Oakland Athletics designated hitters missed this weekend’s games because of injuries he suffered in an altercation with his teammate, third baseman Danny Valencia.
Advertisement
According to two sources, the dispute in the clubhouse began when Butler informed an equipment representative that Valencia had not, in fact, been wearing the spikes that Valencia had told the representative that he was using.
Melvin said Saturday only that Butler was out with nausea and vomiting, but he specifically ruled out the flu when asked if that was Butler’s ailment. Those symptoms are often associated with concussions, though it’s unclear if he sustained a concussion from the altercation with Valencia.
“No comment”, Valencia said Sunday.
No one in the clubhouse denied that an incident occurred.
Butler and Valencia played together in Kansas City during the 2014 season.
In 79 games this season, Butler is hitting.286 with a.338 on-base percentage, a.419 slugging percentage, four homers and 30 RBIs.
Advertisement
The A’s (53-71) have lost seven of their past eight games and are in fourth place in the American League West – 19? games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers.
