Mets' Jason Vargas on clubhouse incident with reporter: 'All the info wasn’t out there'
New York Mets pitcher Jason Vargas traveled back in time on Wednesday, channeling a younger self as he notched a double-digit strikeout game for the first time since 2012.
He also answered questions for the first time about a confrontation with a reporter in the Mets' clubhouse on Sunday, which resulted in an apology from the organization earlier this week.
When asked about the incident, in which Vargas threateningly told Newsday reporter Tim Healey that he would "knock you the (expletive) out, bro" the pitcher gave an answer that may raise an eyebrow or two.
"It was an unfortunate confrontation," he said after the Mets' 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. "I don’t think all the information was really out there. I don’t think that this is the time to get into that. But I think that anybody that knows me and anybody that’s played with me throughout the duration of my career – there’s never been a situation like that.
"So to think that it just happened out of the blue would be foolish. For the info to be out there like that and one side to be told, it’s just not it."
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Vargas, however, then declined to share his side of the story.
"Because it’s over," he said. "Our organization made a statement, we put an end to it, but I think it’s pretty obvious that all the info wasn’t out there."
The initial incident occurred Sunday in Chicago, after the Mets lost to the Cubs. Healey told manager Mickey Callaway that he would see him tomorrow, to which Callaway responded: "Don't be a smart(expletive)." The manager accused Healey of "antagonizing" people.
Shortly thereafter, Vargas and Healey made eye contact, and Vargas yelled at Healey not to gesture at him. Healey said he was only looking at Vargas because Vargas looked at him first. The pitcher then charged Healey and had to be restrained by Carlos Gómez and Noah Syndergaard.
"Get him the (expletive) out of here!" Callaway yelled. "We don't need that (expletive)."
Vargas added: "He'll be back tomorrow! But get him the (expletive) out of here today!"
Callaway and Vargas were both fined by the Mets on Monday. Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen called the incident "regrettable on many levels," but he did not say whether the team considered suspending Callaway or Vargas.
Contributing: Paste BN Sports' Tom Schad
Follow New York Mets beat reporter Justin Toscano on Twitter at @JustinCToscano.