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Mets Manager
Shocked at So-Called "Intentional Walk"
NEW YORK- Mets Manager Bobby Valentine
has expressed shock over what he calls a "travesty of pitching" performed
by Mets starting pitcher Al Leiter in game one of the 2000 World Series.
Lieter tossed four
consecutive balls to David Justice in the 6th inning, but as Valentine
notes, these weren’t ordinary balls.
"That guy was so far
off with those pitches that Mike [Piazza, Mets catcher] had to stand up
and step way over to catch the insanely high and away pitches," he said.
Lieter sees it differently.
"I intentionally walked
him so I could get to Bernie Williams, who I would have a better chance
pitching against," claimed Lieter. "It’s a pretty standard thing
to do. I don’t see why Bobby’s so angry."
Valentine isn’t the
only Met who is appalled at Lieter’s lack of control on the mound.
"That was pretty crazy,"
said Piazza. "I’ve never had to stand up to catch the ball before—and
I had to do it four times in a row. Four, for Christ’s sake!
I thought he dislocated his arm or something."
Baseball experts nationwide
are dumbfounded by Lieter’s errant throws. Some speculate that Lieter
was simply overcome by the pressure of playing in the World Series, while
others believe that Lieter has officially bottomed-out and his major league
career should be over.
"We can’t tolerate
shit like that," said Bob Costas, baseball guru. "The talent in this
sport is already as watered-down as it gets. This guy got to go."
With Valentine’s benching
of Lieter for the remainder of the series, a message has been sent throughout
the league: Out-of-control pitches are unacceptable.
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