Rocker’s Latest Trouble Is Accidental

John Rocker’s oral jousting with fans at Shea Stadium produced headlines and the outspoken Atlanta closer continued to make news after returning to Atlanta, totaling his car in a two-vehicle accident Monday afternoon.

Rocker reportedly wrecked a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette while driving on one of Atlanta’s busiest freeways, though Brave officials described the accident as a “fender-bender.” Rocker said his car struck a truck after he’d swerved to avoid hitting another car.

Neither Rocker nor the other driver was injured, and Rocker declined to comment on the incident before the Braves clinched the National League championship series with a 10-9 victory victory over the New York Mets in 11 innings. Rocker pitched two innings and gave up an unearned run.

Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox said before Game 6, “I called [Rocker] right away and he said he was fine. It’s nothing bad.”

After speaking with Rocker, Cox said he heard many conflicting reports about the accident.

“Initially, it didn’t sound too good,” he said. “I heard that he was going 140 mph and totaled his car. He said he was 100%.”

Rocker stood with teammates in the outfield during batting practice Tuesday but avoided commenting by entering and leaving the field through a tunnel off limits to reporters.

The hard-throwing lefty stirred controversy by calling New York fans “stupid,” among other things.

Cox and other Atlanta officials have counseled Rocker, who turned 25 on Sunday, on acting more professionally. However, Cox said, many inappropriate comments also have been directed at Rocker.

“Well, the only good thing about those [comments], really, is that he hasn’t said anything about the opposition at all,” Cox said. “And some of the stuff that has been said to him, I think anybody would confront the person. It’s really, really bad stuff.

“Nobody, if they had a heart at all, would stand up and take it. I don’t think he would, either. I think he would have some comment about it, and then back off and lend a deaf ear to what you hear. Some of that stuff is absolutely horrible. It’s bad, really bad.

“I think every gentleman would probably fight the guy if he came up to your face. I think he’d punch his lights out.”