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HOUSTON — It was the non-handshake heard ‘round the world, and a day later, the Seattle Mariners went into full damage control, and catcher Cal Raleigh tried to squash the narrative before it spiraled out of control and spilled into the Mariners season.
Raleigh, catching for Team USA, refused to shake Mariners teammate Randy Arozarena’s hand Monday night when he walked to the plate in the first inning for Team Mexico.
Team USA insists that Raleigh had informed Arozarena a few days earlier that he didn’t want to exchange warm greetings with him out of respect to the WBC. While they may be teammates during the season, the two countries are fierce competitors in the WBC.
Arozarena ignored the message.
When Arozarena walked to the plate, he said that Raleigh told him, “Good to see you.’’ Arozarena extended his hand, but Raleigh refused to shake it. Arozarena then crouched down, appearing to want to speak to Raleigh, but Raleigh didn’t budge.
The exchange blew up after the game when Arozarena was asked about the incident after Mexico's 5-3 loss to the USA, and he launched into a brief, profanity-laden tirade against Raleigh.
“How do you want me to respond to Cal Raleigh?’’ Arozarena told reporters in Spanish Monday night outside the clubhouse. “I want to tell him (expletive) you in four languages. First, that he should thank God he has good parents, he’s well-raised. The rest, I’ll tell him Cuban-style, 'He needs to go back to his (expletive) house.' Mexican-style, 'Go to hell.’ In English, 'Shove it up your (expletive)'"
Raleigh was asked Tuesday by the Mariners to try to defuse the situation, and he spoke on a FaceTime call with the Mariners’ beat writers.
Raleigh was asked about it Tuesday before the USA’s game against Italy, but he spoke for less than 90 seconds, declining to take questions.
“I love Randy, I do,’’ Raleigh said. “I hate that this is a thing. There’s no beef. When we get back to Seattle, he’s my brother. We’re family. I already reached out to him.
“You know, it’s just a competitive environment, and I know he’d want the same for me when we’re on the team and playoff baseball. You know, I just have a responsibility for my teammates here right now, and my country, and emotions are riding high.
“I love Randy. He’s awesome. He’s been great for our team. We talked, and this isn’t a big deal at all. We’re good friends, and I think we’re just enjoying competing (against) each other right now.’’
When asked when they spoke, Raleigh said it was actually a text message that he sent Arozarena Tuesday morning. It’s unknown whether Arozarena responded.
While it was questioned whether Arozarena could have been joking when he ridiculed Raleigh, reporters who listened to Arozarena on Monday insist he was serious.
And despite efforts for Arozarena to publicly respond Tuesday, he declined.
USA catcher Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and other USA teammates staunchly defended Raleigh’s actions, particularly after Raleigh informed them he had warned Arozarena not to interact.
Smith did the same thing three years ago in the WBC when Arozarena tried to bump fists with him while walking to the plate; Smith refused. He was criticized at the time, but stood by his actions.
“I mean, Cal told Randy not to do it,’’ Smith said. “And then Randy still does it. And then he talks about it and makes it a thing. And that’s his teammate.’’
There is no hard-and-fast rule by Team USA not to fraternize with opposing players, with Italy first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino warmly greeting USA shortstop Bobby Witt, his teammate with the Kansas City Royals, before Tuesday’s game.
“Hey, are we allowed to shake hands?’’ Pasquantino said.
Yes, indeed, USA manager Mark DeRosa said, watching the encounter between the two Royals stars.
Really, DeRosa said, he would have had no trouble if Raleigh and Arozarena had embraced, let alone shook hands Monday, but knew that Raleigh had already warned Arozarena that a greeting would make him feel uncomfortable.
“(Raleigh) had mentioned that they spoke about that,’’ DeRosa said, “and he said, 'Hey, kind of don't put me in that position.’ I was unaware that was going to happen or unaware that it was going to happen with Will as well. But I mean, I get it. Emotions are running hot at the time. …
“It’s tough, you're in the fight, man. You're trying to represent your colors, your country. And I'm sure, I wouldn't have had a problem if he dabbed him up. I don't think it shows any one way or the other.
“But he chose not to. And I'm good with that, too.’’
Raleigh, who finished runner-up in the AL MVP race last season with 60 homers, was more expansive to the Mariners’ beat writers on a FaceTime interview set up by the Mariners’ staff, trying to squelch the controversy.
“There's no beef," Raleigh said. “I love Randy. Like I said, when we're back in Seattle, he's my brother. He's family. ... I have a responsibility to my teammates and the country to be focused and locked in. And like I said, there's no harm or no bad blood. There's nothing behind it. It doesn't matter who's on the other side.
"I hate that this is a thing. I really don't think this is a big deal, a big story. It shouldn't be a thing. I love Randy. I have all the respect for him and Team Mexico. ... Emotions are running high. There's no beef here. Like I said, there's no story to me. I'm not taking this as a big deal, and I don't think he is either.’’
Mariners manager Dan Wilson, who said he spoke to Raleigh, also addressed the incident in the Mariners camp in Peoria, Arizona.
“These guys are incredible athletes because of their competitiveness, and that's where they're at,” Wilson said. “That’s why they've gotten to the level that they've gotten. But I also know that our team loves each other deeply. That's one of the key ingredients we have in that clubhouse, is how much they love each other. So, I don't anticipate this being any bit of an issue. …
“These guys are competitive. I think the love that they have for each other will shine.”
Wilson doesn’t believe the incident will linger into the season, or be a disruption in the clubhouse.
“I’m not concerned,” he said. “This group that we have in this clubhouse is so tight. Like I said, they love each other and when they get together, it’s go time.”
Well, if nothing else, Arozarena did praise Raleigh’s parents, saying they had a nice exchange a few days before the game.
“The first thing he needs to do is thank God he has good parents,” Arozarena said. “His parents are very well educated. Thank God, I was able to see them at the hotel. They greeted me and hugged me and were proud of me to be able to see me again.”
It’s unlikely that Raleigh and Arozarena will see each other until possibly Thursday, the workout day for the four teams in the quarterfinals in Houston. The two teams are staying at different hotels in Houston. If USA and Mexico each advance, they can’t play one another until the WBC championship game on March 17 in Miami.
“I don’t anticipate this being a thing going forward,’’ Raleigh said. “I’m going to leave it at that. I love Randy. I’m excited to play with him this year. We’re having a fun time here at the WBC. I’m looking forward to trying to bring home a championship for our team.’’
Follow Nightengale on X: @BNightengale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cal Raleigh-Randy Arozarena beef over handshake: What's the fallout?
Continue reading...
Raleigh, catching for Team USA, refused to shake Mariners teammate Randy Arozarena’s hand Monday night when he walked to the plate in the first inning for Team Mexico.
Team USA insists that Raleigh had informed Arozarena a few days earlier that he didn’t want to exchange warm greetings with him out of respect to the WBC. While they may be teammates during the season, the two countries are fierce competitors in the WBC.
Arozarena ignored the message.
When Arozarena walked to the plate, he said that Raleigh told him, “Good to see you.’’ Arozarena extended his hand, but Raleigh refused to shake it. Arozarena then crouched down, appearing to want to speak to Raleigh, but Raleigh didn’t budge.
The exchange blew up after the game when Arozarena was asked about the incident after Mexico's 5-3 loss to the USA, and he launched into a brief, profanity-laden tirade against Raleigh.
“How do you want me to respond to Cal Raleigh?’’ Arozarena told reporters in Spanish Monday night outside the clubhouse. “I want to tell him (expletive) you in four languages. First, that he should thank God he has good parents, he’s well-raised. The rest, I’ll tell him Cuban-style, 'He needs to go back to his (expletive) house.' Mexican-style, 'Go to hell.’ In English, 'Shove it up your (expletive)'"
Raleigh was asked Tuesday by the Mariners to try to defuse the situation, and he spoke on a FaceTime call with the Mariners’ beat writers.
Raleigh was asked about it Tuesday before the USA’s game against Italy, but he spoke for less than 90 seconds, declining to take questions.
“I love Randy, I do,’’ Raleigh said. “I hate that this is a thing. There’s no beef. When we get back to Seattle, he’s my brother. We’re family. I already reached out to him.
“You know, it’s just a competitive environment, and I know he’d want the same for me when we’re on the team and playoff baseball. You know, I just have a responsibility for my teammates here right now, and my country, and emotions are riding high.
“I love Randy. He’s awesome. He’s been great for our team. We talked, and this isn’t a big deal at all. We’re good friends, and I think we’re just enjoying competing (against) each other right now.’’
When asked when they spoke, Raleigh said it was actually a text message that he sent Arozarena Tuesday morning. It’s unknown whether Arozarena responded.
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While it was questioned whether Arozarena could have been joking when he ridiculed Raleigh, reporters who listened to Arozarena on Monday insist he was serious.
And despite efforts for Arozarena to publicly respond Tuesday, he declined.
USA catcher Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers and other USA teammates staunchly defended Raleigh’s actions, particularly after Raleigh informed them he had warned Arozarena not to interact.
Smith did the same thing three years ago in the WBC when Arozarena tried to bump fists with him while walking to the plate; Smith refused. He was criticized at the time, but stood by his actions.
“I mean, Cal told Randy not to do it,’’ Smith said. “And then Randy still does it. And then he talks about it and makes it a thing. And that’s his teammate.’’
There is no hard-and-fast rule by Team USA not to fraternize with opposing players, with Italy first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino warmly greeting USA shortstop Bobby Witt, his teammate with the Kansas City Royals, before Tuesday’s game.
“Hey, are we allowed to shake hands?’’ Pasquantino said.
Yes, indeed, USA manager Mark DeRosa said, watching the encounter between the two Royals stars.
Really, DeRosa said, he would have had no trouble if Raleigh and Arozarena had embraced, let alone shook hands Monday, but knew that Raleigh had already warned Arozarena that a greeting would make him feel uncomfortable.
“(Raleigh) had mentioned that they spoke about that,’’ DeRosa said, “and he said, 'Hey, kind of don't put me in that position.’ I was unaware that was going to happen or unaware that it was going to happen with Will as well. But I mean, I get it. Emotions are running hot at the time. …
“It’s tough, you're in the fight, man. You're trying to represent your colors, your country. And I'm sure, I wouldn't have had a problem if he dabbed him up. I don't think it shows any one way or the other.
“But he chose not to. And I'm good with that, too.’’
Raleigh, who finished runner-up in the AL MVP race last season with 60 homers, was more expansive to the Mariners’ beat writers on a FaceTime interview set up by the Mariners’ staff, trying to squelch the controversy.
“There's no beef," Raleigh said. “I love Randy. Like I said, when we're back in Seattle, he's my brother. He's family. ... I have a responsibility to my teammates and the country to be focused and locked in. And like I said, there's no harm or no bad blood. There's nothing behind it. It doesn't matter who's on the other side.
"I hate that this is a thing. I really don't think this is a big deal, a big story. It shouldn't be a thing. I love Randy. I have all the respect for him and Team Mexico. ... Emotions are running high. There's no beef here. Like I said, there's no story to me. I'm not taking this as a big deal, and I don't think he is either.’’
Mariners manager Dan Wilson, who said he spoke to Raleigh, also addressed the incident in the Mariners camp in Peoria, Arizona.
“These guys are incredible athletes because of their competitiveness, and that's where they're at,” Wilson said. “That’s why they've gotten to the level that they've gotten. But I also know that our team loves each other deeply. That's one of the key ingredients we have in that clubhouse, is how much they love each other. So, I don't anticipate this being any bit of an issue. …
“These guys are competitive. I think the love that they have for each other will shine.”
Wilson doesn’t believe the incident will linger into the season, or be a disruption in the clubhouse.
“I’m not concerned,” he said. “This group that we have in this clubhouse is so tight. Like I said, they love each other and when they get together, it’s go time.”
Well, if nothing else, Arozarena did praise Raleigh’s parents, saying they had a nice exchange a few days before the game.
“The first thing he needs to do is thank God he has good parents,” Arozarena said. “His parents are very well educated. Thank God, I was able to see them at the hotel. They greeted me and hugged me and were proud of me to be able to see me again.”
It’s unlikely that Raleigh and Arozarena will see each other until possibly Thursday, the workout day for the four teams in the quarterfinals in Houston. The two teams are staying at different hotels in Houston. If USA and Mexico each advance, they can’t play one another until the WBC championship game on March 17 in Miami.
“I don’t anticipate this being a thing going forward,’’ Raleigh said. “I’m going to leave it at that. I love Randy. I’m excited to play with him this year. We’re having a fun time here at the WBC. I’m looking forward to trying to bring home a championship for our team.’’
Follow Nightengale on X: @BNightengale
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cal Raleigh-Randy Arozarena beef over handshake: What's the fallout?
Continue reading...
