Ken Kendrick, the Diamondbacks’ managing general partner is mad. So mad, in fact, that he’s seemingly decided to take down the Diamondbacks’ on his own. Rip them a new one. Screw with the clubhouse. Add gas to the fire. Possibly derail their first place position in the NL West.

Ever since Jason Grimsley admitted to using HGH, steroids, and amphetamines, there has been a steady stream of get tough comments by Kendrick, not the least of which is the statement that the DBacks were going to impose a stricter code of conduct than that which is imposed by MLB.

Dream a little dream, Mr. Kendrick.

Player conduct and the any rules surrounding how improper conduct is dealt with in MLB is a matter that is collectively bargained.

Here’s some passages within the current CBA that deal with conduct:

Loyalty
3.(a) The Player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently
and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition and to
obey the Club’s training rules, and pledges himself to the American
public and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct,
fair play and good sportsmanship.

PLAYER REPRESENTATIONS
Ability
4.(a) The Player represents and agrees that he has exceptional and
unique skill and ability as a baseball player; that his services to be rendered
hereunder are of a special, unusual and extraordinary character
which gives them peculiar value which cannot be reasonably or adequately
compensated for in damages at law, and that the Player’s
breach of this contract will cause the Club great and irreparable injury
and damage. The Player agrees that, in addition to other remedies, the
Club shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent
a breach of this contract by the Player, including, among others, the
right to enjoin the Player from playing baseball for any other person or
organization during the term of his contract.

That’s pretty much it. Kendrick and the Diamondbacks want more, the collective bargaining sessions should be starting any day now.

Craig Counsell, who is a member of the MLBPA’s executive committee said, “A code of conduct will not happen,” Counsell said. “Our rules in this game are through the collective bargaining agreement.

“If it’s through the collective bargaining agreement, if it’s something that’s bargained, fine. But for me, doing things individually, team by team, is a dangerous precedent, and I don’t think it’s something we should get into.”

But, Kendrick wasn’t satisfied there. Yesterday, he went into a rambling interview with the Arizona Republic and threw the face of the club, Luis Gonzalez under the bus.

It started when Kendrick was asked if he felt that Grimsley was not the only player in the club to use PEDs. “Absolutely, I don’t think he is,” was Kendrick’s reply.

Kendrick said that there have been “whispers” about Gonzalez using PEDs. “I’ll be blunt with you and say there have been certainly whispers about Luis Gonzalez, “said Kendrick. “Because he’s such a high-profile guy and you can make a case of his numbers five years ago versus his numbers today and therefore he must have been doing something. Well, he’s also five years older.”

Understandably, Gonzalez wasn’t exactly pleased at the statements by Kendrick. It forced Gonzalez to hold a news conference before playing the Giants last night. “Just to have your name thrown in it – I’ve had phone calls from 7:30 this morning till right now,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t want to be in this situation. I don’t think any of my teammates do.

“He’s trying to protect the game of baseball in his own way,” Gonzalez said, referring to Kendrick. “It’s unfortunate that I almost have to sit here today to defend myself for no reason.”

So, what do you think the response from the clubhouse has been on this matter? Here’s some samples.

Johnny Estrada – “It seemed like he said something in there that shouldn’t have been said. As players, he put ourselves in a situation where we have to respond to it. We have to respond, whether it’s to each other or to the media”

Craig Counsell – “I’m surprised how careless (Kendrick) was with Luis Gonzalez’s name. If you’re an owner, Luis Gonzalez is your dream superstar. The way he plays, the way he handles himself in the community, treats other people. To associate his name with such a sensitive topic is very careless.

So, one has to ask if the plan was to derail the season for the Diamondbacks. Certainly there is nothing the players can do about Grimsley, but Kendrick’s lack of tact in the organization’s response is something that is damaging.

Lastly, clubs should state publicly that they do not condone the use of PEDs in any way, shape, or form. It has been reported that management and the MLBPA might be working on a urine test for HGH. So, it’s not as if this issue is sitting in a vacuum.

The Diamondbacks might consider taking it down a notch or 12.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 16th, 2006 at 7:00 am and is filed under Baseball Insight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.