First Call: Reds fans go after John Wehner after Derek Dietrich comments

In “First Call” Friday, Reds fans attack John Wehner. Le’Veon Bell and Odell Beckham Jr. are taking heat for skipping practices. Problems for a few former Pirates.

Now it’s on!

Pirates broadcaster John Wehner made headlines this week when he shamed Reds player Derek Dietrich for showboating his home runs against the Pirates.

He did so by giving a verbal guilt trip about how Dietrich’s grandfather — former Pirates minor league coach Steve Demeter — would’ve “rolled in his grave” and “wanted to slap his grandson upside his head” for strutting on his home run trots.

Wehner’s probably right.

But he was definitely heavy-handed in his criticism. So a Cincinnati fan (presumably) retaliated in the way that one does in 2019. He attacked Wehner’s Wikipedia page

John Wehner ripped @Reds slugger Derek Dietrich for home run celebrations. Now Wehner's Wikipedia entry has been edited. pic.twitter.com/gPnnheToGo

— Neil Greenberg (@ngreenberg) May 30, 2019

Wikipedia eventually fixed the hack.

Speaking of shaming

Guilt-tripping wasn’t limited to baseball this week.

Former Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is hearing it from another former Steeler who is with him on the New York Jets this year. Defensive lineman Steve McLendon said he wishes Bell had showed up for organized team activities with his new club.

According to NorthJersey.com, McLendon said, “I told him, ‘You understand this place is different than Pittsburgh.’ I said, ‘You need to get back so you can understand the quarterback and the situation.’ …I told him, ‘The media is gonna get you if you don’t come back.’ That’s the truth. I did tell him that.”

McLendon is right on that.

“You just want to get to know your teammates, especially when we have a young quarterback,” McLendon said. “He needs to know your rhythm, he needs to know how patient you are. It’s easy to see on the film but it’s so hard to prepare with because (Bell) is very dynamic in the things that he can do.”

McLendon did attempt to defuse things a bit by saying he won’t assume Bell is skipping because he is out of shape from last year’s absence, as many people have guessed.

Bell is expected to show up on June 4 for minicamp.

Same song, different stage

That’s a similar tone to what is coming out of Cleveland. The Browns acquired a big-name star who hasn’t shown up for OTAs, either. That’s former Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

According to a story on NFL.com, head coach Freddie Kitchens said that the wideout “missed out on a bunch.”

Like Bell, Beckham is expected to return for the team’s mandatory minicamp next Tuesday. Kitchens said, “I just want to see him.”

The coach wasn’t done there, saying that OBJ missed “a lot,” adding that this included “the offense.”

Banged up buds

Josh Harrison referred to himself and Jordy Mercer as “Salt and Pepper” when they were the double-play combination in Pittsburgh. Now neither player is adding any flavor to Detroit’s lineup.

Both players are with the Tigers now. And both are dealing with nagging injuries that have become quite significant.

Here are some tweets from Detroit Free Press writer Anthony Fenech.

Jordy Mercer's minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Toledo is on hold with an acute-on-chronic right quadriceps strain, Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said.

— Anthony Fenech (@anthonyfenech) May 29, 2019

Mercer was pulled from Tuesday night's game against Triple-A Gwinnett in the fourth inning with right quad soreness. He will receive a second opinion on the diagnosis, Gardenhire said.

— Anthony Fenech (@anthonyfenech) May 29, 2019

As for Harrison, his hamstring strain could be serious.

As for Josh Harrison, there is a partial tear in the hamstring. Surgery is an option, but not likely. Could be 4-6 weeks to heal, though https://t.co/1cwglkYInY

— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) May 29, 2019

Mercer is hitting .206. Harrison is at .176. Their washout signings to date are part of the reason Detroit is 21-32.

Oskar out

Former Penguin Oskar Sundqvist has been suspended for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The Blues center has been disciplined for this hit on Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk in Game 2.

Sundqvist has four goals and five assists in the playoffs this year.