Jim Dey: Here's a pitch: Don't rush to judgment
Oct. 15—The Trevor Bauer story broke in the summer of 2021.
But the real Trevor Bauer story didn't become public until earlier this month.
It was a humdinger, showing the pitfalls of leaping to conclusions and the wisdom of reserving judgment.
But first things first. Many readers are probably asking, "Who is Trevor Bauer?"
Until mid-May 2021, he was a very well-paid Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher.
His world came crashing down after an acquaintance, Lindsey Hill, charged Bauer had beaten and sexually assaulted her. She sought both criminal charges and a court order barring Bauer from coming near her.
Hills' claims resulted from an ill-advised hookup. Bauer denied wrongdoing, defeating her request for a protective order after a judge concluded Hill's claims didn't add up.
But it was a different story in the court of public opinion. Ultimately, Major League Baseball officials apparently concluded Bauer, a 2020 Cy Young Award winner, had engaged in unlawful conduct.
Fearing criticism from the news media and fans, MLB suspended Bauer for two full seasons, later reducing the suspension to 194 games. He is now pitching in Japan.
His reputation blackened from coast to coast, Bauer acknowledged being confused by what happened
"I was never arrested. I was never charged with a crime, and I won the only legal proceeding that took place without my side of the story even being heard," he said.
Distraught, Bauer sued Hill for defamation. She counter-sued Bauer, demanding money. Bauer said he would not pay her "even a single cent."
After discovery was completed in the civil case, Hill proposed that each side withdraw its case and that neither side pay any money.
Bauer agreed but said he "retained" his right to speak out.
He then revealed previously undisclosed texts Hill sent to a friend and a video she took of herself lying in bed next to Bauer after the alleged beating that she said left her so battered she required hospitalization.
The video shows her mugging and smiling for the camera, unbruised and happily unconcerned. It completely discredits her claims.
The texts Bauer disclosed indicate Hill pursued Bauer because she had extortion, not romance, on her mind.
"next victim. star pitcher for the dodgers," she texted a friend.
Why?
"net worth is 51 million."
When?
"I'm going to his house wednesday. ... I already have my hooks in."
How?
"need daddy to choke me out ... being an absolute (deleted) to get in on his 51 million."
Bauer said he spent far more in legal fees than he ever could collect from his accuser. But he said litigation was "the only way for me to ever obtain critical information to clear my name."
Bauer noted that over the past two years, he was "forced to defend my integrity and reputation in a very public setting" and expressed the hope that "this is the last time I have to do so."
Despite revealing disclosures refuting Hill's claims, Bauer was a big loser as a result of MLB's rush to judgment.
Bauer may have undermined the admonition that society must "believe all women" before hearing any evidence, but he lost his career, at least for now, in the major leagues and a ton of money.
Meanwhile, Hill still claims victimhood.
Hill acknowledged Bauer's revelations make her look "horrible" but said the texts were taken out of context and "in the grand scheme don't address what happened at all."
"I like to joke. I'm very sarcastic, sometimes inappropriate," said Hill.
As for the video, she said bruises "will take time" to show.
What doesn't take time is the popular trend to assume guilt based on accusation. Maybe it's time to put an end to that souped-up approach to judging society's controversies.