Jesse Winker has a unique way of getting back at the Mets fans who have heckled him during the Reds series at Citi Field.
“They talk loud — and a lot,” the Reds left fielder said before Thursday’s game in Queens. “I like to talk back.”
On two straight nights, Winker ended Reds wins by waving to the fans in the outfield — including following Wednesday’s game, which he ended with a sliding catch of Brandon Nimmo’s fly ball down the left-field line.
Winker, who was booed before leading off Thursday’s game, said what he got from Mets fans wasn’t worse than what he’s gotten elsewhere — but the lack of fans in the stands made it stand out more.
“There’s not a lot of people out there,” Winker said. “I’ve been to places like San Francisco, where there’s just a ton of people. But it’s not a knock on [Mets fans]. I’m sure they get it packed here. I’m not trying to bash them, but when there’s not a lot of people, you can hear them better. Obviously, New Yorkers are loud, anyway.”
Winker should know, since he was born in Buffalo and grew up a fan of Derek Jeter.
He laughed off any perceived controversy by saying his own family has been harder on him.
“There were a lot of different expletives,” Winker said of Wednesday’s game. “It’s fun. At some point, I heard them chanting my mom’s name, I think. Karen Winker. That’s pretty much a standard thing. I grew up with two older brothers. I haven’t heard anything that’s gonna offend me. They’ve said it all growing up.”
Winker started in left again Thursday.
“It’s one of those things that’s just fun,” said Winker, who also admitted to having faked giving a ball to Dodgers fans last year. “If anyone’s taking it too seriously, I think that’s their problem.”