The mysterious feud between Ryan Church and Jerry Manuel spilled out into the open today, even though — or perhaps because — Church is now wearing a Braves uniform.
The former Mets right fielder, here for a three-game series at Citi Field, took exception to Manuel’s comment Sunday comparing Church’s reaction to two concussions last year with David Wright‘s response to his first concussion Saturday.
Church accused Manuel of taking a cheap shot for saying Wright was “a little different kind of animal” than Church, a comment that appeared to imply Church wasn’t as tough as Wright. “The stuff David was having was nothing compared to what I was going through,” Church said in the Atlanta clubhouse. “It was a shock to have [Manuel] say that. I find it funny that they take shots now that I’m not in a Mets uniform. It’s kind of odd. But I’m a man. I’ll take the high road on that.”
Church couldn’t help himself, however, revisiting his unhappiness with Manuel at the end of the nearly 20-minute pregame conversation with reporters.
“I just kind of brushed it off as Jerry being Jerry,” Church said of the Sunday comment. “I could read between the lines. It was kind of a cheap shot, but it is what it is. I’m not going to get into a [hissing] contest. It’s not worth it. I’m here trying to make the playoffs.”
Considering the Braves began play tonight just three games out of the NL wild-card race while Mets were 55-63 with virtually no shot at the postseason, Church’s “playoffs” comment was a none-too-subtle dig at Manuel.
The two have had running feud virtually since Manuel took over as manager last June — the reasons for which remain a mystery to Church — and that dispute appeared to factor in Church being swapped for Jeff Francoeur last month.
When Manuel was told of Church’s displeasure at his Sunday comments, the manager apologized but said Church deserved some blame for not squaring with the Mets last year about his condition.
“There was no ill intent toward him,” Manuel said. “To his fault, too, to a degree, he didn’t really communicate. That’s where that got a little muddy.”
Church, who is hitting .253 in 25 games with the Braves, admitted he was mistaken in not telling the Mets to put him on the DL immediately in May of last season after his second concussion in a span of 2 1/2 months.
Church instead let the Mets to put him on a plane to Denver and pinch-hit one day after the second concussion. Church didn’t end up going on the DL until two weeks later, and his season ended up being a washout.
Church said he thinks the Mets learned their lesson from his situation last year, which would explain why they put Wright on the DL less than 24 hours after his Saturday beaning by the Giants’ Matt Cain.
“I am the guinea pig,” Church said. “If it’s going to help out and prolong guys’ careers, so be it. Somebody’s got to do it.”
Church, though, appears to have the same dim feelings about the Mets’ team physicians at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan as he does about Manuel.
Asked how he felt about HSS, Church rolled his eyes and said: “No comment. That’s why everybody’s got their own doctors and physicians.”
Church is firmly in Wright’s corner, though. Church texted the Mets’ third baseman the day after the incident to give Wright advice about concussions and planned to speak to him during the series.
Despite Wright’s self-proclaimed embarrassment at going on the DL, Church says Wright should go along with the Mets’ conservative approach.
“I know David, what kind of player he is,” Church said. “He wants to get back on the field. You’ve got to look at it as, hey, you’ve got a long career ahead of you. The smartest thing to do is to go on the DL, take your 15 days and get away from everything.”