Ron Darling’s discussion about Reyes potentially being super utility option – and then referring to Zobrist and Phillips as examples, does not in any way compare Reyes with either in competency. Darling was referring to a path, not skill comparison.

Seems to me, however, your writing was bait and switch to drum up drama, misrepresenting Darling’s comments. I doubt your journalistic studies taught you to misrepresent what occurred, nor chide Ron Darling for focusing on baseball competency, not off field transgressions which was your personal focus you let leak into what you wrote. For 11 years now, Ron Darling sits right next to a former cocaine user who initially got suspended for the 1986 season – Keith Hernandez. Should Darling never refer to Keith’s on field performance?

As for Reyes, I do not condone domestic violence or any other.

However, he got second chance from Mets, MLB, his teammates – and most importantly from his wife and family.

That second chance came with consequences and pre-conditions, including 52 game suspension, continued mental health counseling, and working hard to be a better father, husband and human being. His return to pro ball and the Mets came with public humiliation, contrition, a more humbled person who is now in position to urge others never to do what he did. And so yes, good can arise from bad, and sometimes the best teachers are those who’ve made mistakes and commit to a better path.

However, if he ever lays his hand again on his wife or any other for any reason but self defense if physically attacked, he deserves prison, divorce, loss of custody and loss of his big league career.

Meanwhile, I’m genuinely intrigued by your comment about Reyes off the field. Do you have inside knowledge about how “he has worked hard to be a better human being?” Perhaps your inside knowledge is why you’re willing to give Reyes a second chance. The Columbia Journalism Review recently studied sportswriters’ struggles when writing about domestic violence. Have you considered the benefit of expressing a (non-hyperbolic) opinion that does *not* give the benefit of the doubt to the guy arrested for allegedly grabbing his wife by the throat and slamming her into a sliding glass door?

Darling did not compare Reyes with Phillips. He merely mentioned Phillips as terrific super utility player who played each position rather well, This stood out for Darling having noticed that few super utility players master more than one or two positions.

His discussion of Reyes was in future value should he play the outfield well enough to be a be Zobrist type. This could extend Reyes’s career which is what Darling was discussing when he raised the topic.

As for Reyes off field, he has worked hard to be a better human being. He’s gotten a second chance. I don’t have problem with that.

Baseball Prospectus is gong down the toilet with these opinion-driven hyperbole articles that deliberately ratchet up the drama, making the authors look like attention seekers.