Mets broadcaster Darling rips A's Estes for ignoring teammate
New York Mets broadcaster Ron Darling took aim at Oakland Athletics pitcher Joey Estes during Wednesday night's game.
Estes appeared to walk past third baseman Darell Hernaiz in the dugout without addressing him after the latter failed to catch a Mark Vientos double in the bottom of the second inning.
"One thing I could not stand as a player and I can't stand in the booth is showing up your infielders"
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 14, 2024
Ron Darling shared his thoughts after Joey Estes showed up Darell Hernaiz missing Mark Vientos' line drive double pic.twitter.com/DXD4dYrOuc
Darling said he "can't stand" that conduct, adding that the team "can make sure that never happens again."
"Just say, 'Hey, listen - I lost my mind out there.' Whatever," Darling said. "Because everything is seen now, as we know. We're part of the problem. But when you come on the bench, part of being a good teammate as a pitcher is making sure everyone (knows) you're on their side, they're on your side, and we're trying to battle together. It's not me against them. It's us against them."
Following the game, Estes denied that he was trying to show Hernaiz up.
"I was reacting out of emotion after the ball got way past Darell," Estes said in a statement obtained by MLB.com's Martin Gallegos. "I wasn't reacting towards Darell. I'd never show up my boys. For people to not know who I am as a person kind of sucks. Darell is my boy. I'd never do that to my teammates."
Estes allowed three runs on seven hits across 5 1/3 innings to drop to 5-5 on the season as the A's fell to a 9-1 loss.
Darling enjoyed a successful 13-year MLB career as a pitcher, winning 136 games and the 1986 World Series with the Mets. He's been part of the Mets' television broadcasts since 2006.
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