Players Warned Morrison About Twitter Comments Before Marlins' Demotion

Agent Fred Wray yesterday said that the MLBPA “intends to investigate the decision” of the Marlins to send his client LF Logan Morrison to their Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans Saturday, but “people close to the situation don't think the union will find any grounds for a grievance, even though Morrison was demoted just hours after he refused to attend a team-sponsored event with season-ticket holders,” according to Joe Capozzi of the PALM BEACH POST. Some Marlins players privately said that Morrison “has been so outspoken that he had all but invited management to punish him.” The players said that Morrison “should have taken more seriously a comment made in May by team president David Samson, who was concerned about off-color remarks Morrison had made on Twitter.” Samson in May said, "I've told Logan, no one will care about his tweets if they're coming from New Orleans.” The players said that they had warned Morrison to “tone down his comments and his demeanor.” One player said, "In five years, when you're a stud, that's when you can get away with that. It was a perfect time for them to do it because we're out of (the race).” Capozzi notes during Sunday’s game against the Giants, Marlins TV analyst Tommy Hutton “criticized Morrison's demotion.” But yesterday he said that the “decision could have some merit” (PALM BEACH POST, 8/16). Marlins C John Buck said, "I don't think anybody's telling him not to do the things that he does. I think it's, just don't let it be the main focus of who you are, because you're a pretty dang good baseball player” (MIAMIHERALD.com, 8/15).

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TWEET: MLB Network's Dan Plesac said, "This is another lesson on how dangerous the social media can be." Plesac: "You come into an organization, and we all want to be liked and we all want to be popular. But I think that he took this to another level. The bottom line is this: Your performance on the field is going to dictate what comes your way off the field or how popular that you are. I think this is a very valuable lesson and I would assume that it is going to resonate throughout that entire Marlins’ organization" ("MLB Tonight Live," MLB Network, 8/15). ESPN's Jim Rome said Morrison's Twitter feed “may not be the only reason, but I’m guessing if he weren’t on Twitter he would still be up with the Marlins." Rome: "They didn’t send him down there to work on his game. They sent him down there to work on his attitude. They’re looking to send him a message, message being, ‘Keep your mouth shut. When we want your opinion we’ll ask for it, and focus on baseball’” (“Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN, 8/15). But ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said the demotion was “punitive.” Wilbon: “I don’t see how this can stand given the players’ union and how they flex in baseball” (“PTI,” ESPN, 8/15).