No Matter What Fans Say, Rocker Won’t Change Style

Atlanta General Manager John Schuerholz thinks “too much has been made” about John Rocker’s digs at the Shea Stadium fans.

“In this environment, you have a young excitable guy who’s vulnerable to a knee-jerk reaction and who I tend to think has been preyed upon [by the media],” Schuerholz said. “I think most everyone would respond the way he did when exposed to the type of taunts and vulgarities he’s been exposed to here.”

Manager Bobby Cox doesn’t totally agree. Cox had said before Game 3 that he didn’t condone Rocker’s comments. Rocker apologized to his manager before that game but took some more shots after saving the 1-0 victory, prompting Cox to hold another meeting with his closer before Game 4 on Saturday, cautioning him again to let his actions speak louder than his words.

Right. Rocker jawed with a taunting fan before Saturday’s game, and when asked if he was going to change his style and approach, said, “Why? It’s working, isn’t it? The only thing I’m going to change is my clothes after I get champagne on them tonight.”

Uh, hold that thought, John. Rocker gave up John Olerud’s two-run single in the eighth that gave the Mets a 3-2 victory.

“I know [fans] probably think I coughed up the game tonight with that three-bouncer through the middle,” Rocker said, “and I know they’re going to treat me like . . . but I’ll just come back stronger tomorrow.”

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Rickey Henderson did not seem to appreciate the manner of his removal from Game 4.

New York Manager Bobby Valentine generally replaces his left fielder in the late innings of games his team leads. The Mets had a 1-0 lead at the start of the eighth inning Saturday night and Henderson was already at his position when Valentine, who had been preoccupied on the dugout phone to the bullpen, realized he had yet to make the change.

As Melvin Mora trotted to left field, Henderson had to trot off, possibly feeling he was being slighted before a capacity crowd at Shea Stadium. Valentine met him in the dugout and apologized, but Henderson brushed by him and went straight to the clubhouse, as he always does when removed.

“The last thing I want to do is take Rickey Henderson off the field and make anyone think less of the great player he is,” Valentine said. “It wasn’t protocol, it wasn’t the right way to do it. I talked to Rickey after the game and asked him to please put any personal affront aside. He seemed to be fine with it. I’ll accept the heat if there’s a problem, but I don’t expect one.”

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Met catcher Mike Piazza suffered a mild concussion in that first-inning collision with Bret Boone in Game 3 and was left with a headache and a feeling of whiplash Saturday, but still started in Game 4.

“I wouldn’t go out there if I thought I was going to hurt the team,” Piazza said. “We have a lot of confidence in [backup] Todd Pratt.”

Was he worried about the concussion?

“It’s definitely not fun getting your head beat in,” he said, “but I’ll only worry about it if I start losing my way home or to the park.”

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Add Valentine to the list of those impressed with Cox’s managing this season.

“I think he’s done a great job,” Valentine said. “I don’t know about all the things he’s done, but developing Rocker as a closer, I think, has been paramount. I think filling the void at first base in his lineup was creative.

“And [injured catcher] Javy Lopez, I think, is one of the best players. Their pitching hasn’t missed a beat. And in this series, their offense hasn’t missed a beat with Eddie Perez. So those are all things I think that Bobby definitely gets credit for, and rightfully so.”