MONTREAL – Because he called manager Bobby Valentine “a joke” among other things in yesterday’s Post, the Mets decided to punish Jersey Bobby Jones before last night’s game.
The lefty was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk a day or two earlier than he would have been.
“I thought he was way out of line,” GM Steve Phillips said. “He put himself ahead of the team.”
The 28-year-old Jones was replaced by right-handed reliever Jim Mann on the roster. Jones would have been sent down soon anyway as Valentine is opposed to having 12 pitchers in NL parks. Mann’s stay is expected to be short.
Jones ripped Valentine because he felt he should’ve been used more in the three-plus weeks he’s been with the Mets this season. Jones started one game and was 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA. He made three appearances, which totaled six innings.
“I was called into the loop [Tuesday] night,” Phillips said. “I got a call at home. [Assistant GM] Jim [Duquette] called and he filled me in on what happened. They managed the situation [Tuesday] night. When I got in, I had Bobby Jones and Bobby V in my [hotel] room and we resolved the problem.
“Jones clearly acknowledged that he made a mistake and he was out of line.”
Does it hurt his standing with the team?
“I don’t think it is something irreparable,” said Phillips, who acquired Jones and a minor leaguer from Colorado for Masato Yoshii in the offseason. “We began the [healing] process today.”
Valentine was asked for comment immediately after Jones made his comments and the manager fired back asking if Jones was trying to get released or traded before saying, “If he has anything to say, maybe he’ll find some manhood and say something to me.”
After making these statements, Valentine sought out Jones.
“I talked to Bobby after [the Post reporter] apprised me of the situation,” Valentine said. “We talked a little in the clubhouse and then we talked when we got off the plane here. Basically, we came to the conclusion that he wanted to pitch more and he didn’t like being here right now so we decided to give him the opportunity to pitch more in Norfolk.”
Valentine and Phillips said Jones would have been sent down in the next few days, but because he made his derogatory statements about the manager, he was asked to leave early.
Mann is in the same situation as Jones would’ve been. Mann will be replaced by a position player. The group includes Double-A utilityman Mike Kinkade and Triple outfielders Timoniel Perez or Ryan McGuire or first baseman Jorge Toca or catcher Vance Wilson.
“We weren’t going to go with 12 pitchers for a long time,” Phillips said. “Since we replaced him with a pitcher, we obviously wanted to go at least another day with 12.”
According to Phillips and Valentine, Jones showed contrition after he verbally assaulted his manager following the Mets’ 11-7 victory over the Blue Jays Tuesday night.
“I’ve pitched once every 30 [bleeping days,]” Jones said Tuesday night. “It’s a joke. He is a joke.
“I’m in the major leagues and you are scared to use me, that is a joke. Whatever he wants to do, he can do. I don’t give a [bleep.]
“I feel like it is personal, whatever he is doing is personal. It’s not anything else, it’s just him.”
Valentine thinks the experience could be a learning one for Jones. The lefty, who lost out in the competition for the No. 5 starting spot in the rotation this spring, has been known to be too emotional on the mound. This is something he’s admitted.
“He didn’t control his emotions very well and maybe that is a lesson to be learned,” Valentine said. “I think you have to do that stuff in the big leagues – control your emotions and use your discretion.”
Phillips added,”It was clearly inappropriate.”
