2334 Beiträge -
Forengott
|
|
|
TORONTO -- One day after being ejected in an extra-innings loss to Tampa, Jose Bautista found himself in the spotlight again Monday. Joel Campbell Jersey . Surrounded by media, the Jays slugger was unrepentant in his belief that he did nothing to warrant being ejected by home plate umpire Bill Welke in the sixth inning Sunday after striking out. His ejection took on a bigger light when outfield replacement Nolan Reimold misplayed a fly ball in the top of the 10th inning, an error that turned into the winning run in the 2-1 Tampa win. Reimold also struck out to end the game. Jays manager John Gibbons did not mince words afterwards. "Bottom line we need him in the game. Say your piece, and get the hell out of there," he said of Bautista. "Were trying to get in the playoffs, we need you on the field. "He (Bautista) is a marked man in this game. Bill Welke, I thought he had a pretty good zone today. He was steady, I thought he was looking to call strikes. But we need you in the game." Gibbons repeated his view Monday, although he called the incident old news and said there were "no issues." He also made a point of citing Bautistas intensity while declining to say whether he had talked to the player about Sundays incident. "To be honest, I think hes handled himself very well this year," Gibbons said of Bautistas actions towards umpires. "My point is we need him. He doesnt do us any good sitting on the bench." Still, Gibbons bluntness in pointing the finger at a star player was unusual. It also comes in a rollercoaster season that has seen Bautista question the teams lack of moves to strengthen the roster. The 33-year-old Bautista, who is slated to make US$14 million this season, is the face of the franchise and an influential voice in the locker-room. Rightly or wrongly, every hiccup comes in for intense scrutiny. Bautista has more than a few in his corner, judging from the warm reaction he got when his name came up during the Jays introduction Monday night. A nice running catch to end the top of the first won more cheers and he got a good response for his first-inning at-bat despite grounding out. The managers comments on Sundays ejection did not go unnoticed by Bautista. "I did read his quotes and I understand his frustrations," the right-fielder said before Monday nights game with Boston. "And I had the same frustrations. I didnt want to get ejected. But it happened. "Again I dont think what I did warranted an ejection. Thats the only thing that I can say." Sitting at his locker stall, a relaxed Bautista then surveyed the media throng around him. "I find it interesting though that this is so important that this is the first time all year that Ive had 15 people in front of my locker," he said after pausing to count the reporters. "After a lot of good games and after a lot of bad games. Its very interesting to me." A reporter countered that a lot of times his locker was empty before games. "I dont believe that," Bautista said dismissively. "I dont think thats true." Bautista has had issues with umpires in the past, but has kept his emotions in check this season. Last year, he spoke out on the issue after being upset at the strike calling of umpire Jeff Nelson in the season opener against Cleveland. Asked about it the next day, Bautista said he reacts to umpires because he plays with emotion. "Sometimes I have trouble more than other players dealing with my production being affected by somebody elses mediocrity," he said. "Its just the way that I am as a person, its a tougher pill to swallow for me sometimes." The comments were unlikely to win him favour with the umpiring professionals in the 161 games that followed. On Monday, Bautista chose his words carefully as he fenced with reporters. He sounded more like a lawyer than a baseball player as he debated the meaning of argument. "I feel what I said and what I did did not warrant an ejection. But I did get ejected. And I dont have anybody else to blame for it, thats my fault. But I also wanted to say what I wanted to say. Without cursing, without raising my voice, without being animated, without showing him up. "And I dont think when you do that in a polite matter you should get ejected." Bautista said the ejection and subsequent criticism will not change his future interaction with umpires even though he acknowledged "nobody can ever win" such discussions. "That doesnt mean youve got to keep your mouth shut," he said. "Especially when youre being polite, especially when youre again not raising your voice, not using curse words. "I mean I didnt know there was a gag order in baseball. If that rule was put out, I havent got the memo yet." Bottom line, Bautista didnt seemed too fazed about anyone elses opinion. "I know my motives. I know the things that I do and why I do them," he said. "And what makes me a good player. And what makes me tick, and why I come out here every day and what my purpose is. "If some people want to believe thats part ulterior motive, obviously theyre entitled to their opinion but I obviously dont agree with them." The elephant in the room was whether Bautistas actions in not letting the strikeout go were selfish. "I dont think that I should come to my job and worry about performing and on top of that try to convince the world that Im a good person or that I have good intentions within my team," he said. "I dont think thats my job. I think my job is to come here and play hard and try my best. And I think I do that every single day. "Again, if some people believe that Im selfish or have whatever reasons or motives to do anything while Im out on the field, thats their opinion. I shouldnt have to campaign against that just to get people on my side. I should go out there and play hard every day and try to help my team win games." Shkodran Mustafi Jersey . Reimer is winless (0-2-1) since returning from a six-week absence due to concussion-like symptoms. The Maple Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision to the hosting Washington Capitals on Friday. Alex Iwobi Jersey . Almost 40 years to the day, the two teams will meet again, this time at BC Place, to celebrate the past and try to earn important points for the present. http://www.arsenalsoccerpro.com/Authentic-Hector-B...al-Jers ey/ . At Manchester United, Ferguson developed Beckham into one of the worlds most recognizable sportsmen, but the midfielder left United in 2003 for Real Madrid under a cloud after his relationship with the manager broke down. ST. JOHNS, N.L. -- The St Johns IceCaps got an early preview of what it will take to win in the post-season. Jerome Samson scored the eventual winner as St. Johns defeated the visiting Springfield Falcons 3-1 on Saturday in American Hockey League action. The IceCaps currently sit in fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, four points behind Springfield, while the Falcons are just one of two clubs in the East to have already clinched a playoff spot. "That is the kind of team, the kind of squad, we are going to have to beat in the playoffs down the road," said Samson. "The kind of game we played, to be hanging around 3-0 and almost get the shutout, it shows a lot and builds up our confidence." Samsons goal came on what he described as a "broken play" at 10:55 of the second period and gave St. Johns a two-goal advantage. "I took a shot off a defenceman and then the puck was kind of scrambling and then (Brenden) Kichton ended up behind the net," said Samson. "I got open on the side of the net and the goalie was kind of swimming in the crease a little bit, so that helped me. It was a huge goal for us, to get the two-goal lead."; John Albert had a pair of goals for the IceCaps (42-22-6) while Tyler Beskorowany made 23 saves for the victory. Kieran Gibbs Jersey . . Patrick McNeill replied for the Falcons (44-21-6). Jeremy Smith stopped 28 shots in defeat. Albert opened the scoring for the IceCaps when he picked up a loose puck off a rebound and buried a low wrist shot 4:34 into the first period. Albert added his second, finishing off a 2-on-1 give-and-go with captain Jason Jaffray 15:13 into the second period. McNeill put the Falcons on the board with a point shot that hit off a skate on the way through with 4:33 left in regulation time. St. Johns head coach Keith McCambridge was satisfied with his clubs effort, especially in the defensive zone, just one night after allowing eight goals against in a loss to Springfield. "I was impressed with the level we played at," he said. "I thought our attention (towards) the areas we thought we had to get better at, (things) that we werent at our peak performance in with regards to last night-- we were able to get offensive opportunities and keep pucks out of our net by bearing down and making sure we are strong in front of net." Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Jerseys From China Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
|