ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that former Phillies first baseman Carlos Santana got so angry that several of his teammates were playing “Fortnite” in the clubhouse during a game that he smashed a TV with his bat.
According to Passan, the incident happened on September 28th during a long losing streak. Santana had seen several teammates playing “Fortnite” in the clubhouse during the game, and so he decided to smash the TV to put an end to that, and to send the players a message.
“I see a couple players — I don’t want to say names — they play video games during the game,” Santana told ESPN. “We come and lose too many games, and I feel like they weren’t worried about it. Weren’t respecting their teammates or coaches or the staff or the [front] office. It’s not my personality. But I’m angry because I want to make it good.”
Kapler acknowledged that the TV-smashing incident happened, but he didn’t give any indication to ESPN that Santana’s behavior had been addressed in the final days of the season
Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta told the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber that he disputes the claim that anyone was playing video games while the team was playing.
"I don't think it was happening, really," Arrieta said. "I don't believe that guys were playing video games during the game, because that's something that I wouldn't allow and I know a majority of the guys on the team wouldn't allow."
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) March 18, 2019
Arrieta also acknowledged that Carlos Santana did, in fact, smash a TV after the third-to-last game of the season. But, according to Arrieta, it happened "late at night, well after everybody had left." Arrieta also says he wishes Santana had come to him to discuss.
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) March 18, 2019
Sounds like it was a pretty bad year for the Phillies and their clubhouse.
Having too much fun can definitely be a distraction from the task at hand.
