Nightengale’s Notebook: Ketel Marte going AWOL has D’backs teammates fuming

Nightengale's Notebook: Ketel Marte going AWOL has D'backs teammates fuming.

Key points

• The Guardians'.605 winning percentage in September/October since 2013 is the best in the American League, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs.
• The San Francisco Giants were 2, 208-0 in their history when leading by six or more runs in the ninth inning before playing the Cincinnati Reds.
• The last to do it was Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 2004.
• No one has ever won three consecutive Manager of the Year awards, but Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers could change that.
• There won't be an official announcement unless there's a lockout, just like in 2021.

Nightengale's Notebook: Ketel Marte going AWOL has D'backs teammates fuming. Bob Nightengale USA TODAY. MLB free agency overhaul could spark a winter signing frenzy.

MLB proposes free agency overhaul that could turn the Winter Meetings into a fast paced signing frenzy.

Ketel Marte, who abandoned the Arizona Diamondbacks two weeks ago and has yet to show his face at Chase Field, is projected to walk through the clubhouse Monday, apologize to his teammates, address the media and then try to save the team's season.

He has embarrassed the organization, infuriated a faction of the clubhouse, damaged the credibility of the front office and manager Torey Lovullo. Yet, he has has the ultimate power.

If Marte performs well, and the D-backs earn a playoff berth, he could save Lovullo's job and spare Mike Hazen, president of baseball operations.

If he struggles, the D-backs miss the postseason again for the eighth time in nine years, no one is safe.

Marte has that kind of power, thanks to the Diamondbacks enabling him over the years. Now, their careers may depend on him.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks could have halted Marte's behavior years ago, but always looked the other way. They could have traded him last winter and a number of times previously, but instead provided him two contract extensions, believing that would change things. He instead has created the Diamondbacks look like puppets.

Show up when you want. Bring your buddies on the road. Agitate hotel security. Frustrate teammates with your buddies eating alongside them in the clubhouse dining room. And play when you desire. It's the Marte Rules. One rule for him, one for the 25 other players.

"I've never seen anything like it, " one Diamondback player informed USA TODAY Sports.

If you're not going to discipline Marte, how are you going to fine any player who demonstrates up late for a team gathering? If you want to jog to first base instead of running out ground balls, how can you be pulled out of the game? You want to take a day off when you're perfectly healthy. This person can stop you?

In practice, the Diamondbacks believe that if they retaliate against Marte, or discipline him beyond brief stints on the restricted list when he went AWOL each of the past two years, they will lose him.

So, they instead choose to coddle him, indulge him, and tell the world how much they love him.

"One of the things that makes Ketel such an extraordinary player, " Lovullo remarked, "is that he goes to the beat of his own drum."

Well, by sitting back and letting him carry him on, Marte has ravaged the organization's image and reputation, and with 10-and-5 rights, he now has the ultimate control. The Diamondbacks can't even trade him now without his permission.

He's scheduled to return Monday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Chase Field, and all eyes in baseball will be watching the drama, curious to see if the D-backs just act like all is forgiven.

Former D-backs pitcher Greg Swindell tweeted last week: "D-backs should not put up with what's going on with Marte. D-backs should not allow him back."

Oh, he'll be back, and probable carrying on like nothing happened when he returns.

He's obtained the power, and we'll now see if the Diamondbacks continue to stand by, acting helpless to stop it.

Meanwhile, a number of team office-holders say they have been advised that the Major League portion of the winter meetings in December in San Diego probable will be canceled, but MLB remarked that no decision has been created. There won't be an official announcement unless there's a lockout, just like in 2021.

While no one knows the future of the 2027 season, one owner, one club president and one veteran player each predicted this week that the season will probable open in May, with the real bargaining on key economic matters happening when paychecks are missed in April.

Former Houston Astros GM James Click, vice president of baseball strategy with the Toronto Blue Jays since 2023, has emerged as a serious candidate for the Athletics GM opening.

While Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch still is beloved in the Houston Astros organization and has a solid relationship with owner Jim Crane, he has no interest at this time of filling their GM vacancy. He received a contract extension from the Tigers at the end of last season and wants to remain in the role.

In practice, the Astros are projected to hire a GM with a robust analytics background.

Chad Tracy may be the interim Boston Red Sox manager, but that job could become permanent once the season ends. He took a team that was going nowhere and morphed into a powerful playoff contender that will be a force in October.

For context, the Red Sox additionally realize that if they wait too long before extending him, he'll be the hottest managerial free agent – behind only his predecessor, Alex Cora.

Notably, the Brewers, who were predicted to win 84 games this year by MLB- gambling sites, once again have the majors' best record and are on pace to win a franchise-record 100. Murphy, 67, is baseball's toughest disciplinarian, unafraid to yank players in the middle of the game, in the middle of counts, or call out players in the media.

He removed rookie Cooper Pratt for lack of hustle last week in his latest example of discipline, and is why the Brewers have the utmost respect throughout the game.

We have a standard and an agreement for how we play here, '' Brewers veteran Christian Yelich remarked to journalists. We all know it. You have to be a certain kind of player to play for Murph and to play here. You have to be mentally tough and physically tough.

Notes Murphy: "I'm not trying to be Johnny Hardass. If you're trying to accomplish something tough, there's going to be pain, there's going to be sacrifice, and there's certainly going to be disagreement. You obtained to do your best to put standards that are believable, are authentic, and are best for the player."

For context, the only question now for Atlanta ace Chris Sale is what cap he wears in Cooperstown with the way he keeps pitching, going 13-9 with a 2.06 ERA, and giving Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski a run for the NL Cy Young award.

Sale, at 37 years and 150 days, became the sixth pitcher since 1900 at that age or older to pitch a shutout with at least 10 strikeouts and no walks in his 1-0, 11-strikeout gem against the Dodgers. The last to do it was Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 2004.

Meanwhile, the Chicago White have been living in the penthouse of the AL Central most of the season, but that object that's larger than it appears is the Cleveland Guardians.

For context, the Guardians'.605 winning percentage in September/October since 2013 is the best in the American League, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs.

Hard to believe that Yankees starter Cam Schlittler, in his first full season, tied the franchise record for most starts of permitting one or no runs in a game, last accomplished by Ron Guidry in 1978.

He additionally may be joining Guidry as a Cy Young award winner, and is no worse than a co-favorite to win the award with Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease.

Notably, the San Francisco Giants were 2, 208-0 in their history when leading by six or more runs in the ninth inning before playing the Cincinnati Reds. They are now 2, 208-1.

They have now lost 11 games with a lead in the ninth, the most in MLB.

Brewers starter Logan Henderson. This person walks barefoot in the outfield grass and takes a visit to the mound in the afternoon before his starts, may have began a new trend.

Taken together, the developments around nightengales Notebook: Ketel Marte going AWOL has Dbacks teammates fuming point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.