To drink or not to drink?

[love_that_reefer]

I was listening to Mike and Mike (only because DP Show wasn't on yet) this morning and they kept crying about the Red Sox players drinking beer in the clubhouse and dugout. I couldn't believe the emails that were pouring in complaining about grown men drinking during the game, a game where Mickey Mantle can have a 3 HR game and David Wells throw a perfect game all while hungover. I personally don't see a problem with it because a) they're not breaking any laws b) they weren't pitching that day and c) it doesn't affect anyone's life one way or the other. Should they have been more professional and watch the games trying to scout other hitters? Yes. Do they have to everyday when not pitching? No. AJ Pierzynski has come out and said that he grabs a beer during the game just to calm his nerves. Nothing wrong with that either. Heard a story about Canseco grabbing a light beer during a game, hit a HR, grab another light beer, hit another homer, grab a third beer and hit a third homerun. See a problem here? I sure don't. It's not like these guys are bringing bottles in the dugout and getting caught on camera for all the world to see. I also hate hearing people say, "At what other job could you drink at and not get fired?". Guess what prick, it's not like any other job and never will be. So my question to you is, do you really care that MLBers drink in the clubhouse or dugout?

[Tobywan]

I voted no, not so much because I personally CARE whether they take a drink or not to calm nerves or whatever. I actually think the idea of “no one gets to drink on other jobs and “this isn’t like any other job” both have merit.

My issue is only from the standpoint that in recent years MLB has been trying in many ways to “clean-up” baseball, banning substances and so forth. There is also a campaign to try to get the union to agree to ban tobacco in the Majors as it has in the minors. The main crux of the reasoning is making this sport more all around “family/kid friendly”. The idea is that kids look up to them so they should set an “example”.

You can argue that sports players shouldn’t be held up as “heroes” or “role models”. However, that in a way is what MLB itself has tried to accomplish and many outside seem to think they should bend accordingly. The truth is there are a lot of youngsters out there that do emulate the famous in whatever interest they have……sports, music, TV, whatever genre they are exposed to on a regular basis.

I have even heard many players speak themselves of how they stay away from “vices” because they want to be a person parents would want their kids to see as a role model.

The question is where you draw the line in “morality” VS personal freedom. Do you dictate what they can and can’t do on AND OFF the field in order to keep a certain “image” even if it’s phony? By phony, I mean that while as I mentioned some guys embrace the idea of being a role model in all aspects of their life, others only “behave” themselves during the season or just game time. You know those guys that go to charity events, attend clinics and lectures telling kids on how to live their life right and then take a stripper/porno bunny out on the town for a wild night, even if they are married with kids of their own.

I did find it a bit comical though recently when I saw a news piece on the Senate trying to push MLB to push the player’s union to placing the ban on tobacco in the majors. If I were Selig I would tell them we’ll do that when the Senate stops cheating on their spouses and taking bribes.

The bottom line is though that if MLB is truly serious about “cleaning up” the sport they need to ban ALL “substances” that can enhance or hinder a player’s performance and even their image if they want to try to promote this “family” atmosphere. The problem with that is with anything else, how to construct a “moral” one size fits all agenda.

[HollywoodLeo]

I think it depends on how much they have.

Do I have a problem with a player having a beer or two during a game if he's not even in it? Not really. It's no different than having any other snack if it's just a beer or two.

I think misconception that's had here, though, is that the players were yucking it up and having a good time getting drunk off their ass while their teammates are trying to win a game.

I'm not saying that's what was happening, I just get the feeling that that's the impression that many who are so much against these apparent happenings are getting.

[Kingdom]

Yes for the Red Sox since it's more fun to see them fall apart.

[Providence A's]

No. It's unprofessional and sets a bad example for the kids. Do it when you leave the stadium (back at the hotel or at your house, whatever) or in the off-season.

[Foster]

It pains me to say no, seeing as how I am a fan of the combination of those golden grains. I just find the idea of me paying to watch someone play a sport and drink at the same time infeariating. I can grab a "growler" and head done to the little league diamond for that.

That being said, I just finished "Ball Four", and dream of sitting around a clubhouse with Jim Bouton.

[love_that_reefer]

I might be a bit biased since I get to drink at my job and do everyday