MLB, Teams Re-Examine Alcohol Policies After Hancock’s Death

MLB Could Implement Uniform Alcohol Policy For Teams

While MLB officials are “reluctant to talk publicly before consulting” with the MLBPA, one exec said that the league is “likely headed in the direction of a uniform alcohol policy” after it was revealed that Cardinals P Josh Hancock was intoxicated at the time of the car accident that caused his death, according to Derrick Goold (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/6). ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported that for MLB to implement a league-wide alcohol policy, “it would have to be a collectively-bargained solution. Baseball has encouraged teams to deal with this problem on their own as opposed to having it show up at the bargaining table and get caught in that little tug-of-war” (“Outside The Lines,” ESPN, 5/4). ESPN.com’s Buster Olney cited a team exec as saying that last Wednesday, MLB sent a league-wide memo “to survey teams on their alcohol policy.” Olney added that MLB may “defer to the teams, rather than issue a dictum itself, so as to not invite a confrontation with the union” (ESPN.com, 5/5). MLB Commissioner Bud Selig: “Each club is free to do what they think is right. I intend to discuss this further with the owners in the near future, but I don’t want to say too much right now out of respect for Josh Hancock and his family” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/6).

TEAM POLICIES: The POST-DISPATCH’s Goold reported that the Cardinals on Friday announced that they will “ban alcohol from their home clubhouse and homebound flights.” The team will “continue to allow alcohol in the clubhouse when on the road.” In a survey of all 30 MLB teams, 28 of which were reached, eight said they do not provide alcohol in the home clubhouse, and six said they are “reconsidering whether they will provide alcohol.” None provide liquor in the clubhouse (POST-DISPATCH, 5/6). The chart below lists results of the survey by the POST-DISPATCH.

ALCOHOL POLICIES FOR MLB TEAMS
PROVIDE ALCOHOL	DON'T PROVIDE ALCOHOL
D'Backs	Marlins
Red Sox	Astros
Cubs	Twins
White Sox	Mets
Indians	Yankees
Rockies	A's
Tigers	Pirates
Royals	Cardinals
Angels
Dodgers
Brewers
Phillies
Padres
Giants
Mariners
D'Rays
Rangers

Pujols Supports Cardinals’ Ban Of Clubhouse Alcohol After Home Games

^ The Braves and Reds declined comment; the Nationals' policy was not available; the Orioles and Blue Jays did not respond

CARDINALS: In St. Louis, Joe Strauss wrote several Cardinals players “expected at least a temporary clubhouse ban on beer but were surprised by the elimination of alcohol on team flights.” Some “suggested the team is grandstanding or acquiescing to media pressure rather than treating an individual tragedy as just that.” While 1B Albert Pujols, “a non drinker for religious and family reasons, wholly endorsed the ban,” CF Jim Edmonds “believed the club should ‘be careful’ not to enact measures that have more symbolic impact than real meaning” (POST-DISPATCH, 5/6). Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty “said there was no evidence Hancock began drinking in the clubhouse immediately after last Saturday’s game,” several hours before his death. In a separate piece, Strauss writes the policy shift “is a dramatic one for a franchise that until recently had an open tap in its press box.” Cardinals President Mark Lamping “denied the club’s longstanding relationship with Anheuser-Busch complicated a policy change.” Lamping, a former A-B exec, said “The abuse of the alcohol was the problem here. It’s not the product itself” (POST-DISPATCH, 5/5). Also in St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz writes “some players, incredibly, complained” about the policy change. Miklasz wonders if manager Tony La Russa, “in this resistant climate, and with his own DUI [in March] can be an effective enforcer.” La Russa: “I did get upset with the inference that somehow I was going to be a less effective leader or shirk my leadership responsibilities because of (the DUI). And I think it’s a personal insult which I take personally” (POST-DISPATCH, 5/7).

ORIOLES: In Baltimore, Roch Kubatko reported the Orioles have removed beer from the home clubhouse but not the visiting clubhouse. Orioles VP/Baseball Operations Jim Duquette said, “We’ve been talking about it prior to the [Hancock] incident. We were concerned about the legal ramifications that might occur, and obviously, the unfortunate incident brought it back into focus for us.” Duquette said that the Mets banned alcohol from their clubhouse while he was GM of the team (Baltimore SUN, 5/6).

ALREADY OUT: ESPN’s Olney said in the 24 hours after the reports of Hancock being intoxicated, the A’s, the “only team to ban alcohol from both their home and visiting clubhouses, ... fielded calls from 12-15 other teams asking about how” they implemented their policy (ESPN, 5/4). In S.F., John Shea noted the A’s banned alcohol from their clubhouse last season after P Esteban Loaiza was arrested on suspicion of DUI on June 14. A’s GM Billy Beane: “We weren’t looking to get a temperature gauge on what the popular choice was. We didn’t care. If we were going to be the only ones, so be it.” When asked if a ban should be league-wide, Beane said, “That’s up to the individual club” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/6). The Pirates have banned alcohol from the home clubhouse at PNC Park since ’03, and stopped alcohol on team flights “long before ’03.” The Pirates “allow alcohol in their clubhouse while on the road, because players and coaches take either taxi cabs or the team bus back to the hotel” (TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 5/6).

Francona Says Red Sox To Keep Offering Alcohol In Clubhouse

UNDER REVIEW: Giants Exec VP & COO Larry Baer, whose team still has alcohol in the clubhouse, said, “Clearly, the policy is something that must be considered” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/6). Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi “is in favour of the team removing beer from its clubhouse.” Ricciardi: “I think we need to address it again. ... Things like this bring to light the reality of being responsible” (GLOBE & MAIL, 5/5). Indians GM Mark Shapiro: “We had extensive discussions on this three or four years ago. In light of what happened, we’ve already started reviewing them” (PLAIN DEALER, 5/6). Reds GM Wayne Krivsky: “We’ll have internal discussions about our policy, that’s safe to say. We’ll talk to people and see if what we’re doing is OK and maybe remind the players, as if they need to be reminded after something like this” (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 5/6).

STATUS QUO: Red Sox manager Terry Francona, whose team allows alcohol in the clubhouse and on team flights, said, “I don’t think we need to be reactionary here because I think we have been diligent and respectful in how we’ve handled it in the past” (HARTFORD COURANT, 5/6). Angels GM Bill Stoneman does not expect the Angels to change their policy. Stoneman: “We’ve had (alcohol) available, and I don’t recall it ever being an issue ... but liability would drive any decision not to have it” (L.A. TIMES, 5/6). Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said that his team “has no plans to follow the Cardinals’ lead.” Colletti: “We review (our policy) all the time. We’re cognizant of it. And we hold our players to be responsible for their behavior” (L.A. TIMES, 5/5). In K.C., Sam Mellinger wrote the Royals “typically have less than a 12-pack of beer available with their postgame spread. Rarely are more than a few beers consumed, so the team feels no need to revisit its policy.” Royals GM Dayton Moore said Hancock’s situation had “nothing to do with consumption in the clubhouse or with the team. It was a personal choice he made and, unfortunately, ended in tragedy” (K.C. STAR, 5/6).