Thursday Bantering: Writer feud, beer and the All-Star game

Following the publication of an article about Josh Donaldson by Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun, Arden Zwelling criticized the piece, leading to an early-morning Twitter rant from Buffery on Wednesday.

The incident, which stems from an article with extensive quotes from Donaldson about Toronto’s lineup, escalated when Zwelling called the article inaccurate on the Jeff Blair Show (5:40).

“The [quote] was taken out of context,” Zwelling said on the show. “I think that Josh Donaldson was asked one question, responded to it, and then what he said was represented as if he was saying it in response to a different type of question.”

“I do think that what Josh Donaldson said was misrepresented, and Josh has actually expressed that to the person who wrote that.”

In response to the comments, Buffery took to Twitter.

“Next time you throw me under the bus, feel free to use my name,” Buffery tweeted. “You weren’t even there when Rosie [DiManno] and I talked to Donaldson. How the [expletive] can you say my piece was taken out of context and Donaldson was misrepresented. You weren’t even there.

“Feel free to tell the listeners that you weren’t actually part of the [conversation] between player and journalist.”

Buffery took to Twitter because “[Zwelling] goes public on the radio, I go on Twitter,” as he told BluebirdBanter. Buffery aired his grievances in the manner he did because he was, for lack of a better word, mad.

The man who threw a beer can onto the field in the 2016 AL wildcard game has been granted a conditional discharge. His punishments, in addition to a fine and 12-month probation, include a ban from Major League Baseball games for one year and 200 hours of community service.

Five Blue Jay farmhands currently playing for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats will play in the Eastern League All-Star game, as the final rosters were announced last night. Conner Greene, Dusty Isaacs, Danny Jansen, Gunnar Heidt and Ryan McBroom will all be at the event, hosted at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, the home of the Fisher Cats.

The Blue Jays signed Michael Saunders to a minor-league deal Tuesday afternoon, following rumours about the signing the day before. Saunders will report to triple-A Buffalo.

Saunders was released by the Philadelphia Phillies early last week after hitting .205 in exactly 200 plate appearances for the NL team. Amid a crowded left-field picture, it seems unlikely that Saunders will see playing time at the major league level with his current quality of offense and defense.

The Blue Jays are among teams showing interest in catcher Miguel Montero, who was designated for assignment by the Cubs yesterday, per Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

Montero, after allowing seven stolen bases in a game against the Washington Nationals on Monday, commented that it was the Jake Arrieta’s fault, not Montero’s. His comment received mild criticism from other players and personnel, with general manager Theo Epstein calling Montero a “bad teammate.”

Other notes:

• Aaron Sanchez “felt great” in his last start and believes he can be ready for a major league appearance after his next rehab start, Ben Nicholson-Smith reports.
• Jeff Blair says that the Blue Jays haven’t decided whether to be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline. Blair said that his source would tell him by the second inning, but he hasn’t tweeted any rumours since.

Follow Mark on Twitter @MarkColley.