Posted on Fri, Jul. 25, 2008
NEW YORK - As Jose Reyes circled the bases at Shea Stadium with his right index finger held high in the air after his go-ahead, three-run home run off Ryan Madson on Wednesday night, Phillies broadcaster Larry Andersen suggested on air that one of the team's pitchers "oughta put one in his neck" for his showmanship.
That didn't happen, but Charlie Manuel acknowledged before yesterday's game that some members of the team thought Reyes' display was insulting.
"I look at both sides of that," Manuel said. "He's a very talented player and he can be one of the best players in baseball. But at the same time, he's got some growing to do, and he's got some learning to do."
Madson said he did not see Reyes celebrate, and that none of his teammates approached him afterward urging retaliation.
But the righthander did acknowledge that the rivalry between the Phillies and Mets has grown into a situation where the two teams genuinely dislike each other.
"I'd say that's a fair statement, yes," Madson said.
Publicly, though, the Phillies didn't express too much contempt for Reyes, who walked, stole a base, and scored a run on a third-inning single by David Wright yesterday.
"A lot of times, if you take the personality away from a guy, he doesn't perform as well," Manuel said. "That's a fine area there . . . Cockiness can be good if it's handled right.
"I think he's a young player. He's full of life. The older he gets, he'll be more mature." *
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