Jose Rijo was officially fired from the Nationals today, along with most of the coaches from Washington's Dominican program. Still no word on Jim Bowden.

The Washington Nationals scandal keeps on giving. Washington officially fired Jose Rijo, and they are closing down their baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

To paraphrase Chevy Chase, a frustrated DR could not be reached for comment.

We're still waiting for Bowden's head to roll.

Marty Brennaman doesn't mince any words in his opinion of Jim Bowden:

Brenneman -- who covered the Reds during Bowden's rocky tenure as general manager in Cincinnati -- suggested to son Tom Brennaman in a recent broadcast commentary for WLW Radio that a history of arguably dubious dealings by Bowden indicates something may be amiss.

"That guy has been such a bad guy for such a long time that what goes around, comes around," said Brennaman, who has a reputation for outspokenness if not being altogether blunt.

The Bowden death watch continues. Who would Washington fans like to see as GM? Paul DePodesta? One of the Red Sox or Indians assistants?

Jim Bowden denies any wrong doing. I assume that means legal wrong doing, not the Griffey contract.

According to South Side Sox, David Wilder was using his ill gotten gains from the White Sox to finance a bar in Phoenix:

According to documents obtained by the Tribune, Wilder in November 2006 opened a night spot, Club Burn, that operated "at a great loss" despite being voted Phoenix's top gay bar in 2007. Records show it lost about $570,000 in a matter of months and closed its doors in January 2008.

He obviously did not have enough flying Viking kittens in attendance.

Update: Here's the original Tribune story on Wilder.

Fire Jim Bowden rounds up the latest news on the Alvarez/Gonzalez fraud case, including Basilio Vizcaino's side of the story.

The more I read about the Bonds case, the more I think the federal prosecutors are going to come out of the trial with a worse reputation than Bonds.

My only thought is, "Stuck on stupid."

Does Miguel Tejada face the possibility of deportation?

And though I don't deal with immigration law, several of my colleagues who do have informed me that Crimes of Moral Turpitude, which includes lying to Congress, can be rather a problem to immigrants. I'm pretty sure that Tejada's attorneys have it as part of the plea that Tejada's immigration status will not be affected, but the law, from what I've been told, does allow for the deportation of immigrants who commit such crimes, and it also allows immigration officers to forbid immigrants from entering the country.

I'm sure that Tejada's attorneys have an understanding with the Feds that Tejada's immigration status won't be affected, but it's still an interesting topic to think about. Still, we probably won't know anything further on this until his sentencing hearing on March 26. And it's going to be interesting to see just what it is Tejada admits to this afternoon.

I would find it hard to believe that Miguel would agree to a deal that left open the possibility of deportation.

Dustin Pedroia's brother Brett gets arrested for child molestation. Tom Ziller, the author, lives in the Pedroia's home town and documents the reaction.

I learn about a rash of bank robberies in my area from Deadspin.

Did the Red Sox Bandit don his shiny new hanging sox logo cap and hit another bank on Thursday? Sure looks like it. And once again the so-called Batman does nothing.

This time it was the Webster Bank on Route 190 in Enfield, Conn., which is just over the Massachusetts state line, on Thursday. This follows on the heels of robberies in Chicopee, Mass., last Friday, and an earlier one in West Springfield. The suspect in Thursday's crime seems to fit the description of the suspect in the other cases, including the hat.

I actually witnessed a bank robbery once. My wife and I were eating lunch at Rinaldi's, and I was facing the parking lot. I saw a man get out of his car and walk into one of the businesses next door. I noticed him because he was wearing a face plaster. I felt sorry for the guy, because I thought he broke his nose or had surgery. A few minutes later, four police cars show up. The plaster was a disguise, and the guy robbed the bank! They caught him a few months later after robbing other banks.

The judge in the Barry Bonds perjury case dropped three charges and merged another, dropping the total from 15 to 11. I guess that makes the odds of winning a little better for Barry, but the prosecution needs only to get one to stick to walk away with a win. Not even baseball players, however, are considered successful with an .091 BA.

It hasn't been a good month for rookie pitchers and alcohol:

Colorado Rockies pitcher Luis Vizcaino has been arrested after police in Tampa say he was driving under the influence.

Officers said he was going 71 mph in a 45 mph zone early Monday. Police said Vizcaino's eyes were glassy and bloodshot and he smelled of alcohol, with his blood alcohol level just over the limit.

Call a cab, you can afford it!

Correction: Vizcaino is not a rookie. I misread his team name as rookie. That's what I get for blogging before I'm really awake.

Mike Jaccarino reports from Nebraska on where Joba Chamberlain was drinking before his DUI arrest. Chamberlain was heckled at a strip club, and one of his friends got in a fight with a Red Sox fan:

Once order was restored, Chamberlain and his five friends stared at the gyrating dancers for nearly 90 minutes before leaving just after midnight. Chamberlain paid the $145 tab and left a $100 tip at the club, where the cover charge is $3, the manager said.

Kat, a regular dancer at the joint, said she didn't even know there was a Yankee in her midst and took no notice of the beef.

"I don't pay attention to altercations - unless I start them," said the blond, who took the stage last night in striped prison garb that she seductively shed.

I wonder if The Daily News picked up the cover charge for Mike?

Joba Chamberlain will appear in court on Dec. 17th.

His blood-alcohol content level was 0.134 at the time of his arrest; the legal limit in Nebraska is 0.08.

That doesn't sound good.

The NY Times has Joba Chamberlain's apology:

"I want to apologize to the New York Yankees and the fans for an error in judgment and for putting myself in a difficult situation. I intend to properly resolve this situation, and do not intend to be in such a situation again. My goal is to focus on pitching for the Yankees in the 2009 season."

It's a good apology, given that he can't say much that might hurt him in a court case. At least there are no "if" qualifiers. Chamberlain appears to realize he screwed up.

Police arrested Joba Chamberalin on a DUI early Saturday morning (this morning) in Nebraska. Peter Abraham will be updating this post with details as they come in.

Ambiorix Burgos turns himself in to the police:

The news comes after the mother of one of the two victims accused Burgos of intentionally running her daughter over because she refused to go out with him.

Eudosia Ruane, mother of 29-year-old Angely Fana, told the AP she filed a report with police alleging homicide.

An arrest warrant had been issued for the 24-year-old reliever, who disappeared after the Sept. 30 accident that killed Fana and Josefina Minaya, 38. Burgos is accused of abandoning the victims and fleeing, charges that can carry six months to two years in prison.

Witnesses say Burgos was the driver, even though his cousin claimed to be behind the wheel, according to police.

This is setting up to be an ugly affair.

Ambiorix Burgos appears to be in a lot of trouble:

New York Mets pitcher Ambiorix Burgos was driving an SUV when it slammed into two women who later died of their injuries, police said.

Local police still were searching for Burgos on Wednesday.

Police Col. Eulogio Taveras said Josefina Minaya Martinez, 38, and Angely Fana, 29, were struck Tuesday evening by a new Hummer registered to the 24-year-old reliever in his Caribbean homeland. The women died at a hospital in Nagua, a town 112 miles north of the capital, Santo Domingo.

"The investigation indicates that Burgos was the driver of the (vehicle) that hit the women," Taveras said in a statement, adding several witnesses identified Burgos as the driver.

If this turns out to be true, Burgos will be in for a much tougher fight than he'll ever find in the NL East. My thoughts go out to the family and friends of the victims.

Ambiorix Burgos is in trouble with the law:

The 6'3", 244-pound pitcher was arrested around 11 p.m. Monday after allegedly slamming his girlfriend up against the wall at the Holiday Inn on 114th St. and 37th Ave. He repeatedly punched her on the back, bit her and slapped her, prosecutors said.

The LoHud Mets Blog has the Mets statement on the arrest.

Alberto J. Callaspo spent seven hours in jail after running a red light and being found driving under the influence.

Via MLB FanHouse, a Red Sox scout was caught showing off:

A Boston Red Sox scout was arrested, accused of masturbating at the window of his hotel room in front of two women and two underage girls at the swimming pool, records show.

Jesse Levis, 39, faces two felony charges for committing lewd and lascivious acts in front of children under the age of 16.

Levis was a catcher for Cleveland and Milwaukee during his playing career. It turns out this wasn't his first time:

The hotel manager, Ken Glass, told police a similar incident had happened last year, when Levis was checked into a room on the fourth floor overlooking the pool, the report said.

Somehow, I don't think he'll be back next season.

Another Cardinals player is in trouble with the law:

Cardinals minor-league pitcher Donnie Smith was jailed Wednesday night and faces a felony battery charge stemming from a bloodied nose last September.

Smith, 25, is accused of punching a Florida man in the face at a restaurant near the Cardinals' facility at Roger Dean Stadium. He was arrested Wednesday on a charge of aggravated battery and released on $3,000 bail Thursday evening, according to the Palm Beach County sheriff's website.

The Cardinals became aware of the arrest Thursday, a day after the team released major-leaguer Scott Spiezio, who is facing six misdemeanor charges in California.

The club said it was still gathering information on Smith's case.

"We're looking into it," general manager John Mozeliak said. "After we learn the facts, we'll determine if we will wait for the justice system to do its due process or if we need to react prior to that."

Starting with La Russa's DUI last spring, it's certainly been a bad year for the Cardinals.

I didn't realize Jim Leyritz was carrying a passenger the night of his fatal accident:

The passenger, Bruce Barger, 20, of West Chester, Pa., told police he saw Leyritz reach down as if he were fiddling with the radio or had dropped something right before the crash.

'I had looked up and saw that the light was turning, was turning red and I go . . . `Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,' you know, said something like that and he went through it and then hit the car,'' Barger told Fort Lauderdale traffic homicide investigator Jill Hirsch.

He told Hirsch that Leyritz seemed composed and was not swerving before the crash.

Reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, Barger declined to comment. According to the court documents, Barger was visiting relatives who knew Leyritz's friends who were out together on the night of the crash.

After the accident, Barger, who said he had been drinking that night, walked to a nearby gas station where he called his brother to pick him up. He was interviewed by police by phone on Jan. 23, and told them he left the scene because he did not realize the severity of the crash and he had a plane to catch in the morning.

Barger's blood alcohol level was even higher than Leyritz's.

Reginald Riddle received a life sentence today for the murder of Dernell Stenson.

Reginald Riddle, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder as part of a plea agreement in 2006. Under Arizona law, he must be sentenced to life in prison, but Superior Court Judge Robert Gottsfield decided Friday morning that Riddle would be eligible for parole after 25 years.

Defense Attorney Steve Koestner made the case that Riddle was simply a person who got swept up in an incident by people he trusted, to which Gottsfield agreed.

"I believe that this man is a follower, and has never been a leader," Gottsfield said during the hearing in Phoenix.

Shallow Center feels the Astros pain.

Jim Leyritz was way over the legal blood alcohol limit for driving in Florida:

The former catcher who retired eight years ago balked at breath and blood tests for alcohol tests even after learning that 30-year-old Fredia Ann Veitch died in the Dec. 28 wreck.

Fort Lauderdale cops said Wednesday a blood test taken nearly three hours after the 3:20 a.m. collision registered a .14 alcohol level. The legal limit in Florida is .08.

The amount of alcohol in blood reaches its highest level about an hour after drinking.

A second blood test taken at 7:12 a.m., nearly four hours after the crash showed a .13 level.

It looks like Jim is going to lose his freedom for a long time.

The state of New York suspended Jim Leyritz's license last month.

New York State suspended the Florida license a month before the crash, but the license is still valid in Florida. However, that may be only a technicality because the New York suspension had not yet been entered in the national registry as of Wednesday.

Leyritz was ticketed outside Albany, N.Y., for using a cell phone while driving June 20, and his license was suspended Nov. 23 for failing to answer the summons, according to motor vehicle records.

I suppose the only way it could get worse for Jim at this point is if we find out he stole the car.

The New York Daily News covers the Jim Leyritz traffic accident that left a woman dead.

Cops said Leyritz was stinking drunk with red, watery eyes. He flunked several sobriety tests and refused to voluntarily submit to a Breathalyzer or blood test. After he was booked on a manslaughter charge and released on $11,000 bail, Leyritz went into seclusion.

Jim Leyritz is accused of running a red light and killing the driver of another car:

Fort Lauderdale authorities got a call at 3:20 a.m. that a crash had occurred in the city's entertainment district, Collins said.

She said Leyritz was driving a 2006 Ford Expedition when he collided at an intersection with a 30-year-old woman driving a 2000 Mitsubishi. The woman was ejected from the car. She was critically injured and transported to the Broward General Medical Center, where she died, Collins said. Her identity was not immediately released.

Witnesses told police Leyritz, who lives in Plantation, Fla., had a red light.

Police believe alcohol was involved in the crash, though investigators are waiting for the results of blood alcohol tests, Collins said.

My thoughts go out to the victim's family. No matter the results of the blood alcohol test, Leyritz just ruined his life.

Taylor Bruce tells the story of Dernell Stenson's death. I hadn't realized that Stenson attempted to fight back. He went for the gun of one of the assailants when Stenson had the opportunity, but failed to reach the weapon first.

One shot was fired, then another two in rapid sequence. Stenson pushed open his door and attempted to dive from the speeding Rodeo, but his right leg got tangled in the seatbelt.

Griffith floored the accelerator, firing more shots as he dragged Stenson, facedown, a football-field's length along the asphalt.

Griffith then slammed on the brakes and, with Rio, unhinged Stenson's leg from the belt. They jumped back into the SUV and sped away, leaving Stenson on the street.

The whole article is well worth the read.

I don't understand this story:

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston on Sept. 11 ordered Anderson, Conte and two other BALCO defendants to return or destroy the documents they received after they were charged in 2004 with operating a steroids ring at the now-defunct Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. Federal prosecutors, who requested the order, argue that since all four men -- including BALCO executive James Valente and former track coach Remi Korchemny -- ultimately pleaded guilty, they no longer need the documents. The papers include other athletes' grand jury testimony and search warrants used to raid BALCO and Anderson's house in 2003.

But the attorneys for the men argue that many of the documents are beyond their control, having been leaked to the media or voluntarily turned over to federal lawmakers and Greek government officials conducting steroid probes of their own.

...

In court papers filed Monday, the four BALCO figures said they fear prosecution based on Illston's order if the sealed documents are leaked again.

I'm sorry I'm being dense here, but if they hand the papers back and there's a leak, why would they be accused of the leak? If they keep the papers and there's a leak, then it seems to me they would be suspects. Does a lawyer care to explain the logic of this to me?

Two doctors received sentences in connection with the Signature probe Friday.

According to a federal investigation in Rhode Island of Internet drug operations - which is separate but similar to the ongoing state investigation in Albany, N.Y. - Santi admitted using the name and prescription number of a dying former co-worker for at least five years. She did so despite having her medical license revoked in 1999 and "without ever meeting, diagnosing, speaking to or observing" her clients, Goldstein told the court yesterday.

From 2005 to 2006, Goldstein said Santi earned $125,000 for the forged signatures.

"She committed this offense with a stroke of a pen and a push of a fax button from her home," Goldstein said.

Furthermore, she said Santi recruited fellow New York City doctor Victor Mariani, a former medical school classmate of Santi's in Argentina, to participate in the scam. Mariani, 73, was sentenced yesterday to one year of home confinement, two additional years of supervised probation, a $6,000 fine and forfeiture of $34,485 in earnings. Unlike Santi, who had a history of previous insurance fraud, Mariani was a first-time offender and was considered "not as culpable" as Santi, Goldstein said.

Yuniesky Betancourt is expected to miss Seattle's game today to testify in the trial of Gustavo Dominguez. Dominquez is accused of smuggling ballplayers directly from Cuba to the United States, and Betancourt was among those allegedly brought in. Dominguez didn't do so well, however:

In what must seem a bitter twist of fate to Dominguez, Medina-Santos testified on Thursday that the agent lost hundreds of thousands on the targeted trips. After Betancourt made it U.S. shores, he got another agent, signed a multi-million dollar contract and never paid Dominguez, according to testimony.

"This baseball business was a failure,'' Medina-Santos testified on Thursday.

Dominguez seems like small potatoes in the human smuggling game. At least he should get some sympathy for helping people escape from Cuba.

A Venezuelan court sentenced Ugeth Urbina to 14 years in jail:

Urbina, a former pitcher with the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies, was also found guilty of illegal deprivation of liberty and violating a prohibition against taking justice into his own hands during a dispute over a gun on Oct. 16, 2005, according to a statement from the Attorney General's Office.

Urbina maintains his innocence.

The police busted Tony La Russa for drunk stopping:

Police arrested St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor, after he was found sleeping at a green light in his running Ford SUV about midnight at Frederick Small Boulevard and Military Trail.

Police on Thursday said they grew suspicious because the running SUV was stopped at a light that went through two cycles of green. A driver behind it had to go around, police said.

Rough day at the ballpark? The Cardinals pitching staff owns the best ERA in spring training, so it's not like there's a lot of pressure on Tony right now. Maybe he's just part of the long history of hard drinking, successful managers.

I wonder if he'll serve as his own attorney?

Update: There's a great map of the incident scene at Deadspin.

Gustavo Chacin got into a bit of trouble with the law:

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Gustavo Chacin was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.

Chacin was stopped by Tampa police early Friday morning, according to a copy of the charge report posted on the Hillsborough County sheriff's Web site.

You'd think with all the players arrested for this over the last few years, the others would get the message and at least hire someone to drive for them.

J Lentner writes:

I wonder if you or any of you fellow bloggers have insight as to why Bonds has not been indicted. Assuming that the information from the Chronicle reporters is mostly true (a big assumption but I'm not talking about a conviction) it seems to me he should have been indicted by now.

I have no special insight, but here's what I replied:

Prosecutors like to bring indictments they can win. My guess is they don't have an air tight case. The ex-mistress is one witness who says Bonds knew about the steroid use and is willing to testify. But given she's a jilted lover, who knows how much the jury will trust her. What they'd really like is Greg Anderson to verify her testimony. "I gave Barry these drugs on this date and he knew what he was taking," or, "Barry asked me to find him drugs that would help build his body." Remember, Bonds said he didn't knowingly take steroids. So if Anderson gets up and says, "I just gave him things and told him to trust me," it's tough to convict Bonds of lying.

I remember listening to a Kerry stump speech on NPR during the 2004 campaign. One of the things he said was that if he were president, Lay and Skilling of Enron would be in jail by now. Apart from the fact that Kerry was convicting people without a trial, as a former prosecutor he knows it takes time to build a case, especially to make sure the evidence can't be challenged. Given that everyone in that case either reached a plea agreement or was convicted (or died), the prosecutor did a very good job, and not rushing was the right thing to do. I think that is going on here. They're not going to indict Bonds unless there is a very high probability that they'll get a conviction, and that's how it should be.

The ATTB thinks Daisuke Matsuzaka broke the law by drinking beer in a commerical:

The regulation in question is foolish even as applied to the United States. Consumers should be able to decide for themselves whether or not seeing athletes chugging beer is a good recommendation for the product. While an ad that incorrectly claims that drinking beer "will enhance athletic prowess" may indeed be misleading advertising, an ad that merely portrays an athlete drinking a beer is just ordinary "image advertising" that consumers are more than capable of evaluating for themselves. I am not going to get into technical First Amendment analysis here. But it seems to me that censoring advertising not for false factual claims about the product, but merely for promoting a favorable image of a product that the government disapproves of, is a clear violation of constitutional free speech rights - even if the courts have wrongly concluded otherwise.

What makes the ATTB action against Matsuzaka particularly reprehensible, however, is that the ad in question isn't being aired in the United States. It is a Japanese-language ad that will only be shown in Japan, where ads showing athletes drinking beer are perfectly legal. Not only is the ATTB engaging in censorship of American advertising, it also claims the right to censor ads in a foreign country.

There must be a lot of Yankees fans at the ATTB.

Hat tip, Instapundit.

Steve Swindal ran into a problem with the law:

George Steinbrenner's son-in-law and designated successor to run the New York Yankees was arrested early Thursday on a charge of driving under the influence.

Yankees general partner Steve Swindal was arrested by the St. Petersburg Police at 4:26 a.m., according to a copy of the charge report posted on the Pinellas County Sherriff's Office's Web site. He was booked for a misdemeanor and released from jail in Largo at 9:53 a.m. on $250 bond.

A member of the police department's DUI squad pulled Swindal over at 2:12 a.m. after he cut the officer's cruiser off in traffic, police spokesman Bill Proffitt said.

"She had to brake and take evasive action to avoid hitting him," Proffitt said.

Cutting off a police car is never a good idea, even if sober. Seems like Swindal is taking after the Yankees of old.

Rollie Fingers talks to the media about his tax situation:

"I'm not a tax dodger," Fingers said Friday in a telephone interview from his Las Vegas home. "I pay my taxes."

The state Department of Revenue has a different view and says Fingers, who last lived in Wisconsin in 1985, owes the state $1,433,609 in back taxes.

But Fingers says that can't possibly be right and says the recent unearthing of some old W-2 forms shows he paid $190,000 in state taxes and more than $1.1 million in federal taxes in the years he worked in Wisconsin.

That might not be enough evidence, however. As a result, Fingers said he and his new tax attorney were doing all they could to find more tax records that will vindicate him.

Some of Rollie's tax records were lost in a hurricane, so that might be tough.

The DA dropped charges against Jake Peavy after he issued an apology for his actions parking his truck at the airport.

"The decision comes after both private and public apologies by Mr. Peavy to the officers and to the court," said Mobile District Attorney John Tyson Jr., according to the Union-Tribune. "I personally believe his apology was sincere. I believe Mr. Peavy will never be in such a hurry in an airport again. I believe Mr. Peavy will be attentive to police officer requests in the future. I think that his conduct is forever changed, and he certainly understands the need for airport security these days."

I'm sure everyone is happy this was resolved so quickly and easily.

Rays of Light posts on the latest trouble for Elijah Dukes.

An attorney for the shooting victim who accused Juan Uribe says the investigation will take about two months, making Uribe's chances of training with the White Sox slim.

Whether or not the case is an issue throughout the season, general manager Kenny Williams has said the Sox are comfortable with Alex Cintron assuming Uribe's starting role at short.

Offensively, the White Sox lose some power but pick up some OBA with Cintron, but neither is a good offensive player.

Juan Uribe was accused in taking part in a shooting in the Dominican Republic, and that may cost him his 2007 season:

Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe may sit out the 2007 season after a judge ordered him to make twice-monthly court appearances in a Dominican Republic shooting case.

"I am going to decide if I am playing in the major leagues or not this year," Uribe said Friday. "It looks very ugly to be accused of something. But first I am going to resolve this and then I will go to the major leagues."

I'm not sure I understand this. The article says Uribe has to be in court on the 15th and 30th of every month. So why can't he miss a few days at a time from the season? Or does his visa prevent him from traveling back and forth between the US and DR too often?

Correction: Juan, not Jose Uribe.

Rollie Fingers appears to owe the state of Wisconsin a good chunk of money:

The state Department of Revenue lists Roland G. Fingers as owing $1,433,609. Fingers' listed address is in Las Vegas, and the birth date in public records there matches the baseball player.

The only salary listed for Fingers at BaseballReference.com is his $1 million in 1985, for the Milwaukee Brewers. If in his four season with Milwaukee he ran up about $350 in back taxes, I can see where that might grow to $1.4 million 20 years later, although that's assuming a rather high rate of interest.

A Braves draft pick takes a baseball bat to a car:

Steven Michael Evarts, 19, a standout pitcher for Robinson High School, was arrested Monday on charges of criminal mischief causing $1,000 or more in damage. Evarts was released on a $2,000 bond.

Evarts and two other men were seen damaging Barbara Montague's Chevrolet Blazer on Dec. 9, said Laura McElory, a spokeswoman for the Tampa Police Department. It's believed Evarts and Montague's son were in a dispute regarding their friends competing for the same spot on another high school baseball team, McElory said.

Damage to the vehicle, estimated at more than $3,700, included smashed windows and dents to the vehicle's body, police reports said. The other two suspects have not been arrested.

It seems he was channeling John Cleese:

When Basil's car breaks down on his way back to his gourmet night, it sets off one of his most memorable meltdowns. "Start, you vicious bastard!" he screams at his car. He then warns the car he is counting to three, and when it still doesn't start, he leaps out and shouts, "You stalled just once too often!... I've laid it on the line to you time and time again!... I'm gonna give you a damn good thrashing!" Basil runs off-screen and returns with a tree branch, which he smacks against the hood and windshield of the car in a fury.

Of course, when Cleese beats a car, it's hilarious!

Good news for Juan Uribe:

Dominican prosecutors say they've seen no proof that White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe had anything to do with the shooting of two men, and they will not pursue charges if no evidence is presented within 10 days.

Uribe, his brother and a friend were questioned and released following the Oct. 13 shooting that wounded a Dominican farmer and a captain in the Italian Navy in the coastal city of Juan Baron, about 40 miles southwest of Santo Domingo.
The farmer, Antonio Gonzalez Perez, said he was arguing with Uribe, a Dominican native, when the player pulled out a pistol and opened fire. The naval captain did not press charges. Uribe's lawyers said he was not in Juan Baron when the shooting occurred.

Lonnie Smith planned to murder John Schuerholz in 1988. Think how many division titles his inaction cost teams like the Giants, Phillies and Mets! So children, heed this advice:

M'kay, kids, you shouldn't do drugs, m'kay, drugs are bad. You see, I was at the bottom of the barrel, I was a wreck. Why, I didn't even care about money. I was wasting my life... You boys need to listen up, m'kay, what I'm talking about might save your life some day... Drugs are bad. You shouldn't do drugs. If you do them, you're bad, because drugs are bad. It's a bad thing to do drugs, so don't be bad by doing drugs, m'kay, that'd be bad.

And we're not talking about cigars:

An agent for baseball players illegally smuggled Cuban players into the United States, eventually shipping them to California in hopes that they would be signed by major league teams, federal immigration officials said Tuesday.

...

Prosecutors say Rodrigues and Dominguez traveled by boat to Cuba on July 28, 2004, and loaded 22 Cubans aboard, but were intercepted by U.S. authorities at sea. Less than a month later, on Aug. 22, 2004, authorities say the two men successfully brought 19 Cubans into the country.

According to the indictment, the defendants transported the athletes to Los Angeles by van, rented an apartment for them, provided them with food and clothing and began training them. It could not be immediately determined if any of the Cubans have been signed by major league teams.

It seems to me we should be encouraging people who want to escape from Cuba, especially if they can play at the major league level.

Juan Uribe tells EPSNDeportes his side of the shooting story:

"I'm completely innocent," Uribe told ESPNdeportes.com. "They're trying to extort me because they know I play in the major leagues. They sent word to me that if I give them 1,000,000 pesos [about 33,000 U.S. dollars], all of this will go away."

...

"I was at home talking to my father when all of this happened," Uribe said. "There are a ton of witnesses that can corroborate what I'm saying. No one saw me in the place where the shooting happened.

"Just like me, [Gonzalez] grew up here and has lived all his life in Juan Baron," Uribe added. "He was banging on a public telephone next to my car and I told him to stop. Things went no further than that. Afterwards, I was at home, which is very close to the park where the incident happened, and I heard shots. My brother and friend came over and told me that they had argued with [Gonzalez] and [Alessandro]."

Juan Uribe was questioned and released by authorities today, but is still a suspect in the shooting of two people:

As Uribe was leaving, he pushed away a Univision camera and shoved an ESPN cameraman in the face. He did not speak to reporters.

The men are suspected of shooting and wounding a Dominican farmer and a captain in the Italian Navy with a pistol and a shotgun when the pair walked too close to Uribe's jeep around midnight Friday, police said.

An arrest warrant issued Monday for Uribe was voided, but he had to turn over his gun to police and appear back at the courthouse later this week, Lugo said. Uribe was scheduled to report to his Dominican winter league team, the Escogido Lions, on Tuesday.

That's a good way to get the press on your side.

CBSSportsline picked up the Juan Uribe story:

According to a police report, Uribe, 27, and his brother, Elpidio, thought that the victims walked too close to their Jeep. Dondolin Alessandro, 41, a captain in the Italian Navy, suffered wounds to his stomach and hands. Antonio Gonzalez Perez, a farmer who tried to intervene, suffered a left-elbow injury but was treated and released.

Alessandro was in the Dominican on a humanitarian mission, El Nacional reported.

I guess in some places a man's jeep is his castle.

Greg Anderson gets out of jail on a technicallity:

A federal judge ordered Barry Bonds' personal trainer released from prison Thursday, saying a legal "snafu" had arisen.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup said Greg Anderson must be freed, because a federal appeals court hadn't affirmed his contempt order within the required 30 days.
Anderson, 40, could be returned to prison when the appeals court affirms the Aug. 28 contempt citation. Anderson was cited after refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating whether Bonds committed perjury when he said he never knowingly used steroids.

They can't keep transcripts from leaking, and they can't keep witnesses in jail. Your tax dollars at work.

Meanwhile, Bett Myers' wife drops the charges against the Philadelphia pitcher:

An abuse charge against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers was dismissed Thursday after his wife said she did not want her husband prosecuted for hitting her in the face during an argument near Fenway Park.

Boston Municipal Judge Raymond Dougan accepted as fact that Myers struck his wife on June 23, yet dismissed the charge - despite the objection of prosecutors - after Kim Myers agreed to an "accord of satisfaction" showing she did not want the charge pursued.

"There's no violence in our family. That night in Boston we had both been drinking," Kim Myers told the judge. "I was not hurt. I was not injured."

I hope she's making the right decision.

Dmitri Young gets a year probation for his domestic violence charge.

"I'm sorry that the incident happened," Young told 48th District Court Judge Diane D'Agostini. He then turned to Schumaker and said, "Michelle, I'd like to apologize for what happened and I wish you the best of luck."

D'Agostini denied Young's request to complete his probation in his home state of California or to travel to Florida to visit his family.

Jeff Reardon was found not guilty of robbing a jewelry store:

Former All-Star relief pitcher Jeff Reardon was found not guilty by reason of insanity Monday for robbing a jewelry store in December.

Two court-appointed psychiatrists, along with two defense psychiatrists, testified that Reardon was under the influence of a dozen prescription medications and that there was no reasonable explanation for the robbery.

Reardon's been going through a tough time. At least this was a good outcome.

Albert Belle received three months jail time and five years probation for stalking his ex-girlfriend.

Superior Court Judge James Keppel warned Belle that if he contacts the victim again he will go to prison.

I wonder if TradeSports puts out a contract on Belle contacting the girlfriend again. I bet the odds would be pretty high that Albert breaks his probation and contacts the woman.

A couple of ex-ballplayers got caught ripping off electricity.

Albert Belle pleaded guilty today to stalking his former girlfriend:

Former major league slugger Albert Belle pleaded guilty to one count of stalking his ex-girlfriend, authorities said Wednesday. Belle, who remains jailed, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 24 in Maricopa County Superior Court -- the day before his 40th birthday.

Prosecutors said Belle faces at least a 90-day jail sentence plus supervised probation and must avoid all contact with the victim.

Brian Shackelford joins Brett Myers in the "arrested for assaulting a woman" category:

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford was arrested early Thursday on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault.

The 29-year-old player was arrested shortly after midnight at Miller Park, where the Reds played the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said. She declined to provide details on the arrest other than to say it involved a woman Monday.

"It's an ongoing criminal investigation," she said.

Sgt. Michael Damian said Shackelford was still jailed Thursday morning.

The Reds moved on to Atlanta, so it's not clear who is going to bail out Brian. If the Reds learned anything from the Myers incident, it's don't let this person pitch anytime soon.

Update: Looking at Shackleford's stats, the Reds wouldn't want him pitching anytime soon anyway.

Alleged domestic violence landed Brett Myers in jail last night:

Myers, who was scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Red Sox, pleaded not guilty to assault charges at his arraignment Friday in Boston Municipal Court, said David Procopio, a spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. Myers' next court date is Aug. 4.

Myers was arguing with his wife shortly after midnight at the corner of Boylston and Dalton streets, Procopio said. The woman and two witnesses told police the 25-year-old pitcher hit her. One witness told investigators Myers also pulled her hair.

"The evidence at this point leads us to believe the victim was struck in the left side of her face," Procopio said. He added that investigators are trying to determine if Myers hit her with a fist or open hand and whether he hit her more than once.

Myers' wife bailed him out, so it's not clear how upset she is with her husband. However:

As part of his bail conditions, Myers must not initiate contact with his wife and can see her only if she wants to see him. The judge also ruled that if Myers is arrested again while out on bail he can be jailed for up to two months.

It seems like really bad year for ballplayers running into trouble, either with the law or with organizations. We've had three DUI's recently, including Dmitri Young skipping his court date, disciplinary problems in the Tampa Bay minor leagues, and of course Jason Grimsley. Or is this like injuries, where we always think there are a lot more than in the past until we actually count?

Scott Saurbeck ran into trouble with the police for allowing a drunk woman to drive his car. He was not charged for allowing seven walks in in 10 2/3 innings.

Albert Belle is going to jail for violating terms of his previous bail. He's been calling the ex-girlfriend he was ordered not to contact:

Last month, the former girlfriend called police and said she was receiving hangup phone calls, Clark said. Detectives began an investigation and checked phone records, which showed the calls were coming from Belle. Last week, Belle called and spoke with the woman.

"The nature of the conversation was harassing but not threatening," Clark said.

That was enough probable cause to arrest Belle for felony stalking and violating the previous court order, he said. Clark said because Belle is accused of committing another felony while out on bond, he is ineligible for bail in the new case.

I still think My Name is Joey would be an excellent reality show.

Jim Bowden was arrested for drunk driving in Flordia:

"I intend to plead not guilty at a future date in a Miami-Dade court. I deeply regret any embarrassment that my arrest may cause the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball," Bowden said in the statement.

"On the advice of legal counsel, I will have no further comment regarding this incident until the court proceedings are complete," he said.

Meanwhile, Stan Conte, the Giants trainer, recevied a subpeona.

Stan Conte, who is not related to Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative owner Victor Conte, was subpoenaed to appear in a San Francisco federal courtroom April 27, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Tuesday, citing three anonymous sources familiar with the investigation.

The panel has been hearing testimony for more than a month about whether the outfielder lied to a separate grand jury in December 2003 about his connection to BALCO.

The sad story of Dwight Gooden continues as he's sentenced to one year in jail for violating his probation.

He chose the prison sentence over reinstatement of his probation, which would have meant the prospect of five years behind bars if he violated it again.

It seems Gooden knows how difficult it is to stay clean, and he's taking a shorter punishment now rather than a longer one later.

Regarding his choice of prison over reinstatement of probation, Hobson said Gooden "made a decision that he in his mind thought was best for him."

"This is not a case of a pampered athlete," Hobson said. "He took it like a man. He took it like any citizen in this situation. He didn't whimper, he didn't cry, he didn't beg. He took it like a man."

Batgirl links to the story about Francisco Liriano's drunken driving arrest. At least Liriano is admitting his mistake and not trying to blame others. The Twins management is also saying all the right things.

Baseball Musings is conducting a pledge drive in March. Click here for details.

Bob Sikes reflects on Doc Gooden's latest arrest.

Baseball Musings is conducting a pledge drive in March. Click here for details.

Following up on this morning's post, it looks like Albert Belle is in a heap of trouble:

The police probable cause statement said that Belle's former girlfriend discovered a Global Positioning System tracking device that had fallen off her car on Jan. 26. Believing that Belle was responsible, she called police, who began an investigation.

The unidentified woman told investigators that for several months Belle "had been showing up everywhere she went [the store, on dates, the gym, etc.]," the probable cause document stated. The woman asked Belle if he had placed the tracking device on her car, and he initially denied it.

But on Feb. 3, he left her a message apologizing for "doing all that tracking stuff," the statement said. A later recording had Belle threatening the woman, telling her she needed to hire a bodyguard for protection and that she "would never know what hit her," the statement said.

What is it with baseball players leaving incriminating evidence on answering machines? For all Albert's faults, I always heard he was intelligent. I guess it doesn't extend to threatening people on tape.

Todd Williams was cleared of DUI charges today:

Tests showed he had legal prescription drugs in his system, and his lawyer showed he likely failed the field sobriety test because he had injured an ankle in the crash, said Pam Bondi, spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office in Tampa.

"Like we said from the beginning, this was just a traffic accident," said Williams' agent, Tom O'Connell. "The DUI charges were unfounded, and that was proven today."

The second of four men alleged to be involved in the murder of Dernell Stenson reached a plea with prosecutors:

Reginald Riddle dodged a possible death sentence by accepting the plea agreement to first-degree murder. Under Arizona law, he must be sentenced to life in prison, but it will be up to Judge Robert Gottsfield to decide whether Riddle, 21, will be eligible for parole after 25 years.

He's expected to testify against his accomplice.

The alledged murderers of Dernell Stenson are set to go on trial. It looks like one of them will cop a plea to avoid the death penalty.

Court records suggest that a psychological exam of suspect Reginald Riddle caused a panel of prosecutors to reconsider seeking the death penalty.

The trial for Riddle, 21, is set to begin Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court in the death of Dernell Stenson, a Cincinnati Reds prospect.

Stenson, 25, was found slain on Nov. 5, 2003, on a street in suburban Chandler.

David Griffith, a 22-year-old co-defendant, is set to go to trial on March 6.

Riddle's defense attorney, Steve Koestner, said the state and defense have been meeting to resolve the case with a plea agreement.

Former closer Jeff Reardon is closed in right now after being arrested for robbing a jewelry store:

A four-time all-star who earned more than $2 million a season at the height of his 16-year career, Reardon walked into a jewelry store on Monday and "handed an employee a note stating that they were being robbed and that he had a gun," Palm Beach Gardens Police said in a news release.

Reardon was arrested at a nearby restaurant and the stolen money was recovered, police said.

Since Johnny Damon signed with the Yankees, I've had a number of discussions with family and friends about the money earned by ballplayers. At some point, the question is asked, "When they're earning that much money, what difference does a few million dollars make?"

Any ballplayer who lasts long enough to become arbitration eligable should be set for life. What we tend to forget, however, is that large earnings tend to lead to large spending habits. Bobby Grich, who made good money in his era, retired broke. Ron Guidry went bankrupt while he was still pitching. Jack Clark made bad investments. It's amazing how many of these stars never plan for their future, as if they're going to be making big money forever.

Reardon's case is an especially sad one. If the story is true, he'll be spending time in entirely different kind of pen.

Update: According to this article in the Star Tribune, Reardon is not having financial difficulty. Jeff is blaming drugs he's taking:

He said Reardon had a 20-year-old son who died of a drug overdose in February 2004, which "has been very difficult for him and his family,'' and has been on medication for depression. Reardon, who is married and has two other children, also underwent a heart angioplasty last week and has been taking medication for that.

"He asked me to apologize to his fans and friends,'' Beers said. "This bizarre incident is completely uncharacteristic of Jeff Reardon.''

We'll wait and see how this one turns out.

Update: There seems to be some controversy over my statement that Bobby Grich retired broke. I'm working from memory, but I remember reading Grich being quoted on the subject when he left baseball in 1986. A couple of people have pointed out a 1990 article that suggested Grich was doing very well for himself. It's possible both are true. Grich, I believe, would be entitled to a pretty good pension, given his years of service and earning power during that time. It also could be that Grich, when he said he was broke, was talking about free cash instead of assets. Anyway, that's what I remember, and I'm glad he didn't stay broke.

Sidney Ponson faces the possiblity of being denied a work visa based on his criminal record.

Phillies Nation links to articles about Ugeth Urbina being involved in a machete attack.

When I saw this headline, Reds Pitcher Bong Arrested, I hope it was on a marijuana charge. Unfortunately, he seems to have taken on the violent part of Quick Draw McGraw's alter ego.

Kenny Rogers turned himself into police today on assault charges. It's not clear if this will affect his availability to pitch.

Correction: Changed effect to affect. I used to know that cold in high school. Also, I've talking about availability, not ability. Some people in the comments appear to have misread that word.

Eric DuBose said exactly the wrong thing when stopped for a DUI last night:

The report states DuBose informed Clark he had "a couple" drinks at the Cafe Gardens and Daquiri Deck in Sarasota. When instructed to recite the alphabet, DuBose allegedly said, "I'm from Alabama, and they have a different alphabet."

I bet the jails are a lot alike, however.

Baseball Musings is holding a pledge drive during March. Click here for details.

A number of Dominicans are losing their license to play ball in the United States.

The U.S. Embassy in the Dominican Republic has permanently banned 10 minor leaguers from receiving visas, effectively ending their careers in the United States, Baseball America is reporting.

The minor leaguers allegedly were caught in a fraudulant marriage scheme this offseason. Baseball America reported that the players were paid between $5,000 and $7,000 to get married, giving their new wife a visa. The bride and groom, who don't know each other, would then divorce soon after arriving in the United States. The player would then go on with his life, while the woman would keep the visa, possibly selling it on the black market.

It's too bad. A few thousand now seems like a lot of money, but these players would have made much more if they made the majors for just a few weeks. That opportunity is gone now.

Baseball Musings is holding a pledge drive during March. Click here for details.

Ugueth Urbina's mother has been freed from her kidnappers.

The raid Friday left at least one of the abductors dead, but 54-year-old Maura Villarreal was unharmed, police said.

Urbina was reunited with his mother late Friday at a police station in Caracas, where he hurriedly slipped past reporters to go inside, saying only: "I'm happy. Excuse me, but now I just want to see her."

It's nice to see a happy ending to this story. I had been assuming the worst about his mother's fate.

After reading this story, I believe the Seattle Mariners will write a new rule into the team guide: No Sexson in the champagne room!

Denny Neagle's contract has been terminated by the Rockies after his 2nd bout of legal trouble in a year.

The Rockies terminated the oft-injured pitcher's contract Monday, three days after he was cited for solicitation.

"This decision is about an organization and the fans that support it," Rockies chairman Charles Monfort said. "Denny's pattern of behavior has not been consistent with what our organization represents."

Neagle, who has not pitched in more than a year because of injuries, was pulled over Friday in suburban Lakewood for allegedly speeding. Police said a woman in his car told them he had paid her $40 for oral sex.

Neagle's agent, Barry Meister, declined comment. The players' association could file a grievance to overturn the team's decision and get Neagle the remaining money owed under the contract.

I'm quite shocked that a baseball player would use a prostitute! I'm sure that's never happened before, and certainly not by a member of the the Rockies. :-) Of course, I don't know if Neagle was really in their plans for 2005. You have to wonder if the Rockies would react the same way if, for example, it was Todd Helton in trouble with the law.

The first sentence in the Dernell Stenson case has been handed down.

A Chicago-area man caught with the stolen car of a murdered baseball player was sentenced to 8¾ years in prison Friday.

Kevin Riddle waived his right to a jury trial and was found guilty of auto theft, hindering prosecution, and attempted hindering prosecution by Judge Karen L. O'Connor of Maricopa County Superior Court on Oct. 22.

Riddle is not out of the woods, and can still be charged in the murder of Stenson.

It appears that police have finished their investigation into the murder of Dernell Stenson. They've concluded that robbery was the motive and the ex-girlfriend was not involved.

Someone in Kansas City shot at the Cleveland Indians bus last night, wounding one of the players.

A Cleveland Indians pitcher was shot in the right calf when a bullet pierced the team's bus and grazed another player late Wednesday night.

Team trainers were able to remove the bullet from the calf of Kyle Denney, who was expected to spend the night in the hospital but was not seriously hurt, club spokesman Bart Swain said.

This could have been a lot worse. Let's hope Denney has a speedy recovery.

Outside the Beltway links to a story on Rafael Furcal being arrested for drunk driving. This isn't his first arrest, and he appears to have violated his probation. I suppose it's possible that he'll spend the World Series in jail, if the Braves get that far.

My guess is that they didn't have highlights, but in the 9th inning of the Red Sox game last night, two idiots ran onto the field. As I found sight of them, a Red Sox security man reached one. The idiot didn't see Sox employee coming. These security people are college football players, and the runner was picked up and body slammed to the ground. I don't mean just knocked over. The security guy grabbed him, jumped in the air, and brought his full weight down on the intruder. The other "fan" saw this, then saw three more security men running for him. He did the smart thing and lay face down on the ground.

The body slammer got the biggest cheer of the night. A great game, and the Sox close the gap with the Yankees to 2 1/2 games.

The Cincinnati Reds will honor slain outfield Dernell Stenson on Opening Day.

According to police, Dernell Stenson's murder was a random act, and not associated with alleged threats made by his ex-girlfriend.

Although early information led Chandler police to search the Indiana home and workplace of Jennifer Gaddis, nothing links her to Stenson's Nov. 5 death, according to Sgt. Mark Franzen, a Chandler police spokesman.

"It seems like this was a random act," Franzen said. According to Scottsdale police reports, Stenson filed a complaint against Gaddis two weeks before his death after receiving threatening messages on his cellphone.

It still seems like a little too much violence just to steal a car, although I suppose they wanted to make sure he was dead so they couldn't be identified. I guess that didn't work out the way they planned. If they had just tossed him from the car, they'd be facing a few years in prison. Now they may never see freedom again.

Two people have been charged with the murder of Dernell Stenson and will face the death penalty. I still haven't heard the motive for the killing, nor have I heard if these alleged killers have any relation to the woman Stenson claimed was stalking him. Hopefully, now that the case is moving along, we'll hear more about what evidence the police have uncovered.

Ivan Calderon was shot and killed over the weekend in Puerto Rico.

Witnesses said Calderon was in a store when two people entered and, without a word, shot the former outfielder multiple times in the back, said police Sgt. Maribel Arzuaga.

Like the Dernell Stenson case, this sounds like an execution to me. I wonder if we'll find out more details in the coming days.

Arizona detectives have searched the home of Jennifer Gaddis and questioned her in Indiana.

Arizona detectives served a search warrant and spent much of Friday questioning an Indiana woman they consider to be "an investigative lead" in the execution-style killing of Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson.

The woman, Stenson's ex-girlfriend, sent a series of threatening and harassing messages to the ballplayer just two weeks before he was killed, according to police reports released this week.

Authorities in Arizona and Indiana were careful to avoid calling Jennifer R. Gaddis a suspect in the Stenson case.

Lt. Phil Burton of the Marion County (Ind.) Sheriff's Office told Indianapolis Star reporter Tom Spalding that Gaddis was "only an investigative lead . . . and not under arrest."

Still more background on Jennifer R. Gaddis and the men who are accused of murdering Dernell Stenson. Seems the men were stopped in Missouri on a drug bust:

The Arizona Republic has learned that a day after Stenson alerted police about the threat, two men later charged in his death were stopped by authorities in Missouri on suspicion of unrelated drug activities as they drove from Illinois to Arizona.

The men, half brothers Kevin G. Riddle, 43, and Reginald A. Riddle, 19, were stopped Oct. 22 near St. Louis. A spokeswoman for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Missouri confirmed the men were released after being forced to surrender $11,182 in cash they were carrying.

Under federal law, agents can seize assets from suspects found to be carrying drugs or if sniffer dogs alert the agents to the scent of drugs.

This case gets stranger everyday.

Here's more on the woman that allegedly was threatening to kill Dernell Stenson:

Stenson, who was found slain on Nov. 5, told police that Jennifer Gaddis sent threatening and harassing text messages to his cell phone for nearly six months, records showed.

"U better pray I never see you again, I swear Dernell U R worth a murder charge & that is all you are worth," was one of three text messages left on Stenson's cell phone Oct. 21, according to police.

The messages were sent from an e-mail address Stenson identified to police as his ex-girlfriend's. During a phone interview, Gaddis told Scottsdale investigators that she sent an Oct. 21 message to the outfielder saying she'd be happy if he died, but denied writing any of the three messages Stenson showed police.

It looks like Stenson changed the story he told police as well:

On Oct. 21, Stenson told police that he had not spoken with Gaddis since they broke up nearly a year ago, when he started dating his current girlfriend. During a follow-up interview later in the day, Stenson admitted he had recently seen and called Gaddis. He declined to press charges against her.

What I'm not clear on is did he have to press charges to get the restraining order? And has anyone connected the killers to this woman? That's the real story.

We're starting to see some investigation by the media into Dernell Stenson's death. Lisa Olson of the NY Daily News (yes, that Lisa Olson) talks to Stenson's agent:

As targets go, Stenson hardly fit the profile. The bars and restaurants that orbit the Phoenix suburbs are filled with athletes and celebrities who sit in the open-aired patios and flash wads of cash. So how is it that Stenson, a quiet, humble outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds who was playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League, became the murder victim in a case that grows more complicated by the hour?

Officially, police are calling Stenson's death a random crime that began as a robbery and kidnapping and ended with Stenson, 25, being shot, execution-style, in a dreary residential area of Chandler and run over with his own vehicle. The whodunnit is much more complex.

"My gut and common sense tells me this was not purely a random act of violence," says Stanley King, Stenson's New Jersey-based agent.

According to Olson's report, Dernell was being stalked:

Stenson's agent, family members and authorities told the Daily News they are providing investigators with information that Stenson was being stalked by an Indianapolis woman who has repeatedly claimed to be pregnant with his child. Police have already gone to Indianapolis to look into that claim and to follow other leads.

Thomas Stenson says his brother attempted to take out an order of protection in Scottsdale against the woman shortly before he was killed "but the police did not believe him."

I remember a case in Somerville, MA a while back where a judge refused to issue a restraining order to a woman and was very condenscending to that woman. She was later killed by person she wanted restrained (if anyone remembers the judge or can find the story, let me know). I believe the judge lost his job over that.

A witness who saw what happened after the gun shots goes on to describe a scene that sounds more like the venting of anger than a crime gone wrong:

After hearing what he described as subsequent "bams," Rodrigo Gutierrez, 17, peered through his aunt's gated windows around 1:45 a.m. and witnessed what he describes as a clip out of Rambo.

"They cut him loose," says Gutierrez. "Then, and I swear it makes me want to puke, they backed up and went over him with the right rear tire."

I'm more sure than ever that we don't know the whole story yet.

Update: Mike Malloy remembers the judge and sent this link about the story.

Barry Bonds is in the news twice today. On the business side of things, he's withdrawn from the MLBPA group licensing agreement, and will negotiate these on his own.

Bonds informed the union that he would not be signing the organization's group licensing agreement next year and would instead pursue licensing opportunities on his own.

Players usually sign the group licensing agreement, which allows companies that obtain MLBPA licenses the right to use players' names and likenesses on their products. In exchange for their rights, the players get a percentage of the sale of the products such as trading cards and video games.

The signing of the agreement is usually a formality. In fact, Bonds will become the first union member in the 30-year history of the licensing program not to sign it, said Judy Heeter, director of business affairs and licensing for the MLBPA.

This is a pretty major deal, and a slap in the face to the union. The MLBPA has always been about the the big contract players; to have one of the best abandon them like that does not bode well for that licensing money to continue to flow in. If Bonds starts landing big deals, how long before A-Rod and Sosa and the other big stars follow suit? I'd be surprised if the union didn't exert a lot of pressure to get Bonds back in the fold.

The second story involves Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson. Anderson has been indentified as the target of the probe into THG. Bonds is going to testify, and it will be interesting to see if Barry is implicated in using THG.

According to this report on ESPN.com, one of the four men arrested in connection with the death of Dernell Stenson was in the witness protection program.

The suspect, identified as Robert Lee Maye, has disappeared after posting bail and being charged with hindering the Stenson murder investigation. Federal authorities are trying to locate him.

The man identified by police as Maye testified for the prosecution in a case against key members of a Chicago gang, top-level investigators, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Republic.

I keep thinking there is more to this case than meets the eye. This does nothing to allay that feeling.

Two of the four suspects arrested in the death of Dernell Stenson have now been charged with murder. Police believe the theft of Stenson's SUV was the motive for the killing.

More details are emerging. It appears Stenson was kidnapped as part of a robbery attempt and was shot trying to escape. There are now four suspects in custody, and they may be linked to another killing that happened prior to Stenson's death.

Police have made an arrest in the death of Dernell Stenson.

Chandler police late Thursday arrested a 19-year-old man in the death of an outfielder with the Cincinnati Reds baseball team.

Reginald A. Riddle, of Harvey, Ill., was being held on suspicion of murder, kidnapping and armed robbery in the killing of Dernell Stenson, 25.

Stenson, who played in 37 games with the Reds last season, was shot and run over with his own car before authorities discovered his body about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday in the road in the 2200 block of West Butler Drive in Chandler. Stenson was in the Valley playing for the Arizona Fall League's Scottsdale Scorpions.

Police also were searching for 20-year-old David Griffith in the murder.

The police also arrested a man with the last name of Riddle who was found driving Stenson's car, but he appears to be unrelated to the the murder suspect.

Kevin G. Riddle, 43, was arrested about two hours after the slaying. Authorities wouldn't say whether the two Riddles are related. Kevin Riddle told investigators the Isuzu had been abandoned in a Mesa apartment parking lot. Court records offered this account by Kevin Riddle:

He described himself as transient and said he was looking for a place to sleep when he walked into the Off Broadway Apartment parking lot at 546 S. Country Club Drive. He was huddled behind an air-conditioning unit when he heard tires screeching in the parking lot. He saw two occupants from a pickup take things from the Isuzu. After they drove off in the pickup, Kevin Riddle took the Isuzu and drove from the lot.

Although no one is saying it at this time, it sounds like a car jacking:

Why Stenson was in the area of Chandler Boulevard and Dobson Road late at night was unclear. Teammates reported seeing him at Sugar Daddy's, a Scottsdale bar, about 11:30 Tuesday night.

Stenson lived in Winfield Place Condominiums in the 7300 block of East Chaparral, about two miles from Scottsdale Stadium where he played Arizona Fall League baseball.

...

Gallo said that after a day game on Tuesday, Stenson had gone out with teammates "for a few drinks, to relax and just hang out." Stenson called him, apparently to ask him to come along, Gallo said, but he didn't answer the phone.

Gallo said it was a mystery how Stenson wound up in Chandler, which is several miles from the Scottsdale clubs the players frequent.

"There's nothing out there," Gallo said. "He had to be forced into doing it."

There's a Frank Gorshen/Adam West joke in here, but now's not the time to make it.

Dernell Stenson, a rookie for the Cincinnati Reds this year, was violently killed Wednesday morning.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson was found dead early Wednesday on a residential street after he was shot and apparently run over in a Phoenix suburb, police said.

Chandler police said the death was being treated as a homicide.

My deepest sympathies go out to his family and the Reds organization.