Today in Philly Sports History: Ugie Arrested for Machete/Gasoline Attack, 2005

I think we all want our closers to be just a little bit insane. There's something about the position--the pressure, the tension, the occasional self-flagellation involved--for which many reasonable, level-headed pitchers just aren't fit. Pitchers on the verge of lunacy just seem a little better-equipped to be the one to take the ball in the ninth inning. As with many things in life, however, there's a rather fine line between "a little bit insane" and "certified wacko nutjob," a line which Phillies reliever Ugueth Urbina almost certainly leapfrogged on his way to getting arrested for attempted murder on November 7th, 2005.

Note for 700 Level readers: If you ever end up working on Ugueth Urbina's farm in Venezuela, avoid any situation in which it might be at all possible for Urbina to come under the impression that you have stolen his handgun. Allegedly, Urbina and others attacked five workers accused of doing just that, cutting them with a machete and pouring gasoline on them in an attempt to set them on fire. All five were injured, though none slain, and Urbina was detained for his efforts. "This, of course, can in some way hurt his career as a professional ballplayer," said defense lawyer Jose Luis Tamayo. In some way.

Urbina had come over from the Phillies late in the 2005 season, in a trade from the Detroit Tigers for second-baseman Placido Polanco (considered excess baggage in Philly with the development of Chase Utley). With Billy Wagner already in place as team closer, Urbina mostly saw middle relief, with a 4.13 ERA in 56 appearances. A year and a half after his arrest, Ugie was found guitly of attempted murder, and begun a 14-year prison sentence. Needless to say, the 2005 season was his last in a Phillies (or in any other) uniform.

Comments

[Aadam Aziz Ansari]

Only eight appearances? Baseball References says 56, which is more in line with what I remember.

[Wolf]

he's still in uniform

[will.H]

cut him some slack. PUN

[stevefredericks]

urbina was a set-up man, not middle relief. he pitched earlier than the 9th inning only once. madson in the 7th, urbina in the 8th, and wagner in the 9th was a deadly combination that year. if urbina actually killed these dudes and cleaned up the scene properly, the phils would have won the wild card in 06.