Didnât expect Jake Arrieta vs. Carlos Santana to be a thing in 2019, but here we are.
Last night, Santana, who was traded this summer after just one season in Philadelphia, took to Twitter to address recent Arrieta comments claiming the Philliesâ clubhouse was a better place without him:
Hereâs what Arrieta said to annoy Santana, via a Matt Breen newsletter at the Inquirer:
The Phillies began the season with questions about their clubhouse dynamics after Carlos Santana revealed during spring training that he smashed a TV because the players were playing too many video games. The Phillies may not have reached the playoffs, but the clubhouse seemed like a better environment.
âWell, the culture was better here this year without him,â Arrieta said. âI can tell you that.â
How so?
âWhy it was better without Santana? We had better guys in the clubhouse,â Arrieta said. âThatâs it. A lot more veteran presence.â
The TV thing was an interesting story that came out at the end of last year. Arrieta then came out in March and said there was some âuntruthâ to that, claiming that the video game culture was âsomething that I would not allow and a majority of the guys on the team would not allow.â
Via Jim Salisbury, seven months ago:
âThere was a lot of video-game playing and I was a part of it, too, but well in advance of the game â and that was something that we bonded over. It brought us close together and it was something we had in common. It was fun. But as far as during the game, and Iâve talked to a bunch of our guys, I do not believe that was taking place.â
Arrieta went on to say that Santana did his damage late at night, well after most of the players had departed.
Regardless of what actually happened with the TV-smashing incident, the Santana shade in that tweet is interesting. Seems pretty obvious they didnât like each other. And Arrieta comes off kind of corny talking about a guy who isnât even here anymore. Just my take.