Blue Jays’ Stroman ‘couldn’t care less’ about Headley’s remarks

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. (Matt York/AP)

TORONTO — Following a tense, emotional game at Rogers Centre Monday night, New York Yankees third baseman Chase Headley made some pointed remarks towards the Blue Jays and, specifically, starting pitcher Marcus Stroman. Tuesday afternoon, Stroman responded.

“Chase Headley has no idea who I’m talking about. Nor do I care at all what Chase Headley has to say, to be honest with you,” Stroman said. “I’ve talked to plenty of people in this game, veterans who have a ton of respect in this game, who have come out of their way to tell me to always be myself and to remain myself. So, I will continue to do that.”

Headley alleged Stroman was taunting the Yankees during his start Saturday afternoon and suggested that Mark Teixeira’s uncharacteristically enthusiastic celebration following a late game home run on Monday was in response to it.

“Listen, these guys are the kings of fun. The bat flip, guys yelling at players,” Headley said. “Stroman was screaming at our guys when he was pitching, yelling at guys to ‘get off the effing field’ when you strike somebody out. So, you’ve got to take some of your medicine. I have no idea if that was what [Teixiera’s celebration] was about. But they certainly have no shortage of emotion. And if you’re going to play like that, then you’ve got to expect to get some of it back.”

Stroman denied making those remarks to the Yankees during his outing and repeatedly said he “couldn’t care less” about Headley’s comments.

“Not once. Not once did I say that. Never did I say ‘get the eff off the field.’ He can think that. But it doesn’t affect me either way,” Stroman said. “I’m not concerned. I’m not going to change myself, I’m not going to change who I am.

“I couldn’t care less what other teams think of me or my team,” Stroman continued. “We play with a lot of passion. We play with a lot of heart. And we’re not boring. Boring people have problems with that. And we’re not concerned with them.”

Teixeira drew the ire of Blue Jays reliever Jason Grilli—no stranger to exuberant celebrations himself—when he took a long look at a game tying, ninth inning solo shot on Monday and sent his bat flying in the air. After Texiera returned to the dugout, television cameras caught him yelling “blown save!” in Grilli’s direction.

“Those guys do it all the time. They have fun with it. It was the first time I’ve ever done it, so I had fun with it, too,” Teixiera said after the game. “I was just letting him know that he blew the save. We were just having fun. There was a lot emotion in the game. We were just having fun with it.”

“They’ve got a lot of guys over there who have a lot of bravado, if you want to call it that. They enjoy it when they hit home runs. They enjoy it when they get outs,” Headley added. “And it rubs guys the wrong way sometimes. So, when you give up runs or you give up a big hit, guys are sometimes going to react that way.”

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