Baseball Has A Problem

I don’t know Miguel Cabrera. I don’t know anyone that knows Miguel Cabrera but, I do know many people who have struggled with addiction.  These people feel outcast from society.  Their addictions serve as outlets to feelings of anger, sadness, and exhaustion.  Cabrera’s situation has become a public mess with his friends, teammates, and managers exposing his problem.  These are the same people who have helped to facilitate his problem.  Alcoholism is as much a part of baseball culture as chewing tobacco, and the seventh inning stretch.

Cabrera has long struggled with alcoholism though it was thought to be under control since last winter.  Reports were that he had sought help and turned a corner with his

problem.  In 2010, Cabrera enjoyed his most successful season.  He posted 38 HRs, 126 RBIs, .420 OBP, 1.042 OPS and finished second in the MVP voting.  The young first baseman had turned a corner and was on his way to Cooperstown.

Then, spring training 2011 rolls around.  Cabrera is pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving.  According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Cabrera smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and took a swig from a bottle of scotch in front of a deputy (which takes some major cajones).  This has some sort of probation written all over (jail time for a normal citizen).  Cabrera has apologized for his actions and will likely be forced into some sort of rehab program and may miss some regular season games as he battles his addiction.

What happens when he comes back?  Beer is served in the clubhouse to players after games.  Beer is consumed by most every fan in attendance at a game.  Beer is used in celebrations.  Baseball is used by beer companies to sell their product.  Cabrera will be surrounded by his addiction and unable to join his teammates as they drink a cold one and watch games finish up on the West Coast.

Wade Boggs claims to have once drunk 64 beers on a team flight from New York to Los Angeles. Boggs’ story exemplifies the drinking culture.  Beer and alcohol is ever present for these players.  Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver hours after his second Major League start.  Many tributes were made in Adenhart’s honor. Most disturbingly, his teammates sprayed his jersey with beer and champagne after the Angel’s won the AL West.  The jersey spray signified his membership with the team but, to include him in a

celebration centered around alcohol seems a little off.  Josh Hamilton has recently recovered from his addictions and partakes in celebrations using ginger ale.  I question how much a part of the team Hamilton feels as he sits idly by as his teammates enjoy their Budweiser.

Baseball has identified that Miguel Cabrera has a problem.  Baseball needs to look in the mirror and identify its own problem.  A culture that promotes alcohol consumption may be America’s pastime but something needs to change.  After Babe Ruth “did it on beer and hot dogs” and Bonds did it on “the needle” maybe we should switch it over to “A Coke and a smile.”

-Sean Morash