Wonder how this is going to play out?
Well, Garza is p-o'd and maybe he should be. But on the other hand he said it. He's had a bad year and he's the one getting paid to make the pitches and he hasn't. So he should keep quiet work hard and be a good teammate. Shouldda took the bullpen offer too. Hopefully, 2016 will be a different and year for him and the Crew.
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If they wanted him him to pitch in the bullpen, it shouldn't have been an option.
Garza had all of the say in the situation and it was his poor performance that sealed his fate. If he refuses to go to the pen then stop giving him paychecks.
From all reports, he didn't refuse to do something the Brewers asked him to do, he chose option B the Brewers presented to him. Can't get mad at Garza for taking one of the options he was given.
Be mad at him for sucking as a pitcher
According to an article posted on the Brewers website Melvin said the Brewers asked Garza to pitch the remainder of the season out of the bullpen, and Garza refused.
Another article on the site states that it remains unclear how Garza would occupy himself during the remainder of the season.
Garza, 6-14 this season with a 5.63 ERA, refused an offer to pitch out of the bullpen.
"Matt, your not going to start, but you can pitch out of the pen if you like."
"No."
"OK."
That is how an offer works. The other option (which would have been perfectly acceptable for the Brewers to exercise) would be;
"Matt, you aren't going to start anymore this year because you suck. You will have to finish out the year mopping up when we are up or down by 6 runs or more."
"I refuse!"
"You are a dick."
I don't know why the Crew presented it as an offer, but you can't get mad at a guy for choosing "yes" or "no" when the option was "yes" or "no."
Sounds like he also had the option to take his ball and go home, but is sticking with the team. I think it would be pretty ****ty of him to leave, so I am glad to hear he is hanging out with the kids for awhile. I've never heard of him being a malcontent or bad teammate, so I guess it would make more sense to be pissed at him for giving up so damn many runs rather than manufacturing a "bad teammate" angle.
I don't think he should have declined the offer to go to the bullpen. I think he should do whatever is asked of him while under contract.
I think he should be amicable to pitch, pinch run, or sweep the floor if the organization told him too.
He was asked (while under contract) to make a choice, which he did.
Wondering if Melvin could have handled this differently? Then again, it seems like Melvin may be giving some "cover" to deflect harsh criticisms of Garza.
Bottom-line, I wouldn't bet on Garza being a Brewer this time next season...or earlier.
I fully expect Garza to be on the block all offseason but they would be selling quite low. This year has been by far the worst of his career and there is no reason not to expect a bounce back season next year. The Crew's best bet with him is to allow him to regroup and flip him at the deadline in 2016.
Regarding his outburst, it has appeared that he is a good teammate. A bit goofy and that is likely causing his pride to take over.
