An independent investigation “did not uncover any credible evidence” to support allegations by Dr. Lorena Martin that high-placed Mariners employees made racist comments and improperly fired certain Latino employees, as Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times reports.
Martin served as director of high performance for the Mariners until she was terminated last October. Thereafter, Martin publicly alleged that GM Jerry Dipoto, manager Scott Servais, and director of player development Andy McKay had used language labeling Latino players “lazy, dumb, and stupid” and had fired Dominican trainers “because of their color/race.” Major League Baseball launched an investigation into the allegations, hiring the law firm Epstein Becker Green to conduct it.
In light of the investigation’s findings, which were reached by the firm after it conducted seventeen interviews, it seems the commissioner’s office will not pursue any disciplinary action against the Mariners organization under the league’s workplace code of conduct. However, the conclusion of the league inquiry does not resolve the still-pending lawsuit that Martin brought against the organization regarding her termination.
For her part, Martin issued a statement casting doubt on the process. As she notes, the lead attorney on the matter, Jennifer Gefsky, has deep ties to Major League Baseball and commissioner Rob Manfred. Per Martin, Gefsky and her firm focused mostly on speaking with current Mariners employees and did not contact “corroborative witnesses” that she identified during her own interview. Additionally, referring to her prior allegations, Martin says that Gefsky “chose not to speak with any of the Dominican trainers who were fired who could attest to the discriminatory conduct.”
it’s probably a good idea to lock the comments section on this one.
In my opinion, this story does not belong on MLBTR. Please dont fan the flames.
We covered the initial allegations, in large part because they were made against the front office, which we felt brought it within our orbit.
You were right to cover it. Doesn’t mean it’s a pleasant topic or that the comments are going to be wonderful
Please DON’T lock the comments.
Right, we wouldn’t want you to be exposed to any facts that might upset your worldview. Better to preserve the bubble and remain ignorant
please close the comment section on this one before it gets dark in here
Oh my gosh someone might say something you disagree with. Run and hide!
All I want to know is will Jeff commit to provide therapy puppies for the easily offended?
Facetious side note: Still trying to get my 100 lb. German Shepherd his “comfort dog” status.
its about people being sexist and racist, you neophyte clown
Who was making sexist or racist comments?
Or is it just the idea of that happening that has you so upset you need to silence an entire discussion?
Neophyte; a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.. So I’m a new to the subject clown? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Maybe stick to words you actually know the definition of perhaps? I also like how its ok for you to be a meanie head and call people names, but so important to stop others from being “sexist and racist”. You’ve really got things figured out you wunderkind you!
I think you proved the original point that this thread would get bad.
Hi, Jimmy.
And they found no evidence that there was any sexism or racism….so drop it
Do some digging on the m’s front office and you’ll find why “no evidence” is a laughable thing to say about this org. And I’m a lifer if a fan, but have been continually let down, disappointed in, and disgusted by the way this organization conducts themselves. You’ll find out just where the guilt lies when they settle this lawsuit and won’t disclose the details.
So you warn against “dark” comments, then start calling people names and insulting them. Projecting much?
LOL. The team investigated itself, right?
I think the post covers what actually occurred.
They didn’t interview any of the terminated employees, but sure, it was a fair investigation. Smh
Actually, the article indicates that they interviewed Martin, but not the Dominican trainers. That certainly seems like it’s not a thorough job, but that is not “didn’t interview any of the terminated employees”.
I’m not sure that Martin’s implication that Gefsky is close to MLB means anything or that the investigation is tainted because of it. What frequently happens in volatile situations like this is they hire people they’ve worked with and who they trust.
As I mentioned above, it was perhaps not the most thorough investigation, but not knowing what the trainers were alleged by Martin to have known factually (as opposed to being able to provide hearsay evidence) no one here knows enough of the actual facts to really say.
*Two terminated employees, Leonardo Santiago and Jose Valdez. Another Dominican trainer remains and I would be surprised if more weren’t hired, as they have a huge academy in the DR.
Their statements were contradicting as well, as they claimed McKay simply wasn’t around. Santiago:
“….Andy McKay never came by my office. He never said anything to me. He never looked for a way to see how I worked, to see if I was good or bad at what I did.” -Santiago.
Well, if he wasn’t there and didn’t interact with them, how was there “racist” conduct? They suggest that Jerry and McKay spoke with everyone but them. But Santiago was actually promoted by McKay in April and. Valdez was hired at that time upon recommendation by Santiago. Their claims came after Dr. Martin’s allegations and had spoken with her directly.
.
The Mariners did offer explanations for their contracts not being renewed and you can bet that those explanations were seen by investigators. It’s also important to understand that there are far more witnesses, including Manny Acta, that support the organizations claims. Manny’s testimony is especially significant because he’s from the DR and a coach/former manager. Dr. Martin alleges that Scott Servais stated that you don’t see Latino coaches or managers for a reason (or something of that nature), suggesting that they’re lazy, dump, etc..
Let’s not forget that the Mariners have made serious allegations against her as well. They’re suggesting the trouble started with her inability to respect and work with the team’s medical staff and that she tried to bypass/replace treatments with her own ideas for recovery and training.
Personally, it sounds like she has taken things out of context, if not completely fabricated them, and is simply lashing out in bitterness. If this goes to court, rather than an arbitrator, she could see a countersuit thrown at her and probably will.
Stevil, get out of here with your research, facts, and quotes. This is the place for jumping to conclusions and making assumptions!
Gavinrender, you wrote that last post as if asking for from the media. Amazing!
That should be how it is. If you have no evidence, you cant do anything more about it
Anyone—including me—can be “lazy, dumb, and stupid.” I can’t sue you for calling me that. This seems to be a case of a bitter social justice warrior with unchecked personal problems directing venom at others. One hopes she gets the help she needs.
Dimitrios — that’s not what she is charging. Have you been paying attention? She is saying the remarks were specifically targeted towards Latinos, including epithets that indicate as much. That is a much DIFFERENT take than what you are indicating.
A bunch of Archie Bunkers coming out of hiding
Speaks volumes about Jeff Todd allowing it to continue.
You guys are off the rails. Did the words social justice warrior offend you?
Coming from a guy who was offended that I have anti in my name, so you had to be “pro”. Who’s the snowflake???
What exactly is he “allowing?”
An opinion that differs from your own?
Grow up….
So this seems to me like one of those, “they did some shady things but cant prove it beyond a reasonable doubt”.
Or even “with reasonable evidence” at all.
I’ve heard you beat your wife, we just can’t prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. Also, “beyond reasonable doubt” isn’t even the standard in civil trials
we’re gonna get a lot of armchair detectives on this post.
be ready.
I think i’m going to try to leave and not come back to this one. Reading these comments will make my head explode.
Says the person with the handle “pinkerton,” which was the most notoriously awful private detective group in United States history, essentially coming out of the old runaway slave detective groups and the old union busting/infiltration groups.
Maybe he/she is a Weezer fan and doesn’t know the history behind the Pinkertons and how awful they were?
The Pinkerton Group was really the first detective agency in the country.They made many mistakes,and very serious ones,but were the best at the time.
They lost several spies to the Confederacy.
It is very important to rate people in history with the times that they were in.
From what we can tell, it sounds like both parties were at fault. Probably some of those things that Martin described actually did happen, but she probably did get fired for the reasons that the M’s described.
Idk, it’s too hard to really tell. You can’t give a punishment here
Any organization that thinks it needs a Director of High Performance is already dysfunctional, so these unintended consequences are predictable.
Best comment
Often times, things just can not be proven as true or false. I’ve no idea if racist remarks, such as Martin claims, happened or not. This seems like a perfect example of he said, she said.
So there’s a legitimate question as to how independent the “independent” investigation actually was.
This story doesn’t appear to be going away soon.
I have read several places the Lakers were glad to get rid of her in comments sections, but have never read an article stating this. Anyone have any insight on this.
It’s all over in articles from when the M’s hired and fired her. Here is a little bit from this site. Google it if you want to know more, like I said it’s all over. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/11/mariners-accusations-derogatory-racist-remarks-dipoto-servais-mckay-lorena-martin.html
idk it doesn’t really surprise me that there wasn’t credible evidence.. teams and the front offices realize that Latin players are key in building the best team possible. so it’s hard for me to believe that they would jeopardize any of that over some ignorant racist remarks. but then again, it has happened in sports before and it goes on in big business all the time. i just wonder if she was bitter about being let go.
” i just wonder if she was bitter about being let go.”
Ya think? 😉
In today’s world. today’s key word to getting attention after being let go for poor performance seems to be racist, LBGT, etc.. How many times to we see it?
Is it true some times? Sure, but often times it’s just A sad excuse played up due to a cause trumped up over the last half dozen years. Anybody raised a stink because of all the scouts being canned the last few years in the game, or switching teams and being canned yet again? I mean both latino and black there as well? Nope.. Why this one case with almost certain trumped up charges? She’s already been ran out of other organizations before?
Is it because it’s a “double-no-no” latino and a lady?
Just be fair about all of these minority hiring/firings and watch the long time people that were in the game for decades if want pity, such as the latino/colored scouts who spent a lifetime and are in trouble finding jobs if you want to have pity and could be getting the shaft, not someone with an axe to grind.
Reads: Employee gets fired and blames racism rather than just accepting that maybe the team realized that a “director of high performance” sounds like an unnecessary position.
I hope they sue her into oblivion for the false allegations.
*Hot Takes*
She has a lawsuit pending against the team. It can make counterclaims if it wishes.
Gotta love the up and down votes, Jeff. LOL. You post something that is a simple statement of facts and someone doesn’t like it. Sheesh.
That would require more than a MLB internal investigation.
Truth isn’t truth
It’s pretty exceptional to create a leadership position like this, choose and hire your candidate with a 3 year contract and fire them in one year. If you don’t have grounds for terminating this type of arrangement, you’re going to be sued, and you’re going to lose.
The Mariners have given very valid reasons for the termination such as:
1. Martin misrepresenting herself as a medical doctor to staff.
2. Martin performing her own medical treatment regimens, despite being unlicensed to treat ailments.
3. Ignoring doctors orders and treatments regimens.
4. Providing prescription medications to players without prescriptions.
Seems like a pretty good link.
https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/article223711675.html
I think it’s going to be awfully hard for her to win her case in court, the Mariners’ attorneys will no doubt make a very compelling argument “if they were so sexist and racist, whey did they hire her and give her a 3 year contract to start with?”
It’s still worth noting there may well be a sexist/racist environment in the Mariners’ organization despite the investigation not uncovering anything. Especially since there are so many complaints to investigate and investigators apparently ignored key witnesses.
Fired employee’s are hardly always the beacons of truth.
mantras, as I mentioned above, she alleges they are key witnesses, but we do not know enough to say that for certain.
Thanks for the post and link.
Insisting that there might still be a racist culture there, despite admitting that there is no evidence of it, is incredibly dishonest and irresponsible on your part. Should we insist that you might well beat your wife? I mean, there’s no evidence, but that doesn’t mean you don’t beat her
Wouldn’t happen in Oakland.
Of course not. They don’t have money for a “director” of any kind.
Some people are brought into an organization and they immediately weaken the team.
From the outside, this is likely what happened.
The Mariners should sue her for defamation. Welding false racism charges can have a long term negative impact on their business and ability to recruit Latino players.
Even though they were exonerated, chances are most casual fans and news readers only saw the story about the allegations.
Yeah so keep the story going by suing her and make sure more people hear about it and she stays in the news. good thing you don’t run the M’s or they would never get over this.
Yes they should try to get more people hear about their exoneration. Why would they want to sweep it under the rug?
If I was falsely accused, I’d want everyone to know I was innocent. More people hearing about this is good for them, not bad. And if she has to pay them a few hundred grand, it just might stop the plague of false accusations that PC culture has unleashed
The problem with that, is it looks like retaliation.
And that can cost more.
They need to be patient, and move on.
They can’t move on. The Independent Investigation by MLB has nothing to do her Lawsuit vs the M’s
they didn’t investigate key witnesses. Shut your trap
They have to have a reason, or further evidence to speak with a key witness. “She told me to” isn’t enough of a reason.
Oh, right. The other disgruntled former employees.
Typical sour grapes story. Gets fired and accuses everyone else of wrong doing. Does she really think The GM and the manager would label certain players lazy? They have to face and deal with these players everyday. She was trouble from Spring Training going forward.
You basically can’t fire a minority these days without this happening. It’s why I wouldn’t blame any company for just deciding to only hire white men from now on
She’ll have her day in court per the pending lawsuit. Can’t wait for the “discovery” proceedings.
She’ll try to get them to settle precisely to avoid discovery, which would humiliate her. It’s a common tactic, and it’s why she’s fighting this campaign in the media. She hopes if she creates enough bad publicity they’ll just cut her a check
My take as well. She seemingly wanted to go for the jugular knowing that this type of allegation would be damaging. Racism is obviously nefarious but false claims of it are horrific as well.
Racism is a strong word and raises lots of emotions, totally horrific to be wrongly accused.
Alfrz, exactly, and it is a charge that is tossed around like candy in today’s world.
She is suing for monetary damages, that is what her lawsuit is about, and this MLB investigation does not help her.
I have zero idea if what she alleges is true,
Racism exists in today’s world, but with a guy like DiPoto who has been in the game for years and worked for a Latino owner for years, it seems strange that this kind of behavior did not manifest itself earlier in his career.
Who had “got fired, was mad, lied about racist remarks being made” as their bet?
I’m a hispanic who has been profiled in my fair share of situations, but to be clear it does seem a little ridiculous for her to expect the ones who were ‘wronged’ to be interviewed. It can’t become a he said/she said situation, you have to examine the workplace and the people who the allegations are brought against. That being said if nothing was found to be credible or concrete, that’s that. Let’s get that counter-suit.
She already has lawsuit against the Mariners, separate from the Independent investigation, so it’s far from over.
This story needed to be covered. Might believe it if the employee said one person said it, but three of them, all said basically the same thing? Sounds strange
so….does this mean Realmuto will be traded?
Oh man…. the world we live in today. Accusations > Reality. Plain and simple. An allegation of abuse, racism, sexism, etc is all you need to bring someone down a few pegs. Just an allegation. Not evidence. Not criminal charges. Not a guilty verdict. Just…. “hey, this guy/girl is racist….”
Aannnnnddddd BOOM. Ignite the fires. Sad sad sad times we live in. Glad this investigation found no evidence (shocking)…. but make no mistake, the mariners will settle in the lawsuit she brings against them. While some “geniuses” out there believe that will be an admission and evidence of guilt, the reality (to those who know how those things work) is that VERY VERY often, it is far easier just to settle the matter (financially, publicity, etc). They will settle. And it’s a shame they will have to.
If someone accuses someone of something in this country we investigate them. That’s what happened and nothing was found to be wrong. She didn’t accuse the M’s of something and they were immediately found guilty.
Realgone2 that was verbally abusive to suggest I’m stupid. Online bullying. Launch the investigation.
I edited the personal attacks out of your comment. Please try to avoid that in the future. I think your point is better made without them, anyway.
I understand why for the sake of the site. Personally, I think let the snake show itself so we now know what we are dealing with. To keep the snake hidden is to be just as deceitful as the snake.
Don’t be so sure that they will settle as to most people(fans included) would think that the M’s are partially culpable.If her evidence is flimsy,they almost certainly will win.You are correct 95% of the time,but the M’s have the resources to go to trial,and too much to lose with a partial smear like that.
The total facts should come out at trial.
If her evidence is flimsy the counter suit could be devastating to her.
Thoughtcrime
I mean, realistically how do you find “credible evidence” that somebody said something? Unless it’s in writing or recorded or you have dozens of witnesses you can’t prove anything. If it’s only the accusers word against yours the investigation can’t go anywhere.
That’s why if you and someone else have a conversation and nobody else is around then it really wasn’t said.
People telling mlbtr to close comment section? Wow. What are they so afraid of? Closed dialogue is a major reason there is such a divide in this country. And remember, PC is basically Fascism with good manors.
Frisco — PC is not fascism with good manners. Quit being melodramatic. Opening up dialogue is a good idea and is helpful, but only if people are willing to respectfully listen and not get defensive and lash out with offensive remarks.
There are good things that can come out of political correctness, you know like not calling women “toots” or “girl” or slapping their bottom as they walk by or not making suggestive remarks at them during a business meeting. Or how about ending messed up Indian mascots, that depict an entire tribe or race of people? Can it go too far? Yeah. Of course (vertically challenged versus short). But when you throw out the baby with bathwater, you arm the racists, misogynists, and bigots. Be respectful to people. Change your wording if it offends a group of people (and the request seems reasonable). Compassion. Love. Respect. Golden Rule. Those kind of things. That too difficult?
Well said Trillaryrumpus hump. PC culture is a reaction to bigotry. And there is no “PC culture” only a series of requests and changes within culture to make marginalized people more comfortable. Have certain requests gone too far? Yeah. And the backlash against this isn’t helpful as it tends to scream out at all requests, even ones that are reasonable. And then you get the polarizing back and forth.
Compassion. Listening. Respect. That should be simple enough.
Yeah, reaction to bigotry (that they have to invent)
Slapping a woman as they walk by is already assault…don’t need PC culture for that one.
PC culture is the bigotry
PC culture is a cancer. When you say bigotry, you’re really saying “ideas I disagree with and are therefore racist”.
Frisco, what good manners?
PC is not fascism with good manners. When have you ever seen a PC person with good manners?
Is there racism in this world? Absolutely. But credibility issues when the race card gets tossed out indiscriminately to fit a personal narrative is getting entirely too frequent and permanently discredits the actual problem.
When every accusation gets proved false, it means there is no actual problem
Lawfully, the Mariners are not guilty for lack of evidence. Latino players and employees might still have this idea of racism in the back of their head. Martin’s comments, whether true or not, has done a large amount of damage.
She’s full of it. Her credentials are fake, she sucked at her job and got canned. Angry women is angry and the MULTIPLE investigations continue to show nothing.
Hey big daddy,
You don’t know the whole story. Do angry women scare you? Do they threaten you? Look how you are reacting.
Look at how you’re reacting.
Bingo. Triggered eh?
of course they’re not gonna find any evidence. It’s a literal case of he said, she said. Did FO personnel used derogatory terms to describe Hispanic players? I’m sure they have done so at some time, even if it is joking amongst themselves. But that doesn’t mean that we can assume they also fired trainers because of their race.
Why was my comment about the Cubs needing to be investigated next deleted?
Because it had nothing to do with this post and because the emails in that case did not relate to the actual operation of the team.
It’s a similar issue (one of racism by the ownership group) in the same sport… how does it have “nothing to do with this post”? The former Clippers owner was far removed from basketball ops and his comments had nothing to do with the actual operation of the team either. I won’t die on this hill but your response is interesting…
Maybe they didn’t interview the trainers after they found Martin’s testimony unreliable.
Only thing the mariners are guilty of is firing her, and last time I checked that’s perfectly normal.
The firm cannot be considered independent – it was chosen by Rob Manfred, who was chosen for his job by the MLB Owners. He represents them.
Whether what she is claiming is true or not, it really is her v MLB. She’s not going to win that fight.
How is anyone still surprised by this? Literally none of these accusations ever turns out to be true. Another person crying racism in the hope of cashing in. Just like every single other time