“I did this,” he said. “The Diamondbacks didn’t do anything. I think it’s important to own this. I own this.”

...Grace pleaded not guilty in October following his August arrest in Scottsdale on suspicion of driving under the influence. It was his second DUI arrest in 15 months.

Awesome.

nearly all initial pleas at an arraignment are 'not guilty', mostly for administrative efficiency. The reason is (and I don't know the specs. of this jurisdiction) that most arraignments are in front of a court commissioner or magistrate, and legally they cannot 'accept' a guilty plea to a crime, even if Grace has 'cut a deal' here, a criminal case's disposition may not be carried out by a commissioner or magistrate. So, even if they likely outcome is a 'guilty' plea, the case 'moves' on for the next hearing in front of an actual judge, where a court can actually accept a guilty plea. Form over substance. Plus there is no express adjudication, mostly because I'm guessing the calendar is full, and this is not a matter where Grace is in custody, so this 'dragging' out til March is also par for the course.

This is most certainly a plea deal, and this is the way justice moves through the court. The only way a commissioner or magistrate can dispose of a case is if the disposition is non-criminal, and given this is an OWI 2nd, no way is that 'non-criminal' in AZ, and I'm guessing there's not going to be an offer from a DAs office to cut this to a non-criminal matter.

Poor guy's in need of a slumpbuster.

My cousin who is a cop feels different but I can't see any hypocrisy in someone pleading not guilty while trying personally to take responsibility for his actions. If he were destroying evidence or something, that would be different.

not gonna lie, i really hate it whenever any eminent person says they are humbled by something. it's a humblebrag. it says, "i deserved to have a giant ego in the past."

I don't see that...it could also just say that it made them realize that their giant ego was undeserved. It's admitting that your ego took a blow, but that it was one it needed to take in order to learn a lesson.

“There’s been so many warm wishes, text, phone calls from these guys, the campers I’ve spent eight years with,” he said. “And from former teammates, fans. My goodness, it’s been awesome.”

Who sends warm wishes to a guy who's driving drunk all the time with expired everything? "Hey, keep your head up. You've haven't actually killed anyone yet."

Grace, a former Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs first baseman, faces a March19 trial on four felony counts of aggravated DUI following an August arrest in Scottsdale.

Warm wishes might have been, "Mark, if you want to talk or need some help give me a call."

Grace, a former Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs first baseman, faces a March19 trial on four felony counts of aggravated DUI following an August arrest in Scottsdale.

This is serious stuff. Also, he disconnected the breath-interlock when he was sober, presumably. He should move to a dry state (Utah, Yemen, St. Lawrence Island ?) for a while.

He should move to a dry state (Utah, Yemen, St. Lawrence Island ?) for a while.

But Arizona already has the lowest annual rainfall of any state!

Officer, how the hell was I supposed to know my registration is expired? I can't even focus my eyes!

My cousin who is a cop feels different but I can't see any hypocrisy in someone pleading not guilty while trying personally to take responsibility for his actions.

Agreed. There's a significant difference between informally admitting "I screwed up" and registering a legal plea that could seriously screw up one's life. He can admit some wrongdoing but still fight the criminal charges.

Agreed. There's a significant difference between informally admitting "I screwed up" and registering a legal plea that could seriously screw up one's life. He can admit some wrongdoing but still fight the criminal charges.

He also might have been pleading not guilty to the "aggravated" part of the charges, while acknowledging his guilt for a lesser criminal (or moral) offense.

Also, he disconnected the breath-interlock when he was sober, presumably.

Yeah, I'm curious about that. What kind of skewed moral compass removes the device? I assume that when the court ordered it, there's some sort of verification submitted to the court that it has been installed?

Yeah, I'm curious about that. What kind of skewed moral compass removes the device? I assume that when the court ordered it, there's some sort of verification submitted to the court that it has been installed?

Sounds like to me that the court ordered it, but he just didn't get one installed. No court check to ensure installation? New car that didn't have the devices installed yet?

Yes, I may have not thought that through. He could have rented a car for drinking purposes (probably not part of Hertz's new ad campaign). Or he could have bought a new car and not got an interlock installed. Any way one looks at it - massively stupid and arrogant.