Posts tagged AlbertoCallaspo at FanHouse

A few days ago, our Baseball is Boring Buddy Tom Fornelli (Dugout SN: StLunaticsRapFornelli) reported on Alberto Callaspo's collapse-o in Kansas City. It turns out he was busted for DUI and put on the disabled list for "evaluation and treatment of an undisclosed medical condition," the Major League Baseball equivalent of Hollywood's "severe exhaustion," which basically just means that he's an adult acting like a stupid idiot and is an eff-up. The worst thing is that it happens as the Royals climb out of the cellar for the first time since... well God, are any of us old enough to remember that?

What we bring you today is the police report of the DUI bust, which, as you may have guessed, did not go as planned. It didn't involve Alberto Callaspo going over to, say, Bono's house and getting busted for gay drug bongo sex and having his wife leave him for, oh, let's say Matthew Sweet or anything, but I mean I guess it's fairly interesting.

After the jump, the dark story behind Alberto's Last Gasp-o... and a look at the sinister forces that could be lurking in the shadows to keep the Royals down.

The Royals are playing their best baseball of the season right now, as they feasted on National League competition, and had won 11 of 12 before dropping their last two games against the Cardinals. So there's plenty of reason to celebrate in Kansas City right now, because for the first time in years, Royals fans have been able to watch a team that actually resembles a Major League team.

Unfortunately, the celebration made it's way to members of the team this last weekend when second baseman Alberto Callaspo was busted for a DUI on Friday night after the Royals sixth straight win. On Saturday, Callaspo was placed on the disabled list for undisclosed reasons.

"Alberto is going on the disabled list for evaluation and treatment of an undisclosed medical condition," manager Trey Hillman said. He declined to elaborate.

"I've already given the statement," he said.

Yeah, I can't read minds or anything, but I'd be willing to wager that the undisclosed medical condition that Hillman was referring to was Alberto's DUI. In the interest of being purely speculative, maybe this incident isn't anything new for Callaspo, it's just the first time he's been caught and the Royals want to help him out.

I mean, there have been plenty of baseball players and managers (Hello, Mr. LaRussa!) who have been pulled over for DUI's, yet I don't know many of them who've been placed on the disabled list.

Of course, it's also entirely possible that this is an isolated occurrence for Callaspo and the Royals are just sending a message to the rest of the team to keep this from happening. We don't need any more Josh Hancock incidents. Whatever it is, this is the right move by the Royals, and one that other teams could learn from.

When you consider that the Kansas City Royals have scored the least amount of runs of any team in the Majors with 181, and that none of the regulars are currently hitting over .300 on the season, it's pretty easy to see that this team has trouble scoring runs. All of which makes it a lot easier to understand the team's current 8-game losing streak that's dropped them into a tie with the Detroit Tigers for last place in the AL Central.

Now, when a whole team is struggling offensively, it's tough to find that one guy that's sucking like no other. Fortunately for Royals fans, shortstop Tony Pena has made himself a very easy target, though his manager Trey Hillman has no plans on taking him out of the lineup anytime soon.

"I think it goes back to this," manager Trey Hillman said. "If the guys who are supposed to be hitting will just hit, then he's not the issue. The issue is the other guys in the lineup who are hitting one through six on any given day."

On Friday I told you that Orlando Hudson was out "days" with a torn ligament in his thumb. Now it turns out that Hudson decided to end his season by undergoing season-ending surgery today. And let me tell you, it doesn't sound pleasant. Manager Bob Melvin said the ligament was torn completely off the bone. Melvin also said the decision to have surgery today gives Hudson a better chance of returner to the team sooner.

"It is the type of surgery," manager Bob Melvin said, "where the sooner you do it the better off you are and the better chance you have to rehabilitate it and get it healthy in a quicker period of time."

Well, I guess the good thing is Hudson didn't dawdle and just got the surgery done. Still, as I said Friday, this is a big loss for Arizona given where they stand in the playoff race. Expect Augie Ojeda and Alberto Callaspo to sub in for the All-Star the rest of the way.

First it was Josh Hamilton, then it was Hunter Pence. Now, it's Diamondbacks third baseman, Mark Reynolds. The 23-year old Kentucky native has vaulted from the depths of the Diamondbacks minor league system to the pinnacle of production in Phoenix, all within the past 10 days. Batting .459 with 10 runs scored and 11 RBIs in 10 career major league games, Reynolds has become the apotheosis of a hot big-league start. Will he be remembered as a legend, or as a caution, nobody knows. But what we do know is that the guy is absolutely mashing.

Getting the call-up when Chad Tracy was placed on the DL, fate was definitely on Reynolds' side. Alberto Callaspo had just been placed on the restricted list amidst wife-beating allegations, and the Triple-A third baseman, Brian Barden, was also hurt. So the D'Backs dug deep, plucking Reynolds from Double-A, and he's been nothing short of magnificent since. Take for instance Friday night. Reynolds led Arizona to a 13-3 win over the Astros, going 5-for-5 with 4 runs scored, 4 RBI, and two home runs. In fact, Reynolds was a double away from a cycle when a line drive of his sailed over the right field wall in the eighth inning.

For a guy who played X-Box all night before he set out to join the big club, Reynolds has certainly been crushing the ball like he's controlling a video game. His power is undeniable, and he's already drawing audiences in batting practice. He certainly won't be able to keep up this pace, but that is not the concern. What matters to Arizona is that Reynolds sticks with the big club, and provides some offensive pop along the way. And so far, Mark Reynolds is taking care of business, and turning heads along the way.

Previously at FanHouse:
D'Backs Lose Some Offense Placing Chad Tracy on the DL
Alberto Callaspo Rejoins the D-Backs, Receives Counseling
Hunter Pence Is Living Up to the Hype
MLB ROY Watch: Can Josh Hamilton Keep it Up?

The Diamondbacks handled this situation with more care and precision than a doctor extracting semen from a stud horse. To refresh your memory, Alberto Callaspo was arrested for alleged wife beating a little over a week ago. The D'Backs subsequently tried to figure out what to do with Callaspo after learning he had previous acts of alleged domestic violence. They ended up placing him on the restricted list, resulting in the union filing a grievance on Callaspo's behalf. And today, the Diamondbacks announced that Callaspo would rejoin the team after reinstating him from the restricted list.

"We collected the pertinent information and offered Alberto the services of a counselor," Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall said in a statement. "The expert met with Alberto yesterday and found the player fit for work, but recommended he undergo counseling. Alberto and the club have agreed to the recommended counseling. I am proud of the manner in which our entire staff has handled this sensitive situation."

I'm pleased the Diamondbacks acted swiftly in placing Callaspo on the restricted list as they were not happy about the allegations surrounding him. It's also good to see that they have taken the manner quite seriously, recommending that Callaspo undergo some counseling. Callaspo might not be a big name player, but he certainly has some value to the Diamondbacks -- especially with Chad Tracy on the DL. The point is that it was not an easy move for Arizona to make.

Previously at FanHouse:
Alberto Callaspo Arrested for Alleged Wife Beating
D'Backs Consider How to Get Rid of Alberto Callaspo
D'Backs Lose Some Offense Placing Chad Tracy on DL

The deeper and deeper the Diamondbacks delve into the accusations of domestic violence levied upon Alberto Callaspo, the more and more it seems unlikely that he will ever play another big-league game for Arizona.

Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said the team has a copy of the Phoenix police report and that it still is in the "fact-finding stage." It seems clear that Callaspo will not return to the major league roster in the near future. He likely will be taken off the restricted list in the coming days, at which point he could be optioned to Triple-A Tucson, traded or released. He also could be optioned and suspended, but that route likely would be contested by the players union.

While I'm all for due process (remember, he hasn't been committed of anything), I can't blame the team for feeling the way they do. I mean, even the best P.R. department in the world would blanch in the face of spinning his alleged misdeeds, which include:

• brandishing a knife against his wife four weeks ago, resulting in a half-inch cut on the side of her face;
• throwing his 17-month-old son onto a bed during the same incident, resulting in the infant hitting his head on the headboard;
• punching his wife during the most recent incident in the face and the stomach, and kicking her after she fell to the ground.

Maybe there's an explanation for all of these allegations ... or maybe he's just a horrible, horrible human being. Either way, the D'Backs, as a company reliant upon a fan-friendly image, owe him nothing, and the simple fact he's put himself in this position is reason enough in my eyes for the team to cut bait and let someone else worry about him.

Previously on FanHouse:
Alberto Callaspo Arrested for Alleged Wife Beating

Yes, the headline pretty much explains it all. And not unlike Julio Mateo, here's a guy you've never heard of before -- a guy who's done nothing to distinguish himself on the field -- and now you know his name. Why? Because he allegedly beat his wife.

Callaspo, 24, was booked into Maricopa County's Fourth Avenue Jail on one count of assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, and one count of criminal damage, a Class 6 felony, Detective Stacie Derge said. Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said Callaspo will not join the team in Houston, where it begins a nine-game road trip tonight.

Derge said officers responded Thursday afternoon to a call to Callaspo's residence at the Legacy Golf Resort, near the intersection of 32nd Street and Baseline Road. Callaspo's wife, Marianny Paola, 22, had minor injuries, Derge said.

So five minutes ago you had never heard of Alberto Callaspo. Now when people make reference to the name, it's 'Oh, he's one of those wife beaters, huh?' Well, there's been no trial or conviction yet, but it's the type of mess you just never want to get in. And between Brett Myers, Julio Lugo, Julio Mateo, and now Callaspo, what is it with players and incidents with wives? Look, I'm not saying that Callaspo did anything, but in general, that's about the most cowardly thing anyone can do. You just don't hit a woman. Period. And good move by the Diamondbacks not letting Callaspo travel with the team while he's facing the allegations. You have to wonder if they would act so hastily if it were more of a distinguished player, but it's still nice to see they're showing no tolerance for such alleged behavior.

UPDATE: Reports say Callaspo had a history of domestic violence prior to the incident

Previously at FanHouse:
Julio Mateo Allegedly Beat, Bit, and Choked His Wife

Come on kids, what are we, in 6th grade? Apparently so. Long after making his exit from Wednesday night's game in San Diego, Padres starter David Wells was in the dugout when there was a disputed play on the field. Alberto Callaspo grounded a ball to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who flipped to pitcher Mike Thompson who was covering first. Only problem was Thompson missed the bag, allowing Callaspo to reach safely. It was at that point, that David Wells, who was already upset over controversial calls earlier in the game, blew up at umpire Doug Eddings, prompting his ejection from the game. David Wells explained his reaction:

But he said Eddings took it a step further as the umpire "rubbed his belly" as if to call Wells "fat."

Said Wells: "I thought (Thompson's) foot was on (the bag). Replay shows it did and that's where the frustration comes out ... I understand they're trying to do their job as well. You get riled up. I got riled up. I said, 'You didn't miss one, you missed two.' Things started heating up and he was over there chirping and chirping and he tossed me out. Then he made a gesture ... that to me is stepping over the line. I take it personally."

"That's false. I would never ..." Eddings told the Associated Press.

I don't know what Eddings did or did not do, but check out Wells' reaction to being ejected:

I'm not a lip reader, but I know Wells was not happy.

Previously at FanHouse:
David Wells Would Head-Butt GM Kevin Towers
David Wells Is Giving Up Beer Because of Diabetes
David Wells Is Changing His Lifestyle