Athletes - Jason Michaels

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	Athletes - Jason Michaels

Jason Drew Michaels (born May 4, 1976 in Tampa, Florida) is an outfielder in Major League Baseball currently playing for the Cleveland Indians of the American League Central division.

Minor League career

Michaels was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami. He played with the Batavia Muckdogs in 1998 (A-short season), Clearwater Phillies in 1999 (A, now Clearwater Threshers), the Reading Phillies in 2000 (AA), and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in 2001 (AAA), all in the Phillies farm system.

Phillies career

Michaels first appeared with the Phillies in 2001, and was a regular on the major league roster, accumulating a batting average of .291 with 235 hits, including 21 home runs, through the end of the 2005 season. In the outfield, he had become the go-to backup outfielder for the Phillies. However, Michaels' shot at a starting position with Phillies in the 2005 season came to a halt when the Phillies acquired outfielder Kenny Lofton from the New York Yankees in the offseason.

During the 2005 season, Michaels and Lofton received comparable playing time, with Michaels starting for the Phillies during Lofton's 2005 injury and primarily against left-handed pitching, as this matchup is more favorable than Lofton's left-handed bat. Both normally occupy the number two spot in the Phillies batting lineup. He also served as a periodic replacement for Phillies RF Bobby Abreu and Phillies LF Pat Burrell. Lofton was replaced by Aaron Rowand in the 2005 off-season, which made Michaels expendable.

July 3, 2005: Arrested in Philadelphia

Michaels was arrested around 3am on July 3, 2005, after allegedly punching Philadelphia police officer Timothy Taylor as he left the "32 Degrees" nightclub in the Olde City section of Philadelphia. "He punched a Philadelphia police officer and wrestled him to the ground, in the process ripping the police officer's shirt," Philadelphia police spokesperson Jim Pauley said.

It reportedly took four Philadelphia police officers to subdue Michaels, who spent nine hours in detention, and then, upon his release, promptly reported on time for a July 3 Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, broadcast nationally on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball".

Assault charges

Michaels faced charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, simple assault and reckless endangerment. A hearing on the charges was scheduled for September 21, 2005 in Philadelphia but was rescheduled for December 15, 2005. The courts granted the second continuance due to the fact Michaels had obtained new counsel.

On December 15, 2005, Michaels was placed into Philadelphia's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for first-time offenders of non-violent crimes. Michaels appeared back in court on Friday, January 20, 2006 when the conditions of the ARD, which typically include community service and anger management course requirements, were set.

Community service and probation

On January 20, 2006, Michaels, accompanied by his father Earl, attended his second hearing in Philadelphia. He is required to complete 100 hours of community service with the Police Athletic League (PAL) and serve six months probation. Provided these conditions are met, his record will be expunged.

Traded to the Indians

On January 27, 2006, Michaels was traded to the Cleveland Indians for left-handed relief pitcher Arthur Rhodes. This prompted a larger deal for the Indians, who then traded outfielder Coco Crisp to the Boston Red Sox as part of a multi-player deal. Michaels is expected to be Crisp's replacement as a starter in left field for the Indians.

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