Reds Leake Charged With Theft
Published on April 18, 2011 by Paul Raymond · 6 CommentsAccording to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake was arrested today and accused of theft at a Macy’s department Store. Security cameras in the store caught the pitcher taking property. For a Major League Baseball player you would think it was a big ticket item right? Nope, Leake stole $59.88 worth of property. While Cincinnati police are at it can they arrest him for stealing the Reds’ money too?
In my opinion, an incident like this adds to the possibility of Leake becoming a major bust for the Reds. Yes, I know the kid is only 23 and was only the 29th player in Major League history to not play a game in the minor league. But trust me the bust potential is there, stop buying into all the hype!
Yes, in 2010 he put up some pretty damn good numbers.. 22 starts, 8-4 record with a 4.23 ERA over 138 innings pitched. Those are actually great numbers considering the lack of a minor league career, well till you see his splits.
He was a totally different pitcher down the stretch, you know once teams had some film on him and got to hit against him in person. April through May he had a 2.45 ERA, from June to August he had a 5.85 ERA. Once hitters figured him out he got lit up and its carried over to 2011.
So far in 2011, Leake has been all over the place, he’s 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA.. He’s got two quality starts with a horrendous outing sandwiched in between. With outings at both ends of the spectrum, you’ve got to wonder what this kid is really about.
Now with the news of him being arrested for an item that’s only $59.88, I have to ask what is his mental make up like? Could this kid have been served better by getting some time in the minor leagues in 2010? You know a chance for him to grow and mature a little bit.
Only time will tell but hopefully for Leake’s personal and professional life he takes this as a lesson and an opportunity because there is no denying he has the raw talent to be a success. Don’t want incidents like this making him a colossal bust.
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Readers Comments (6)
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It blows me away how the media is so quick to condemn players. The kid is 2-0 and the Author is saying he’s a bust. ERA is not always a good factor to go by especially when that pitcher is a starter. Obviously he’s kept his team in the games good enough to not have a loss. That’s called pitching. Although I don’t like putting players straight into the big leagues, this kid has done pretty well with it.
Thanks for the comment, it does blow me away at times how people don’t fully read either. I never called him a bust I said the bust potential is there..
It was last year, it was there all spring training. He only made the team due to injury. And now things like this make you wonder about his mental make up.
Hopefully he takes this and grows, cause he’s one pitcher I DO want to succeed.
His arrest is like when Paris got arrested for stealing. Doing it for the excitement.
If you are not going to buy into the hype, then at least make sure you have your facts correct before writing an article about a young player. Leake was the 21st player not the 29th to go straight to the majors. Although he is a young player, he still has the potential to overcome this situation and become a great baseball player, like you said.
Are you kidding me a potential collosal bust ?????? There are number 1 overall draft picks that never make it over A ball that is a collasal bust just hte fact that he has already contributed to the big league club makes him far from a collosal bust come on if I were you I would call up Leake and see if he can shoplift you a clue !!!
He didn’t steal anything. Get your facts (lies) straight.