The cool relationship between New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine and Chicago Cubs skipper Don Baylor was the main topic of discussion Thursday as the two teams prepared for Game Two of their season-opening series in Tokyo.
In the ninth inning of Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Cubs, Valentine elected to play the game under protest after revealing that Cubs infielder Jeff Huson, who came into the game in the ninth to play shortstop, was not listed on the lineup card.
Valentine later withdrew the protest but it was clear prior to Thursday's game that relations between the two veteran managers were still strained.
"I haven't talked to Don and I have no plans to. I didn't even see him before the game," said Valentine.
Baylor, who inadvertently wrote Jeff Reed's name twice on the lineup card, called the move by Valentine "nonsense" and said that it was probably a ploy to disrupt the concentration of reliever Rick Aguilera.
Chicago infielder Shane Andrews, who hit a decisive two-run homer in Wednesday's game, said he was surprised by Valentine's move.
"I had no idea what he was doing. They had just scored two runs on Mike Piazza's homer in the eighth and if anything, I think it may have taken a little of their momentum away," said Andrews.