MLB, Astros release statements addressing reporter barred from clubhouse

Thomas Lott

MLB, Astros release statements addressing reporter barred from clubhouse image

Astros starter Justin Verlander's decision to bar a reporter from his press conference after Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Tigers isn't going unnoticed by MLB.

"Per our Club-Media Regulations, the reporter should have been allowed to enter the clubhouse postgame at the same time as the other members of the media," MLB said in a statement Thursday, via ESPN. "We have communicated this to the Astros."

Verlander refused to answer any questions from reporters if Detroit Free Press writer Anthony Fenech was in attendance for his press conference after Wednesday's loss. He addressed his actions on Twitter one day later.

"I declined to speak with the @freep rep last night because of his unethical behavior in the past," Verlander wrote. "I reached out to the @freep multiple times before the game to notify them why and to give them an opportunity to have someone else there. Ironically they didn’t answer."

He continued: "Although I tried to avoid this situation altogether, I’ve still reached out to @freep multiple times today with no response. They’re still not interested in my side of the story."

It is unclear what "unethical behavior" Verlander is speaking of, and his second statement saying he contacted the Detroit Free Press was questioned by the paper, as well.

Detroit Free Press sports editor Chris Thomas responded to Verlander's tweet.

"Hey, @JustinVerlander: I would like to know who you have contacted @freep about telling your side of the story," he wrote. "My reporter has not heard from you directly, nor have I. My email is listed on the article we published last night. I am more than happy to speak with you about it."

Free Press executive editor Peter Bhatia also responded to the incident, as did the Baseball Writers Association of America.

"Blocking a working reporter from doing his job is unprofessional, disappointing and intolerable," Bhatia said, via ESPN. "We will be protesting to MLB and the Astros."

"The Baseball Writers' Association of American is alarmed by the Houston Astros' decision to restrict the clubhouse access of a reporter from the Detroit Free Press after Wednesday's game against the Detroit Tigers," the BBWAA statement read. "This action by the Astros violated the MLB club-media regulations, which are laid out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the BBWAA expects MLB to respond accordingly and promptly."

The Astros have been criticized publicly by many media outlets and writers across the country for their actions, which included sending out three security guards to keep Fenech out of the clubhouse. But the team did not back down as it released a statement late in the day detailing how they saw the situation.

"Reporter Anthony Fenech was delayed temporarily from entering the Astros clubhouse following last night's game," the team wrote via the Houston Chronicle. "This course of action was taken after taking into consideration the past history between Fenech and one of our players, Justin Verlander, Verlander's legitimate concerns about past interactions with Fenech, and the best interests of the other media members working the game.

"We chose to prioritize these factors while making this decision. Fenech was allowed access to the clubhouse shortly after other media members and had the opportunity to approach Verlander or any player he needed. We believe that our course of action in this isolated case was appropriate."

MLB has seen several incidents with reporters and media members over the last few years. A couple of years ago, Red Sox starter David Price confronted a writer in a room and yelled at him behind closed doors. This season, Mets manager Mickey Callaway and starter Jason Vargas got into it with a reporter in the clubhouse.

 

Thomas Lott