Derek Jacques today:
Derek Jacques: A couple of questions on this, so I'll answer them together...
jlarsen (DRays Bay): Any new info on the Wily Aybar/Domestic Abuse thing? Last I heard, his wife may drop the charges?? If she drops the charges, does it mean that he's good to go, Spring Training-wise?
Derek Jacques: The Dominican legal system is a complicated beast that operates on a version of the Napoleonic code. It's fairly standard for people who are criminal suspects to be held without bail. I haven't heard anything about his wife dropping the charges, but if he's let go by the authorities in Bani without charges, it shouldn't affect his prospect status or his ability to get a work visa for Spring Training (assuming he needs one, and doesn't have citizenship or permanent residency independent of baseball).
MLB and its fans are pretty tolerant of off-field legal issues, and spousal abuse in particular. It's a stark difference to the moralizing we do about PEDs.
jlarsen (DRays Bay): Is Joel Guzman even playing this Winter? His size, 6'6" 250 lbs, makes him sound like a hulk in just about any league. Is he the hardest player to break up a double-play with sliding into?
Derek Jacques: Guzman played in the Dominican Winter League, on one of the teams that didn't advance. He slugged pretty well, but also hit .215.
With him sliding? I can't see him getting there at any speed you couldn't avoid, but if the hit and run were on, he'd likely knock your second baseman into next month.