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Anthony Rizzo is not a happy man. At least in regards to his teammate Miguel Montero. For Chicago Cubs fans who are in the dark about this situation, here’s a quick recap. During the teams’ 6-1 loss to the Washington Nationals yesterday, the Nats successfully stole seven bases in the game. It was a key factor in the defeat and something that hasn’t happen to the Cubs since 1995.
Montero was not happy about that sequence of events. Yet rather than admit it was something the team couldn’t quite solve, he decided to single out pitcher Jake Arrieta as the source of the issue. A selfish and bush league move by a guy who’s supposed to be a good teammate.
“It really sucked because the stolen bases go to me,” Montero said. “And when you really look at it, the pitcher doesn’t give me any time. So, it’s just like, ‘Yeah, OK, Miggy can’t throw nobody out.’ Yeah, but my pitchers don’t hold anybody on. It’s tough because it doesn’t matter how much work I put on footwork and throwing and everything, because if I don’t get a chance to throw — that’s the reason they were running left and right today, because they know he was slow to the plate.”
Suffice to say that team leader Rizzo was not happy about those comments. At all. He made his feelings known during a segment on ESPN 1000.
Anthony Rizzo calls out Montero for being “unprofessional”
Rizzo on Miggy's comments:
"When you point fingers you're a selfish player. We have another catcher that throws everyone out."— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) June 28, 2017
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Rizzo:
"This is all over TV last night. Now I gotta talk about it today. We win as 25 lose as 25. To call teammates out? What’s the point?"— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) June 28, 2017
Rizzo calls Montero rant about Jake unprofessional. Points out it's second time Miggy was "barking" to media about something. #ByeMiggy
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) June 28, 2017
Keep in mind Rizzo is not somebody who is prone to doing this sort of thing. He’s always been a team player. So one can imagine how much those comments must’ve infuriated him when they were made. He’s right in that it’s not the first time Montero opened his mouth pushing the blame on other people. He was upset with Joe Maddon last year both for his lack of playing time and use of Aroldis Chapman in the World Series.
Whether he may or may not have a point is immaterial. It’s an unwritten rule in professional sports that any beefs with other people in the organization should be handled behind closed doors. Montero is developing a reputation for doing the opposite, and it’s angering one of the few men on the team it might not be wise to.
UPDATE:
Cubs To Designate Miguel Montero, Promote Victor Caratini https://t.co/vncoeHY8cy pic.twitter.com/Jt3APSLb38
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) June 28, 2017
To the city of Chicago
Dear fans, today I say goodbye to the greatest fans. I want to thank you for the support.— Miguel Montero (@miggymont26) June 28, 2017
