Remember Jesus Montero, the former Yankees prospect that was dealt for Michael Pineda a couple of offseasons ago? Well, he’s back in the news, and it’s not because he’s playing well. Via MiLB.com…
Montero was coaching first base, and at the end of an inning, the unidentified cross-checker yelled at him to hustle off the field, according to Boise official scorer Liza Safford. Montero then headed to the AquaSox dugout on the third-base side.
According to a game offical, 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.
…OK, so let’s unwrap all of this. Montero was slow to get off the field, which seems to be par the course at this point in his career. A cross-checker then decides to up the ante but not only yelling at him to hustle, but also sending an ice cream sandwich to Montero in the dugout. Then Montero goes completely bonkers, and threatens the cross-checker with a bat?
This is insanity. Should Montero have jogged off the field in a timely manner? Sure, but that’s arbitrary. Should the cross-checker gotten involved since Montero wasn’t even playing in the game? Eh, debatable. Should the cross-checker have continued to make a spectacle out of the ordeal by sending Montero an ice cream sandwich? Obviously not. Should Montero have threatened the cross-checker with a bat? NOOOOOOOOOPE.
What a mess.
UPDATE: Butch Baccala, the scout in question, said that the incident isn’t being portrayed correctly – but he’s not expanding on that. Via the Seattle Times…
“Of course I wasn’t [trying to provoke him],’’ Baccala said. “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.’’
[MiLB.com]
