Mariners bench coach Manny Acta defends Scott Servais, front office after discrimination allegations
Nov 14, 2018, 1:30 PM
Manny Acta has been a member of the Mariners' coaching staff for three years. (AP)
(AP)
In an interview with The Seattle Times, Mariners bench coach Manny Acta has come out in defense of manager Scott Servais and other members of the team’s front office who have faced accusations of racial discrimination from the team’s former Director of High Performance, Dr. Lorena Martin.
Mariners deny former front office member’s allegation of discrimination
Acta, who is Dominican, told the Times in an article published online Wednesday afternoon that in his three years on Servais’ coaching staff, he has not seen hints of discrimination as alleged by Martin.
“Our clubhouse is probably the most diverse in the major leagues. We have people from all over the world. Scott goes out of his way to make people feel good, and treat everyone the same,” Acta said to the Times in a phone call from his home country, where he is general manager of the Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League. “He really cares about every single one of them. I’ve known Scott since 1989, when we were rooming on the road in the minor leagues. Out of 7 billion people in the world, he chose me to coach for him. That tells you right there he’s not capable of saying those things.”
Martin, who was relieved of her duties last month after just a year into a reported three-year contract, posted on social media Monday that Servais, general manager Jerry Dipoto and Director of Player Development Andy McKay called Latino players “lazy, dumb and stupid, especially the Dominicans.” In a Monday interview with The News Tribune, Martin also accused Dipoto of calling her a “cocky Latina” during spring training and Servais of telling her that you don’t see Latino catchers or managers in baseball because “they aren’t bright enough. They are dumb.”
Acta responded that if he had heard discriminatory comments like Martin is accusing from members of the Mariners, he would not be part of the organization.
“I have never heard those (comments) coming out of (Servais), and I would not put up with it, and would not work for an organization that thinks that way, being a Dominican myself,” he said. “… I’ve been in all those meetings, even closed-door meetings, and I’ve never heard those types of comments and would not tolerate that. I haven’t heard any negative comments about minorities.”
Acta added, “If I’m not smart, why does he want me on his coaching staff?’’ and that what he said in defense of Servais also “goes for Jerry and Andy.”
The MLB announced Tuesday that it is investigating the allegations made by Martin.
Listen: Shannon Drayer on M’s clubhouse culture, Martin’s accusations
