Mike Leake Arrested For Shoplifting

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake was arrested today for shoplifting from Macy's. Apparently he stole 6 t-shirts worth $59.88. ESPN says:

Reds pitcher Mike Leake was arrested on a shoplifting charge at a downtown department store Monday, accused of trying to steal six shirts with a total value of $59.88.

The 23-year-old starter was booked at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of shoplifting. It carries a maximum of 180 days in jail.

He was arrested about two hours before Cincinnati pitchers were expected at Great American Ball Park to take batting practice before the final game of a series against Pittsburgh. Leake started and got the victory in an 11-2 win over the Pirates on Saturday.

Police arrest reports said Leake removed the price tags from six American Rag T-shirts at a Macy's store and tried to leave without paying for them. Leake makes $425,000 in his second season in the majors.

You're "stunned" that a guy who only works once every 5 days and has to live in Cincinnati probably got bored and the only thing to do there was this? I think Reds fan should be more stunned that their team made the playoffs last year and that they are currently in 1st place right now. I would be more stunned if Mike Leake found something fun to do in Cincinnati on his off days.

Alright onto Mike Leake. Six shirts worth $59.88? Really Mike? Upon visiting the Macy's website there is a $10 off coupon if you purchase $50 or more which means he could have gotten those 6 shirts for $49.88! What a deal! That's practically like stealing. If you're going to shoplift at a big department store you have to know you will probably get caught so you might as well go for something tight and expensive. Why not just go for a 50" LCD TV? You might as well just try to drag a huge TV out instead of getting caught with 6 t-shirts.

After another quick Macys.com check there are only 3 t-shirts that sell for $9.98 ($59.88/6 if you can't follow along). I should clarify: there are only 3 "mens" t-shirts that sell for $9.98 but if he was buying something else we have other problems. Well, I don't have other problems, he does.

Okay well if he was stealing any of those t-shirts we both have problems. I realize he's only making $425,000 a year and only got a $2.9 million signing bonus in 2009 but if we educated him more on services such as The Salvation Army he wouldn't have to steal from Macy's. It's basically our fault this happened.

If you had "Mike Leake steals merchandise" before "Mike Leake steals a base" in your office pool then you win. In his 16 1/3 IP this year he's allowed 2 stolen bases so basically the Macy's "loss prevention" employees are doing better than he is. If you want to read the police report, or try to at least, here it is.