The issue of domestic violence is a serious one and one that sadly gets blended in with professional sports too often. Whether it is news of individuals like Ray Rice years ago in the NFL or Aroldis Chapman just a few years ago, professional athletes, who find their every move is in the spotlight, are only lifted into a brighter spotlight when they make the inexcusable decisions to turn to violence with their loved ones.
Sadly, for the Houston Astros, they brought this spotlight to their organization when they chose to bring Roberto Osuna into the mix via trade a little over a year ago. Osuna, who served a 75-game suspension under the MLB-MLBPA Joint Dometic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy for assaulting his girlfriend, has served as the Astros closer since.
While things had relatively settled down since that initial controversy in Houston, they exploded after reports came out that assistant general manager Brandon Taubman apparently was yelling at a female reporter who has been outspoken about domestic abuse of his excitement that Osuna was on their team during the team’s celebration of advancing to the World Series.
While on the surface, you could be led to infer that he was just excited to have his talent, reports indicate that this was done in an antagonizing way towards this particular reporter. While it is hard to hold an entire organization under fire for the remarks of a single employee, they certainly have not handled the situation with class, initially denying the report and calling it “fabricated” and still have truly yet to formally apologize to all involved.
The Astros did make the move to fire Taubman after the incident on Thursday, but it does appear that Major League Baseball is investigating the matter, so it is worth watching whether any punishments will come for the Astros organization for their handling of the situation.
Cubs Tab Ross As Next Manager
When the Cubs were knocked out of contention this season, it was announced that manager Joe Maddon would not have his contract extended, and the two sides agreed to part ways amicably. It did not take long for Maddon to find a new job, as he was hired as the new Los Angeles Angels manager.
The Cubs have also moved on, as David Ross, the former Chicago catcher, has been tabbed as their new manager.
Ross, who has been a special assistant to baseball operations for Chicago, will now become their full-time skipper. The interesting part of the decision is two-fold.
First, Ross has never managed. While in today’s Major League Baseball, that does not seem like as much of a concern as in previous years, it still is noteworthy.
Additionally, it will be interesting to see how Ross, who has significant friendships with many of these players that he won a World Series title alongside, will be able to act as an authoritarian figure as opposed to “Grandpa Rossy.” Still, it is an exciting announcement for both Ross and the Cubs organization as they move on from Maddon.
Bryant To Finally Have Grievance Heard
Speaking of the Chicago Cubs, star third baseman Kris Bryant has had a grievance that goes all the way back to 2015 when he was called up from the minors. After being called up a mere one day after which he could have gained a full year of service time, Bryant and his agent filed a grievance saying that the Cubs purposely withheld him from the big leagues simply to manipulate his service time.
As a result, he won’t be a free agent until after the 2021 season, though he would have been a free agent after next season had he been called up one day earlier.
From a realistic standpoint, that is exactly what the Cubs did. In fact, that is what organizations around the league do right now to win the service time battle under the current collective bargaining agreement. The Cubs used the lame excuse of needing more defensive work just to get an extra year on the contract.
Depending on how the grievance goes, though, they could lose that extra year. If, by chance, Bryant was to win the grievance, he would become a free agent after next season.
In addition to that, if Major League Baseball sets the precedent of Bryant winning his grievance, it may open the door for several other cases of players who had their service time manipulated to do the same.
Regardless, this could be a very interesting week for Bryant, the Cubs organization, and all of baseball.
Umpire West Sues Ex-Player
“Cowboy” Joe West might not be umpiring in the World Series, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t in the news. In your odd news of the week, West is suing former player Paul Lo Duca after the former catcher claimed that Billy Wagner used to bribe Joe West by offering his vintage 1957 Chevrolet for a more favorable strike zone when West was behind the plate.
The lawsuit denies the claim and has filed a defamation of character lawsuit against Lo Duca and refutes all of the claims against him. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what comes of this, but even years after retiring, players still appear not to see eye to eye with Cowboy West.
