We've talked about Clint Frazier here lately....a lot. It's overkill for some and I get it. There are other things to talk about. So let's talk about Frazier by putting something that should be a NON-STORY to rest.....all thanks to bad media coverage.
We all know by now, Frazier was sent down to Triple-A Scranton / Wilkes-Barre on Sunday. Mike Tauchman was also sent down on Monday, he reported the next day and was in the lineup for Tuesday's game....but Frazier was not.
Frazier was sent down to Triple-A a day before, but failed to play in a game before Tauchman. Does that seem a little strange? Maybe. Did Frazier violate any rules by not reporting before Tauchman? No, not at all. But of course, the media has to vilify him, like NJ.com did HERE.
Now I am not going to try and empathize with Frazier, but I am also not going to throw the guy under the bus. Did it look bad that Tauchman reported first? Sure. Maybe to some. You can argue that it does not make him look good. Maybe you think he threw a temper tantrum and needs to grow up, and that's fine. The bottom line here is.....he's not in violation of any rules but the media wants to try and make this a thing when it shouldn't be.
According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, players have 72-hours to report to their new assignment after being demoted. It's not often that players will use the full 72 hours allowed, but it happens sometimes. He was contractually entitled to that right whether he needed it or not is irrelevant.
The only real story here would be if Frazier didn't report within the 72-hour window, but he did. That would be a story. So it doesn't matter if I am upset about it. It doesn't matter if the Yankees or Brian Cashman are upset about it either as long as they don't publicize it and so far...Cashman isn't. All we have heard from Cashman about it was this....."He has that collectively-bargained right."
Take that for Cashman code if you want but either way he has to accept that decision. I wouldn't go so far as to say he is fine or happy with it since he gave the vague, boring Cashman answer but he's no dummy. He knows he can't publicly denounce that because the next story would be the union picking a fight over it. Honestly, that would be more news worthy.
I get this isn't a good look for Frazier, but he made his choice which he will have to deal with no matter what consequences may come of it. His long time to report isn't a newsworthy story. We may not like it and it may not show the greatest character but the Collective Bargaining Agreement gave him that right whether we agree with it or not.
Frazier has had a rocky relationship with the media, and based on recent events it looks like that may continue. Hopefully the next time we see widespread coverage on Frazier it will actually be newsworthy.
--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @nyprincessj
Thank God, I'm not alone on this.
ReplyDeleteJeana thanks for understanding and throwing the facts out there
You are correct , Frazier has 72 hours to report and he used them.
ReplyDeleteHe was upset about the trade and being sent down after doing so well and working hard to overcome his weakness which is fielding.
Maybe he just needed some time to collect himself , you could tell he was about to cry in the interview they did after he found out.
Right now I am not so sure Encarnation is that much better of an upgrade over Frazier.He might hit more homeruns but Frazier is faster and therefore probably more doubles and hits a tin with RISP and dies not chase out of the zone.Sure he strikes out but usually it is a good pitch that gets him.
I like Frazier , I am not sold on Encarnation or Stanton either.
Gardner is done after this year and we will need a replacement and though I like Maybin I rather have Frazier in the lineup.