MLB

Rays’ Price ‘embarrassed’ for ripping TBS analysts

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — David Price offered regret and humiliation Monday for his verbal and Twitter attacks following Game 2 of the Division Series against the Red Sox.

The Rays ace yielded seven runs in seven innings Saturday at Fenway Park and afterward lashed out at Boston DH David Ortiz for standing at home plate too long to admire a homer, criticized those who asked questions following the game, and then went on a Tweet rampage in which, among other things, he lambasted TBS analysts Dirk Hayhurst and Tom Verducci.

“I’m a person who likes to take pride in character,” Price said before Game 3. “That was probably the exact opposite of that. I’ve hurt a lot of people. I embarrassed myself. I embarrassed my family. I embarrassed this organization. It’s not good. It’s not good for baseball. It’s not good for our team, especially at a time [like] right now. I’m deeply sorry.”

Price said he let his emotions rob his common sense. He said he read his inflammatory Tweets several times, yet decided to send them anyway.

https://twitter.com/DAVIDprice14/status/386719295532580864

Price took on fans critical of his bombast by citing his career accomplishments, including his Cy Young Award last year.

He called it a “dark spot” on his career. Besides making a statement of contrition and handling a couple of questions from reporters, Price said he personally had reached out to Ortiz to apologize.

“I hurt a lot of people and that is the worst part of it,” Price said.