Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander apparently isn’t a big fan of Detroit Free Press Tigers beat writer Anthony Fenech.
In the wake of last night’s 2-1 Tigers win over their former ace, JV was “adamant” that he wouldn’t talk to anyone from the press inside the Astros clubhouse if Fenech was present. As a result, the Tigers beat writer whose been with the paper since 2015 was banned from the locker room while Verlander was taking questions.
The Astros blocked Free Press writer Anthony Fenech at Verlander’s request, according to Gene Dias, Astros vice president of communications. Dias said Verlander was “adamant” that he would not speak to any credentialed media while Fenech was present.
The above picture shows two Astros employees standing guard in front of the Houston club house preventing Fenech — who is credentialed through the BBWAA — from accessing the post game pressers.
According to the Free Press, Fenech was allowed into the Astros club house after Verlander’s session was over however when the Free Press writer approached JV for some comment on the game Verlander responded saying, “I’m not answering any of your questions” before walking away.
It’s unclear what the Free Press will do in response to this however the Paper is reporting that the move by Verlander and the Astros may violate Section 2 of the Regular Season Club/Media Relations Guidelines in the collective bargaining agreement.
“Blocking a working reporter from doing his job is unprofessional, disappointing and intolerable,” Free Press executive editor Peter Bhatia said. “We will be protesting to MLB and the Astros.”
Wednesday’s incident came hours after Dias told Fenech that the Astros preferred he not attend Verlander’s postgame media session. It also came a day after Verlander refused to speak to credentialed media in a group setting with Fenech present.
Preventing media access runs countercurrent to the mission of the BBWAA, which was established in 1908 to “ensure proper working conditions in press boxes and clubhouses, and to ensure its members have access to players and others in the game so members’ reporting can be accurate, fair and complete.”
In addition, preventing a reporter from entering the clubhouse on time could violate Section 2 of the Regular Season Club/Media Relations Guidelines in the collective bargaining agreement, which gives working media access to both clubhouses “no later than 10 minutes following the final out of each game.” In Wednesday’s case, the Free Press was admitted 19 minutes after the game ended and six minutes later than other credentialed media.
Also, Section 6 of the guidelines requires players to be “available to the media before and after games for interviews.” It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Astros’ decision to delay Fenech’s access to Verlander would violate the rule.
There was no comment from Fenech afterwards, only this tweet.
🚨 Verlander responds
Update 8/22 at 11:55 am ET: Verlander has responded on Twitter claiming he reached out to the Free Press about Fenech citing his “unethical behavior in the past”.
Meanwhile, Tony Paul of the Detroit News has some choice words for the Astros and Verlander.
🗣 MLB Responds, sides with Free Press
Update 8/22 at 2:57 am ET: The MLB responded to the situation involving the Astros and Justin Verlander blocking the Detroit Free Press’ Anthony Fenech in the wake of Houston’s 2-1 loss to the Tigers Wednesday night. According to a statement, the MLB says that Fenech should have been allowed access to the club house during Verlander’s media availability confirming a violation of the CBA.
