Other than waiting on Vladmir Guerrero’s decision on a new baseball home, not much has been going in Birdland on the business front. With about three weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers show up to camp for their first workout in Sarasota for Spring Training, I’m sure fans are waiting to see if the team makes more moves – or not. The team may need another starting pitcher and some bullpen depth.
At this point, all the names left on the market in terms of starting pitching are either retreads, or past their prime. We’ll see what happens.
The big story with the Orioles on Monday was that pitching prospect Troy Patton was arrested in Houston on suspicion of a DWI over the weekend down in Houston, Texas.
Orioles left-hander Troy Patton, who pitched one game in the majors in 2010, was arrested on suspicion of DWI in Houston on Sunday evening after driving over a curb and nearly hitting another vehicle.
Patton, 25, was stopped after a Houston Police Department officer witnessed Patton’s black GMC Yukon traveling at a high rate of speed on a city street about 8:15 p.m., according to a Houston Police spokesman.
The arresting officer also said Patton’s vehicle was weaving in and out of traffic without a directional signal and at one point ran over a curb and nearly hit another vehicle, the spokesman said.
Patton was charged with DWI, first offense, a Class B misdemeanor that includes a maximum penalty of up to six months in prison and a fine not to exceed $2,000, according to a Harris County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman.
Patton was released on $500 bond and is scheduled for a preliminary court hearing Friday morning.
According to KPRC-TV in Houston, which first reported the arrest, Patton took a Breathalyzer test Sunday and registered a blood-alcohol-content level of 0.14, exceeding the 0.08 limit in Texas.
Obviously, it’s a good thing that Patton – from what’s been written – was not hurt, or inflicted any to any bystanders and other drivers.
Maybe, he’ll learn a lesson from this. It’s just dumb to drive while impaired by alcohol.
It’s certainly not good to have another Oriole dealing with legal issues, especially with Spring Training around the corner.
