MLB Note: No Phillies “Snitch,” After All?

I am happy to report that there was no snitch in the Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse. On Novebmer 3, Tim Wilson of Yahoo Sports reported a dust-up between Phillies pitchers Cole Hamels and Brett Myers.

Wilson implied that someone informed him of the incident:

Phillies pitchers Brett Myers and Cole Hamels had a short but tense confrontation in the team’s clubhouse following Game 5 of the World Series, according to one witness, words that stemmed from Hamels’ recent statement that he was eager for his season to end.

As Myers walked past Hamels near Hamels’ locker he said, mocking, “What are you doing here? I thought you quit.”

Hamels, the witness said, responded with an expletive. (emphasis mine)

Mike Greenberg, on his ESPN Mike and Mike in the Morning simulcast, told viewers and listeners that there were several members of the press who heard Myers comment to Hamels, including one from ESPN. However, the incident Wilson reported was, according to Greenberg, a “non-incident.”

The truth of whatever happened in the clubhouse is probably somewhere between Greenberg’s statement and Wilson’s.

Wilson, though, needs to come clean with his role in reporting whatever occurred in the Phillies clubhouse. Was he, as were other reporters, witness to Myers’ comment? If so, why did he use, “the witness said”?

Andy Martinez of the Philadelphia Inquirer substantiates Greenberg’s comments:

There was no confrontation between Brett Myers and Cole Hamels after Game 5 of the World Series, according to Myers, Hamels, and several witnesses.

“There’s no problem,” Hamels told The Inquirer from aboard the Amtrak train that carried the Phillies to New York yesterday afternoon. “There’s never been a problem.”

Both Phillies pitchers – and other eyewitnesses – said that reports of tension were greatly exaggerated.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal witnessed the nonevent, and wrote an account that supported the players’ version.

“I saw the whole thing,” Rosenthal wrote. “I was standing maybe five feet away. I thought Myers was joking, and did not even consider writing about it in my accompanying column about Hamels.”

“There was no confrontation whatsoever,” Myers told The Inquirer yesterday morning.

The Phillies’ director of baseball communications, Greg Casterioto, said he saw the entire exchange. He called the idea of tension between Myers and Hamels “ludicrous.”

It sounds like Wilson has some explaining to do.