Adam Jones to Puerto Rico: 'I don't think I said anything wrong'
The World Baseball Classic may be over, but the war of words between two of the tournament's most prominent players has spilled over into spring training.
After Puerto Rico lost the WBC final to the United States on Wednesday, USA outfielder Adam Jones revealed his team used knowledge of the Puerto Ricans - who were apparently planning a victory parade and creating championship T-shirts in advance of the game - as extra motivation in the final. That prompted star catcher Yadier Molina, one of Puerto Rico's undisputed leaders, to demand the Baltimore Orioles slugger apologize for his words.
Related: Molina demands apology from Jones after WBC comments
On Saturday, Jones - now back in camp with the Orioles - finally responded to Molina's demands. Though he was respectful in his chosen words to the catcher and his team, Jones stood by his initial remarks and did not offer the apology he'd been asked for.
"I don't think I said anything wrong," the 31-year-old told Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun. "I just said that what we've seen motivated us. It wasn't a slight to Puerto Rico by any stretch. I don't think I said anything wrong, and I would never disrespect a country because that would make totally no sense.
"I respect Yadi, and the whole Puerto Rican team, that nation. I've said that various times about every nation, what they're doing to promote baseball in their various countries. ... Puerto Ricans, I've said nothing more but respect for their country and the players."
Puerto Rico did, in fact, hold a parade for its baseball heroes in the capital of San Juan that was planned no matter the result of the final game. Molina accused Jones and the Americans of misunderstanding the information they were given, leading to his anger over the original comments.
"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 said Thursday. "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."
Although the WBC is now in the rear-view mirror, this controversy may not go away quietly, as Jones' Orioles will host Molina and the St. Louis Cardinals in Baltimore from June 16-18.