Jerry Lai - USA Today Sports
Jerry Lai - USA Today Sports

Cubs News: Epstein called out A-Rod over his controversial comments


by - Senior Editor -

If you are a Cubs fan, you probably have already heard about ESPN commentator Alex Rodriguez's comments about Yu Darvish.

During last Sunday's telecast, A-Rod went on a rather long rant about how Darvish is doing his own thing and not being part of the Cubs clubhouse.

Since then, Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters that he disagreed 100 percent with A-Rod's take and even Darvish's agent released a statement bashing the comments.

Cubs President of Operations Theo Epstein also shared his disapproval about A-Rod's controversial comments on the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score.

"I told him what I felt about what he said," he said on Friday's show. "He defended himself, but it didn't really resonate with me. But it is what it is. Look, I think from time to time when you're dealing with national media, there's going to be guys who pop in who don't get the full picture of the way things are going. That's a big platform, so it can become a big story if they get something a little bit wrong. I think he thinks he's right. And we think he's wrong. That's not the first time that's happened. I wish it hadn't happened, but I actually think it might end up being a good thing in the long run. The guys didn't appreciate it, and they're really rallying around Yu. He also went out and had a little bit of extra determination perhaps in his next side sessions, threw great and is on his way. The only environment that really matters for him is the one in the clubhouse with his 24 teammates, and that one's terrific. What A-Rod did certainly didn't impact that, and if it did, it was in a positive way.

"Our guys certainly know who they really care about in that little back and forth, and it was definitely Darvish."

Here are some of A-Rod's wild comments about Darvish in case you missed it.

"It's gotten so bad around, they won't say this publicly, but, they let him take control of his own rehab which is scary," he said. "They don't want to create anything that he can push back against. He will let the team know when he is ready. I'll let you know what that means to a clubhouse, you lose respect quickly. My concern for him cause he is a great young talent that it might take two, three, four years [respect] and you may not get that back. The other side of that is Chatwood, Tyler, who’s actually struggled, but has gone out there, he’s posted."

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