SAN FRANCISCO — The education of rookie Jordany Valdespin continues. There is much to learn.
Valdespin threw a fit when he discovered late Wednesday that the white T-shirt he wore to AT&T Park had undergone extreme alterations. The Mets have a dress code and each player is supposed to wear a collared shirt to games on the road.
When Valdespin saw the T-shirt with the words “El Hombre’’ written on the back in Mets blue, along with shredded sleeves, he didn’t see the clubhouse humor in the prank and began yelling at teammates, immediately accusing catcher Josh Thole of the deed.
Valdespin soon calmed down. He even left the clubhouse wearing his new “uniform.’’ Valdespin showed up yesterday in a collared shirt and was happily wearing his “El Hombre’’ shirt in the clubhouse before the game.
The Mets crushed the Giants 9-1, so maybe the ’Spin shirt will make an appearance in San Diego.
Pranks are often pulled on rookies, especially when team rules are broken. Valdespin is hitting .265 with seven home runs but is in the middle of a 3-for-21 trip. He pinch-hit in the ninth and walked. That’s a good sign. He has found success as a pinch-hitter but is going after too many pitches out of the zone. Valdespin is a confident young man, and has had a few disciplinary issues in the minors, like many players.
Valdespin said he learned from this experience.
“On the road you can’t come to the park wearing a T-shirt,’’ he said. “In the moment you get mad, but I’m not going to fight anybody here, it’s a family here. Especially as a rookie guy, you realize that’s what happens. It’s funny. I’m going to save this T-shirt.’’
Terry Collins said rules need to be followed.
“This is the big leagues and this is the New York Mets,’’ the manager said. “There are things that we hold valuable and one of them is acting and looking like a professional. If players think you made an error of judgment, they deal with it in their own way. There’s no huge damage, if he wants us to replace a white T-shirt we can, we have a slush fund ready.’’
David Wright added: “The veterans used to cut up my clothes all the time, guys like John Franco and Mike Piazza. It made me feel like you are more like you are part of the team. It’s better when people mess with you.’’
Wright said he likes Valdespin, adding, “I think sometimes Jordany gets a bad rap.’’
All this could be viewed as a welcoming moment for Valdespin. “El Hombre is what Thole calls me,’’ Valdespin said with a smile. “I don’t know why.’’ Valdespin knows now, though, that “You wear collared shirts to games, it’s a way to teach a lesson and have some fun.’’
When Valdespin was asked if he would pull such a prank on a rookie who does not follow the dress code when he’s a veteran, he quickly answered, “No, no, I’d never do that. You know why? Because you’ve got to respect everybody. The example here is this guy here, David Wright. He’s the captain of the team and he respects everybody. The respect is very important on this team.”
Thole insisted he had nothing to do with the prank. He said he learned some valuable lessons as a rookie that veterans Brian Schneider, Jeremy Reed and J.J. Putz taught him.
“I will never forget the time when I first got called up and it was the second game of a road trip,’’ Thole said. “I took [batting practice], took a shower, got dressed, it was a 7:10 game and I rolled out about 7:05 and Jeremy Reed pulled me aside and aired me out, saying, ‘What are you doing? You’re supposed to be out here for the National Anthem.’ I didn’t know, I should have known but I didn’t. To this day I have never missed an anthem.’’
Jordany Valdespin insists he will never again wear a white T-shirt to a Mets road game.