Aug
05

Dugout scuffle

In Section: Cute Sports Posted By: Nicole

While I do agree that fighting in the dugout is ridiculous and I do think that Prince needs to not go after a starting pitcher, I think people are severly overreacting to this situation in terms of blaming Prince for being hot-headed and having a temper. I've read lots of comments painting Manny as an innocent bystander and frankly, that's just ridiculous. Hell, the way some people are telling it, Prince is the Big Bad Wolf and Manny's Little Red Riding Hood.In case you didn't see it, <a href="http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200808053256212&amp;c_id=mil">the video is here</a>. You know, in the highlights section of MilwaukeeBrewers.com. Nothing says says highlight like intra-squad fighting.

And while the fight was stupid, to say the least, it doesn't come close to the level of idocy reached by Ned Yost in his post-game comments on the subject:

<p>“It’s not a big deal,” Yost said. “For eight months a year, we’re a family. At times things happen, flare up, but it’s between the family. It’s in the family. </p>   <p style="font-weight: bold;">“It’s a little bit rude when your neighbors are fighting next door for you to go knock on the door and ask what happened. We handle it ourselves. It’s between us and it’s nobody’s business. But it wasn’t that big a deal.”</p> Seriously Ned? Did you just all but condone domestic violence?

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume this isn't what he meant to say, but holy crap, NED?

Of course the altercation and the awful handling of it by Ned have been front page stories since last night. It was also a big topic of conversation on ESPN's Mike and Mike in the morning radio show. Mike Greenberg said it was probably the stupidest thing a coach or a manager will say this year. After the break, after saying that MAYBE Ned's media scolding didn't come out as he may have meant it, he said that the media asking a question about an altercation, captured and broadcast on every sports outlet across the country was at a minimum, worth addressing. Greenie went on to note that Ned's reaction to the media, calling reporters "rude" for even daring to ask about the physical confrontation, shows that he's not in step with what's going on around him.


Here's the thing. We know that's not what he meant. But he said it because he's a hot-headed pain in the ass in post-game interviews. As per his usual, Ned was snippy, condescending and obnoxious in the press conference. A reporter asked him a question that frankly, had he not asked, he should have been fired by his employer for failing to cover the story. Instead of using the opportunity to smooth this over and calmly downplay the whole situation, Ned, in his usual manner, got angry and short with the reporter and instead became the story himself.

Someone get Ned some PR classes. The scuffle was bad enough and would have landed the Brewers in most telecasts, but when the manager makes an even bigger deal about it and all but condones domestic violence, it's front-page news. Every story I've read on the situation mentions Ned's comments. Ned's handling on the media is just plain awful and needs to be addressed.

The Journal went on to report:
<p style="font-style: italic;">Yost, who almost certainly will discipline Fielder for attacking a teammate, also said the matter would be forgotten when the Brewers report to the ballpark today. And he again insisted no one should make a big deal of it.</p>  <p style="font-style: italic;">“There’s a privacy issue here somewhere,” Yost said. “Just because it’s on TV doesn’t make it anybody’s right to know what happened. It’s between us. </p>  <p style="font-style: italic;">“If you want to know what happened, what transpired blow by blow, or what words were said, I’m sorry. You’re not going to know. It’s private. It’s between us and it’s not a big deal. It’s not the first time it happened and it won’t be the last.</p>  <p style="font-style: italic;">“It’s what happens. It makes teams better. It’s not a problem. It’s nobody’s business.”</p>

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you are right on target. I wish I would have picked up on the intended/unintended domestic violence slant. Here's a letter I wrote to Doug Melviln: Dear Mr. Melvin, I respect and appreciate the way you have led the transformation of the Brewers from a franchise that was hapless and often unprofessional to a professional organization deserving the support and respect of its fans. I am writing to you in reaction to Ned Yost’s comments to the media in which he compared interest in the brouhaha between Parra and Fielder with inappropriately knocking on a neighbor’s door to find out what was causing a family argument. You may well have already addressed Yost’s inappropriate, offensive and ridiculous comments. Nonetheless, I would like to share my thoughts. I understand that Yost was under pressure and had not had time to fully reflect on the actions of Fielder and Parra when he spoke to the media, and I will give him a pass on accusations of being intentionally condescending to fans and the media regarding his comments. The circumstances do not really matter. Yost’s comments were insulting and wrong. What happened between Fielder and Parra did not occur behind closed doors, but in full view of most fans in the ballpark and everyone watching on TV. While a difficult task, it is a manager’s job to address an issue like this with media and fans in a respectful manner. Yost failed. Yost needs to admit his comments were inappropriate and insulting to the fans and to the media. He needs to issue a public apology and offer a commitment to honesty and respect when dealing with fans and the media in the future. As the General Manager of the Brewers you need to make this clear to Yost and request that he take appropriate action. If he hesitates or refuses, I expect you to make a public statement indicating you recognize that Yost’s comments were unacceptable to the Brewers organization and that you and the organization apologize for the insult (intentional or otherwise) which Yost made toward the fans and media. Again, I am grateful to you and the staff you have assembled for making the Brewers a franchise that earns the support of its fans. I believe the type of action I request is reflective of a professional organization. Whether intended or accidental, actions have consequences and Yost must be held accountable. I can assure you that I have attended my last Brewers game of the season and purchased my last bit of memorabilia until an admission that Yost was wrong and an appropriate apology are made. I will also use whatever influence I can muster on family, friends and anyone who I can get to listen to also expect and demand an apology. I hope this is resolved quickly. Best regards, Bill Schoeller Milwaukee, WI 414 444-1343 homerweasel@yahoo.com
 
 
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