K-Rod, Bruney (Who?) in Verbal Spat

Posted Jun 13, 2009 8:24PM By Ed Price (RSS feed)

NEW YORK -- For the most part, New York's interleague rivalry is for the fans. There's little animosity between opposing players, or at least not since Roger Clemens and Mike Piazza moved on.

That all changed Saturday.

About 60 miles southwest of Yankee Stadium, injured Yankees reliever Brian Bruney pitched in a Double-A day game on a rehabilitation assignment. And then after his inning of work, he set off a powder keg in talking about Friday's bizarre game and Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez:

"Couldn't have happened to a better guy on the mound, either. He's got a tired act. I think that's bad, but two years ago, when he lost the game. ... I don't know if anybody saw it, I did. He was in Oakland and he was pitching for Anaheim, didn't get a call, and so he was like complaining. The catcher threw it back and he just kind of did one of these (Bruney half-heartedly holds his arm out) and hit off his glove and bounced behind and the guy from third scored and they won the game. He gets what he deserves, man. I just don't like watching the guy pitch. I think it's embarrassing."

Naturally, thanks to the Internet, the words got back to Yankee Stadium before the Yankees and Mets even took the field.

After getting the final three outs of Saturday's Mets win (but not a save), Rodriguez fired back.

"I'm not going to waste my time [responding]," he told reporters.

"Instead of sending a message through the paper, next time you see me at Citi Field, come up to me and say that. I don't even know who the guy is. He hasn't pitched a full season and has always been on the DL, that's what I know. So he better keep his mouth shut and do his job and not worry about somebody else.

"If the message came from somebody big like Mariano [Rivera], somebody who is big and is good at what he does, I'd respect it."

Now, Bruney has 13 career saves -- one more than K-Rod had last July -- and since the start of the 2006 season, Rodriguez has 165 saves to Bruney's one.

So is Bruney one to talk? Heck, his own teammate, Joba Chamberlain, has taken some criticism around the league for his fist pumps and emotion on the mound.

"I don't know the guy," Bruney said in the final salvo of the day, after he had returned to Yankee Stadium and was asked to rebut the rebuttal. "He's probably a good dude. But if he says he doesn't know me, he doesn't know me.

"I learned to play the game a [certain] way, and that's all I can say. You won't see me do that.

"He set the [single-season] save record, so it doesn't matter what I think. But I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that."

Bruney's right. Earlier this week, Philadelphia's Shane Victorino made it clear he also doesn't like Rodriguez's over-exuberance on the mound and, especially, after saves, when he thumps his chest and points to the sky.

"You play the game," Victorino said. "It's not about showboating. You play the game hard, you play the game the right way.

"If I hit game-winning home run [off him], would he want me to get to home plate and do that?"

Latest Baseball Images

Washington Nationals pitcher Julian Tavarez delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the eight inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 13, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Washington Nationals pitcher Julian Tavarez delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the eight inning of a baseball game Saturday June 13, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Orlando Hudson, right, steals second as Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, left, can't handle the throw from catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 13, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. Hudson advanced to third on the play. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Randy Wolf pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, June 13, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Washington Nationals pitcher Julian Tavarez delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the eight inning of a baseball game Saturday June 13, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Washington Nationals pitcher Julian Tavarez delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the eight inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 13, 2009, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Cincinnati Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan (29) and starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo meet on the mound during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, June 13, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kenshin Kawakami sits in the dugout after the third inning of his start against the Baltimore Orioles in their MLB inter-league baseball game in Baltimore, Maryland June 13, 2009. REUTERS/Joe Giza (UNITED STATES SPORT BASEBALL)

Reuters

Kansas City Royals' David DeJesus tosses his helmet after being caught in a run down during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Saturday, June 13, 2009, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Freddy Sanchez, left, rounds second as coach Tony Beasley (29) congratulates him after hitting a fourth-inning grand slam off Detroit Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson in a baseball game in Pittsburgh Saturday, June 13, 2009.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

6-13-2009 @ 8:52PM

Brian said...

who cares- the mets will be coming up with more excuses at the end of this season for there demise- K Rod is a joke- an overpayed, pary to god after every pitch joke- He throws 9 to 12 pitches every other game or so and they make it seem like he is some sort of genius- As a matter of fact- all closers are pathetic- they are part time players- a starting pitcher throws 70 to a 100+ pitches a night- why do teams need one guy to throw 10 pitches a night- Over paid. All Mets fans are losers- Bye for now

6-13-2009 @ 9:16PM

PAULIE said...

I guess, Brian, that you personally know all Mets fans are losers since "it takes a loser to know a loser." K-Rod looks up to the sky because he is thanking his maker for giving him the talent to exceed in his profession. I commend him for that. Why not keep your comments about the player(s) in the article rather than showing ignorance and attacking a whole group of people who aren't even part of the game.

6-14-2009 @ 12:21AM

Ismael said...

Hey brian yanks 3 down to boston and can only dream about catching them. Besides castillos error,this injury beaten down team has out played and out hit your 250 million dollar triple aaa team. we will see your scrubs at citifield in a month and show your team how to play in a real baseball stadium.

6-14-2009 @ 4:33PM

mgmiran said...

You obviously have no idea what your talking about if you think closers are not an important part of the game. The 10 to 12 pitches your talking about are usually in the most important part of the game in high stress situations.

How many championships would the Yankees have won without Mariano?

Would the Phillies have even gotten to the Playoffs without a Perfect season from Brad Lidge?

You should really think about what you say before you spout off.

You dont have a clue

6-13-2009 @ 10:55PM

Thanks Paulie- taqkes a loser to know a loser- my team won the world series last year- your team has choked the last 23 yeARS- OH YEAH AND IM SURE GOD SAT AROUND SAYING HMMMM- LET ME GIVE THIS IDIOT K ROD THE ABILITY TO THROW A 9 PITCH INNING AT 10 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR WHILE OTHERS STARVE AND DIE- OH YEAH THATS WHAT HIS MAKER WAS THINKING. GIVE ME A BREAK LOSER- AND YES YOU ALL ARE LOSERS

phoebus61 said...

As an Angels fan who watched K-Rod for years, I'll let you newbies in on something. When K-Rod closes out a game and thumps his chest and points to the sky, it's in respect for someone in his family that helped raise him and who has died. I don't remember exactly who it was but that's the back story on that. Now show a little respect.

6-13-2009 @ 11:58PM

As you said, I read where K-Rod looks skyward after a save to honor his deceased Grandfather. I am trying to figure out how this is showboating, respecting someone who K-Rod loved very much and who was an inspiration to him.

6-14-2009 @ 2:11PM

Ronald said...

Hey phoebus now i'm sure everyone has had someone that they love pass away even other baseball players,but you grieve and then you have to move on.K-Rods antics are total B.S.Why doesn't he look up to the sky when someone hits a homer off of him or beats him and his team in the 9th inning.Those guys have so many phony antics its just unbelieveable.And the once proud game of baseball Americas pastime has been ruined.Steriods,lying about age,throwing chairs into the stands,spitting in an umpires face,Zambrano with his antics a few weeks ago you get the picture...............

6-13-2009 @ 11:42PM

Brian, a Phillie fan? Oh, that explains why you are a classless and clueless fan. By the way Brian, I am a Yankee fan and the Yankees won more titles in the 1990's the the Philles have won in the entire history.

Phoebus61, I respect anyone that looks skyward, now I respect K-Rod even more that I found out his situation. Thanks for the info.

6-14-2009 @ 2:49AM

HI again Paulie 1. New Yorkers have the unfair advantage of fieldin two teams in every friggin sport giving you losers twice the oppurtunity to boast about championships. 2. If my teams spent 300 million every year then we would have just as many rings as well. 3. New Yorkers are clueless- both your football teams refer to themselves as the NY Giants and NY Jets but play in Jersey?-- you are all backwards and losers and oh by the way 3 of the last 4 championships of the 4 major sports were won by teams in Pa. withthe 4th probably going to LA- and we did not spend more than the GNP of most third world nations to win them. NY=LOSERS

6-14-2009 @ 7:49AM

ptw76 said...

So a Mets fan is calling Us classless, isn't that a kick in the head. Let us not forget the great collapse of the last 2 years of your beloved (folds like a lawn chair) mets. And when was the last time the great mets won the world series. wasn't it when casey stengel was manager.
And once again you mets are not doing all that great, sure you are in 2nd place behind what team, oh thats right the phillies. Come back at the end of the season and we'll talk again, when the mets are on the golf course.

6-14-2009 @ 12:10AM

mike said...

this is why I quit watching basball and bsketball too many monkie shines after each play no class just ass=holes

6-14-2009 @ 12:27AM

Sandy said...

Brian Bruney doesn't like watching K-Rod pitch. Could that be because he's watching a potential Hall of Famer while he himself is a nobody? I don't even know why Bruney's on Frankie's d!ck about this. K-Rod points to the sky after a save in respect for his grandfather, a very important figure in his life during his childhood. Obviously if it wasn't for his grandfather guiding over him as he grew up, K-Rod might not be the success he is today. I see no harm in paying tribute to him during games. On the other hand, Bruney's little DUI teammate Chamberlain acts all hard and shows himself off when he merely gets a K. Uh Joba, there is no reason to celebrate every time you strike someone out; it's clearly the easiest thing a (good) pitcher does. We never saw Nolan Ryan fist pumping 5,714 times because K's were such an easy task for him. But hey, I guess you need something to celebrate during the season. After all, you won't be doing any celebrations in October, might as well do it while you can, right? Anyway Bruney, stop sucking Frankie's d!ck because you're very far from getting to his level. If you ever break a single-season record or at least establish yourself as a reliable reliever, then maybe we'll start taking what you say seriously.

6-14-2009 @ 1:30AM

Murray said...

Hey Ismael! Citifield a real baseball stadium??? The Wilpons didn't even have the decency to honor any of the old time Mets. They made as if the team never existed before this year. Walking into Citifield one would think they're in Dodgers stadium. By the way....saw a replay of Game 5 of the 2000 World Series tonight on YES. Do you remember who won?????

6-14-2009 @ 2:29AM

Raiders Fan said...

Why are these people always raised by their grandparents? Where are their parents? Where is the generation in between? If my son ever makes it to the big leagues I hope my son would pound his chest for me not his grandparents. This whole " my grandmother raised me" bit is old. Will it ever stop?

6-14-2009 @ 3:42AM

MFT said...

VICTORINO IS HUGE A-HOLE. I HATE YES BIG LETTERS DESPISE THAT S..T HOLE. I FELL I WANT TO KICK HIS ASS MYSELF. At least KRod is so good you can't be so pissed off when he does that. Even when he was with the angels it was like damn it's this guy again but heck the guy is one of the best savers ever. I'm just glad he's with the Mets now.

6-14-2009 @ 7:06AM

iphonerulez said...

Why don't the Yankees just give up their franchise. It seems as old and as feeble as George Steinbrenner. Why have they become every major teams' bitch? Losing constantly to the Red Sux and now the NY Mutts. All those multi-million dollar players just goofing off when it comes to winning the critical games. My beloved Yankees now make me want to puke. I hope George is senile enough to not know how bad his Yankees have become. The Yankees are up in the standings, but they will fail miserably at the end of the season and be beaten by a near last place club whose players are making a tenth of what the Yankee super-stars are getting. The Yankees don't deserve a new stadium since a sandlot would be too good for them. End the Yankees franchise now or just fire all the super-stars and get some players that really want to play for much less.

6-14-2009 @ 7:10AM

roblenskip said...

it is fuuny hearing somebody talk about people being overpaid...especially from a yankey fan, because everyone in the league is over paid. The yankees are the reason for that. The players there are so overpaid the people who helped build there new stadium can't afford tickets to there games.