All-Star Game: Adam Wainwright apologizes for Derek Jeter comments
By Mike Dyce
The 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was last night, and it did not go off without a bit of a scandal. St. Louis Cardinals pitcher appeared to admit to grooving a fastball to Derek Jeter in the first inning, allowing him to get a hit in his final All-Star Game.
Adam Wainwright admitted he grooved a fastball to Derek Jeter in the first: “I was gonna give him a couple pipe shots. He deserved it."
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 16, 2014
Yes, it would seem as though Adam Wainwright was entirely serious about giving Jeter a cookie, like Chan Ho Park did with Cal RIpken.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 16, 2014
Waino: “I was gonna give him a couple pipe shots. He deserved it. I didn’t know he was gonna hit a double or I might have changed my mind.”
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 16, 2014
Then he backtracked.
Wainwright: "What I meant to say was: I’m intentionally trying to throw a strike -- and get him out. Which is what I do most of the time."
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 16, 2014
Eventually Wainwright had to apologize.
Longer Wainwright quote in which he says "I made a mistake" and "I'm an idiot." He was exceedingly contrite. pic.twitter.com/hvVLJAhTQv
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 16, 2014
Give him credit though for not saying the media misinterpreted his words.
Wainwright said media not to blame for interpreting his words like it did: “You didn’t hear me say everybody’s idiots for thinking that."
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 16, 2014
The biggest issue here is: Who cares? It is an All-Star Game that should be for fun and have no actual implications and legends should get a good sendoff.