Grapple In The Apple: Francisco Rodriguez and The Mets

For anyone who isn’t keeping tabs on Adam Rubin’s 3 part blog series: ‘Step Right up and Greet the Mess’, I highly recommend taking the time to do so.  Part I really puts into perspective just how much has gone on over this past year and what has become of this once proud franchise.   For the sake of not completely depressing myself again, I won’t bother to recap Rubin’s entire post, which can be read by clicking here.  Among the eye opening time line of embarrassing events that have transpired from the end of last year to where we stand now I did learn of details regarding the altercation with Francisco Rodriguez and his father-in-law that I are as sad as they are noteworthy.

To be honest I’m as tired of the story as anyone, but there are certain aspects of it that shouldn’t be overlooked as the team moves forward.  Rubin mentions that:

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As for the incident that has been the season’s lowest moment to date, Jose Reyes‘ wife Katherine and two of the shortstop’s young daughters witnessed Rodriguez as he allegedly pummeled the 53-year-old father of the closer’s girlfriend. Beltran’s wife Jessica told her husband she was shaken by watching the event, too.

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I had heard before that Carlos Beltran‘s wife had seen ‘The Grapple in the Apple’ take place, but this is the first credible news I saw that stated there were children present.  What an appalling image for a young girl to have to witness and the details of this event, if reported correctly, make me even more embarrassed that this guy was ever subsequently allowed to pitch in a Met uniform.

Sure, the team took a stand, but it was only after the closer revealed that he was injured in the melee.  Only then was he put on the disqualified list, docked pay for the rest of this season and now potentially faces an non-guaranteed contract moving forward.  The decision was not one based on team morals, but rather performance.  The team now has an opportunity to be K-Rid of K-Rod without having to pay him another dime, which is great, but they missed out on an opportunity to make a moral decision that would be a statement as to what type of club they hoped to be moving forward.

For anyone that might be thinking ‘people make mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance’, I would tend to agree under most circumstances.  This just doesn’t happen to be one of them and really would be more of a 3rd or 4th chance for Frankie.  A Wall Street Journal report earlier this month recounted some allegations regarding Rodriguez’s past that were made in state Supreme Court.

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…a Queens prosecutor told the court that this was the third allegation of family violence against Mr. Rodriguez.

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…prosecutor Kirsten Kane didn’t elaborate other than to say one of the reputed incidents occurred in Venezuela and the other in Los Angeles.  A law-enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said Mr. Rodriguez’s girlfriend, Daian Pena, told investigators Mr. Rodriguez beat her after an argument when they lived in California and he played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Ms. Pena, the mother of their twin 1-year-old daughters, didn’t report the incident, and the official didn’t know when it allegedly took place.  Details about the alleged Venezuela incident remain a mystery. Mr. Rodriguez’s attorney didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking comment.”

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Allegations are not facts or evidence, but Francisco’s most recent altercation with Angel Pena, the grandfather...TO READ THE REST OF THIS POST AND OTHERS LIKE IT HEAD TO METSZILLA.COM BY CLICKING HERE:

http://www.metszilla.com/?p=11511