PITTSBURGH — Jordany Valdespin went down fighting.
According to a Mets source, the volatile utilityman, upon learning he had been demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday, got into a confrontation with Terry Collins, during which he called the manager a “c–ksucker.”
The source said Valdespin, in the course of his heated exchange with Collins, also tried to invent an injury and demanded to be placed on the disabled list.
By the time the clubhouse opened to reporters in the aftermath of the Mets’ 4-2 loss to the Pirates, the 25-year-old Valdespin had regained composure, but had tears in his eyes.
It’s hardly the first time Valdespin has been involved in controversy during his brief career. The most recent incident occurred in May, when he showboated after hitting a home run in a game against the Pirates in which the Mets were getting buried. The next day, Valdespin was sent to the plate as a pinch-hitter and got drilled in apparent retaliation.
Last year, Valdespin angered teammates by wearing a white T-shirt on the team bus, in violation of the dress code. Valdespin later returned to his locker to find the words “El Hombre” written on the shirt, which was mangled.
David Wright will never admit it, but Collins knows better: His third baseman is gassed.
“To be honest, I feel really bad for David,” Collins said after the Mets beat the Pirates 4-2 yesterday at PNC Park. “Obviously he will be regenerated on Tuesday, he deserves to be in the All-Star Game, but he is beat [along] with a number of other guys.”
Wright has played 16 straight games — through rain delays and extra innings — since his last day off on June 27 in Colorado, and will participate in tonight’s Home Run Derby at Citi Field before starting at third base for the NL in the All-Star Game tomorrow.
As captain of the NL team for the Home Run Derby, Wright has faced other potential distractions. That included a weekend of getting booed here after Wright initially excluded the Pirates’ Pedro Alvarez from the Home Run Derby team. Wright later picked Alvarez to replace Carlos Gonzalez, who has been bothered by finger soreness.
“I love Pittsburgh. I lived here, I was part of the organization,” said Collins, who was a Pirates coach in the early 1990s. “But when you start booing David Wright, you better re-evaluate what’s going on, because there is nobody that plays the game any harder that epitomizes what you want a major league player to be than David Wright.
“I understand their frustration, but Pedro was on the team. I think all that combined, [Wright] is tired.”
Mike Piazza will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame on Sept. 29, the team announced. The ceremony will be held at Citi Field, prior to the Mets’ game against the Brewers.
“Very Honored to be going into Mets Hall of Fame this year!” Piazza tweeted. “It been great week for Me! I appreciate all the Love!”
Piazza will be the 27th member of the team’s Hall of Fame. John Franco was inducted last year.
Collins indicated he’s unsure what position Jordany Valdespin will play at Triple-A Las Vegas, but he expects him to get a regular turn in the batting order, something that was lacking with the Mets. Valdespin was demoted after Saturday’s game to create roster space for reliever Scott Atchison.
“[Valdespin] has got to go get some playing time,” Collins said. “He’s got to get his swing back. If he’s going to come back, he’s got to get some at-bats.”
Josh Satin started at first base, according to Collins, because he “deserves to play a little bit more than he’s been playing.” Satin finished 1-for-3 with a walk and slumping Ike Davis grounded into a double play in a pinch-hitting appearance.