Blogging About Baseball

Anxiety disorders have never been this prevalent in baseball.

Sure, it was clear that the Cardinal’s Rick Ankiel was dealing with something during his precipitous fall from stud-pitcher to batting practice fodder in 2001. And then there was the case of the Royal’s Zack Greinke, who all but gave up baseball before sitting an entire year to battle depression and anxiety. The cases, however, have always been few and far between though and usually extremely isolated.

At the mere mention of the problem as a reason for a trip to the disabled list, any old-timer would query, “Whatever happened to going out after the game, grabbing a beer and blowing off some steam?”

Having dealt with anxiety issues myself, I know the affliction is anything but a joke. It’s a very real problem with very real implications. It makes life a constant struggle and every moment is a battle. However, unlike Ankiel and Greinke, today’s star are treating it as anything but.

In this day of handout psycho-meds and therapy, we shouldn’t be surprised.

Detroit’s Dontrelle Willis has hit the disabled list two times this year with social anxiety. St. Louis shortstop Khalil Greene has, too. Neither has a documented history of the disorder, and their diagnoses are leaving health officials “suspicious.” Willis has been called up numerous times and when he inevitably falters, it’s “social anxiety” and not his horribly unrepeatable mechanics that is to blame. And Khalil Greene’s downfall from slugging shortstop to Mendoza-hoverer has nothing to do with the fact that he has the plate discipline of a little leaguer or the injury he sustained smashing a storage unit in the dugout during the 2008 season.

While their problems may be manifestations of something more significant, they are handling it in a shameful way. Willis is making routine trips to the minor leagues where he is pitching ably against shabby competitors. Greene spent less than a month on the D.L. (22 days) before coming back for the first time. He spent everyday with the team taking batting practice and fielding. It’s hard to believe that such a serious disorder can be solved by continually playing the game that is causing such distress.

Earlier this season, Cincinnati’s Joey Votto spent time on the disabled list with what was originally dubbed an “inner ear infection.”

Votto had started off the 2009 season hot, amassing eight homeruns and 34 RBI through the first two months. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he was gone.

At the end of last season, Votto’s father passed away. His idol, his mentor, the man who taught him how to play the game, had died. Votto trudged through the end of the 2008 season without him, but a quarter of the way through 2009, the pain was too hard to handle. Spring training was a positive outlet for his emotions, but once the pressure of the season rolled around, Votto was paralyzed. He couldn’t spend time alone and he slept holding a telephone, waiting to inevitably call the hospital for help.

He took a month off from the game, sidelining himself with “stress-related issues.” He didn’t play ball. He got help; he vocalized his emotions, spent time with his brothers (who he was now responsible for), and dealt with the issue he’d been avoiding for an entire offseason. He finally spoke to the media about what ailed him.

That’s how it should be. If Willis and Greene are actually suffering from something, perhaps they can ask Joey Votto, Rick Ankiel, and Zack Greinke how to deal with it.

Jeffress will serve a 100 game suspension.

The man with a 100 mile-per-hour heater is going to be serving a 100 game suspension.

Jeremy Jeffress, the Milwaukee Brewer’s first round pick in 2006 and the organization’s fourth best prospect according to Baseball America, recently tested positive for a “substance of abuse.” However, it wasn’t for the kind of substance we’re used to hearing ballplayers get suspended for these days…

Last Friday, Jeffress tested positive for marijuana. The failure is not Jefress’ first transgression; in 2007, he served a 50 game suspension for the same reason. While scouts rave about Jeffress’ natural stuff, his makeup has always been in question.

Jeffress’ repertoire includes a fastball that often touches 100, an 11-5 curveball, and a developing changeup. He’s been pegged as a future closer, despite being only 21-years-old and extremely raw.

Jefress, however, may never get the chance to prove what he can do in the major leagues. In accordance with Major League Baseball’s drug policy, the youngster is one positive test away from a lifetime ban.

Three strikes, you’re out.

In an organization that is sorely lacking in reliable arms, Jeffress would have most likely have gotten his first taste of the show in September.

Mark DeRosa

Cleveland trades former Chicago star Mark DeRosa to St. Louis for middle reliever and player to be named later.

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Move sure to add fire to already heated National League rivalry!

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CLEVELAND — In what has to be considered a lopsided trade, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired super utility man and developing slugger Mark DeRosa from the Cleveland Indians for middle reliever and touted prospect Chris Perez and a player to be named later.

DeRosa immediately adds fuel to an already bitter rivalry in the National League East between the St. Louis Cardinals and DeRosa’s former team, the Chicago Cubs.

DeRosa, who was traded by the Cubs after his career year in 2008, was hitting .270 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI while with the Indians. DeRosa is on pace to replicate last year’s statistics and hitting in a lineup with the National League’s best hitter, Albert Pujols, almost certainly guarantees he will.

DeRosa adds depth to a team plagued with injuries. After being penciled in as the Cardinal’s starting third baseman prior to the 2009 season, Troy Glaus has yet to return from off-season shoulder surgery. Shortstop Khalil Greene has been bruised the entire year and was recently sat due to an anxiety disorder. DeRosa can play almost any infield and outfield position so he could prove invaluable to the team in that capacity.

Cleveland rooters have to be scratching their collective heads with this one. If DeRosa had left the team as a free agent following this season, as he was likely to do, the team would have gained two draft picks. Instead, the Indian’s acquired a middle-of-the-line righty and an unknown player.

Chris Perez was expected by St. Louis fans to take over Jason Isringhausen’s closer role a few years ago. Upon each call up, however, the 24-year-old was consistently wild and never flourished in the role. He features a mid-90′s sinking fastball and a power slider. Perez’s stuff profiles him as a classic closer, but it’s expected that Cleveland will ease him into the team’s setup role, behind Kerry Wood.

The only way this deal works in the Indian’s favor is if the player to be named later is 2008-draftee and quick-riser Brett Wallace or right-handed pitcher Jess Todd. The Indian’s are desperate for bullpen depth, as evidenced by this hasty trade.

DeRosa should be in St. Louis today.