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Mariners’ Montero done for year after altercation

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) — Jesus Montero will not play baseball again this season for the Seattle Mariners’ organization after a heated confrontation in the stands with a team scout during a minor league game in Boise, Idaho.

Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said on Friday that the actions of Montero and cross-checker Butch Baccala were “unacceptable” and “embarrassing” for the club. Montero was being brought back to Seattle while Baccala was told to return to his home in the Bay Area and await internal discussions regarding discipline.

“We are extremely disappointed in both of their actions. It is unacceptable,” Zduriencik said. “This organization doesn’t condone that type of behavior. It is being addressed as we speak. There are no excuses for either party. We have none. We don’t intend to make any. It’s something that is extremely disappointing and embarrassing for the organization and for those two individuals.”

The confrontation came during a Single-A game between the Boise Hawks and Seattle’s affiliate, the Everett AquaSox, on Thursday night. Montero was with the Northwest League club while recovering from an oblique injury in the hopes that the first baseman and designated hitter could get enough at-bats that he could be a possible September addition to the Mariners when rosters expand.

Montero was not playing in the game and was coaching first base as his rehab assignment with the club was scheduled to begin on Friday.

What happened next, Zduriencik would not specify. MiLB.com reported Baccala had an ice cream sandwich sent to the dugout for Montero. Zduriencik said he would not go into details until having face-to-face conversations with both parties and there was no known acrimony between Montero and Baccala.

Montero was suspended 50 games in 2013 as part of the Biogenesis probe and the 24-year-old reported for spring training in February overweight and out of shape.

“There’s always two sides to a story,” Zduriencik said. “But it really doesn’t matter. This incident is of the magnitude that either party should have been more under control. Either party should have been more professional. You just don’t get to this point and say neither is to blame or who is to cast the blame. It doesn’t really matter. There is always two sides to every story. In the end, I would view this as saying both parties are wrong.”

Montero’s future in baseball may now be the biggest question. This is the latest in a string of issues that has seen Montero tumble from being viewed as a top minor league prospect. He was the centerpiece of a trade between the Mariners and Yankees that sent pitcher Michael Pineda to New York. Montero hit .260 with 15 homers in his first full major league season with the Mariners in 2012, but his career has had a downward tilt since.

Zduriencik said the team will focus on addressing all of Montero’s issues beyond just baseball.

“We are going to separate the baseball part of Jesus Montero from the human element part of Jesus Montero. Our intent is to address Jesus’ issues. There’s a history here of things that have happened .We are very, very disappointed in him,” Zduriencik said. “I think more than anything else, from a human standpoint, we have to look at Jesus Montero as a person, as a father and as a husband and how can we help Jesus Montero and his family get through this. That’s our intent. That’s our first and foremost intent. We are in the process as we speak.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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