Alain Vigneault's comment on Yoenis Cespedes draws ire from some on Twitter
New York Mets centerfielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) reacts after fouling the ball off his knee in the sixth inning during Game 5 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. Credit: Newsday / Thomas A. Ferrara
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault jumped on the Yankees' and Mets' bandwagon this season, followed the playoff games and has answered questions during briefings about his newfound allegiances since September.
His sole comment Monday caused a little furor on Twitter. After practice, in the last question of the briefing, he was asked (without mentioning Matt Harvey's name) if as a coach, he had ever wanted to pull a goalie and then changed his mind after the goalie talked him out of it.
"No," Vigneault said, smiling and shaking his head, "but . . . how about you take a ball off [points to his knee] and you take yourself out of the game in the World Series?"
Some baseball reporters and fans took umbrage to the quote about Yoenis Cespedes, which initially was presented without context of the Q&A with the media.
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who is friends with Harvey, was at Game 5 at Citi Field on Sunday to watch "The Dark Knight," a noted Rangers fan.
After talking Terry Collins into leaving him in the game, Harvey allowed two Royals to reach base in the ninth. Both eventually scored to tie it at 2.
"I already told him two weeks ago to really enjoy this moment," Lundqvist said Monday. "It's a unique situation to pitch in a final like that. I think he enjoyed the moment for sure. It was a great performance. They came out on the short end, but it was fun to watch. And coming out for the ninth, when they were chanting his name, it was a very cool moment for him."
