…or Mets’ Mex Maligns Metal Mike’s Massusse!

From the AP (link courtesy Rog)

Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez™s comments that women œdon™t belong in the dugout drew criticism Sunday from Padres manager Bruce Bochy, who supported the female member of his training staff and said he was surprised her gender even came up.

Hernandez made the remarks during the second inning of New York™s 8-1 victory in San Diego on Saturday night. Mike Piazza homered for the Padres and exchanged a high-five in the dugout with 33-year-old Kelly Calabrese, the Padres™ massage therapist.

œWho is the girl in the dugout, with the long hair? Hernandez said. œWhat™s going on here? You have got to be kidding me. Only player personnel in the dugout.

œI won™t say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don™t belong in the dugout, Hernandez said.

Hernandez, a former Mets first baseman, then laughed and said: œYou know I am only teasing. I love you gals out there ” always have.

While not condoning Keith’s remarks in any way, we really need to focus on the following :

1) Mike Piazza didn’t hold a press conference today to deny that he was a long-haired girl.

2) Much the way the outspoken Ozzie Guillen’s outrageous remarks took the heat off his players throughout their championship run, a veteran like Hernandez was unselfish enough to do the same thing on behalf of Gary Cohen.

3) There’s no place in the dugout for massage therapists of any gender.