Starlin Castro is still expected to be in Chicago this weekend for the Cubs Convention, and, as expected, it looks like he’ll also be interviewed by police about sexual assault allegations stemming from a reported September incident.
Per ESPNChicago:
The Chicago Police Department is expecting to talk to Chicago Cubs star Starlin Castro about a sexual assault accusation when the All-Star shortstop is in town for this weekend’s fan convention, according to a source familiar with the situation.
How the confluence of the interview, the news reports of the allegations, the ridiculous rush to judgments (of both Castro and the alleged victim), and the mix of fan emotions will impact Castro’s Convention appearance remain to be seen. I just hope fans remember to be respectful of *everyone,* and let the process play out as it will.
When asked yesterday about the situation, Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein once again deferred discussion to a later, more appropriate time “as facts develop and the story evolves.”
Castro’s new manager, Dale Sveum, was also asked about the situation yesterday, and he, too, was respectfully distanced in his response.
“I don’t know all the details of all of it,” Sveum said Wednesday. “But I don’t think it’s going to affect [Castro’s performance].
“Right now, it’s what it is, and I think it’s being taken care of in the [proper] avenues, but I don’t think it’s going to affect him at all.”
Sveum went on to discuss the responsibilities of being a professional athlete, generally.
“The one thing is that these are grown men,” he said. “I’ve raised my children, and sometimes you do have to treat players like they are your children. As for sometimes guys get misled and they don’t know to handle the off-field activities, so to speak, especially when you’re in a big city like Chicago.
“But you do a lot of talking, and you treat them like your family, so the communication helps out. The bottom line is they are grown men, so they have to grow up on their own sometimes, too.”
All fine responses from Sveum, as far as I’m concerned.
There is one more Castro piece.
While I’m loathe to write “speculative” things about this Castro issue, I thought it fair to pass along that Gordon Wittenmyer reports the following: “Castro hasn’t been charged with a crime, his attorneys have vehemently denied any wrongdoing and, privately, others familiar with the early part of the investigation suggest he’ll avoid charges.”
All appropriate caveats apply.