Yadier Molina wants Adam Jones to apologize to the Puerto Rican people
Yadier Molina would like an apology, and the ball is in Adam Jones’ court (err … glove).
After Team USA’s 8-0 win over Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic championship game on Wednesday, Adam Jones admitted that the Americans had a little extra motivation after they heard the opposing players were planning a parade and celebration for the following day in Puerto Rico.
"Should I tell the truth? Well, before the game, we got a note that there were some championship shirts made, and we didn't make them," Jones said during the postgame ceremony, via MLB.com. "And a flight. That didn't sit well with us. And a parade. That didn't sit well with us. So we did what we had to do."
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Molina, the catcher for Puerto Rico (and the St. Louis Cardinals), took exception to Jones’ comments. He spoke to an ESPN reporter from the parade on Thursday:
"Adam Jones ... is talking about things he doesn't know about," Molina told ESPN. "He really has to get informed because he shouldn't have said those comments, let alone in public and mocking the way [preparations] were made."
Jones noted that the Puerto Rico team had champion T-shirts already made up as well and that "didn't sit well with us, so we did what we had to do." A flight to Puerto Rico and a "caravan" and celebration already had been planned before the title game was played.
"He has to apologize to the Puerto Rican people," Molina said. "Obviously, you wanted to win; he didn't know what this means to [our] people."
"That's why I'm sending a message to [Jones], saying, 'Look at this, right now you're in spring training working out, and we're with our people, with our silver medals,'" Molina continued. "You're in spring training and you're working ... you have no idea how to celebrate your honors, you don't know what it means."