D-backs Drama! Teammate Defends Ketel Marte: 'Leave Him Alone!'

Tensions are running high in the Arizona Diamondbacks clubhouse. After a series of frustrating losses and swirling rumors, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo stepped up to defend his teammate, All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte.

Perdomo's Passionate Plea

Following the Diamondbacks' 6-5 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, Perdomo interrupted manager Torey Lovullo's postgame press conference to deliver a heartfelt message. He addressed reports suggesting Marte's absences and requests for time off have caused friction within the team.

"I want to get something clear about my teammate. I'm tired of this," Perdomo stated, referring to reports that the Diamondbacks might consider trading Marte in the offseason. "Please, he just wants to play baseball. I don't want to speak as a team. I want to speak as a brother. He just wants to play baseball. Just let the guy alone; it's been too much for him."

Source of the Frustration

The reports stem from Marte's absence at the beginning of the second half of the season after his home was burglarized. While he claimed to need time to deal with the loss of $400,000 worth of items, he spent most of the All-Star break in the Dominican Republic, not in Scottsdale where the burglary occurred. This, coupled with other instances, reportedly led some teammates to question his commitment.

Marte's Performance

Despite the controversy, Marte has been a key player for the Diamondbacks. This season, Marte is hitting .296/.398/.557 (160 OPS+) with 23 home runs. The Diamondbacks bullpen couldn't hold a lead for the second straight day. Marte had a chance to play savior again as he did in consecutive games against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday, but popped out in the ninth with two runners in scoring position.

Lovullo acknowledged the team's frustration and Perdomo's support for his teammate. "He steps up for his teammates," Lovullo said. "It's an awesome moment."