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Castillo trial: Ryne Sandberg takes the stand
DAYTON — Former Chicago Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg, a member of the baseball hall of fame, took the witness stand Wednesday, July 22, as the first defense witness for Julio Castillo.
Sandberg was the manager of the Peoria Chiefs when Castillo hurled a ball into the stands at Fifth Third Field on July 24, 2008. The ball struck Christopher McCarthy, 45, of Middletown, in the left temple, causing a concussion.
Sandberg told defense attorney Dennis Lieberman that video and photographs of Castillo from that incident shows him making a regular throw, as opposed to a pitch with a full windup.
“It wouldn’t be his top velocity,” Sandberg said.
Castillo regularly pitches between 93 and 96 mph, Sandberg said.
Castillo would not be throwing at his full velocity, which has been measured from the mound at more than 90 mph, Sandberg said.
Castillo is on trial for two counts of felonious assault. Sandberg was not at that game because he was attending a hall of fame event at Cooperstown. He is now the manager of the Tennessee Smokies, a AA team in Knoxville.
Earlier Wednesday afternoon, assistant Montgomery County prosecutors rested their case. The trial is before Common Pleas Judge Connie S. Price. Since Castillo has waived his right to a jury trial, Price will decide whether prosecutors have proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Comments
By GP
July 22, 2009 3:48 PM | Link to this
I appreciate the fact Sandberg is coming to the defense of his player. Maybe Castillo can say he was just taking some misdirected warmup tosses, no harm no foul my a**By himself
July 22, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this
Sandberg’s in town? dang, if I had known I’d have called in sick and gone downtown!By JDub
July 22, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this
Hey, I wsn’t at the game either! Can I take the stand too?! What’s Sandberg going to do, be a character witness? Some character, hurling a baseball @ 90 mph at a defensless person!By X FAN DAVE
July 22, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this
GOOD THING HE DIDN,T HAVE A GUNBy Outside Observer
July 22, 2009 4:03 PM | Link to this
Sandberg or not - this dude intentionally threw the ball at someone, no matter it be a Dragons player or not. Seems like assault to me and the fact he can throw 90 plus MPH. He should be made an example of, this was an intentional act…By Dragons Fan
July 22, 2009 4:08 PM | Link to this
So why was he throwing the ball in that direction in the first place? He was trying to ‘hurt’ somebody. And he did. How stupid do they think we are?By X-File
July 22, 2009 4:16 PM | Link to this
My message to Castillo: ĄTipo, usted ensució encima de tiempo grande y ahora usted va a pagar! Translated is dude you messed up now you’re gonna pay!By John
July 22, 2009 4:27 PM | Link to this
How could they allow Sandberg’s testimony that he didn’t throw the ball at top speed if he wasnt even there to witness it? I realize this is Montgomery County and the justice system here is a little off canter anyway, but come on. His testimony should have been thrown out.By flipper
July 22, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this
Yes your honor, my client robbed the bank but he used a 22 caliber handgun and not a 9mm Beretta. And we all know a 9mm is much more powerful than a 22 cal. Can he just get a free pass?By Chris2
July 22, 2009 4:45 PM | Link to this
Let me get this straight, if I shoot at someone with a gun and miss the person I’m shooting at and hit some innocent bystander I get off scot-free, is that right? He is Guilty, throw the book at the guy. Playing a sport is does not give a person a right to commit a crime.By Bubba
July 22, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
The victim here got a nice cash settlement from the Reds and the Cubs. He’s probably glad it happened. Deport this guy and be done with it.By joe blow
July 22, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
IM sure the judge will say there was no intent and he will be off scott free….. The prosecutrs and judges are such a waste in montgomery county….By jojo
July 22, 2009 5:48 PM | Link to this
this trial is a joke, maybe someone else who was not there but saw the video should testify. All I Saw was a baseball fight !By Jim
July 22, 2009 6:02 PM | Link to this
There’s not much differance between a 94 and 90 pitch. If the defense attorney feels it’s no big deal let a him get hit in the head and see what it feels like. I bet he’d sue someone!By thatsfine
July 22, 2009 6:17 PM | Link to this
I say let the victim throw a few balls at Castillo’s head. Or, better yet, injure him using the tools of his profession. If the guy works at a desk job, let him shoot paper clips at Castillo’s face or slam his fingers in a filing cabinet. If the guy works as a delivery driver or welder, this could be brutal…By Clem
July 22, 2009 8:25 PM | Link to this
Sentence him to 8-10 years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon and then deport him. I would make a great judge!By doc 6212
July 22, 2009 9:48 PM | Link to this
this is beautiful, sandberg, who was not there is the first defense witnessBy fish
July 23, 2009 12:34 AM | Link to this
All I can say is I have the utmost respect for Mr. Sandberg but I also know that if I am in the middle of a fight during a baseball game and I am pathetic enough to throw a ball, I am not going to throw it hard (cause god knows when you are mad you use good judgement) I am just gonna kind of toss it real easy and hope it scares someone…..give me a break, that idiot deserves to be punished!By Steve Brack
July 23, 2009 2:48 AM | Link to this
Criminal law 101: Assault is a crime that requires intent. I have to intend to hurt someone by my actions, even if I end up hurting the wrong someone. A witness can be called to testify to ANYTHING in his or her knowledge. Sandberg’s knowledge includes the mechanics of Castillo’s pitch, therefore he can be called as a witness. Castillo deserves punishment for his action. However, how can it be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to hurt anyone, rather than throw into the fence in front of the dugout, as he contends? The law is about what you can prove, not what you suspect.By Jason
July 23, 2009 8:35 AM | Link to this
Ryan Sandberg was the manager of the Peoria Club when this event took place.. That is why he testified…By Rob Fitzgerald
July 23, 2009 9:36 AM | Link to this
Let see if I got this right. Sandberg claims that by “delivering from the stretch and not from the wind up” the ball couldn’t possibly have caused harm. Thank God there were “runners on base” Is that what you’re saying Mr. Hall of Famer? Great Second baseman but dumb as a stump for agreeing to testify. The Cubs apparently draft players not to mention pitchers with little talent who lack character. Guess that would explain their problems being unable to win all these years. 100 years and counting. And Mr. McCarthy gets a concussion for taking his family to a baseball game. A few years back the Cubs drafted pitcher who plucked a kid from the University of Evansville. Ruined his career. Any body remember that? I would love to hear what Bill O’Reilly and his “Legal” Team have to say about this one.By Joe
July 23, 2009 4:06 PM | Link to this
Criminal Law 101: The doctrine of transferred intent - if one has the requisite intent to commit a crime (i.e., the intent to commit an assault by throwing a ball at someone) and inadvertantly harm someone else instead, the law transfers your intent and considers you to have intended to harm the person actually harmed. For example, if I intentionally shoot at A with the intent to kill him and miss, but hit and kill B instead, I am guilty of the murder of B. Brack, if you are going to cite legal principles, know what you are talking about.