A’s ready to move on after Billy Butler’s apology for fight
With Billy Butler’s apology for his actions in last week’s clubhouse fight with Danny Valencia, the A’s hope to turn the page on an unfortunate event in a bummer of a season.
Butler, who is on the seven-day concussion disabled list after taking a blow from Valencia off his temple, acknowledged before Oakland’s 5-1 win over Cleveland on Wednesday that the frustrations of a poor year played a role in Friday’s incident in Chicago.
“Especially when we’re having a tough season like we are, these things get magnified,” said Butler, who emphasized that as a veteran player on a young team, he needs to show better leadership.
Butler said he shares blame for the fight, which, as The Chronicle first reported Monday, began when Butler told a shoe-company representative that Valencia was wearing spikes he was not supposed to, contrary to Valencia’s claims.
According to witnesses, Butler went so far as to suggest the company should end Valencia’s endorsement deal.
Words were exchanged and Valencia took a swing at Butler, who said, “It wasn’t a very long fight” and added that he believes Valencia’s punch was “a reaction.”
Butler has apologized to his teammates individually, as well as coaches, manager Bob Melvin and the front office.
“I think that’s the final step in let’s just get past this and move forward now,” Melvin said of Butler’s apology.
Butler, who hit in the batting cage Tuesday and Wednesday, is eligible to come off the DL on Monday and is likely to take a concussion test in St. Louis over the weekend.
According to one source, the fines were between $5,000 and $10,000.
Butler said he wanted to wait to talk to reporters until his thoughts were clearer as he recovers from the head injury.