Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price struggled through an atrocious playoff outing on Saturday, giving up seven runs -- including two homers -- in seven innings of work against the Boston Red Sox. Then the MLB star and 2012 Cy Young Award winner took to Twitter for a meltdown that made his on-field performance look fine by comparison.
After the game, Price bickered with critical fans, flaunted his career credentials and, most memorably, issued an all-caps "SAVE IT NERDS" edict to a pair of baseball analysts. On Sunday, he apologized for the rant -- again on Twitter -- but by then, his outburst had earned criticism around the web.
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Here, below, is Price's string of Saturday night tweets, which began with a relatively innocent post:
Trust me I don't want sympathy...I got beat tonight...so be it..I'll bounce back...3x ALLSTAR...2 time player choice...runner up cy...AND CY— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) October 6, 2013
It then quickly devolved:
Better question is why do you follow me?? RT @theReal_JonJon: @DAVIDprice14 why do you cry and complain about PAPI when he takes you yard?— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) October 6, 2013
No you forgot CLEAN sweep of every college award...NEVER BEEN DONE RT @mbschultz74: @DAVIDprice14 you forgot Brooks Wallace award winner too— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) October 6, 2013
not bragging...you can google that..true fans understand..fake one don't..PERIOD RT @Yons18: @DAVIDprice14 This is the ultimate humble brag.— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) October 6, 2013
not bragging...just a simple reminder RT @mpistark: @DAVIDprice14 you don't have to brag man. Damn— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) October 6, 2013
It finally ended with his coup de grace against TBS analysts Dirk Hayhurst and Tom Verducci:
Dirk Hayhurst...COULDNT hack it...Tom Verducci wasn't even a water boy in high school...but yet they can still bash a player...SAVE IT NERDS— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) October 6, 2013
For what it's worth, here's Price's Sunday apology:
Last night got out of hand and I apologize for the things that I said on here...if I offended you I am very sorry for doing so...#thatsnotme— David Price (@DAVIDprice14) October 6, 2013
Veteran broadcaster Keith Olbermann, a colleague of both Hayhurst and Verducci, shot back at Price on Twitter:
Save it for a day you didn't get lit up RT @DAVIDprice14 Dirk Hayhurst...COULDNT hack it...Tom Verducci wasn… http://t.co/UJmzTkIiKt— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 6, 2013
The "if" defines this as a non-apology apology RT @DAVIDprice14 Last night got out of hand and I apologize f… http://t.co/7vzYLp3nOf— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 6, 2013
And this is why it's wise to stay away from Twitter in times of emotional turmoil.
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