The trials and tribulations of Tigers outfielder Anthony Gose have been a hot topic of conversation lately. Gose got into an argument with Triple-A Toledo manager Lloyd McClendon earlier this month, resulting in his being pulled from the game that day and a benching in the second game of a doubleheader. He didn’t show up for his team’s game the next day.
The Tigers’ brass decided to hand down a pseudo-suspension which ran into the All-Star break, and demoted him to Double-A Erie. The organization would’ve been justified in releasing Gose, but it instead allowed him the chance to redeem himself after removing him from a potentially toxic environment.
Gose isn’t taking advantage of that opportunity. Morgan Beard, a sports anchor with JET-TV 24 and FOX 66, reports that Gose has refused to communicate with the media, saying, “I hate all media.” Beard adds that Gose also had “choice words.”
Some in the media think players should always be available to speak to the media. I happen to be one who doesn’t, and I often side with players who receive criticism for doing so. That being said, there’s a way to deny press access without being condescending and rude about it. Gose, if he wasn’t in the mood to speak to reporters, could have simply said, “Let’s talk another time. Right now isn’t a great time for me.”
Gose already has red marks on his record for his disagreement with McClendon. He had a .521 OPS at Triple-A and has just one single in 13 at-bats at Double-A. Across parts of five seasons in the majors, Gose has a .656 OPS. He has some skills, but he’s quickly running out of chances. It’s tough enough to entice a team when you can’t hit, steal bases inefficiently, and run circuitous routes. Add insubordination and conflicts with the media to that equation, and it’ll be tough for him to procure another contract if the Tigers run out of patience.