Mariners address reports of Montero incident
By Doug Miller / MLB.com | 8/29/2014 7:35 P.M. ET
The specific details of what occurred between Mariners Minor Leaguer Jesus
Montero and Seattle scout Butch Baccala on Thursday night in Boise might
forever remain unknown to a large portion of the public.
What is known, however, is that the actions of both men, who by all reported
accounts were in a loud and profane altercation in the stands of a Class A
Northwest League ballpark, have been deemed unacceptable by the Seattle
organization.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik released a statement on Friday
afternoon that communicated the team's disappointment in the incident and
indicated that disciplinary action of some degree is to be expected as a
result.
Montero, a first baseman with Triple-A Tacoma who was rehabbing an oblique
strain with short-season Everett, was coaching first base while an inning
came to a close at Memorial Stadium in the Idaho city, which serves as the
home for the Hawks, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Boise official scorer
Liza Safford told MiLB.com that Baccala, an intermediate scout known as a
cross-checker, began yelling at Montero to hustle off the field, and then had
an ice cream sandwich delivered to Montero in the dugout.
Montero, a one-time top-ranked prospect who came to Seattle in the January
2012 trade from the Yankees for heralded pitching prospect Michael Pineda,
had disappointed Seattle's front office by being suspended for PEDs in 2013
and then showing up at this year's Spring Training 40 pounds overweight and
telling reporters, "After winter ball, all I did was eat."
The ice cream sandwich-in-the-dugout stunt set Montero off, according to
Safford. The first baseman located Baccala in the stadium stands, and, while
holding a bat and screaming obscenities, threw the sandwich at the scout.
Safford told MiLB.com that Montero had to be restrained by Everett pitching
coach Nasusel Cabrera.
"I received a call last night at approximately 9:30 p.m. informing me that
there had been a verbal altercation between Jesus Montero, who was on
rehabilitation assignment with the AquaSox while recovering from a strained
oblique, and Mariners national cross checker Butch Baccala, who was scouting
at the game," Zduriencik said in his Friday statement.
"As soon as I received the call, I began trying to ascertain exactly what had
occurred. I spent last night and this morning speaking with everyone
involved. Although our investigation is not yet complete, I want to provide
this update. 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."
Baccala, 52, was contacted by The Seattle Times via phone on Friday and told
the newspaper that the reports of the incident are not wholly accurate and
that he wouldn't be able to elaborate until he spoke with Zduriencik.
"It's not what is being portrayed,'' Baccala told the newspaper, adding that
he was not trying to provoke Montero into any retaliation.
"Of course I wasn't,'' Baccala said. "Why would I? I work for the Mariners.
I've worked my [tail] off for the Mariners. Why would I do anything to hurt
anybody? That wasn't even close to the intention.''
Whatever the intention or the result, the Mariners' internal findings were
enough for Zduriencik to apologize to the Hawks and their fans.
"We recognize that fans, including children, were impacted by this incident,
and [inappropriate] language … was used," Zduriencik's statement read. "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."
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DougMillerMLB.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its
clubs.
胖Montero去年季後只會吃, 吃到胖了40磅, 結果現在受傷短A復健時, 水手球探叫他別
打了, 他幫他叫了一個冰淇淋三明治吃了再上, 胖Montero超不爽, 拿完後將三明治丟
球探, 說: "幹XX, 你不會自己吃哦!"