Diamondbacks Addressing Alcohol Issues

“Things are so different now,” says Diamondbacks bench coach Alan Trammell. When he was with the Detroit Tigers going back as far as 18 years ago, they were notorious for drinking beer and talking baseball late after games. “That was just part of our generation then, a way to get things off our chest and just talk about the game. You don’t see anything like that now. It’s not like guys suddenly are drinking more. It’s just that things are more documented, more scrutinized.”

There’s a thought: are Major League Baseball players actually drinking more, or is it just being noticed more? In this day of instant news, it’s a lot harder to hide an offense than even 18 years ago. Back then there was no one to “tweet” about a baseball player being brought in to the police station. It didn’t land on the internet five minutes later.

Still, with six infractions just this year, some in this new 2011 season, it makes sense for the leaders to pay attention and determine what can be done to discontinue them. Shin-Soo Choo of the Cleveland Indians was arrested on Monday, May 2 for DUI. He was required to apologize to the organization and the fans, but he was still in the game the next day. His teammate Austin Kearns was charged earlier this year, and Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera faces charges as well. Then there’s Seattle Mariners infielder Adam Kennedy, and Atlanta Braves’ Derek Lowe and the Oakland A’s outfielder named Coco Crisp.

The MLB executive vice president of labor relations and human resources Rob Manfred, said, “Alcohol issues will certainly be a topic that will be addressed in the ongoing negotiations. We are always concerned when any of our players have interaction with criminal authorities.”

For a problem that has, according to Trammell, been around for a long time, there is no program for alcohol-related offenses, although there is one for the use of marijuana or cocaine. The new alcohol policy may include enrollment in a counseling program. The Diamondbacks and some other teams have already banned alcohol in their clubhouses and on their team flights.

Perhaps designated chauffeurs could be made available to the players as a part of their package, for when they are drinking at home. After all, it’s not the alcohol that is illegal – it’s the driving under the influence.