The Tampa Bay Rays traded fan favorite catcher John Jaso for a man that was convicted of raping an unconcious woman drunken with alcohol.
Sounds like a real winner right?
Aside from his awful performance that sent him to the minors with a 6.06 ERA at the beginning of 2011, Josh Lueke is a complete loser on and off the mound.
Are the Rays the new Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Florida Gators?
It leaves a true sour taste in my mouth. A team that wants to draw a massive fan base from around the region, put up a great example for youth by signing Lueke especially if he shows up to Fan Fest this season.
Now, Jaso wasn’t the best option for the Rays behind the plate and that showed with poor performances throughout much of 2011, but was this choice the best option for replacing a player that meant more to the Rays than most catchers since the team changed over from the Devil Rays in 2008.
While neither the Rangers (Lueke was a member of Texas’ minor league organization until being sent to Seattle in 2011) nor the Mariners reported any further issues with Lueke, but it doesn’t change his checkered past.
Lueke pleaded no contest to a charge of false imprisonment with violence — reduced from rape and sodomy — stemming from a May 2008 incident in Bakersfield, Calif., and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which he served 40 because of good behavior.
Prepare to boo number 31.
