Keith Hernandez Jose Reyes FIGHT

July 4, 2008

By DailySkew

The New York Post is reporting that Mets shortstop Jose Reyes and Keith Hernandez got into a huge fight on the Mets’ charter plane Sunday night after a tense confrontation over Keith’s critical comments. People had to separate them before punches were thrown.

Reyes said that his family and friends called him up and told him all the negative things Keith was saying about him while announcing, including that the Mets are “babying” him, in response to Reyes throwing his glove to the ground moments after committing a throwing error. Reyes said, “He got his point and I got mine. I’m not too happy with the way he’s been talking.”

I happened to watch that game, and Keith said: “Well, he’s got to get over that. Enough babying going on now. He’s a grown man. He’s been around a long enough time. Take off the kid gloves.”

After I heard that- although I AGREED with Keith- I didn’t think it was appropriate for him to say it on TV. Keith needs to be an ANNOUNCER, not a Muppet Show CRITIC.

Mets announcers over the years

Reyes: “A lot of people told me, and that’s no good. I was mad at myself because I make an error in that situation. It makes me mad, because he played the game, too. He knows it is not an easy game. And he knows when you make an error, you are supposed to feel bad.”

“I don’t know why in that situation he’s talking like that,” Reyes said. “Like I said, I just make an error and I feel bad. I threw my glove down, but I feel bad because you’re not supposed to be giving extra outs to the other team.”

According to one account, denied by Reyes and Hernandez, what set Reyes off during the flight was when Hernandez allegedly responded to Reyes’ concerns by saying: “I was just doing my job – you should do yours.”

Keith said, “I’ve had several conversations with players over my career. Jose and I are fine. It was not a confrontational conversation, what went on with our conversation is between Jose and I. If he told you, that’s his choice.”

Back in 2002, Hernandez wrote that the Mets “had no heart” and “quit a long time ago” on manager Bobby Valentine. Mike Piazza responded in kind by calling Hernandez “a clueless voice from the grave” who was “just trying to make a name for himself at our expense.”