UPDATE: What to Expect with the Addison Russell Rumors
HOLY F%$#!!! If you’re anything like me, that is what you thought when you heard or read the news. “Addison Russell is a cheater!” Ok, you’d like to think more of him, but this happens in thousands of relationships daily. Then the news that he could be guilty of domestic violence. What in the actual f$@&!!!
In the event that you do not know, Melisa Russell, Addison’s wife, posted an Instagram photo insinuating that Addison has cheated on her. She made the post as a liberating action, almost like a post sharing her freedom from a toxic situation. Within the comments, someone who claims she is a personal friend of Melisa and Addison (this has yet to be confirmed) came to the defense of Melisa. Within one of the replies she made the claim that Addison hit Melisa in front of their children. She also insinuated that there were more reasons for Melisa leaving Addison.
Dan Bernstein of WSCR has confirmed that the Chicago Cubs have had knowledge of a personal situation between Addison and Melisa for at least two-weeks. He is not confirming that there was domestic violence, but they have been aware that she had left him about two weeks ago. Now the Cubs had no responsibility to announce this, and if it was an working situation, Addison wouldn’t have announced it either.
Now I am not going to take a side. The commentor could be a friend, or a random person sparking up controversy. You cannot immediately discount the claim, and with Melisa deactivating comments soon after that post, it lends some validity to her comments.
We must be aware that these allegations are serious. It is complicated. There is so much the public may never know. If it is false it may be an adjective Addison wrongfully lives with his entire life. If it is true Melisa may have no intentions of pursuing charges or even reporting the truth.
None of this makes Addison Russell innocent, and none of it makes him guilty. We, and no one else at this moment, knows what happened between the two other than Addison and his wife.
What can we expect?
During the most recent collective bargaining agreement, the MLBPA and MLB agreed upon a tough and stringent Domestic Violence Policy. The policy has a three level approach, Investigation, Discipline, and Training, Education and Resources.
There is no minimum nor maximum discipline set by the commissioner of baseball. The commissioner may place a player under investigation on paid leave for up to seven days.
This is different than any other case to this point. Melisa never claimed physical abuse, and only pointed to him cheating. There is an one-off comment which alleged the domestic violence. However that comment was enough for MLB to investigate, WHICH THEY SHOULD. That comment was enough for the Cubs to begin their own investigation. It should be enough for the Cubs or the MLB to enact a “soft-suspension” until there is more information known.
If there are criminal charges filed, expect Russell to get a formal suspension from the league. Since the inception of the Domestic Violence Policy, commissioner Rob Manfred has investigated four players – Hector Olivera, Jose Reyes, Jeurys Familia, and former Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman. Whether found guilty or not, each player saw a suspension.
Hector, who was sentenced to 10-days in prison and received the harshest punishment, being suspended for 82-games. Reyes faced 52-games, Chapman was suspended for 30, Familia saw a 10-game suspension.
Reyes and Familia never had formal charges, and their wives refused to cooperate. Chapman was never arrested, but shot a gun into a garage wall repeatedly with several people in the area.
We cannot suspect or expect anything as of yet, but if there is anything pointing to Addison potentially hitting Melisa, he will see a suspension.
Expect the Cubs to make a public statement on this before 3:00 PM as general manager Jed Hoyer is expected on WSCR The Score’s Bernstein and Goff radio show.
UPDATE: Addison Russell has made a statement.
Any allegation I have abused my wife is false and hurtful. For the well-being of my family, I’ll have no further comment.
The Cubs have also issued a statement.
Last night, we were made aware of a serious claim posted on social media about Addison Russell. We reached out to Major League Baseball and, following the protocol established by MLB, will fully cooperate with the Commissioner’s Office as it gathers pertinent facts. Addison will not be in uniform tonight to allow him to work through this matter.
Stay tuned as we continue to update.
Nice approach on this article, Jamie. I agree with your assessment of what’s currently know and how fans should wait for the facts before judgement, the reality that the truth will be tough to really know and that even if innocent of domestic abuse, a shadow will linger over Russell for a good long time. Fans will forgive, but will never forget, whether or not he’s cleared of any wrong doing or not. I also appreciate you restating the league rules and what the fans can likely expect, depending on what the investigation finds. As an aside that is less important to life, I’m now intrigued as to what came first…the slump or the marriage problems. If he has been down because of his lack of marital bliss and it effected his game, that’s one thing. If he can’t adjust to the leagues adjustment to him, slumped got angry and took it out on his marriage, that’s another thing altogether. I hope for the kids sake they find a way to work it out, despite what anyone else thinks about this situation, whatever the league or team does or does not do and whether or not he gets his game back. Hopefully, this is a large bump in the road and he can get both his marriage and his game, right, again.
Thank you for the kind words. I learned with the Patrick Kane situation it’s best to toe the line and if you state something make sure it’s concrete evidence or proof. I don’t like talking about these issues, would rather repost a David Ross video or talk about mechanics in Kris Bryant’s swing… but it is something that needs to be commented on and I carefully choose how I do so.
I wish more people, including media, would take your approach and wait for the actual facts before weighing in. Irresponsible speculation happens in all kinds of news these days. Too many people create an opinion having limited information, and still become Judge, jury and executioner, these days. And, if people have an agenda, they might also throw some pasta at the wall, just to see what sticks. It seems to always skew the truth for so many more reading it.
Exactly