Terry Collins Apologizes For Insulting Mets' PR Director At News Conference
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Mets manager Terry Collins apologized both by phone and publicly after snapping at the team's longtime public relations director during Wednesday's postgame news conference.
Collins seemed annoyed when Jay Horwitz nudged him to disclose to reporters that pitcher Noah Syndergaard left Wednesday's victory over the Royals with elbow discomfort and was headed to a doctor to be evaluated. Collins pointed out that no reporters had asked about why Syndergaard exited after six innings, but Horwitz countered by saying the questions would likely come soon.
"The puppy dog wants you guys to know that Noah Syndergaard's seeing the doctor. His elbow flared up on him. That's why I took him out of the game," Collins said before storming out.
But a day later, the Mets' skipper said his behavior was "unprofessional."
"I was out of line for saying what I said at the press conference," Collins told reporters before the Mets played the Braves in Atlanta. "... He was just doing his job, and I wasn't doing mine."
Collins admitted he has grown somewhat tired of discussing injuries.
"All I seem to talk about is injuries every day," he said. "I can't even enjoy a win. So that was my fault. It certainly was very unprofessional. That's part of my job is to handle those things. But I'd like to enjoy a victory one time for more than five minutes."
Horwitz brushed off the incident.
"I love working with Terry," he said, the New York Daily News reported. "That's how we joke around; I was not offended. We have a great relationship, and it continues."
Syndergaard, who ranks sixth in the NL in both ERA and strikeouts, was prescribed anti-inflammatory medication for his right elbow. An MRI showed nothing wrong with the structure of his elbow.
Syndergaard had a similar problem in a start May 2 against the San Francisco Giants.
"It flares up every so often," Collins said. "Certainly I'm glad there's nothing wrong structurally but I was real concerned about Cespedes because he never says anything. So for him to say something, I was concerned about it."
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