David Price's relationship with the Boston media is, well, not good.
He only speaks to the Boston media on the days he pitches because of what he perceives as unfair treatment. This is what he told the Boston Globe:
I'm not cautious. I'm the same me. I don't talk to the media every day like I did last year and I guess I get blown up for that. But I was honest with everything they asked me last year and I get blown up for that. So they did this to themselves. Talk to me on the day I pitch and that's it. There are no more personal interviews. There are no more asking me questions on a personal level. That's done.
But now, the Boston ace has reportedly gotten into a tiff with a Boston Hall of Fame player, and has had to get involved.
NBC Sports reports that Price got into a confrontation with Dennis Eckersley, a Hall of Famer who started with the Red Sox buy found fame in Oakland and became one of the most dominant relief pitchers ever. He's now an analyst for the NESN sports network which broadcasts the Boston games. ESPN referred to the incident as a "verbal confrontation," but it so so disturbed that it summoned Price to a closed-door meeting with manager John Farrell and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
ESPN reported that Price was bothered by Eckerlsey's comments during a post-game segment, though there's no detail on exactly what bothered hi.
Price is in the second season of a 7-year, $217 million contract he signed over following the 2015 season. He's played in Toronto, Tampa Bay and Detroit, media markets that aren't early as demanding as Boston's, which will make note of things like this:
And while Price has had success with the Red Sox — he was 17-9 last year and is 3-2 this year after returning from injury — he's apparently blanching at having every move he makes dissected by a media far more aggressive than he's used to.
Worse than that, when the team has to get involved, it's a reach bad sign for someone who should be concentrating on pitching.
