The Cliff Lee Trade. One year later

Can we un-rec a post? Can’t imagine you could possibly be a parent but whatever the case, just stop..

but you really need to stop with the Leuke apologist thing. Zane Smith’s analysis is right on - there is very strong evidence, far more than is generally sufficient for the court of public opinion to rule on someone’s reputation, that Leuke committed an unconsented sexual act. Rape by any other words.

If you don’t want to talk about Leuke, don’t talk about Leuke, and accept that his career will forever be marred by speculation about what he did to the girl, and rightly so. Anyone who has ever known a rape victim knows what a horrible ordeal it is to even contemplate going to the police, much less pressing charges and opening up your entire personal history to public scrutiny. It’s the most under-reported and under-punished crime in our society, and not an allegation that young women are in a habit of throwing out at random. While I am sure false accusations do occur, an accusation of rape does absolutely nothing good for the life of a woman who makes it, and the mere fact of the accusation absent serious evidence of personal vendetta or other desire to harm the accused and/or profit from the allegation raises a serious question about whether or not the act occurred. Bringing it up subsequently, particularly when there’s other evidence and a plea to a lesser offense, is not “ignorant.” Thankfully, the standard for being able to bring something up in public discussion is lower than the standard for convicting someone of a crime.

Yes, Leuke was not convicted of the crime of rape. But pointing out that there are facts that strongly support an inference that he committed a heinous crime is in no way “ignorant.” Nor is using the harsher language “he’s a rapist.” For one, there is substantial reason to believe it’s true. Second, even if you don’t personally believe it to be true, the facts upon which that belief is based are in no way strong enough to think that anyone who reaches the opposite conclusion is “ignorant” and their opinions forever unworthy of your attention. I think it’s safe to give people the benefit of the doubt and understand that they are not saying they believe he was convicted of rape, but rather they believe that the facts suggest it’s likely he committed the crime (again, a lower standard).

Just saying “he wasn’t convicted, so nobody can say he did the crime” is a burying your head in the sand reaction. You may hate it that people treat the allegation as fact, but given the way rape law, prosecutorial discretion, and plea bargain justice work in this country it is absolutely not “ignorant” to suggest that someone may be guilty of the crime in the absence of a conviction.

Stanton is a legitimate comparison, not necessarily because of age although it does matter to an extent, but because of accomplishments.

Look, no one can be definitively right or wrong on a prospect until his career is over, hopefully we agree on that.

If you honestly believe Montero is an elite bat and are basing it on first hand knowledge and experience, then I wholeheartedly respect your opinion.

If you’re saying Montero is an elite bat because you read it in Keith Law’s column, then you all are just regurgitating someone else’s opinion.

I’ve seen Montero play probably 70 times, about a third of those in person.

I saw him in spring training, I saw him in the IL, and I saw him as an 18 year old in the Sally.

We all played as kids, right?

We all remember the “big, fat kid” who was physically mature way before anyone else and who could hit a ball a mile or dunk a basketball at 12.

But as we all got older and we ourselves matured, the distance between him and us got smaller and smaller, and by the time we got to high school had caught up to him, or in some cases had passed him.

That’s Montero.

He dominated the Gulf Coast League and the Sally not because he was more talented, but because he was physically bigger and stronger.

The competition has caught up with him and has started to pass him.

He’s lost 20 pounds of baby fat over the past couple of years, but otherwise is exactly the same size now as he was when he signed.

Name me another player with 2000 minor league plate appearances who gets as much hype as Montero does, especially one who can’t play a defensive position?

Serious question Cookie, you seem like one of the more knowledgeable posters here.

Bud Selig grants you an expansion franchise for 2012 with the condition your 40 man roster can only be made up of prospects, guys who have Rookie eligibility this year.

Would you pick Montero?