Jerry Manuel spoke with the beat writers before tonights game regarding the situation where Jose Reyes threw a tantrum when Manuel tried to pull him from the game to protect his hamstring.

I told him you know next time you do that i’m gonna get my blade out and cut him. Right out there on the field. I say hey, I’m a gangsta now, you wanna get gangsta on me, I’m gonna have to get you now, you do that again, I’m gonna get you, right out there on the field.

Marty Noble asked him about the serendipity of the Reyes situtation, giving Manuel a chance to show himself laying down the law.

I think that anytime you step in this position you need to be able to react and do what you think is right. Once you step into an authoritative position, you’ve got to be authority. I’m not here to make friends or for me people to like me. I’m here to run the club in the best way that’s possible.

Its official. I love Jerry Manuel. That didn’t take long.

By the way, I just caught Joe Smith wearing a pink Hello Kitty backpack out to the bullpen (which is of course filled with snacks for the guys out there.) Gary Cohen remarked “Low man on the totem pole. Joe Smith can’t wait for Carlos Muniz to get called back up”