Okay People…. Overreact Much?

The New York Yankees have ruffled the feathers of more than a few people by trading for Aroldis Chapman. Why? Chapman has been accused, although the case has been closed and no files were charged by the police to be fair to both sides here, of choking his girlfriend and firing eight rounds into a wall in his garage. Chapman more than likely made his girlfriend a victim of domestic violence and he will be punished for it, either by the league, his friends, family and peers or by his maker, but some people, I think the most accurate word I’ve seen was opportunists, are overreacting just a tad. And when I say a tad I mean a lot.

You can have strong feelings about what he did and you can truly not want the player on the team but some people are taking it to that next level. I have seen people say the Yankees have “sold their souls” in acquiring Chapman and that the organization doesn’t have class anymore. I guess we’re back to being the Evil Empire again in some households. I’ve also seen someone “burn their season tickets” because Chapman was acquired. First and foremost I don’t believe you burned your actual season tickets and secondly how is this hurting the team exactly? What point is this driving home? The Yankees want to sell tickets, they already sold those tickets. Sure you could cancel your subscription for next year but who is that hurting in the long run? Not the Yankees, and certainly not Chapman. No, just you.

Look. You can like a player and you can like this trade and not like the person inside the uniform. The Yankees are not the first to acquire someone with a troubled past or history and the Yankees won’t be the last. Who cares about the tradition and the class and all that jazz. The goal is, was and always will be winning and Chapman gives the team a great chance to win. That’s Brian Cashman’s job, to put a winning team on the field the best he can with the resources and finances that Hal Steinbrenner gives him.

I hate what Chapman did, and I’m sure most people do. My mother was a victim of domestic violence and I saw it first hand on more than one occasion. I’m sensitive to the subject but as a spiritual person I also believe that it’s not my place to judge him. The league will judge him and his maker will judge him. As a fan I root for the team to win and I root for anyone and everyone wearing the pinstripes. There’s a line that separates the man wearing the uniform and the player and some are crossing that line a bit much. Be pissed off, voice your opinion, etc. but it’s not fair to be criticized for my own opinion when I never once criticized you for yours.

Everyone. Chill. These things have a way of working themselves out in the end. This will to. Stay well.