hard slash on a wrist or ankle, or one check with the elbows up and guys who were teammates for 3 years suddenly want to seriously injure one another. As long as there is regular contact, the spirit of animosity towards the opponent will exist. In baseball, you get an occasional bean-ball or take out slide, but that is rare and often let to pass under the bridge over time.
i think you underestimate the spirit of competition, which is what it’s all about, physical contact or not. And I don’t think it has to be about hating your opponent, its about wanting to beat them. It’s about you winning, them losing. That’s where the satisfaction comes from. Whether or not they fight or want to injure each other means nothing to me. That seems to go against the spirit of competition in my mind. You’re best against their best. You win, they lose. That’s it. I think Dwright has it right.
We’re talking about batting practice! Not a game, batting practice!
I can care less about what they do outside of the 9 innings of baseball…or longer until a winner is decided. As long as they play to win, WHO CARES?
Great post oldbackstop, I completely agree. Case in point, Scott Gomez and Jamie LAngenbrunner played together for years in Jersey, and were supposedly close. Now they match up in a playoff series, and by game 2 Gomez is crosschecking Langenbrunner in the chest in passing after a play was over. They proceeded to punch eachother a couple of times, and skate off to the penalty box, yapping back and forth at eachother as if they were true enemies. Youre right, this simply is not the rule in baseball, it is the exception. At the same time though, during important and meaningful games, I think most baseball teams are ready to fight t protect their team first and foremost, and not worried that they might have buddies on the other side. E.G Jose Reyes and Miguel Olivo last year, they were supposedly friendly and had known eachother for a long time.
I guess no one saw the huge hug that Wright gave Paul Lo Duca the other day during warm ups.
LOL at Wright’s hypocrisy
“But as close as he is with the Nats’ Ryan Zimmerman, a fellow Virginian, Wright kept his distance before this week’s games. Former teammate Paul Lo Duca got a hug, but after that, Wright only waved from the other side of the batting cage.”
It was mentioned in the article. Sadly but not unexpected
now-a-days, Lennon didn’t say specificly which players
were hanging all over Acta. This is typical of todays sportwriter/talking head. Willie’s been in a bad spot since
the day he walked in the door because Omar & Tony B. want to maintain some control/say in the clubhouse and
it’s completely unfair to the manager. Plus, most of the
(latin)veterans brought in by Omar have little to no leadership skills hence EVERYTHING that goes in any way
wrong is always “Willie’s Fault”. Here’s hoping that if we don’t atleast make the playoffs Omar is held responsible.
The Wilpons have been WAY too soft and most of the media has treated Omar like they treat Obama.
So if Tori Hunter asks Johan Santana to have dinner when we visit Anaheim in June, how is Santana supposed to reply? “Are you kidding? I’m not going to have dinner with you! I’d rather kiss my own sister than have dinner with you!”
they’re talking about on the field before the game
And how is that different than after the game? As long as it’s not during the game, what is the problem? Do they play with less effort or less will to win if they joke around before the first pitch? Really, what is the big deal?
two lawyer may be good friends. they may go out for drinks after a case against each other, but they don’t hold hands in the court room. business is business.
it’s not a huge deal. it’s not the end of the world. it’s just my perspective.
the point is, the game has changed over time. In years past, players didn’t fraternize with each other, and they were more ok with bowling over a catcher, going into 2nd with a really hard slide, throwing at people, they didn’t care, because they weren’t friends, the only object was winning. Now, players are friends, players make a lot of money, everyone is happy for the most part, and you just don’t see that kind of play as much anymore. I’m not sure its bad or good, its just the way it is
Not while court is in session. However, I have been in courtrooms where opposing counsels would joke around before the judge comes in. Hell, if I know my opposing counsel on a personal level, I would have no problems chatting with him/her before the court is in session. But once the judge comes in, it’s all business.
Darkstar, I agree with you that the game has changed. However, I don’t think fraternizing with the competition is the cause of the soft play during the games. Even if Wright now only waved from the dugout and don’t do any fraternizing with Lo Duca, I don’t think he’ll try to bowl over Lo Duca when the chance presents itself.
Even IF there’s no pre-game handholding/embracing/flirting, the play on the field will not change.
I kind fo see what youre saying KFS. I played baseball forever, obviously not at a prolevel, but it doesnt mean I didnt really want to win. And in high school, middle school, little league, babe ruth, whatever, I usually was matched up against some of my buddies. I would enjoy BSing with them before the game, but once the game started, it didnt matter. Again, if I got onto second base while my buddy is playing shortstop for the other team, maybe have a little chat, but it wouldnt stop me from take out sliding, bowling over, or throwing some chin music towards one of my buddies. In-fact, it almost makes it more fun that way for me. Let boys be boys. A lot of guys will go the extra mile to make sure they beat their buddy, not take it easy on them, atleast I would.
Who Cares this is a complete non-story. Seriously these guys have nothing better to write about?
What a waste of time.
Exactly the Mets won 3 straight from the Nats so there wasn’t anything negative to write about so Lennon has to come up with something. Than you have Beltran telling Reyes to be himself and to not care about the other team because his team needshim to be himself. Beltran was showing leadership skills which writers are always saying the he doesn’t do and he gets beat on for that as well. It is like they cannot bring themselves to be positive and write a positive article about the Mets. If Beltran or any of the other guys have ask permission to take Reyes aside or Scheinder to talk about hitting than it isn’t leadership it is the boss telling you to do something. I know where I work they would like seeing someone take the iniative to bea leader andhelp out a co-worker when needed withoutbeing asked or asking.
I agree that there shouldn’t be too much chumming around before a game between opponents, but I still don’t put much into Heyman’s report. I didn’t hear the radio interview, but only mentioning that Jeff Wilpon was not there doen’t indicate how many high level people were talking to Acta. If it was Berenzard, we know he’s been a problem in the past and I’m not going to lose sleep over this. Was Omar there? Was Fred Wilpon there? And what is meant by Heyman’s description of how they were acting with Acta? Keep in mind this is the same reporter who treated a closed-door meeting between the GM and manager, something that has been done hundreds of times over the course of their time together, as breaking news.
Bottom line, Heyman clearly has a soft spot for Randolph and he likes stirring the pot of dissent between front office and the manager. I think anyone with a brain realizes that if this team flops again, both Willie and Omar will likely get the boot, so why are we trying to pit them against each other right now?
As long as it doesn’t affect you play during the game I see no problem with it. Lets be honest Acta was welled liked by the players,coaching staff and front office. He only left to take a promotion. He left on good terms. Of course the guys are going to like seeing him and want to find how he is doing that is what friends do. You cannot expect someonetostop being friends with someone else just because he left the company. Heck Acta is still the 3B probably if he doesn’t take the Nats job.
It is the nature of the beast in today’s game due in most part to free agency as a lot ofthe players know each other at a much more personallevel.
I hope Wright is as genuine as he seems…i would hate it for him to become an ‘always say the right thing’ phony.
The fraternization rule exists only because of the legacy of corruption in baseball which culminated in 1919. Given how well baseball players are paid now as opposed to then, and how difficult it would be for players to manipulate games now because of the ridiculous level of scrutiny they are subjected to in the SportsCenter and internet age, there is just no way game fixing is a threat to the sport the way it used to be.
Granted this stuff can still happen, but I think the Tim Donaghy scandal shows that umps and refs are a lot more vulnerable than players. And if a player was going to throw a game or shave points, it wouldn’t be because he was hanging out with the other team during batting practice.
Maybe Mets brass shouldn’t be so chummy with Acta, but that’s because of respect for Willie, not some rule.
DW, as usual, is the diplomat, but I agree.
Nothing wrong with talking to someone, but on the field is not the place for brother-in-lawing old acquaintenances. They do all of that after the game downtown anyways. You are on the field mentally preparing yourself to play a game.
I think most baseball players are let off the hook from the sportsmanship lessons they were (I hope) taught growing up. I have been a long time Little League and youth sports coach and we always made sportsmanship (sportspersonshp?) among the most essential skills we taught.
Since when is it OK to joke around with opposition players during the game? We would never tolerate that. Nor would we tolerate on-field celebrations that show up the other team just to make them feel bad.
But most of all I think this now well-ensconced tradition of the winning team high-fiving each other with silly dances at the end of a game, while the losing team walks off dejectedly, has got to go. In the Little League we always cheered the other team and congratulated them on a good game. In other college and professional sports at a minimum the coaches shake hands after the game, if not the entire teams – frequently to the extent of hugging and trading jerseys. Yet in Major League Baseball we teach kids that once you reach the highest level it is OK to be a bad sport.
i can’t believe you’re comparing major league baseball, which is played by grown men, to little league, which is played by little kids. of course you’re going to cheer the other team, because it’s little league and it’s all about learning how to play. who cares who wins in little league?
If you don’t think anybody cares who wins in Little League I doubt you have ever been to a Little League game. The coaches and kids care a great deal, but it is the parents that really get their underwear in a twist over it.
Do you think sportsmanship rules don’t apply at the professional level? I think that is a sad testimony to the influence of money on basic human dignity and the essence of sport. It matters in a lot of other professional sports, just not baseball.
Yeah, well guess what, that is part of the problem also, although a completely seperate subject. The kids these days are babied so much, nobody ever loses! Everything is a tie, every team gets a trophy, sportsmanship is all that matters. Its a joke. Do you think this is why this country is so effed right now? And getting worse? This whole generation of kids cant accept losing because there were never any losers at anything from the time we were 5. Who cares if the other team dances around after they whoop your butt? Beat them, and get over it. I played little league for years, and had no problem having a ocnversation with a buddy if I passed by him while I was on the bases. It didnt mean I wasnt trying to win, or that I wouldnt take my buddy out (obviously not in little league, but you get the idea) to win. I dont see how talking to the other team makes you a bad sport. Like another guy posted, in hockey it is different, you are physically beating the hell out of eachother all game, the dislike is much more noticable, and it has to be. But yeah, the kids are babied too much when they are young, everybody is a champion, every game is a tie, no kid comes in last place, and maybe that is why these kids dont understand that they are losers until their boss comes into their office when they are 25 and tells them “hey kid you suck at your job get outa here you loser.”
I can see you have strong views about something that has nothing to do with what I was talking about. Part of good sportsmanship is to play your hardest and do your best, and work hard to develop your skills. I don’t care much for everyone getting trophies either. But character buiding is an essential part of sports – it includes understanding that it is a game and treating it and your competitors with respect. Anyone who rubs their opponents nose in it is just a spoilsport who suffers from such low self-esteem that they don’t belong on the field. Until, of course, they are being paid millions and then we glorify it. Such hypocrisy.
I don’t think little league is a good benchmark for adult, professional sports.
The little-league ethos is more concerned with molding kids to be good little citizens, and shielding them from any possible “psychological scar” from losing big.
I’ll tell you this… I used to live in England, and there are no mercy rules in kids’ soccer or rugby leagues. It’s OK to win big, but you are expected to learn how to do it without disgrace. You’re also expected to learn that sometimes you lose, and sometimes you lose big, but you have to deal with that with class too. There are things that people aren’t good at, and at some point in their life, they have to learn to find something else they’re better at.
It really surprises me that in a country where it’s OK for hedge fund managers to earn $3.9 billion / year while people working multiple jobs still earn so little they have to choose between feeding their children or paying the heating bill, that it’s not OK to win a little-league game 20-0
It seems to me that the rule was originally put in place to prevent game fixing. It probably has nothing to do with the notion of preserving the air of competitiveness.
I honestly dont understand why anybody would ever consider actually considering something that Heyman considers. The guy is an idiot, he is a Yankee lover, and will kill the Mets whenever he can. The guy, like a lot of writers, is no more qualified to discuss baseball then a lot of us posters. The only thing he has over us is relationships with guys around baseball, so he can question his source and then spin the answers into whatever he wants them to be anyway. How did this guy get work with SI?
Since he’s gone to SI and done the weekly spot with M&MD, I haven’t found Heyman to be anti-Met. I don’t know that he’s the great fount of information that he thinks he is, but he seems to be reasonable in his comments about the Mets.
You will be surprised to hear (as I was) that in 1969, Heyman ran onto the field at Shea Stadium after the last out to celebrate the Mets WS title! He said this recently in one of his radio interviews on the FAN. He didn’t explicitly say he was a Mets fan; he was just recounting some memories of Shea. But I think you have to conclude he was a Mets fan growing up.
Having said that, I agree that when he was with Newsday he was very negative toward the Mets … like Wallace Matthews, only Heyman did his bashing a little more intelligently. But since he’s gone on to SI.com, he has mellowed out a bit and treats them more fairly. I also have to say that he is a nice guy. Once I wrote to him to complain about his article on Grant Roberts, and he was nice enough to write back and give an explanation of his treatment of the story. I was impressed with both his civility, friendliness, and the time he gave to one of his readers. So ever since, I’ve had a generally good impression of him, regardless of any negativity he writes about the Mets.
I was at Tuesday’s game, and David Wright spent at least 20-30 minutes BS’ing with Lo Duca and Zimmerman behind 3rd base on the outfield grass during BP/warm ups. Personally I could care less, David is my favorite Met, however he shouldn’t put it like he never would do something like that.
David Wright is not this perfect angel everybody thinks. He is a great baseball player, and he is also 25 and is one of the biggest stars in NY and I am sure he has fun. The thing about Wright, is that whether or not he believes anything is true or correct, (I am one who thinks that David thinks the fans who boo’d morons, much the same as Show or Wagner does), but whatever he believes he says the politically correct thing that the fans and media want to here. And he performs at an MVP level. Thats why he is loved. Much the saame as that Jeter guy. Its not what you think, it is what you say, and Wright always says the right thing, where as Wagner doesnt care and just says what he feels.
Fair enough. I just never was a big fan, and got into a rant there
Did anyone notice in the 14th inning when Carlos Delgado was being intentionally walked he had a lengthy coversation (in spanish) with soeomeone in the Nats dugout. Probably nothing, but I would be curious as to what he was saying, my geuss is he was messing with acta but keith and gary never mentioned it. The talk went on through all 4 pitches, anyone see that?
I think it’s funny that everyone here jumps on the media for writing a “negative” story. This is not negative story. It’s legit, and as a former sportswriter, I would have written myself. I think it looks bad when the front office and players show that much attention to Manny Acta. If they like him so much, Acta should be the one managing the Mets, not Randolph and I think that is the underlying message in this whole thing. The actions of the front office especially give the perception that Acta is missed by the Mets because he’s the one who should be in their dugout, not Willie. I guarantee you is Willie fails and gets fired during the offseason, Acta will be back with the Mets.