ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- After the 96 mph fastball from the Tampa Bay Rays' Jake McGee nailed Chase Headley in the chin last week, doctors told Headley, "It was a miracle [his] chin didn't shatter."
So when Headley read that Rays manager Joe Maddon referred to the incident that sent Headley to the hospital and caused him to miss four games as being "grazed," he "was not thrilled."
"Certainly, I think if he or one of his players had been hit like that he would have chosen his words a little bit differently," Headley said a day after the teams nearly fought. "I'm just going to hope that is what happens, that it was just a poor choice of words. That certainly wasn't the case because I was pretty lucky the way it turned out. I don't think that is fair to be minimized or downplayed."
Maddon defended his comments, but emphasized he wasn't trying to offend Headley.
"I was really happy he wasn't hit flush," Maddon said. "If he was, he wouldn't be playing yesterday. ... If he is offended by the word 'graze,' I apologize for that, I didn't mean it any lack of respectful way. My point was I was happy he wasn't hit more squarely and hurt on a more permanent basis."
Headley also hasn't heard from McGee, the lefty who drilled him. While an apology is expected, usually players believe it appropriate for an opponent to check in to see how a batter is doing after being unintentionally harmed.
Meanwhile, Headley's manager, Joe Girardi understood Headley's feelings.
"That can ruin someone's career," Girardi said. "We see the blood that ran down his neck. This is not external. This is internal. Now, it is in his chest. There is a lot of drainage there. It is a reminder every day of what happened. It is scary for a player. It is scary for his teammates, his family and everyone involved.
"I don't think that Joe understood how hard he got hit. I think maybe he misunderstood because of Chase's toughness, how hard he actually got hit."
Girardi said Tuesday night the Rays pitchers must learn how to pitch inside and, if they can't control their pitches, they should surrender the inside of the plate.
"I just think that was a heat of the moment comment on his part," Maddon said. "I would like to believe, having a chance to think about it in less stressful moments, that he would conclude otherwise. I think our pitchers are pretty good actually."
The Yankees have hit more batters this season than the Rays. The Yankees have plunked 63, while the Rays have hit 53. Prior to Wednesday's game, both managers acted as if they wanted to keep the side show in the past.
"I've told our guys, 'Just go out and play,'" Girardi said. "I told Brandon McCarthy, 'Just pitch.' What happened happened. We move on."