Jeff Passan released a report this morning that delves deeper into the unrest caused by the unrest caused by Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac’s big night in Chicago last week.
In its report, Passan cites sources who say players were not only disappointed in the fact that the two pitchers broke protocol by sniffing snow from the team hotel room to meet with friends, but also their actions afterward.
The most critical issue, sources said, was the breach of trust. While Clevinger and Plesac have tested negative for COVID-19, the team’s potential exposure to the coronavirus, including pitcher Carlos Carrasco, who was treated for leukemia last year, frustrated the team.
Some, such as veteran relief Oliver Pérez, were so frustrated with the pair that they threatened to opt for the season when they were re-introduced. And he was not the only one.
Despite their production, Oliver Perez, the 39-year-old left-handed reliever, said he would leave the team if Clevinger and Plesac returned to the roster in Detroit, sources familiar with the meeting said. Other players, sources said, felt the same way.
Francisco Lindor, who happened shortly after all this, was quickly told at the meeting.
Further context provided by Zack Meisel of The Athletic points to frustrations at Zach Plesac blaming the media and ignoring his teammates’ own thoughts on the matter.
Other problems encountered – media accused despite admitting crimes, filming video of the driver’s seat of a moving car, etc. – One thing that never made sense about Zach Plesac’s video newspaper was that he dismissed the fact that some teammates were alive, and only video made it worse.
– Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) August 17, 2020
The aforementioned meetings occurred after Clevinger and Plesac drove independently to Detroit to settle their case prior to this weekend’s series against the Tigers. The team, front office, and coaching staff all had conversations with and without the pitchers and eventually the decision was made to opt for the team’s alternative site in Eastlake.
