PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Ketel Marte’s DISAPPEARANCE: The STRANGEST Story in Arizona Sports

Starting point is 00:00:00 You want to get weird? Let's get weird. Get those stuff out of here. It's Southwest Buoyance. Welcome in to another edition of Southwest bias, brought to you by our friends at the husband and wife law team. If you've had a serious accident, call the husband and wife law team first at 602, 7.83, 8841,

Starting point is 00:00:22 or visit their website at the link in our show notes and tell them PH and X. And we are live from Studio K, brought to you by our friends at Circle K, becoming a member of the Inner Circle today for free by downloading that Circle K app and start saving money on gas. You know that I am not short on opinions or thoughts or really anything when it comes to our sports teams in Arizona. That is, I mean, that's the baseline. It's my job. I come in here and I'm very honest and we talk every day about Arizona sports. But last night, the Catele-Marté story, I'm confused.

Starting point is 00:01:02 I don't even have, you know, I usually do a cutesy analogy or something at the top of the show to kind of frame up thing. I don't even have one of those today because this may single-handedly be the craziest story in Arizona sports. And it may be the second time something like this is happening. Obviously, Cotel-Marté was a late scratch. for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In fact, Nick Piccoro over at Aze Central had said it was the latest he's ever seen a lineup card come in for the Diamondbacks. And we know he's seen more Diamondbacks games than most of us.

Starting point is 00:01:40 And, you know, it's been this whole thing. He didn't show. Catelle Marte did not show up at Fenway Park. Ctele Marte did not play in yesterday's game. Apparently, nobody knew where Cateel Marte was. And that was just the start of. the story. And it was called personal issues. It didn't sound like anybody had really been able to get a hold of him. And then John Gambadoro, our friend over to Arizona Sports, started talking about

Starting point is 00:02:09 the fact that people had seen Catea at the hotel bar with people at 11 p.m. the night before. Like, so we knew he was there. His Instagram said he was in Boston. He was there the night before. Apparently, Tori Lavello kind of got an idea that something was going on the morning of yesterday. So he had some kind of idea, yet nobody seems to know what's going on. Speculation ran rampant online. During the game, people were trying to figure out what was going on. Nick Bacoro did his best to try to let us all know what was going on when he tweeted this, when he said, to be clear, I'm told Catelle Marte is doing okay physically.

Starting point is 00:02:56 He just didn't show up at the ballpark. He's doing okay physically. It's a weird way to phrase that to me. It leaves a lot to be interpreted. And I think that there's some gray area here that we're going to have to talk about. But I found Mike Hazen's comments after the game interesting as well. Mike Hazen said, it's unfortunate he wasn't there tonight. I'll leave it at that.

Starting point is 00:03:25 I'll leave it at that. That's all he said about the situation, the GM of the team. It's unfortunate he wasn't there tonight. I'll leave it at that. That screams to me somebody that either doesn't have the full details or something very odd is going on. Again, one of the weirdest stories. And then I think the weirdest thing, at least last night,

Starting point is 00:03:51 was Tori Lavello's response when Jody Jackson after the game asked him some questions about it? Earlier today, the lineup came out 15 minutes prior to the game, and then we saw that Kutel one on the restricted list. Can you take us through what happened? Yeah, it's been a crazy day. All I know is that he's dealing with the personal issue. We're trying to figure that out, and he didn't show up today, and he was put on the restricted list. That's as much as I know right now.

Starting point is 00:04:23 I'm sure in time we'll start to uncover and unravel some information. But, yeah, I knew that there was something going on today when I met with you guys. But I still believe he was going to be here. He just didn't show up. Did you have communication with him? Very little this morning, this afternoon. And, yeah, I just was doing my best to reach out to him. And there was very little coming back.

Starting point is 00:04:50 He's here though in Boston? Is he here? I believe so. I'm not sure. How disappointing is it that the communication wasn't relayed to you earlier? We deal with a lot as baseball managers and coaches and teachers. So, you know, sometimes you get disappointed. Sometimes you get let down, but we're going to figure out how to work through this.

Starting point is 00:05:15 I know he had the restrictive list placement last year. Because he had issues where he hasn't showed up on time long? No, this is the first time. As far as you saw, that had a bigger impact on the clubhouse, how do you feel the players responded today? You know, the players are gritty. They rally around one another. I know there was a lot of discussions about it

Starting point is 00:05:38 at different points in time in the clubhouse today. There was a lot of curiosity. You know, we care for Ketel. And, you know, once we knew he was okay, I think everybody relaxed and started to focus on the game. But, you know, what was the final score 10 to 1? 11 to 1. I mean, we got our ass kicked.

Starting point is 00:05:56 We've got to be better. What do you think is the way forward? I don't know. I don't know. Just care for them and love them. When did you start to get an inkling that this might be, how did it come about where you realized you might not? When I woke up this morning.

Starting point is 00:06:17 So, I want to keep that private, though. You seem a little emotional. Are you worried? No, not really. I just love him and I care for him. It would be okay. They, maybe he's in Boston. Maybe he's not. It was a bizarre answer from Torrey, but the human element of this, Tori's emotional. He looks on the verge of tears. He looks genuinely concerned. And now that speaks to Tori's character.

Starting point is 00:06:43 I know a lot of people want to rip on Tori Lavello and for a million reasons. but Tori Lavello cares. I don't think there's ever a doubt that Tori Lavello cares immensely about his players, about the fans, about winning, about trying to do what's right by this organization. He cares, and that emotion makes you wonder what's really going on. Now, I know a lot of people are going to rush to have opinions. That's you're right. You know, you can clamor for certain things. I'm concerned, and I've had some, I've talked to some people, and there's been some back and forth on the idea of this, but my first thought in these situations is, is there something deeper that's going on?

Starting point is 00:07:32 Is there some kind of mental or emotional thing that's going on beneath the surface that is causing this? And people go, well, you know, maybe he's just a diva. you don't know what's actually going on deeper in there with an individual. I've seen people, you know, myself included, I've told you guys, I'm bipolar, I've diagnosed, I'm medicated, but before I was, there were some irrational swings, you know, that things I would do, decisions I would make, nothing dangerous, but like, it's not out of the realm of possibility that if you have something going on, you just don't communicate, you don't show up somewhere. Like I've known people that, uh, that have gone through that.

Starting point is 00:08:18 Now, I have no idea. He may have zero things going on mentally, but I hold that little possibility because the truth is we don't know anything that's going on with these guys. That's the reality of it. We have zero insight to who they really are and what's really going on. And people are citing what happened last year in terms of the All-Star game and how we went MIA and the, then he wound up in the Dominican, but supposedly it was before the break-in, all these things. We don't know. People made fun of him for crying when the guy yelled something about his mother. These things could have a deeper issue, a deeper-seated thing going on.

Starting point is 00:08:58 And maybe the team isn't even aware that he's going through that. And these things are important when you look at the full picture of things. And I know we're quick to judge. That's the society. That's what we've built. That is, you know, that's why we all turn to Twitter and run and throw an opinion. But I always go back to that. And losing a parent, luckily I haven't gone through this, but losing a parent can dramatically change a human being.

Starting point is 00:09:30 Losing anybody close to you could dramatically change a human being. It could tap into something that maybe you had there with issues. and it, you know, exasperates them. It makes it more. It brings it to the surface. We don't know. And that's why I hesitate to make any quick judgment. But I will say this.

Starting point is 00:09:51 The story gets even we're even we're doing. This morning, we got two conflicting reports. Nick Bacora, again, trying to do his best on all this. Yesterday said it wasn't physical. This morning says this. Tell Martay is returning to Arizona to undergo an MRI on his knee, according to a source. So is he physically? hurting? Is he not?

Starting point is 00:10:12 Like, and this, I don't blame Nick. Nick is getting information and reporting it as he's getting information. It's just a weird situation. And then Rike Rojas from ESPN, originally in Spanish, tweeted source. Cotel Marte remains in Boston dealing with a personal situation. He and his family are fine. Marte has been in communication with the Diamondbacks through the appropriate channels and hopes to resolve this matter as soon as possible to return to playing baseball.

Starting point is 00:10:38 So he's in Boston, but he's returning to Arizona, and all these things could be possible. It's physical, it's not physical. This whole thing is so damn bizarre. And my guess is we're not going to wind up getting any real answers. And also, a great point that was made by, I believe it was John Gambadoro, was the fact that Nolan Aeronado got an answer. MRI in Boston yesterday. So why does Ketel have to fly all the way back to Arizona to get said MRI? Things don't add up. When they don't add up, there's speculation. There's things that people

Starting point is 00:11:20 ask questions about. And things don't add up. This just snowballs. And we're in this situation where we have very little tangible information. Some people claiming they know things, which they may or may not, maybe getting from one source or another. Now, if Catellmarté has nothing else going on, and this is simply some kind of diva play, the reality is the dumbbacks have to make a very tough choice because you can't allow that in your organization if it is simply attitude.

Starting point is 00:11:56 You're going to, and you've, if that's the case, you have actually emboldened it to happen. Now, I've been very staunch in support of Catelle Marte, even Tori Lavello in this, but the reality is if this is just a normal behavior for him, that this is just who he is from an attitude perspective, and he thinks he's bigger than the team, and you allowed it to continue, that's in part on the organization, and they're going to have to do something to make it very clear to everybody else,

Starting point is 00:12:30 and baseball and could tell that we don't stand for that. Suspension, DFA, whatever the case may be, if that's what's going on here. But the emotion, the concern, the bizarerness of these multiple stories that we've heard with him makes me just want everybody to pause for a second and ask is maybe something more human going on? And maybe it's not.

Starting point is 00:12:59 And that could very well. that out. But does it hurt us to take that beat? Think about it and wonder? Because too many times we overlook that kind of stuff in this world and we overlook it before it's, you know, we don't recognize it until it's too late. And I'm not saying that's the case. I'm just saying, does it hurt us to pause and wonder about that before we turn to, this is a horrible individual or this is a guy that's a cancer in the locker room, yada, yada, whatever the case may be. I'm just asking for a pause, but maybe that's just my Southwest bias. We welcome in the mustache behind the Mac, Shane Diefenbach.

Starting point is 00:13:44 Shane, is this the oddest thing that you've experienced in Arizona sports? Hmm. Maybe. Yes. just because now we're almost we're like 18 hours from the situation and there's less clarity. Yeah, and more conflicting reports. It's getting more confusing. Yeah, I don't know.

Starting point is 00:14:12 This is a really strange situation and you never want to speculate when it comes to something like this because you just really don't know. I think a lot of people, everybody needs to operate like this, but let's just start with a lot more. People need to operate by just kind of thinking before speaking, thinking before judging and trying to understand people more. And I just don't think we do that enough in the world,

Starting point is 00:14:41 especially when it comes to sports. No, I mean, because at the end of the day, they are just, they are people. And working in this industry makes you realize that faster than others. But that doesn't, that's not exclusive to this industry that's just in general. Like, people don't do that enough. Not at all.

Starting point is 00:15:03 With that being said, I think you made some really good points. Like, if this is the case, then yes. If this is the case, then no. I just hope whatever happens and whatever the outcome of this is, it doesn't stymie the progress that this team has made in the past month. because if we're talking baseball, good Lord, this team has been hot. Yeah. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:15:27 I mean, from a baseball perspective, it's completely unfortunate. It sucks. When one of your best players doesn't show up for his teammates from the service-level baseball situation, it sucks. You can't tell me that they didn't lose 11 to 1 in part because of the fact that they were all distracted all day. I mean, Tori's basically crying in the post game. a press conference and emotional.

Starting point is 00:15:53 You can't tell me in the back of your mind you're not thinking about that guy and wondering what the hell's going on. You know, that's the thing for me is there's so many layers to all of it. And people want to get their hot tics out and shoot them out like they use hot dog cannons at games. They just want to fire, fire that stuff out like before they even think on certain things. And again, we don't know anything. That's the reality of it.

Starting point is 00:16:20 And even people that know, I don't think, fully know. And the only person that actually knows what is going on is Cotel Marté. Because some people hide what's really going on internally with them as well. And you don't know about it at all until eventually they make it clear, you know, or you never find out. And you just think that somebody is a diva. And maybe that is the case. Again, just one of the most bizarre things I've ever witnessed. In fact, after halftime, we're going to talk about the most bizarre things in Arizona sports.

Starting point is 00:16:58 But this one is right there. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, sorry. I just wrote a comment. They have the sixth best record in the past 30 days, and the MLB shut up. The, yeah, the bottom line is exactly what you said. Until we know, it's hard to judge. if this is something selfish, it's unacceptable.

Starting point is 00:17:23 And you can view this as a non-isolated incident now. But until we know what's really going on, there's not a reason to point fingers and make a big claim. Yeah. Like everybody wants to do. If we find out it's just some attitude thing, have at it. Let's make the Carmen San Diego jokes. Let's, you know, go ahead at that point.

Starting point is 00:17:46 I'm perfectly fine with it. I just, I won't rush to it as well. Like that's, I'm just, I'm not, I'm not rushing to that right now. I'll wait for the information. I just want to look at it at that way. And if you want to call, take soft or whatever, that's your prerogative. Go ahead. It's a free speech in there.

Starting point is 00:18:06 Roberto Calamari, my favorite Italian name that we have in the chat, one of the bias says, I get all that, but he's letting the team down. There's no doubt about that. there is zero doubt about the fact that he's letting the team down and if it's just some kind of weird personal choice that he's making uh because of of attitude issues that's disappointing but the other side of it if you got something going on sometimes you let down the people even some of the people closest to you uh in the situation it's it's just what happens sometimes uh and then you know that's that's kind of the reality to it with me.

Starting point is 00:18:47 I want to welcome all the bias in the chat, not just Roberto Calamari. Appreciate each and every one of you being here. Over 100 of you in the chat. Hit that like button. Let's get to 40 likes. Helps people find the program. Hello to Shaft.

Starting point is 00:19:00 No, I'm not mad at you, Shaft. It's just been a busy couple of days. My wife, Tracy, Brian, Deborah, Dave Age, 602 rides, Will is in here as well, and a bunch of you that are here. and then Desert by 69 says, I don't care, that's our second baseman. I don't know if you don't care whether he's having an emotional thing. You don't care that people are throwing him under the bus.

Starting point is 00:19:26 And then we've got Shaft saying maybe he drank too much in Beantown dealing with a hangover. I don't know. But if that was the case, just say it. Like why the song and dance? Say it, suspend him if that's the case. If it's as simple as that, you know, he wouldn't be the first guy in baseball to do that, and plenty of them have played hungover, I'm sure, as well. Indifference news says, I'm over-Katel's antics.

Starting point is 00:19:53 To be honest, this combined with his lukewarm season, has fans turning on him. It certainly seems like fans are turning on him based on what we've seen in social and other places, even in the comments on Derek's emergency podcast last night. There's a lot of people that have turned on him as well. And he said, Shaft talking here as well, Indifference also says, based on Corbyn Carroll's postgame response, the team was hella distracted. We didn't show that one, but Corbyn was trying to figure out a way to answer the question, was silent for like nine seconds before he actually even got an answer out.

Starting point is 00:20:34 It's just you can't tell me this wasn't a distraction at all. seemed like it really was. And Desert Bay 69 says really changes things in your life talking about a, you know, a loved one's passing, but he was already an MLB star. This is his life now, his job. Would you want to go to work with your mind spinning? I feel like we're too into it. Let him clear his head.

Starting point is 00:21:01 I agree. I think you all make valid points. I appreciate each and every one of you in the chat and talking about it. and being respectful about it. We can have differing opinions. I appreciate each and every one of you guys and gals in the chat doing that. Hit the like button, hit the subscribe button. And then if you're so inclined, hit the join button,

Starting point is 00:21:20 become a member of the Supporters Club today. On the other side of halftime, we're going to rank the weirdest situations in Arizona Sports. From the windows to the walls and the countertops and everything in between, Window Depot is more than just a window store. and I just had my microwave go out, and we're changing up our kitchen. The wife and I said, you know what? We haven't changed up our kitchen in a decade.

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Starting point is 00:24:42 We're going to rank the weirdest situations in Arizona sports. We need some levity when it comes to this and talking through the craziness we've all experienced together as Arizona sports fan. So I figured I had to roll out an Espo's big board is we're going to go the top five weirdest situations in Arizona sports history. Two honorable mentions that we don't need to put on the list, But then I'm going to bring up Robert O'ery throwing a towel in Danny Aange's face was one of the more bizarre in-game moments we've ever experienced. And then the other one, Bill Gramatica, celebrating, hitting a field goal, jumping up and down and blowing out his knee. Those are two that are the honorable mention. But at number five, do you remember this, the year 1999, the city, Denver, Antonio, Antonio McDyke,

Starting point is 00:25:35 essentially getting barricaded in the Nuggets arena. Well, his teammates from the last season in Phoenix, Jason, Kid, Rex Chappen, and George McLeod all got locked out of this arena by the team president of the Nuggets during a snowstorm so they could not talk to McDice and try to convince him to come back to Phoenix. Still one of the more bizarre stories that we've heard, but it's only five when it comes to it. Number four.

Starting point is 00:26:05 Randy Johnson blown up a bird in the 2001 spring training. This is a clip that you see all the time. In fact, the picture is behind us on the wall here when he hit the bird. It's just such a weird thing. Nothing mysterious about it, but, you know, it's the one time they won a World Series and he destroyed a bird as part of it. Number three, this one not a lot of people know about, But this one was a little dark and insane when you think about it.

Starting point is 00:26:38 The mid-80 Suns cocaine scandal, April 1987, a grand jury in Maricopa County indicted three active sons players, James Edwards, Jay Humphreys, and Grant Gerrits. And two former sons players, Mike Brotz and Garfield heard, yes, the shot heard around the world, on cocaine and marijuana trafficking and distribution charges. And Ring of Honor member, and at the time, the franchise all-time leading score, Walter Davis, entered a rehabilitation clinic and was suspended, later testifying that widespread drug use had touched the entire franchise for years. I don't think people know this one, and it's pretty crazy when you dig into it. You've got to go look at it. The next one. This is one of the you can laugh at in retrospect. how we could laugh at it during the time.

Starting point is 00:27:34 Thomas Jones running back for the Cardinals. The year is 2002. And he's, I believe, a rookie in there, at least a young player, was supposed to be the next great running back for the Cardinals. How many times did we hear that? Jones breaks his hand, but claims he did it while trying to answer a phone and he missed and hit the counter and broke his hand.

Starting point is 00:27:59 How would you do? Like, I have so many questions. If you did do that, I think it's worse than whatever actually happened because how did you miss the phone? Why were you swinging your hand so hard? What was the whole deal? That was bizarre. But the most bizarre thing ever in Arizona sports. And Tildes Ketell story, Coyote's ownership, the entire time, was one of the most bizarre roller coaster rides ever that included guys that got in legal trouble, included the greatest,

Starting point is 00:28:30 player ever in NHL history included the NHL owning it, and then a billionaire casino magnet who wound up basically just selling the team and moving them out of town for a billion bucks. That is the most bizarre story we've had up until this Citell-Marte situation. So, Shane, any more that you had would have had on the list?

Starting point is 00:28:54 Anything that stood out to you that maybe I was missing? Hmm. I would have to think on that. Nothing immediately comes to mind. Those were all very weird. I mean, the son's blowout curse in elimination games for back-to-back years. True. That was bizarre. Those were very weird.

Starting point is 00:29:16 And there was the whole rumor that the whole team had COVID during that Dallas game that we kind of got confirmation but never really got confirmation. Oh, Brian in the chat. Yeah, the Arizona Cardinals, Mexico. coach gets arrested, but was it the GM? And now I'm starting to think it might have been. I don't know. That was a bizarre story. It probably should have at least made my honorable mention.

Starting point is 00:29:45 That is another edition of Southwest. That's a great call. It was. Brian Gold Star for you on that. That was a hell of a call. Thank you to all the bias in the chat. This is as much your show as it is ours. Hit that like button on your way out.

Starting point is 00:29:58 if you're listening on audio five-star review please and if you're watching after our live leave a comment in the chat we want to hear from you as well big thank you to the mustache behind the mac shane deef and bach you can follow them at shane dif you can follow the program at p hnx underscore swb that's p hnx underscore swb you can follow me at espo and remember sometimes we don't know everything so rushing to judgment might not be the best thing oh hoi hoi

PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Ketel Marte’s DISAPPEARANCE: The STRANGEST Story in Arizona Sports

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