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| Montero got himself into a bad situation. Photo Credit: USA Today |
Jesus Montero has been a lost cause so far as a Seattle Mariner to say the least. He has performed badly when he has been healthy and able to play on the field. He was suspended for his ties to the whole Biogenesis scandal and top it off he showed up to spring training camp forty pounds overweight. The latest tale involving him might be the most bizarre of them all.
By: Michael Hanley
According to a game official, the cross-checker then ordered an ice cream sandwich and had it sent to Montero in the dugout, escalating the confrontation further. The official said Montero -- who arrived at Mariners Spring Training 40 pounds overweight this season -- approached the stands with a bat while screaming profanities and threw the sandwich at the cross-checker. Montero had to be pulled back from the stands by Everett pitching coach Nasusel Cabrera, Safford said.
Neither party is innocent in this embarrassing situation for the Mariner’s organization. Baccala is in a serious position with the team and for him to take time while he is on the job to go and order an ice cream sandwich just to tick off Montero even more than he already was is an immature, petty act by him.
He is supposed to be an evaluator of players, from what their best strengths are to what they need to improve on not only as a player but as a person. He himself has failed that judgement of character miserably in this instance. It makes you really think what got into him that he thought this was a good idea for him to act on. Safe to say that he has seriously put his job in grave jeopardy all over just trying to taunt one of his organization’s players trying to reclaim his career.
"First off, it is clear that both Jesus Montero and Butch Baccala engaged in behavior that is far below what we expect from members of our organization, including bad judgment at nearly every stage of this incident.
It is a black eye for the organization to take in what has otherwise been a successful and great year with the big club contending for a playoff spot. It will take time for them to heal from this situation but Zduriencik has already taken positive steps toward moving the organization as a whole forward from this whole whole mess.
Follow me on Twitter at: @Magic20099
During Montero's rehab assignment game he was participating for the Everett Aqua Sox, he was being heckled from the stands. Seems normal enough as fans do that all the time to certain players, but this was not a fan doing the heckling, it was a scout working for the Seattle Mariners. The scout’s name is Butch Baccala, who was there watching and taking notes on Montero’s progress in his rehab program.
Per MiLB, Baccala made this already tense situation even worse with what he decided to do next to Montero :
According to a game official, the cross-checker then ordered an ice cream sandwich and had it sent to Montero in the dugout, escalating the confrontation further. The official said Montero -- who arrived at Mariners Spring Training 40 pounds overweight this season -- approached the stands with a bat while screaming profanities and threw the sandwich at the cross-checker. Montero had to be pulled back from the stands by Everett pitching coach Nasusel Cabrera, Safford said.
Neither party is innocent in this embarrassing situation for the Mariner’s organization. Baccala is in a serious position with the team and for him to take time while he is on the job to go and order an ice cream sandwich just to tick off Montero even more than he already was is an immature, petty act by him.
He is supposed to be an evaluator of players, from what their best strengths are to what they need to improve on not only as a player but as a person. He himself has failed that judgement of character miserably in this instance. It makes you really think what got into him that he thought this was a good idea for him to act on. Safe to say that he has seriously put his job in grave jeopardy all over just trying to taunt one of his organization’s players trying to reclaim his career.
As for Montero, he has to be more mature in this situation. Heckling can be an annoyance that get under players skin, but as a professional baseball player, he must be able to summon up the inner strength to block all that noise out and just focus on the game itself and what he can do to impact the game in a positive way for the team.
Montero also had no right to then pick up a bat, start cursing out the scout & throw the ice cream sandwich at Baccalla. It shows just another sign that Montero does not get it. He thinks he can act like this toward another person and get away with it like its proper behavior. This former major leaguer trying to get back to the big show now made his journey to that even more difficult with this incident. Who knows when he gets his next chance since he has been shutdown of all baseball activities by Seattle.
Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik put out this statement in the aftermath of this incident:
"First off, it is clear that both Jesus Montero and Butch Baccala engaged in behavior that is far below what we expect from members of our organization, including bad judgment at nearly every stage of this incident.
"I want to apologize on behalf of the Mariners franchise to the Boise Hawks and their fans. We recognize that fans, including children, were impacted by this incident, and the language that was used. We recognize the severity of this incident, and want to assure the Hawks and their fans that it will be dealt with appropriately. In addition, I want to thank Todd Rahr, president and general manager of the Boise Hawks, for his assistance in helping me ascertain what occurred last night.
"Jesus Montero has been recalled from his rehabilitation assignment and is on his way to Seattle. Butch Baccala has returned to his home in the Bay Area where he will remain until further notice.
"We will issue further information when it is appropriate as we deal with this unfortunate incident."
It is a black eye for the organization to take in what has otherwise been a successful and great year with the big club contending for a playoff spot. It will take time for them to heal from this situation but Zduriencik has already taken positive steps toward moving the organization as a whole forward from this whole whole mess.
Follow me on Twitter at: @Magic20099
