2010 MLB Police Blotter

mclaughlin had apparently been sober for many years, since his first and second dwi's (his non-persistent era). i noticed during a game this fall that some guest in the booth, i forget who, made a reference to plans to drink with mclaughlin after the game and it kind of went awkward and quiet in the booth for a second! i didn't think much of it at the time and figured it was a joke that fell flat. maybe it was, who knows.

i'm glad no one was hurt from his latest incident. i know i shouldn't connect it to my desire for him to move on from broadcasting, but i am kind of hoping this is the thing that finally makes it happen

and mclaughlin has stepped down

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/dan-mclaughlin-is-out-as-cardinals-broadcaster-by-mutual-decision/article_ffc859bf-63f2-5247-ba80-b9759ab971cf.html

BREAKING: Chicago White Sox pitcher Mike Clevinger is under investigation by MLB following allegations of domestic violence involving the mother of his 10-month-old daughter and child abuse. Story with @KatieJStrang :https://t.co/Fw7tMJ6ak7

— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) January 24, 2023

fucking hell

isn't he close with bauer? i might have made that up

they were teammates at cleveland for a few years

I think I may know something Mike Clevinger and Trevor Bauer have in common pic.twitter.com/EyI9h5oQV1

— mlb.updates365 (@mlb_updates365) January 24, 2023

yes, i remember reading something like being brothers. ugh

they were teammates at cleveland for a few years

First thing I thought of when I saw this--that, and then that he was sort of another Wiley Wiggins lookalike.

Mets outfielder Khalil Lee was named in a federal lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend this week, which alleges that Lee assaulted her physically and verbally last May, Anne Hayes of Syracuse.com reports. The alleged victim went to law enforcement the day after the purported incident, and Hayes writes that an arrest warrant charging Lee for criminal obstruction of breath was signed by a judge back in August. Hayes’ report has a timeline and more specific details on the allegations against Lee, which include choking and kicking the plaintiff during an argument.

I asked Rick Hahn if he’s frustrated that Mike Clevinger put him and the White Sox in this position by not disclosing when he signed that he was under investigation for allegations of domestic violence. Hahn thought about it for a while and said, “I understand why he did.”

— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) February 15, 2023

well, i understand why he did too lmao. he wanted $8 million. but prob not the answer you're supposed to give there...

a statement from dan mclaughlin, ex-cardinals broadcaster:

Proof that we never know exactly what someone’s going through, even a well known baseball broadcaster. All the love to Danny Mac, a flawed yet good man. This is his statement he released this morning. Very candid and honest. ❤️👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/tzm10DtYGE

— Dan Buffa (@buffa82) February 14, 2023

(the real statement is on the st louis post dispatch website at stltoday.com, but behind a paywall: https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/ex-cardinals-broadcaster-dan-mclaughlin-opens-up-about-his-demons-hopes-sad-story-helps-others/article_31c60f34-0aba-5cd3-b003-28b164419ba9.html)

update on Clevinger:

News broke in January that Mike Clevinger was under investigation from the league, as per allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. Major League Baseball announced the results of that investigation today, and Clevinger will not face any suspension or other discipline from the league.

MLB’s statement: “The comprehensive investigation included interviews of more than 15 individuals, in addition to Mr. Clevinger and the complainant, as well as a review of available documents, such as thousands of electronic communication records. The Office of the Commissioner has closed this investigation and, barring the receipt of any new information or evidence, the Office of the Commissioner will not be imposing discipline on Mr. Clevinger in connection with these allegations.

As part of his path forward, Mr. Clevinger has voluntarily agreed to submit to evaluations by the joint treatment boards under the collectively bargained policies, and to comply with any of the boards’ recommendations. MLB will continue to make support services available to Mr. Clevinger, his family, and other individuals involved in the investigation.”

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2929008-ex-mlb-pitcher-scott-erickson-charged-with-reckless-driving-in-fatal-hit-and-run

Was wondering when they were going to go after him for this incident.

weird, this story initially showed up as from a few days ago. anyway...

I was reading about Derek Bell today (used him for Toronto/Houston on Immaculate Grid). I think I remember his weird retirement and first drug charge, but I didn't know about his recent troubles:

On April 20, 2006, Bell was charged with felony cocaine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, after police found a warm crack pipe in the back seat of his car during a traffic stop. He was arrested again on December 2, 2008, facing three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of failure to appear in court on another charge of possession of drug paraphernalia from earlier in the year. Bell was arrested again on November 16, 2022, charged with possessing crack cocaine in Brooksville, Florida.

Sad.

Oh that’s a bummer about bell. Had no idea

If you remember, he went over to the Astros and had a couple of 100-RBI seasons (with only around ~20 HR in each). Then the Mets, then the Pirates, then this, at 32:

In spring training 2002, Bell learned that he would have to compete for the Pirates' starting right field job. Despite his poor 2001 season (and the fact he was hitting just .148 that spring), Bell did not feel that he needed to prove he was worthy of being a starter.

On March 18, Bell told reporters:

Nobody told me I was in competition. If there is competition, somebody better let me know. If there is competition, they better eliminate me out of the race and go ahead and do what they're going to do with me. I ain't never hit in spring training and I never will. If it ain't settled with me out there, then they can trade me. I ain't going out there to hurt myself in spring training battling for a job. If it is [a competition], then I'm going into 'Operation Shutdown.' Tell them exactly what I said. I haven't competed for a job since 1991.

Bell left the team on March 29, was released two days later, and never played pro baseball again. Still on the hook for Bell's guaranteed two-year, ten-million dollar contract, the Pirates paid him his $4.5 million though he did not play for them. Bell moved onto his yacht, Bell 14 (his name and uniform number), a 58-foot (18 m) Sea Ray 580. New York Post writer Tom Keegan described the incident by calling Bell "the perfect Pirate given that he lives on a boat and steals money."

I've got to believe he already had a drug problem, and that maybe it was known to the club.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-major-league-pitcher-arrested-alleged-murder-attempted-murder-l-rcna121510

That's a pretty crazy story so far, I read some conflicting reports, including one that said the victims were his in-laws. But the woman involved in this isn't his wife. If that's all true, that could logically lead to a certain motive I guess.

lol I didn't click the link but I think that's the story I read saying they were his in-laws.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWYq2RcWhXs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXuHu1uYCOU

https://www.local10.com/news/local/2024/04/15/former-mlb-player-yuniesky-betancourt-among-4-arrested-on-insurance-fraud-charges-in-miami-dade/?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

According to Baseball Reference, he made more than $15.7 million over his career in the majors. The scam he’s accused of participating in paid out $61,000, authorities said.

He’s accused, along with four others, of staging a car crash to collect on insurance premiums, a frequent South Florida scam.

15.7 million for -2.7 bWAR

i'd happily collect that amount and put up 0.0. bWAR for any team that'll have me.