swishnicholson wrote:

pacino wrote:Cubs say they've fired person who made 'irresponsible music selection' after Aroldis Chapman pitched
that song? Smack my bitch up

"We apologize for the irresponsible music selection during our game last night," President of Baseball Operations Crane Kenney said in a statement. "The selection of this track showed a lack of judgment and sensitivity to an important issue. We have terminated our relationship with the employee responsible for making the selection and will be implementing stronger controls to review and approve music before public broadcast during our games."

Earlier this year, Chapman was accused of choking his girlfriend during a dispute at their Florida home and firing eight shots from a gun in the garage. After investigating the incident, authorities declined to file charges, citing conflicting and insufficient evidence, according to reports.

Good to know that while smacking your girlfriend around will get you suspended for a while, playing a song about it to focus attention on someone who does will get you thrown out on the street.

Details of the altercation between A’s outfielder Danny Valencia and designated hitter Billy Butler emerged Monday, with Valencia facing possible discipline later in the day for his role in the incident. The physical confrontation between the two teammates left Butler unable to play in the weekend series at Chicago because of a possible head injury.

Two players who witnessed the event and helped break up the fight spoke to The Chronicle on the condition of anonymity because they didn’t want to appear to be taking sides. One said that Valencia and Butler both played roles in the incident: Valencia should not have punched Butler. And Butler should not have provoked Valencia by potentially costing him an endorsement contract.

According to the players, the incident occurred before batting practice Friday when an equipment representative quizzed Valencia about a pair of off-brand spikes in Valencia’s locker. Valencia previously had been told not to wear those shoes in games.

Valencia told the representative that he only uses the non-issue spikes during pregame workouts. According to multiple sources, Butler, who has an equipment endorsement with a different company, jumped in to tell the equipment rep that Valencia was lying and regularly uses the non-standard spikes. Butler allegedly told the representative that the company should drop Valencia’s endorsement deal.

Endorsement deals are typically worth between $10,000 and $20,000, sometimes more.

After the rep departed, the players said, Valencia confronted Butler and told him, “Don’t you ever loud talk me in front of a rep. That was wrong,” and walked aggressively toward Butler. Butler turned around, took a couple steps toward Valencia, and according to both witnesses, said, “I can say whatever I want and your bitch ass isn’t going to do anything about it.”

One player said that the men leaned in, bumped heads and then started pushing each other, Valencia started swinging and hit Butler in the temple. After the players broke things up, Butler told the players he was OK.

Butler, who then took part in batting practice, was not scheduled to play that night against James Shields, missed the next two games against left-handed starters with what manager Bob Melvin described as nausea and vomiting.

phillychuck wrote:Both are decent players...wonder if they have an ongoing beef over something else. It seems like Butler wouldn't dime him out to the rep otherwise...

Doll Is Mine wrote:Even if Valencia was lying to the rep, that was a dick move by Butler. He should mind his own business. Valencia should've bashed his face in with a bat.

Shore wrote:

Doll Is Mine wrote:Even if Valencia was lying to the rep, that was a dick move by Butler. He should mind his own business. Valencia should've bashed his face in with a bat.

viewtopic.php_f=2&t=17216&p=2373662#p2373662

Warszawa wrote:Should David Ortiz really be retiring this year? Who was the last player who retired with an OPS over 1.000 over a full season?

And who was the last player who maintained such incredible production in his late 30s?

Shore wrote:

Doll Is Mine wrote:Even if Valencia was lying to the rep, that was a dick move by Butler. He should mind his own business. Valencia should've bashed his face in with a bat.

viewtopic.php_f=2&t=17216&p=2373662#p2373662

smitty wrote:How about that Ted Williams. No steroids either.

stevelxa476 wrote:

smitty wrote:How about that Ted Williams. No steroids either.

He also played in the field every day.