MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Jenrry Mejia got the message from his manager: Tone it down.
After taking a look at Mejia’s animated celebration Friday night following a save against Washington, New York Mets skipper Terry Collins told his excitable closer to take it easy on the antics.
With two runners on, Mejia struck out Ian Desmond for his 26th save, ending New York’s 12-game home losing streak to NL East-leading Washington. The right-hander danced off the mound, pretended to cast a fishing rod toward home plate and reeled in the save.
Nationals outfielder Denard Span, for one, was a little perturbed.
“That wasn’t called for,” he said.
The 24-year-old Mejia, a converted starter now closing in his first full major league season, often goes through some sort of demonstrative gyration after finishing off a save — not unlike other ninth-inning relievers such as Seattle’s Fernando Rodney and ex-closer Jose Valverde.
Collins said he didn’t see Mejia’s celebration Friday night until someone mentioned it and he went back to watch a replay.
“He’s got to tone that down a little bit,” the manager said Saturday. “He was a little over the top last night.”
Mejia said he simply gets excited and means no disrespect to opponents. But he understands his antics could put Mets hitters in jeopardy of retaliation from other teams.
Mejia said Collins told him he can exult the way he did before, “but not like last night.” The reliever wasn’t sure what he would do the next time he saves a game.
Collins said he wants his players to have fun and show emotion, but there’s no reason to rile up the opposition.
“That’s a good team over there and we don’t need to wake ’em up,” he said. “I’m writing it off as an error of enthusiasm by a young player.
“Years ago, none of that stuff was acceptable. Times have changed,” Collins added. “Again, it’s throughout the league. In New York City, it’s a story. Obviously, we’ll make a big deal out of something that should be small. It’ll be big by the end of the day.”
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