The agent for injured Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish is not too happy about comments made by Alex Rodriguez on ESPN saying that comments were “classless.”
Rodriguez accused the pitcher of being a distraction and that he was negatively affecting the team’s clubhouse.
“I think it was classless and bordered on unprofessional to take a little nugget of somewhat exaggerated information from one person that maybe he had history with and turning that into a spokesman for the entire team,” agent Joel Wolfe said, according to The Athletic.
“Matt [Vasgersian], the problem is, and I’m pretty passionate about this, when you have 25 players coming to the stadium, you’re there to do one thing and that’s win a ball game” Rodriguez said on the ESPN telecast on Sunday.
“You want all the energy, all the focus, all the analytics, all the stretching: What are we going to do today to win a ball game?
The Cubs inked Darvish to a six-year, $126 million deal this offseason in a deal that is already proving to be a bust as Darvish has gone 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts, with 2 trips to the disabled list.
“And when you have a guy that signs an enormous contract and he’s sitting down, and you walk in the training room, and he’s got two trainers working on him, you go into the video room and you have a guy looking at video … he should be in Arizona somewhere getting treated. But don’t get in the way of 25 players going after one mission: to win a ball game.”
Rodriguez continued his criticism, questioning Darvish’s commitment when the struggles of Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood was brought up.
“He gets beat down but gets back up,” Rodriguez said of Chatwood. “He takes a punch and gets back up. And you’ll never see players complain or whine about a guy like that. They actually back him. So this is an issue that, if you’re Cubs Nation, you have to watch the Yu Darvish development because it’s not good inside that clubhouse right now.”
Cubs manager Joe Maddon offered his thoughts on A-Rod’s comments after Sunday’s game.
“I totally disagree with that,” Maddon said. “Everyone knows what’s going on. We know there is an injury there. We support his recovery. Everybody in there knows, and everyone in the coaches’ room knows also, throughout the organization. It’s unfortunate that it was relayed that way, but it’s not true.”
Wolfe continued his rant.
“… [A-Rod’s] attacking a player who is injured and on the disabled list, which is difficult for any player, especially one who has a big contract and is in his first year [with a new team]. Imagine how difficult it is for Darvish. But then also attacking him for staying with the team?
“During A-Rod’s absurd comments, the video shows that Darvish was right there on the top step in the dugout cheering on his teammates, which is what you want from somebody like that. He wasn’t hiding out in Mesa at the spring training complex or back home like A-Rod was when he was suspended.”