Not long after the extension of GM Jack Zduriencik’s contract conveyed a measure of stability for a franchise that endured a decade of tumult and ridicule, the Mariners are the butt of another national chucklefest after the industry’s house organ for the minor leagues, MiLB.com, reported that one of the club’s own scouts heckled Jesus Montero Thursday at a game in Boise.
The story said that after the scout, Butch Baccala, criticized Montero’s lack of hustle, Baccala had an ice-cream sandwich delivered to Montero in the third-base dugout of the visiting Class A Everett AquaSox, for whom Montero ws playing during a rehab assignment after straining an oblique muscle.
The gesture, mocking Montero’s off-season, 40-pound weight gain, drew an angry response. Montero came out of the dugout with a bat and confronted Baccala, yelled profanities at him and threw the sandwich at him before being pulled away.
Friday afternoon, after issuing a statement, Zduriencik told reporters before the Mariners 7 p.m. game against the Nationals that Montero was done for the season and would get counseling for his anger problems.
“He is not going to participate in any more baseball the rest of the year with us,” he said. “There’s a history here of things that have happened . . . “We are very, very disappointed in him. I think more than anything else, from a human standpoint, we have to look at Jesus Montero as a person, as a father and as a husband and how can we help Jesus Montero and his family get through this. That’s our first and foremost intent. We are in the process as we speak.
“We have avenues that we intend to go down. And we will have in-depth conversations with Jesus and his family on how we can help him go on with his life. At the end of the day, we all hope that Jesus Montero becomes a good big league player. But if that is not the case, then we certainly hope we help Jesus Montero to grow up and be a man and be the kind of father and the kind of husband that he needs to be.”
Regarding Baccala, Zduriencik said his fate will be handled internally.
We will do that very shortly, but we are still in the process of gathering all the facts,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of conversations with a lot of people. We’ll make sure that we dot every i and cross every t. It’s something that we intend to fix.”
Asked whether scouts typically talk with players during a game, he said, “During a ballgame, I would hope not . . . A lot of our scouts have relationships with players. They’ve signed them, they’ve scouted them. They’ve been responsible for some of them coming to us in trades. So there’s nothing wrong with going down and having a conversation with anybody. We’re all part of the organization.
“This incident is, I think, an isolated incident that went over the top.”
Earlier Friday, Baccala, 52, claimed the episode was misrepresented.
“It’s not what is being portrayed,’’ Baccala told the Seattle Times by phone. “Of course I wasn’t (heckling); why would I? I work for the Mariners. I’ve worked my ass off for the Mariners. Why would I do anything to hurt anybody? That wasn’t even close to the intention.’’
Baccala said he couldn’t provide details until he spoke with Zduriencik.
“I don’t want to lose my job,’’ Baccala said. “I love my job.’’
Baccala at first denied the ice-cream sandwich story to the Times, then said he couldn’t comment on it, suggesting that a check be made whether the stadium even sells ice-cream sandwiches. It does, according to the Times.
Friday afternoon, Zduriencik issued a statement:
“I received a call last night at approximately 9:30 pm 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.
“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.
“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.”
Baccala was promoted to national crosschecker in November after serving as West Coast scouting supervisor.
Montero played six games for the Mariners this season, hitting .235. For AAA Tacoma, whose season ends Monday, Montero hit .286 with 16 home runs and 74 runs batted in 97 games.
Notes
The Mariners Friday recalled OF James Jones from AAA Tacoma and optioned RHP Erasmo Ramirez back to the Rainiers. Jones will begin his fourth stint with the Mariners this season . . .Ramirez absorbed a 12-4 loss Wednesday, allowing 10 earned runs to the last-place Texas Rangers. In six stints with the Mariners this season, he is 1-6 with a 5.21 ERA . . . OF Michael Saunders is back with the team after battling a viral infection he said he caught from his daughter on a visit home. He lost 12 pounds. His return is unknown.
6 Comments
Another controversy for the M’s: Good Humor-Gate
Perhaps after this clown story fades, Breathalyzer tests will become mandatory for M’s non-player personnel.
No need to take apart Montero here…that cat’s already out of the bag. If Zduriencik can get anything for him in a trade (and by “anything” I mean a warm body under contract in someone’s minor league system), he may as well pull the trigger. We’ve all found out why the Yankees were willing to let him go even though their own farm system is not likely to produce much MLB help for New York.
What I’m wondering is what a 52-year-old scout (a national cross-checker no less) was thinking by going out of his way to give a hard time to a player in the organization he’s been working for? Did Baccala really think Montero would react gracefully to having an ice cream sandwich sent to the dugout during a game? Who’s supposed to be the grown-up here?
the scout did what we’d all like to do montero is an overweight spoiled brat who can’t hit and can’t field and shows no interest in trying to change that
Jack should can the scout to set example. Heckling a Mariner farmhand would be like HoJo heckling a Mariner when they come to the plate. That’s probably what set off Montero.
revoke monteros green card