Adam Dunn Rejects Riccardi's Apologies

[oak hill71]

Adam Dunn Rejects Riccardi's Apologies
MLB.Com
Mark Sheldon

NEW YORK -- Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi indirectly offered Adam Dunn an olive branch after making some blistering comments about the Reds left fielder.

And Dunn indirectly took that olive branch and snapped it over his knee.

On Wednesday, during his radio show in Toronto, Ricciardi was talking to a caller who wanted the Blue Jays to acquire Dunn. Ricciardi took several took several shots at Dunn, saying, among other things, that he "doesn't have a passion to play the game that much."

Dunn, insulted by Ricciardi's comments, fired back some zingers of his own on Thursday.

Ricciardi issued a public apology by Thursday night.

"It's my fault. I take full responsibility for it," Ricciardi told The Toronto Globe and Mail. "I tried to get Adam's phone number from the Reds ... and if he wants to talk to me, I'll talk to him and apologize personally. But I apologize to him and the Reds. I need to be better than that. I let my guard down."

Ricciardi was unable to reach Dunn, who was not interested in any apologies.

"'Sorry' doesn't always fix things," Dunn said on Friday before the Reds played the Yankees. "To me, you're not criticizing me as a player. You're criticizing me as a person. That's different. You can say I stink all you want, OK, I'm fine with that. It's over. I'm not crying about it. It doesn't really mean that much."

Ricciardi also contacted Reds GM Walt Jocketty. The two previously worked together in the A's front office.

"He called me before I had a chance to call him," Jocketty said. "He was very apologetic and said it was a big mistake. The guy got him going on the radio. He told me he had been under a lot of stress lately, and said, 'Quite honestly, I have to fire my manager and half the coaching staff tomorrow.' He was sincere about it."

On Friday, Toronto dismissed manager John Gibbons and three coaches.

Entering Friday's game, Dunn was batting .228 and leading the team with 18 home runs and 43 RBIs. The 28-year-old was in a 6-for-46 (.130) slump over his previous 15 games.

"I'd accept [the apology], but I'd still try to beat them," manager Dusty Baker said. "I'm sincerely hoping this wakes up the giant."

[ManitouDan]

so he said what most folks think BIG DEAL ---Dunn's faults are well noted . The only mistake the guy made was apologizing for speaking the truth. MD

[oak hill71]

The only part that I don't agree with Riccardi about, and the thing I think Dunn is most mad about, is the fact that he questioned Dunn's passion of the game.

[bigtimehitter]

MD people do not want to hear the truth.

i like Adam Dunn myself, if he leaves the Reds he will be missed.If Dunn shortened his swing ans raised his average then People would be whinning he wasn't hitting HR's. Yes he has struggeled in the field,But has done better this year.what happen to moving him to first base?

I went to the game last tuesday when they played the Dodgers and was sittin right behind Dunn in left field. On a short line drive ,Dunn ran up and laid COMPLETELY out to make a play on it, amazing effort, but didnt make the play. Everyone in left field stood up and cheered for him, just thought it showed some passion for the game and was pretty cool.

[someoverkill]

drop about 15 straight bunts down the 3rd base line. he will then raise his average and maybe the reds will win a few games. Passion for the game? 90% of baseball players in the majors, are lacking. Playing with passion doesnt mean that much anyway. Noone played with more passion than Pete rose, and MLB wizzes all over him.

[hollandkat3]

Pete whizzed all over himself and has no one but himself to blame. Flaunting rules posted in every MLB clubhouse, and then lying about it in the face of overwhelming evidence for decades before finally caving in and confessing (which probably means hes not sorry for what he did; just sorry that he got caught.

Pete is not the only player/former player harshly dealt with over gambling. Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were banned from being associated with MLB while they had interests in gambling casinos. They were never charged with betting while playing. Just the appearance of impropriety that pro sports MUST separate itself from to have the public's trust. And Alex Karras and Paul Hornung suffered one year suspensions over 40 years ago for gambling impropriety in the NFL.

Look at the stink the NBA is going through because of that crooked ref who has told so many lies, no one knows what is true that comes out of his mouth anymore.

BTW...before you feel sorry for Petey, wait until you see how long (if ever) players like Bonds/McGuire/Palmeiro/Sosa/Clemens etc will wait before they get into Cooperstown without buying a ticket, and at the time steroids werent even illegal.

Look at the black eye the NFL has had to endure because of the characters in the league who have no character, and how severely they are beginning to deal with them.

Pete isnt the only one. He's just a local boy from a local team and therefore we tend to be more incensed over him.



Amen, brother!!!!!!!

[someoverkill]

Dont feel sorry for Pete Rose, just feel sorry for the game of baseball. Noone plays like Rose did and for him not to be recognized in their hall of fame, just goes to show me why they are and will remain down around hockey in popularity.

Mantle and Mays huh? Were they ever reinstated? Mantle played every other day drunk and bragged about it.

if the guys you mentioned are not first time hall of famers, it is a sham of a place anyway. Noone played the game as hard as him, in the modern era and noone will ever have 4,257 hits to break his record. What a sham.

[someoverkill]

Well Benedict was the hardest playing player of all time and I never wasted a dollar by going to see him play. You cant say that about lazya$$e$ like Dunn, etc.
Oh and Gaylord Perry didnt violte a known rule did he? Then profit by it, by writing a book about it? You are just like the other hypocrites that is current baseball.

[mohawkbaseball#1]

hopefully Dunn makes Riccardi eat his words in this upcoming series

[someoverkill]

top of the first inning,one out, noone on. Toronto has the shift on. A bunt down the 3rd base line is a hit for Dunn. He swings away and grounds out. Ditto for Griffey, who batted right after him. Should have runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. instead we get a greedy all about me, 1-2-3 inning! That is why the Reds stink.

[OZZIEOHIO]

I dont care who crys about it Rose belongs in, and I dont and will not watch any basball untill he is in.

[OZZIEOHIO]

I would rather watch a quilt sewing race.

[someoverkill]

gahs: If there ever was a hypocrite, you are it, sir. I never once said Rose should not be punished. (He lost a million dollar a year job back in 1990 and lost an opportunity to manage a team that he put together, not Lou Pinella) I don't even think the man should be reinstated to the game. You see, I have no problem with his punishment. However, the hall of fame, is for the best baseball players who ever lived. White, black, yellow, etc. etc. Major league, negro league, etc. etc. Pete Rose is one of those players. He belongs in the hall of fame.
While you are at it, talking about hypocrites, Why does the hall profit off of memorabilia from Rose's career? Why not banish the very existence of Pete Rose? It must be all about the money GAHS. You cry integrity for the game and teaching your children. What does this teach your children? Banish the guy but make sure you get your $10 off of his stuff? You brought it up, you sir are the hypocrite.