SAN DIEGO -- Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez's comments that women "don't belong in the dugout" drew criticism Sunday from Padres manager Bruce Bochy, who supported the female member of his training staff and said he was surprised her gender even came up.
"I won't say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dugout."
-- Keith Hernandez
Hernandez made the remarks during the second inning of New York's 8-1 victory in San Diego on Saturday night. Mike Piazza homered for the Padres and exchanged a high-five in the dugout with 33-year-old Kelly Calabrese, the Padres' massage therapist.
"Who is the girl in the dugout, with the long hair?" Hernandez said. "What's going on here? You have got to be kidding me. Only player personnel in the dugout."
Hernandez found out later in the broadcast that Calabrese was with the Padres' training staff.
"I won't say that women belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dugout," Hernandez said.
"I didn't think gender was even an issue anymore."
-- Padres manager Bruce Bochy, reacting to Hernandez's comments
Hernandez, a former Mets first baseman, then laughed and said: "You know I am only teasing. I love you gals out there -- always have."
Bochy said before San Diego's 7-4 win over New York on Sunday that he did not hear firsthand what Hernandez said but was told about it -- and was not amused.
"Kelly is a part of this ballclub," Bochy said. "She's a part of the training staff. I don't know the actual comments, I just heard about it, but she's been here for a while and played a major role with this club in getting guys ready to play a ballgame.
"I didn't think gender was even an issue anymore," Bochy said.
Calabrese said she was flabbergasted by Hernandez's comments.
"It amazes me that somebody of that caliber that has obviously played the game before and is in front of an audience of millions of people would say something like that," she said of Hernandez. "It's a little shocking but you know what -- it happens.
"He not only discredited me as a person, but he discredited women," she said.
Calabrese then walked down the hallway to the Padres' training room and joked, "Should I go in the kitchen now?"
Hernandez had no comment after the game but said during the second inning of the broadcast Sunday that he was sorry if he offended anyone.