A representative of the Arizona Diamondbacks issued a statement to The Arizona Republic on Wednesday addressing critical remarks made about the team by San Francisco Giants broadcaster Jon Miller during a spring training game over the weekend.
Miller ripped the Diamondbacks’ media relations department on Saturday, saying that the team did not provide information on their split-squad team before the Giants vs. Diamondbacks game at Scottsdale Stadium, calling the Diamondbacks a “sandlot team” and “bush league” because of it during his broadcast.
Jaclynne Brown, Senior Vice President of Content and Communications, sent a statement to The Republic refuting Miller’s comments.
“It is unfortunate that he took this perspective,” the statement read. “A member of our PR staff, in fact, was on site and on hand for any questions, and we provided the press box with our standard collateral as we always do. Several of us, including Derrick (Hall, Diamondbacks President and CEO) and myself, had conversations with our peers and the top executives at the Giants, all of whom apologized profusely. I am proud of my team, we have put this behind us and look forward to continuing to exhibit professionalism, service, and integrity in our roles.”
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Miller’s comments about the Diamondbacks made waves on social media and in stories earlier this week.
“I have to guess the D-Backs decided the heck with the big leagues, let’s just not be a big-league team for the split-squad (game),” Miller said during his broadcast of the game.
He continued: “They have sent no public relations people over here, no information about who the manager is or anything at all about it. If they don’t want to be a big-league team we’ll just treat them like a sandlot team. They gave us no information about anything. So, one of those guys in a red shirt is managing and one of their right-handers is on the mound.
“There are certain things that go along with being a big-league team. … I did a little homework on what little we have, which is nothing whatsoever from the bush league D-Backs.”
The Diamondbacks ended up winning the game Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium, 9-5.
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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