Rockies, MLB must act swiftly if Jose Reyes allegations are true

We learned Monday night that Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was arrested on allegations of domestic violence from an incident on Halloween. Those of us who cover this story do so while running every article under our network's "It's on Us" banner. Sadly, we are reporting this story just days after seeing the graphic details of the Greg Hardy incident. At a time when so many voices are saying "enough is enough," it seems these stories are never at an end.

To be absolutely clear, the only victim in this is Reyes' wife. I'm not going to use her name because she deserves as much anonymity as is possible in a sensitive situation. But she is the only victim here. And we cover sports, to which this story is but loosely related. The rest of this is fluff in comparison to what really matters. And yet the word "fan" is short for "fanatic," and this news unfortunately affects the professional baseball team that has us here day after day.

The Colorado Rockies gave up one of the greatest players in the history of their franchise in a trade that necessitated the inclusion of this guy, and Reyes has since played bad baseball, complained about being in Denver, and now has been arrested for alleged domestic abuse. For those of us who watch sports as more than a manifestation of some business complex, but instead as the lore and mythology we pass on to our children, the thought of Reyes standing where Troy Tulowitzki stood has now become unbearable.

We use words like "betrayed" to describe fanbases sometimes, but in the context of this actual news, that becomes obviously best saved for the real victim. Instead, I'll let our own Matt Gross, one of the smartest baseball minds I know, speak for me:

If this turns out to be true, and I see no reason why it wouldn't be with the information we have, I don't want to ever see this man play another game in a Rockies uniform again. I don't care if they have to eat every last dollar on that contract. This can't be tolerated in any way, shape or form. I'm utterly disgusted right now.

It's important to remember that "if true" part at this juncture. But the very second the Rockies have confirmation, they would do well to be clearing the fastest path out of town for Reyes. Major League Baseball recently revised its rules concerning domestic violence meaning that the league and the club have the chance to get this right. Whatever the way, whatever the cost, Reyes cannot take the field on Opening Day at 20th and Blake.

Nothing about this is good. In a world where these alleged crimes routinely become public, there's nothing left to do but denounce this in the strongest of terms and hope that the Rockies will neither tolerate nor accommodate domestic abuse from a player on their payroll.