CINCINNATI -- Reds manager Bryan Price is keenly aware that the early-season struggles of his bullpen have left him and his relievers open for criticism. What Price didn't expect was some of the shots would come from a former member of the team.
"I was a little surprised by it," Price said of Sam LeCure's tweets. "I certainly wish he wouldn't have said it. We all love Sam over here. He was a tremendous Red. We all wish him the best. I think it was an unnecessary comment. We've got some guys over here that are really working their tails off to be good, and we're not in the best place from the pitching perspective. You know what? That's the freedom of this whole Twitter universe and people just say things. I don't understand it, but it's not my generation. I wish he would not have said it."
Price was pitching coach for the Reds in 2010, when LeCure first made his big league debut and was his manager the past two seasons.
In a since-deleted tweet, LeCure expressed himself about the current Reds bullpen, "I wonder what my career would [be] like if the Reds had given me as long of a leash as they've given some people. Tough to swallow really," was one of a few tweets to come from LeCure on Saturday morning.
LeCure was a fourth-round Draft pick of the organization in 2005, and pitched for the Reds from 2010-15. He appeared in 250 games with a 3.51 ERA. He was a final camp cut during Spring Training last year, but worked his way back to the Majors in the second half of the season. He spent this spring with the D-backs before being released, and is currently with Triple-A Oklahoma City in the Dodgers' organization.
"It's not going to change my relationship with Sam LeCure," Price said. "He busted his tail every minute I was with him. I think the world of the guy. I wish he wouldn't have said it. We don't need that type of stuff coming from guys that used to play for us."