Wednesday, May 9, 2007

"I've Got Three Beers In Two Hands"

Since the death of St. Louis pitcher Josh Hancock, some new information has surfaced. The police released statements and reports saying that Hancock was intoxicated at the time of the fatal automobile accident. Hancock was also involved in a potentially fatal accident only a few days before. Since the release of this information, multiple MLB teams have banned alcohol from their locker rooms.

What was especially shocking to me was that baseball teams even allow alcohol to be served or consumed in their locker rooms. I had no idea this was done, but apparently it is a tradition going back to the early days of the game. There was a time when the press was given alcohol in the locker rooms. As of this writing, the Cardinals, the Yankees, the Pirates, the Mets, the Astros, the Athletics and potentially the Devil Rays, the Blue Jays, and the Red Sox have banned alcohol from their clubhouses (many of the bans do not apply to the visiting team).
I find this to be absolutely ridiculous. I cannot think of many jobs that allow you to drink before or during working hours. Even if a player were sitting on the bench with no chance of being put in the game (he pitched the day before for example), I would still consider that working. Anytime a player is representing the team, the league, or they are in a baseball complex, they should not be allowed to drink (celebrations aside).

Some of the defense I've heard for keeping alcohol seems pretty weak. Ex-players and managers have argued that it can be good for team moral to sit around the clubhouse, drink a few beers, and talk baseball. Why does there have to be beer? Why can't guys sit around and just talk baseball? Another argument is that the majority of players are over 21 and alcohol is not illegal. No one is saying that players should not be allowed to drink though; the argument is that it should not be happening during "work". Most jobs do not allow their employees to drink on the job, why should baseball be any different?

I do not think that the solution can come from the team level. The best way to deal with this is for Bud Selig and the League to ban alcohol from the clubhouse. This will put all the teams on the same page and hopefully keep players safer. If players still want to drink, they should go out to a bar or a restaurant. They have as much of a right to drink as the fans that go to the games do. I just don't think there is any reason to keep it in the locker room.


Notes:
Barry Bonds: As of this writing, Mr. Bonds is 10 homeruns short of breaking the all time home run record set by Hank Aaron. I would like to say that I am not cheering for him and no, it is not because he is black. This has nothing to do with race, I'm just having a hard time believing that he didn't cheat.

Ted Lilly: Some people I know are pretty made at the Cubs because they don't seem to be giving Lilly the run support he needs. Lilly is 2-2 with a 2.78 ERA, 42 strikeouts, and he has only given up 2 homeruns. I think those numbers are just fine. It is still early in the year. He'll get more wins (which are the most overrated of all pitching stats, but that is for another time).

The Brewers: Can the Brew Crew really keep this up? They seem to have the talent and depth but I still have doubts. I do like the idea of having a bus in front of Miller Park where fans can go get prostate exams for free tickets. Sounds like a good way to start a game.

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