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Mark Zwolinksi
Sports Reporter
Jays GM JP Ricciardi claims Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn "doesn't have a passion to play the game that much."
Dunn counters by referring to Ricciardi as a "clown."
Let the war of words begin.
"I know nothing about this clown, I have no idea who he is," Dunn said today in response to Ricciardi's radio call in show in Toronto Wednesday in which the Jays GM questioned Dunn's character.
Dunn was shown transcripts of the radio call in show in which one caller peppered Ricciardi about Dunn and the value of bringing him to Toronto to bolster the Jays offence, which is second last in the majors in homers.
Dunn has hit 40 or more homers a season over the past four years.
Dunn initially expressed indifference, but quickly changed his tune to one of anger.
"It (ticks) me off, to be honest with you," said Dunn, who is in the option year of his contact, and will become a free agent after this season.
"He doesn't know anything about me other than what he sees on whatever Sports Center they have up there."
Ricciardi became engrossed with a caller on his regular phone in show with the FAN 590, and explained that the team has "done its homework" on players like Dunn.
"Do you know the guy doesn't like baseball that much? Do you know he doesn't have a passion to play the game that much?" Ricciardi said in response to persistent but unfounded rumours that the Jays are interested in Dunn.
"We've done our homework on players like Adam Dunn. There's a reason why we don't want Adam Dunn."
Dunn, who is due into Toronto Tuesday when the Reds visit the Jays for an interleague series, said he can now cross the Jays off his list if he should become a free agent this winter.
"I can eliminate one team," Dunn said. "I'm not changing dollars to loonies and toonies just yet."
Mark Zwolinksi
Sports Reporter
Jays GM JP Ricciardi claims Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn "doesn't have a passion to play the game that much."
Dunn counters by referring to Ricciardi as a "clown."
Let the war of words begin.
"I know nothing about this clown, I have no idea who he is," Dunn said today in response to Ricciardi's radio call in show in Toronto Wednesday in which the Jays GM questioned Dunn's character.
Dunn was shown transcripts of the radio call in show in which one caller peppered Ricciardi about Dunn and the value of bringing him to Toronto to bolster the Jays offence, which is second last in the majors in homers.
Dunn has hit 40 or more homers a season over the past four years.
Dunn initially expressed indifference, but quickly changed his tune to one of anger.
"It (ticks) me off, to be honest with you," said Dunn, who is in the option year of his contact, and will become a free agent after this season.
"He doesn't know anything about me other than what he sees on whatever Sports Center they have up there."
Ricciardi became engrossed with a caller on his regular phone in show with the FAN 590, and explained that the team has "done its homework" on players like Dunn.
"Do you know the guy doesn't like baseball that much? Do you know he doesn't have a passion to play the game that much?" Ricciardi said in response to persistent but unfounded rumours that the Jays are interested in Dunn.
"We've done our homework on players like Adam Dunn. There's a reason why we don't want Adam Dunn."
Dunn, who is due into Toronto Tuesday when the Reds visit the Jays for an interleague series, said he can now cross the Jays off his list if he should become a free agent this winter.
"I can eliminate one team," Dunn said. "I'm not changing dollars to loonies and toonies just yet."
Just add him to the list of UT athletes with no heart.
Did a google search of him and this came up first - http://www.google.com/search?q=adam...ent-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-18,GGGL:en Wonder if that is his real phone number?
Did a google search of him and this came up first - http://www.google.com/search?q=adam...ent-ff&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-18,GGGL:en Wonder if that is his real phone number?
A caller asked the question though, and JP gave his honest answer. People are upset because he didn't just give the normal political answer you're supposed to say. He's supposed to say something like "well we're still looking at every possible scenario and what's best for the team not only now, but for the future", but instead of that bullshit he gave his honest opinion on Dunn and told the fan the exact reason why they wouldn't pursue him.
Also, you're right about being in last, but that is far from JP's fault. His job is simply to bring in the talent. After that it's all up to the coaches and players, and it's not his fault they aren't preforming. He has put together one hell of a talented team, and they are just playing way below their potential right now. I don't blame JP at all. He's done a great job getting good players, and the only things I didn't like since he's been here is getting rid of Reed and getting rid of Hinske.
No, people are upset because of the fact the Jays are no closer to winning the AL East then the day J.P took over. The core of that hell of a team came from Gord Ash, Wells, Rios, Roy Halladay, Dustin McGowan. The rest are just do over's that the Jays Front Office let J.P make. Like Rolen for Glaus who was traded for Orlando Hudson, who shouldn't of been traded in the first place. Guys like Overbay are not an American league first baseman and the corner outfielders display a shocking lack of power.
Where are those good players you speak of. With few exceptions All I see are players on the downside of their career or players like Burnett who will never be more than what he is now. Those good players surely are not in the farm system where every GM will know is the core of building a winning team. Instead of signing or trading for other teams cast off. Only Travis Snider is ranked on Baseball America's top 100 prospects.
There is a time and place to be honest and that wasn't it. Besides honesty coming from J.P is laughable. This is the same guy who lied to everyone saying B.J Ryan had a bad back when his arm was toast last spring training.
Toronto use to run a first class organization from the top down in the days of Gallick and Beston. Those days are long gone under Godfrey and J.P. Maybe after a decade of oh its the players fault, Toronto fans will see a meaningful game in September. But the last seven years don't serve much hope of that happening.
Where are those good players you speak of. With few exceptions All I see are players on the downside of their career or players like Burnett who will never be more than what he is now. Those good players surely are not in the farm system where every GM will know is the core of building a winning team. Instead of signing or trading for other teams cast off. Only Travis Snider is ranked on Baseball America's top 100 prospects.
There is a time and place to be honest and that wasn't it. Besides honesty coming from J.P is laughable. This is the same guy who lied to everyone saying B.J Ryan had a bad back when his arm was toast last spring training.
Toronto use to run a first class organization from the top down in the days of Gallick and Beston. Those days are long gone under Godfrey and J.P. Maybe after a decade of oh its the players fault, Toronto fans will see a meaningful game in September. But the last seven years don't serve much hope of that happening.
Jun 25, 2008 04:30 AM
Mark Zwolinski
SPORTS REPORTER
Cincinnati Reds slugger Adam Dunn referred to Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi as a clown last week after Ricciardi's anti-Dunn comments on a Toronto radio call-in show.
Now, Dunn is calling Ricciardi a liar.
Dunn made his latest assessment after hearing that Ricciardi claimed to have made an apology in a phone call – a phone call Dunn said was never made.
The story gets really complicated because Ricciardi insists he got a call from a person who identified himself as Adam Dunn, then proceeded to make the apology.
"I talked to Adam on Saturday," Ricciardi said prior to last night's Jays-Reds game.
"He (Dunn) called me, I tried to get his phone number and I wasn't having any luck. He had called me and I told him I made a mistake and I apologized. I let my guard down which I shouldn't have done, but I did. All I can do is apologize."
Ricciardi said he wasn't certain that Dunn accepted his gesture. Apparently, Dunn didn't because he says he never spoke with Ricciardi.
"What? Not true, 1 million per cent," Dunn told Cincinnati's MLB.com website when informed of Ricciardi's apology prior to the game. Dunn repeated his denial after the game.
"I'm just so sick and tired of this first and foremost, but the real truth is no, I have not talked to him," Dunn said.
"Again, I'm not going to go out of my way to apologize or get an apology from a guy I don't even know. So no, it didn't happen and I hope this is the last time I have to talk about it because I'm sick and tired of it. If he said he talked to me, then it's a lie."
Dunn acknowledged an attempt by Reds GM Walt Jockety to obtain his cell phone number.
Ricciardi was upset when Dunn's denial was presented to him.
"All I know is the person I talked to said it was Adam Dunn," said Ricciardi, who questioned Dunn's commitment to the game in an on-air discussion with a caller.
"That's quite a prank to pull."
Mark Zwolinski
SPORTS REPORTER
Cincinnati Reds slugger Adam Dunn referred to Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi as a clown last week after Ricciardi's anti-Dunn comments on a Toronto radio call-in show.
Now, Dunn is calling Ricciardi a liar.
Dunn made his latest assessment after hearing that Ricciardi claimed to have made an apology in a phone call – a phone call Dunn said was never made.
The story gets really complicated because Ricciardi insists he got a call from a person who identified himself as Adam Dunn, then proceeded to make the apology.
"I talked to Adam on Saturday," Ricciardi said prior to last night's Jays-Reds game.
"He (Dunn) called me, I tried to get his phone number and I wasn't having any luck. He had called me and I told him I made a mistake and I apologized. I let my guard down which I shouldn't have done, but I did. All I can do is apologize."
Ricciardi said he wasn't certain that Dunn accepted his gesture. Apparently, Dunn didn't because he says he never spoke with Ricciardi.
"What? Not true, 1 million per cent," Dunn told Cincinnati's MLB.com website when informed of Ricciardi's apology prior to the game. Dunn repeated his denial after the game.
"I'm just so sick and tired of this first and foremost, but the real truth is no, I have not talked to him," Dunn said.
"Again, I'm not going to go out of my way to apologize or get an apology from a guy I don't even know. So no, it didn't happen and I hope this is the last time I have to talk about it because I'm sick and tired of it. If he said he talked to me, then it's a lie."
Dunn acknowledged an attempt by Reds GM Walt Jockety to obtain his cell phone number.
Ricciardi was upset when Dunn's denial was presented to him.
"All I know is the person I talked to said it was Adam Dunn," said Ricciardi, who questioned Dunn's commitment to the game in an on-air discussion with a caller.
"That's quite a prank to pull."
I agree I'm a Jays fan and I think Ricciardi should be fired he's not a very good gm plain and simple.
Most of the moves he's made failed.
Glaus for Hudsen - I did'nt like that trade from day one.
Frank Thomas - Bad pick up
Reed Johnson - I could'nt believe when I heard he let Johnson go and instead got Stewart who sucks
Burnette - Way overratted and not work 10 million a year
And theres probaly more that I cant remember
Most of the moves he's made failed.
Glaus for Hudsen - I did'nt like that trade from day one.
Frank Thomas - Bad pick up
Reed Johnson - I could'nt believe when I heard he let Johnson go and instead got Stewart who sucks
Burnette - Way overratted and not work 10 million a year
And theres probaly more that I cant remember
Stocks, don't forget when JP first took over the Jays, he traded Shannon Stewart away when he was much younger and in his prime and was a much more effective player, for Bobby Kielty... That was a beauty. Now he brings back Stewart as an old man many years later and releases one of our heart and soul hustle guys in Reed Johnston. Everything JP touches turns to stone.
