Baseball's Dominican investigation

Hypothetically - Jose Rios runs the Dominican Academy (Dominican scouting) for the Nats. He tells the kid (or the kid's parent) that the Nats are going to overpay him by $1 million if the kid "plays ball". In exchange the kid is going to give his parents half of that money as a good son should. The parents then give say $300,000 back to Rios who in turn splits that with his boss (Bowden) and his boss uses his newly received $150,000 to buy himself some new wheels.

http://video1.washingtontimes.com/chatter/NATS_1505_02191346.jpg

In this situation the kid did get every penny of the money that was promised him. He can tell all the papers - "I got every penny!" It was his parents who gave the kickback. If Bowden or Rios was smart enough to cover their tracks by putting the money in a numbered account in the Cayman Islands or some other banking haven - then it would be really hard to prove any wrongdoing. As long as everyone keeps quiet.

 

Which begs the question, why does a guy like Bowden or Rijo need that money?

 

Who says he has to need it? I mean, I don't "need" $200,000. But I sure as hell wouldn't turn it down if the opportunity presented itself.

 

For the same reason the 1919 White Sox players took money - their owners are ultra cheap.

That's IF they took any money. Bowden and Rios could be 100% innocent and just being smeared because the FBI wanted to talk to them. Consider that Dave Wilder had $40,000 from just one trip. If he made two such deals per year then that would have been an extra $80,000 per year in tax free cash. I'm guessing that would have come in handy.

 

My point is that scouts at Wilder's level - and front office guys like Bowden - make pretty good money. They aren't missing any meals. Makes you wonder if there's a gambling or drug problem.

 

I thought the timing of this, juxtaposed with the Orioles scout getting fired for gambling on sports, was interesting.

Might be a coincidence. Might all be a part of the same spool of thread, too.

 

So when the news says the teams are being investigated - that's false? Because from what you're saying the teams are the victims.

 

That's what I'm thinking too. Too much of a coincidence.

 

I also think the Red Sox are breathing a giant-ass sigh of relief that they never had to worry about offering Dave Wilder their GM job.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if Bowden could use some extra money. He got his ass kicked when he got divorced a few years ago and he's still paying a bundle in child support. He's hooked up now with a high-maintenance fiance.

 

It's the teams that are paying the money and the employees (i.e scouts) that are skimming. Yes - the teams are the victims. The articles should say that employees of every MLB team are being looked into.

Think about it - why would the teams need to skim the money from themselves?

 

Did he trade all his pitching prospects to get her?