Cubs Organization accused of ripping apart prospect?

[UMFan83]

I looked at every thread in Baseball Discussions and Minor Leagues from May 5th on to make sure this wasn't posted. If I missed a thread on the topic, I'm sorry.

 

This story is about Matt Clanton and his time with the Cubs. The bitter former first round pick rips the Cubs and accuses them of ripping apart his self esteem basically.

 

Clanton himself, however, tells things differently. Now 25 and having relocated back to his native California, he vehemently speaks out against the Cubs and spits fire about his tenure with the organization and the people he encountered there.

 

To put it mildly, he accuses the Cubs of not only ruining his baseball career, but his life. He claims they accused him of faking injury to avoid playing and that he was the victim of repeated verbal abuse by the Cubs’ front office.

 

“It was honestly the darkest point in my life,” Clanton says, his voice filled with emotion, cracking in spots. “Jim Hendry once quoted to me, ‘This [organization] is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship. You shut the f--k up.’

 

The article does finally admit that Clanton is a headcase, but as we all know there's usually a little bit of truth to every lie.

 

http://cubs.scout.com/2/527823.html

[RynoRules]

I looked at every thread in Baseball Discussions and Minor Leagues from May 5th on to make sure this wasn't posted. If I missed a thread on the topic, I'm sorry.

 

This story is about Matt Clanton and his time with the Cubs. The bitter former first round pick rips the Cubs and accuses them of ripping apart his self esteem basically.

 

Clanton himself, however, tells things differently. Now 25 and having relocated back to his native California, he vehemently speaks out against the Cubs and spits fire about his tenure with the organization and the people he encountered there.

 

To put it mildly, he accuses the Cubs of not only ruining his baseball career, but his life. He claims they accused him of faking injury to avoid playing and that he was the victim of repeated verbal abuse by the Cubs’ front office.

 

“It was honestly the darkest point in my life,” Clanton says, his voice filled with emotion, cracking in spots. “Jim Hendry once quoted to me, ‘This [organization] is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship. You shut the f--k up.’

 

The article does finally admit that Clanton is a headcase, but as we all know there's usually a little bit of truth to every lie.

 

http://cubs.scout.com/2/527823.html

 

Seems out of character for JH. I'll lend it some credibility if its backed by other guys.

[Soul]

Hmmmmm.....

 

No organization is a democracy, folks. They're all dictatorships.

[Garwilly]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

[Soul]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

It was said precisely because management is NOT pushing pitchers back. Which sort of contradicts what Clanton is saying now doesn't it?

[CubinNY]

What an interesting read.

 

Why in the wide, wide, world of sports would the Cubs draft a guy like that in the first round?

 

Here is a kid who quit his high school team and quit is college team yet the Cubs saw fit to draft him in the first round of the suplemental.

 

Now I am understanding why things are the way they are.

 

They threw away @$2 mil on this looser.

[J.R.]

Any man that whines about self-esteem isn't really a man at all.

 

What a waste.

[Garwilly]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

It was said precisely because management is NOT pushing pitchers back. Which sort of contradicts what Clanton is saying now doesn't it?

 

Well yes, exactly. I am saying this sort of behaivior is what is wanted from Hendry, et all.

[goonys evil twin]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

It was said precisely because management is NOT pushing pitchers back. Which sort of contradicts what Clanton is saying now doesn't it?

 

Not really. The Cubs have turned on the caution sign only recently. This laissez-faire attitude toward recovery time is somewhat of a new thing for the organization, and it might only be in relation to the major leaguers.

[K-Town]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

It was said precisely because management is NOT pushing pitchers back. Which sort of contradicts what Clanton is saying now doesn't it?

 

Isn't there a chance that a player like Clanton might be handled entirely differently than a player like Prior?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

It wouldn't surprise me if Hendry said that to him. From what I know of him, I'm sure A LOT of people said it.

[Neuby]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

This guy had two shoulder operations not just sore spots and food posioning to go with his wicked cold this offseason.

[Soul]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

It was said precisely because management is NOT pushing pitchers back. Which sort of contradicts what Clanton is saying now doesn't it?

 

Not really. The Cubs have turned on the caution sign only recently. This laissez-faire attitude toward recovery time is somewhat of a new thing for the organization, and it might only be in relation to the major leaguers.

 

Yeah, that's true.

 

Isn't there a chance that a player like Clanton might be handled entirely differently than a player like Prior?

 

Probably. Does Hendry sound like he uses that kind of language though? I've never heard of him doing that----doesn't sound like the guy (and I've been very critical of Hendry).

 

Maybe it's all true. I don't know.

[CubinNY]

I don't believe one word of his story.

 

Why would the Cubs intionally ignore an injury from a guy they've invested this type of money in?

 

The Cubs biggest mistake was drafting him in the first place.

[goonys evil twin]

Probably. Does Hendry sound like he uses that kind of language though? I've never heard of him doing that----doesn't sound like the guy (and I've been very critical of Hendry).

 

Maybe it's all true. I don't know.

 

I don't know, he's a very casual guy, and he was a college coach. He's worked with young ballplayers his whole life. He fits the description of somebody who would use such language (not that I'm saying I have a problem with cursing, or even what he allegedly said). From the sounds of things, this kid seemed to be a combination of paranoid and hypochondriac, and very difficult to deal with.

 

There's no doubt in my mind that the Cubs in general have misused assets, notably farm talent. But I don't think I can hold them responsible for ruining this kid's career.

[fiver]

What an interesting read.

 

Why in the wide, wide, world of sports would the Cubs draft a guy like that in the first round?

Here is a kid who quit his high school team and quit is college team yet the Cubs saw fit to draft him in the first round of the suplemental.

 

Now I am understanding why things are the way they are.

 

They threw away @$2 mil on this looser.

 

Excellent question. In my line of work due diligence is performed when researching a potential contract. The college coach seems to only be speculating that the Cubs weren't aware of the last game incident, but I'm baffled as to why a phone call wasn't made to the college coach before throwing a million dollars at the kid. You would do this anytime you are selecting any draft pick, no? Common sense dictates that it should definitely be done with a first rounder.

[badgercub]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

It was said precisely because management is NOT pushing pitchers back. Which sort of contradicts what Clanton is saying now doesn't it?

 

Not really. The Cubs have turned on the caution sign only recently. This laissez-faire attitude toward recovery time is somewhat of a new thing for the organization, and it might only be in relation to the major leaguers.

 

Yeah, that's true.

 

Isn't there a chance that a player like Clanton might be handled entirely differently than a player like Prior?

 

Probably. Does Hendry sound like he uses that kind of language though? I've never heard of him doing that----doesn't sound like the guy (and I've been very critical of Hendry).

 

Maybe it's all true. I don't know.

 

I don't know Hendry personally, but I do know a scout in the Cubs system who says Hendry is an arrogant (you can fill in the appropriate word here). He said he was great when he was in charge of the minor leagues, but once he got the GM position he has changed considerably. Like I said, I don't know Hendry, but I would tend to believe what this guy told me. Take it for what it's worth.

[Soul]

From the article:

 

Truth or Fiction?

 

There are those who are naturally skeptic of Clanton’s allegations against the Cubs. One of the people who knew him best was his former head coach at Orange Coast College, John Altobelli.

 

Altobelli turns 43 in less than a week and has been the head coach at Orange Coast for the past 14 seasons. He is a three-time Orange Empire Conference Coach of the Year and remembers very well Clanton’s days as a member of his pitching staff.

 

“We were in a playoff game and just needed to win one more game to advance to the next round,” Altobelli recalled of his 2002 squad. “There were rumors that Matt didn’t want to pitch and jeopardize being drafted any lower because of some shoulder soreness he had been having.”

 

Around the fourth inning is when things got interesting, Altobelli said.

 

“We go out on defense. I look out and there’s no pitcher. I said, ‘Where’s Matt?’ And my players all told me that he was down in the bullpen, taking his cleats off and saying he didn’t want to pitch anymore.”

 

Altobelli then recalled his conversation with Clanton after the game.

 

“I go down to talk to him and I say, ‘Hey, Matt, what’s going on? Why did you pull yourself out of the game?’ Long story short, he said he wasn’t going to jeopardize his arm or his future for this team. I told him that I didn’t want to pitch him if he was hurt. I told him to let me know if he was hurt, but not to just pull himself out of the game and give up on his teammates.

 

“About five minutes go by and after about the hundredth time I’d heard that everyone was being selfish, I said, ‘Matt, it’s selfish of you to do what you did.’ And he looked right in my eyes and he said, ‘You’re f--king selfish.’”

 

Since that day, Altobelli says he has not heard from Clanton

 

The guy's a psycho. Why didn't someone interview Altobelli before drafting him?

[fiver]

Isn't this the kind of response many poster's had towards Prior's injuries?

 

Shut up and pitch?

 

 

(please note: I am not using the phrase "many posters" as an attack in any way. I am not calling out anybody. Just asking)

 

It was said precisely because management is NOT pushing pitchers back. Which sort of contradicts what Clanton is saying now doesn't it?

 

Not really. The Cubs have turned on the caution sign only recently. This laissez-faire attitude toward recovery time is somewhat of a new thing for the organization, and it might only be in relation to the major leaguers.

 

Yeah, that's true.

 

Isn't there a chance that a player like Clanton might be handled entirely differently than a player like Prior?

 

Probably. Does Hendry sound like he uses that kind of language though? I've never heard of him doing that----doesn't sound like the guy (and I've been very critical of Hendry).

 

Maybe it's all true. I don't know.

 

I don't know Hendry personally, but I do know a scout in the Cubs system who says Hendry is an arrogant (you can fill in the appropriate word here). He said he was great when he was in charge of the minor leagues, but once he got the GM position he has changed considerably. Like I said, I don't know Hendry, but I would tend to believe what this guy told me. Take it for what it's worth.

 

 

Based soley upon this article, the kid likely has at least a moderate if not severate mentall illness. The statement about him thinking that the Cubs were listening to his phone conversations is indicative of someone suffering from fairly severe paranoia. His actions and statements made to his college coach seem to also support this. He seemed to think that his college coach was willing to sacrifice his career to win one ballgame. So...his college coach was also "out to get him"..not just the Cubs organization.

 

I'm not going to truly judge this guy, because I haven't walked in his shoes, and I don't know what it's like to live inside this guy's head. However, I'm certainly not going to lay any blame on the Cubs organization based upon this article....except for not doing more research on the kid prior to drafting him in the first round. Frankly, I don't care if Hendry told this kid to "STFU".

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

A few commments:

 

1. The kid seems to be troubled. His erratic behavior definitely hurts his credibility.

 

2. Even if Hendry said that exact quote to him, we don't know what it was in response to. Clanton sounds like a real piece of work. If he were going off on Hendry, I can definitely see Hendry responding like that.

 

3. Most of Clanton's side of the story reads like sour grapes from someone who would never take responsibility for his own problems.

[K-Town]

A few commments:

 

1. The kid seems to be troubled. His erratic behavior definitely hurts his credibility.

 

2. Even if Hendry said that exact quote to him, we don't know what it was in response to. Clanton sounds like a real piece of work. If he were going off on Hendry, I can definitely see Hendry responding like that.

 

3. Most of Clanton's side of the story reads like sour grapes from someone who would never take responsibility for his own problems.

 

 

I agree with this, and also with the earlier poster who said that unless someone can back up this kid's story, it's pretty hard to swallow.

[cubs121]

A few commments:

 

1. The kid seems to be troubled. His erratic behavior definitely hurts his credibility.

 

2. Even if Hendry said that exact quote to him, we don't know what it was in response to. Clanton sounds like a real piece of work. If he were going off on Hendry, I can definitely see Hendry responding like that.

 

3. Most of Clanton's side of the story reads like sour grapes from someone who would never take responsibility for his own problems.

agreed.. but if hendry did say this does this set a tone that this is how the cubs organization is. then why would anybody want to come play for them? i hope that aint the truth cause it just makes a cub fan more frustrated!

[oldstyle81]

‘This [organization] is not a democracy. It is a dictatorship"

 

if he thinks this is bad, he should see the yankees

[JC]

Notwithstanding the veracity of Clanton's claims, isn't his fragile mental state yet another indictment of the Cubs' first round failings in the draft?

[CubinNY]

Notwithstanding the veracity of Clanton's claims, isn't his fragile mental state yet another indictment of the Cubs' first round failings in the draft?

 

Definately.