Well CATS, I know you would prefer that the narrative be => association with Bauer, as in he is the bad apple that Clev is associated with, but in all actuality, it is just the opposite. Not that it really matters. But just thought I would inject some clarity.MLB and the teams have huge investigative powers.
Plus with so many former Guardian players and personnel spread throughout the league, it isn't difficult to get first hand opinions on any former Guardian player.
Hanging with Bauer was a red flag. Having his name come up in the Bauer situation was an even bigger red flag.
Chicago ignored both, and even extolled Clevs character in the introductory presser.
Teams are taking much bigger media hits over stuff like this than used to be. In the past beat writers were basically team cheerleaders, and national writers stuck to the game. Investigative journalism within the sporting world was unknown. Even if a writer knew about off the field impropriety, he didn't print it.
Not so today. The team gets blamed for its lack of vetting when it brings in a miscreant. The White Sox are taking a beating now for signing Clevinger, esp after Larussa's DUI came to light after he was rehired as the manager.
There are already columns out that insist that Clevinger never pitch in MLB again...and the connection to Bauer is being made more public.
The court of public opinion may be unfair, but its the way it is. Even worse for Clevinger is that he is being labeled as a child abuser. As we've seen in various threads over the last 18 months, there is a segment of society that will support Bauers actions, but nobody supports child abuse...even if the 'abuse' is questionable.
And yes, the White Soxs were fools for trying to make Clevinger out to be this upstanding citizen because there are plenty of the stories floating around behind the scenes. But it wouldn't have mattered in todays environment anyway. The press will do what they do, and true or not (and I am not expressing an opinion) salacious gets clicks and that is what they need. So the allegations and blame game is the only side of the story that gets wide scale dissemination. And that is most often only one side of the story.