MLB CEO Admits to 'Unacceptable' Behavior After Controversial Video, Taking Leave
The San Francisco Giants began spring training hoping to find a road to a better season after going 73-89 in 2018, losing nine of their last 10 games.
But now, the Giants have bigger problems with their franchise than base hits and pitching.
CEO Larry Baer was caught on camera engaging in a physical altercation with his wife, Pam.
WARNING: Video includes graphic language.
TMZ, which first obtained and published the video, mostly stuck with the facts in their initial reports.
Social media took a decidedly more aggressive tone when addressing the incident.
This is abuse.
CW: physical abuse; language#larrybaer #domesticviolence pic.twitter.com/5oYCRi9pLB
— Jennifer Ann’s Group® (@stopTDV) March 2, 2019
It’s that aggression that threatens to create the biggest problem for the Giants organization.
The Board of Directors of San Francisco Baseball Associates, on behalf of the Giants ownership group, released a statement a statement on Twitter.
The statement included that Baer was contrite, having apologized and describing his own behavior in the March 1 incident as “unacceptable”.
Official statement from the Board of Directors. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/07IL5jDL9W
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) March 4, 2019
“Mr. Baer has acknowledged that his behavior was unacceptable, apologized to the organization and is committed to taking steps to make sure that this never happens again,” the statement reads.
“He has also requested, and the board has accepted, his request to take personal time away from the Giants beginning today. The Board has asked the Giants executive team to manage the day to day operations of the Club during this period, reporting directly to the Board.”
Major League Baseball is also monitoring the situation. Since Baer has not resigned, the ongoing investigation will continue to keep the Giants organization under a very close eye.
“Major League Baseball is taking the lead in gathering all facts surrounding the situation. The organization is cooperating fully with the process,” MLB said, according to TMZ
Baer has been in a high-level position with the Giants for a long time.
As TMZ notes, he was named chief operating officer in 1996, got a promotion to team president in 2008, then took over as CEO in 2012. He was heavily involved in the recruitment efforts of Bryce Harper before the star signed in Philadelphia.
The Giants said that the executive board will run the team in Baer’s absence; there is no word, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, that they will be making decisions on a permanent or long-term interim replacement.
Farhan Zaidi is the president of baseball operations for the Giants and will lead the executive team, becoming the closest thing the Giants have to a CEO as the season begins.
Zaidi is not, however, officially the “control person”, the person who officially represents the team to MLB and commissioner Rob Manfred.
Pam Baer releases statement through her SF attorney following altercation with husband Larry Baer this morning pic.twitter.com/THRrBgxkAW
— Evan Sernoffsky ? (@EvanSernoffsky) March 2, 2019
“Larry and I always have been and still are happily married,” Pam Baer said in a statement through her attorney.
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