Mets Pitcher Jon Niese Reportedly Dropped an F-Bomb on Manager Terry Collins During September Start

‘Tis the season for fun baseball Hot Stove stories. John Harper of the New York Daily News provided this anecdote on Wednesday from late in the 2014 season between Mets starter Jon Niese and manager Terry Collins. In a Sept. 26 game against the Astros Collins asked for Niese, a pitcher, to bunt. Niese changed his mind and swung away. Harper reports this confrontation in the dugout afterward.

On Thursday Collins disputed the exact wording on the confrontation:

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson also downplayed whatever exchange Niese and this manager might have had in the dugout, too.

The timing of this will might get people thinking whether or not the Mets are trying to trade Niese, since otherwise why would a dugout shouting match or whatever the heck happened between the two parties come to light almost two months after the fact? Whatever the explanation — likely good reporting from Harper — the combination of the f-word plus the Mets obviously makes for a baseball headline people will gravitate toward in Novemeber.