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The altercation between Danny Valencia and Billy Butler that has caused Butler to miss the last two games, according to San Francisco Chronicle A’s beat writer Susan Slusser, has now entered the public sphere, with teammates current and former vouching for Valencia’s personality and remaining conspicuously silent on Butler.
Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer tweeted this as Slusser’s story began to percolate through baseball media:
Don't understand all the negativity towards Danny Valencia. One of the better teammates/friends I've had in this game.
— Eric Hosmer (@TheRealHos35) August 22, 2016
Hosmer shared the Royals clubhouse with Valencia for the first half of Kansas City’s AL pennant winning 2014 campaign and was Butler’s teammate for four seasons.
Coco Crisp, not exactly a happy camper himself in the A’s clubhouse, added this in reply:
I feel the same, Danny has been one of my favorite teammates as well. Solid guy and a hard worker. https://t.co/Bt7f3GAlCY
— Covelli Crisp (@Coco_Crisp) August 22, 2016
A’s first baseman Yonder Alonso also tweeted out support for Alonso in this since-deleted tweet (h/t Joe Serrato):
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I’ll leave it to the discerning reader how to interpret that all three have played with both Valencia and Butler.