Infielder attacks team offcials about their decision to drop him to minor leagues.
The Chicago Cubs have suspended infielder Ian Stewart for 10 games for comments about manager Dale Sveum that the player posted on Twitter.
Stewart was sent to Chicago minor-league affiliate Iowa in early May and earlier this week complained bitterly about his treatment on the social networking site.
“I think Dale doesn’t like me, and he’s running the show,” Stewart tweeted, adding that he expected the Cubs to “let me rott in AAA all season and then non tender me after.”
Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations for the Cubs, announced the suspension on Friday, when the Cubs beat the New York Mets 6-3.
“His loyalty clause in his contract requires certain standards of personal conduct, and he didn’t adhere to that,” Epstein said.
“He made a mistake, he apologised for it, and we’re taking some disciplinary action. It’s over at that point.”
Stewart, 28, inked a one-year deal with the Cubs prior to the season but hasn’t played for them this year.
He is hitting .168 with five home runs and 20 runs batted in in 40 games with Iowa.
In 487 major league games, Stewart owns a career .232 average with 59 home runs.
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