Sour Ape

Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who either feels that acting a bit off-kilter gives him an air of genius or is just plain kooky, today adaciously claimed that Dodger Odalis Perez in pitching 6.1 perfect innings against the Mets yesterday was tipping his pitches. Bobby V claimed that Perez gave the Mets hints as to what pitch he was going to throw, especially before breaking pitches. Perez had the perfect rejoinder, "Even if I was tipping my pitches, they couldn't hit it."

It is difficult to know what Valentine is trying to prove. Was he trying to psych up his moribund club before another game with the Dodgers? Was he trying to get in Jim Tracy's head? Or is he just some pathetic loser who doesn't want to admit when his team was outplayed? You make the call.