Josh Hamilton relapse

[gunnarthor]

Pretty sad news. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/02/josh-hamilton-meeting-with-mlb-regarding-disciplinary-matter.html

 

Reports seem to indicate he was using cocaine.  His early career was destroyed by drug use and yet he had a pretty amazing run with very little minor league time after basically missing all of 2003-2005.  Hopefully, he gets better.

[gil4]

I really hate to hear this, and I hope it's not true, although there doesn't appear to be anyone refuting this and addiction is a battle you have to win every single day for the rest of your life. 

 

I heard about the story in context of him traveling for a meeting about disciplinary actions, so I assume he's facing a suspension of some kind.  I don't know how much of his past counts toward any action MLB might take now, but the real issue is whether of not he can get his life back on track.

[JB_Iowa]

For those of us who don't fight addiction, I think it is hard to understand how difficult it is.to overcome.  I wish him well.

 

Apparently the Commish will have a pretty wide latitude due to Hamilton's prior problems.  

 

Playing ball should be a low priority although I understand it may be his lifeline.

[tobi0040]

Reports are that he did not fail a test and he voluntarily told the league. It happened some months back so he was probably in the clear from a testing perspective.

 

No doubt the guy has an addiction problem and that is very sad.  But contrast his approach with that of an A Rod, deny, deny, deny, sue the league, etc.  Ryan Braun singling out the drug tester and claiming the guy was an anti-semite, denying what he did, etc..  If there is a silver lining or good side to this story to me it is that.  He sounds like a real stand up guy who is up front and honest.

[gunnarthor]

Reports are that he did not fail a test and he voluntarily told the league. It happened some months back so he was probably in the clear from a testing perspective.

 

No doubt the guy has an addiction problem and that is very sad.  But contrast his approach with that of an A Rod, deny, deny, deny, sue the league, etc.  Ryan Braun singling out the drug tester and claiming the guy was an anti-semite, denying what he did, etc..  If there is a silver lining or good side to this story to me it is that.  He sounds like a real stand up guy who is up front and honest.

Yeah, although maybe that's part of his rehab process.  Take responsibility for the mistake, take the punishment that comes with it, etc.  I don't know.  But I hope he and his family are ok in the end.

[Bark's Lounge]

I believe that Hamilton will struggle with this his whole life and he will have his relapses. I do not like the "drug of abuse" policy in MLB. He is not cheating. He is destroying his physical prowess. The guy needs help, not a punishment. Help the guy out, give him the resources necessary. Help him to be healthy mind wise and physically on the field.

 

Rational Recovery is the healthy way to go about things. The last thing anyone needs is to be locked up in a cult type organization.

 

Do not suspend Hamilton and provide him with the resources he needs to move on from this. He will probably need maintenance from time to time and it should work out if he is not hell bent on self Destruction.

[PseudoSABR]

That he came forward, or at least is coming clean now, speaks quite a bit about his ability to cope.  The draw of addiction may come and go, but at least he might be passed the shame that leads to secrecy.   Addiction is part and parcel with self-loathing, so here's wishing Josh Hamilton the best.  For some reason, I recall the incident in Texas when he tossed the ball up to fan in the upper deck...it can't be easy to get over something like that, especially when you've been wrestling your own demons.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yikes. I'm bummed to hear this happened. It seems like he worked really hard to overcome his addiction problems. It's a good thing that he volunteered the information and I hope he gets the help he needs.

[tobi0040]

I believe that Hamilton will struggle with this his whole life and he will have his relapses. I do not like the "drug of abuse" policy in MLB. He is not cheating. He is destroying his physical prowess. The guy needs help, not a punishment. Help the guy out, give him the resources necessary. Help him to be healthy mind wise and physically on the field.

 

Rational Recovery is the healthy way to go about things. The last thing anyone needs is to be locked up in a cult type organization.

 

Do not suspend Hamilton and provide him with the resources he needs to move on from this. He will probably need maintenance from time to time and it should work out if he is not hell bent on self Destruction.

 

I think it is tricky.  He isn't helping his performance, but I think the leagues want to keep it relatively clean on the drug of abuse front too.  To my knowledge, football and baseball are similar in that respect and if you want to be in the program, you need to stay clean.  Most guys can shake their habits with their careers on the line.  Others, like Darryl Strawberry, Josh Gordon, and apparently Josh Hamilton struggle more.  I do agree that the punishment in this case could end up hurting his long road to sobriety.  If you look back at his story he didn't start using until he was in the minors and had a few injuries and was away from baseball and off his top prospect trajectory. 

 

At the same time, I don't think it is right to just ignore drugs like the NBA does.  My hope in this case his actual suspension is less than 50 or 100 games and is more focused on rehab than just not playing baseball.  At some point his baseball career will be over and he won't need to stay clean for baseball, but hopefully will be able to do it on his own. I also hope is that baseball wants to help him achieve that goal.

[Mike Sixel]

I hope he keeps his life in reasonable order. Good luck to him.

[Paul Pleiss]

Why would he need to be suspended for admitting with no positive tests? Is it part of his reinstatement agreement?

 

Ron Washington and I both know that a little cocaine up the shooter is nothing to get suspended over.

[USAFChief]

Why would he need to be suspended for admitting with no positive tests? Is it part of his reinstatement agreement?

 

Ron Washington and I both know that a little cocaine up the shooter is nothing to get suspended over.

Yes, part of his reinstatement agreement was to remain free of drugs of abuse.

 

There is also speculation he came forward prior to test results coming out that he suspected would be positive.

 

Personally, while sympathetic to Hamilton's battle, at some point personal responsibility has to enter into the equation.

 

He deserves a lengthy suspension, IMO.

[Thrylos]

Yeah.

 

He has to do the time.  And at some point he might actually have to do real time. Last I checked, possession of more than one gram of Cocaine was a felony...

 

Hope he gets his life straight, but I really cannot cry for millionaires who urinate their lives down the drain.  Sorry.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Yes, part of his reinstatement agreement was to remain free of drugs of abuse.

 

There is also speculation he came forward prior to test results coming out that he suspected would be positive.

 

Personally, while sympathetic to Hamilton's battle, at some point personal responsibility has to enter into the equation.

 

He deserves a lengthy suspension, IMO.

Eh, I don't think that really serves anyone's interests. He obviously wants help, which is why he offered the information.

 

A suspension? Yes. But it shouldn't be a long suspension. It should be a conditional suspension based on counseling, rehab, and getting the guy clean. I don't see the point in taking away the guy's livelihood in an attempt to "tough love" him out of drug abuse. I'm no addiction therapist but I don't see that helping if the goal is getting the guy clean (and the league should be more worried about getting him clean than they are draconian punishment measures).

[biggentleben]

Yeah.

 

He has to do the time.  And at some point he might actually have to do real time. Last I checked, possession of more than one gram of Cocaine was a felony...

 

Hope he gets his life straight, but I really cannot cry for millionaires who urinate their lives down the drain.  Sorry.

 

I don't care if he makes $10K, $10M, or $10B in a year, an addict is an addict.  He will always be an addict.  He NEEDS treatment for his addiction, not a suspension.  I understand that because of his job, he will get more chances than a guy working at Wal-mart that has a relapse.  The point, as someone else put it so well this week, is to ensure a relapse doesn't become a collapse.  

 

One of the great things in the community here is the relationship our local businesses have with the counseling service in town to get folks with addiction issues often completely paid-for services.  That said, there are plenty of people who show up routinely for AA, NA, GA, OA, and other anonymous meetings because treatment is not a one-time thing.  It's a lifetime commitment, and Hamilton had a relapse.  Anyone who's actually been part of recovery will tell you that relapse is one of the most important reasons to be part of an anonymous meeting group.  No one but an addict will ever understand truly what a relapse experience is like.  

 

I have been very heartened by the messages I've heard on various avenues this week about Hamilton's addiction and recovery, but comments like yours are much, much too prevalent in the day to day world.  I don't care if you cry for a millionaire or not, but there is more than just "want" that is part of this disease.  Hamilton could have all the "want" to be clean and sober, but his illness makes that want no more possible than someone with HIV not wanting to develop AIDS.**  I hope some of the conversation this week around the truth of recovery will open the minds of those who see this only as a Hamilton issue and then bad mouth their neighbor down the street who relapses on his alcoholism.

 

**This comment is meant in no way to equalize addiction and HIV/AIDS.  Any perception thereof is not the intent of the author and should not be construed as such.  Thanks for reading the small type.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Interestingly enough, I'd probably argue that Cocaine is a performance enhancer (at least if he's using it while playing). That said, I do agree that it should be more of a conditional suspension based on counseling and what not as others mentioned. 50 games seems pretty appropriate here as long as he gets back on the wagon.

 

I'll echo what Ben said having had to deal with some of those demons myself. You can want to fix the issue all you want, but your addict has some real power. It will give it up for a while, but you're never cured. It just goes to sleep.

 

Hamilton really seems like a stand up guy. I do hope he can get beyond this.

[formerly33]

I don't think that Hamilton should be suspended longer than 2 months. Other than that would be ridiculous. He undeniably made a bad choice, but it was not to help him be a better ball player. He was not cheating in the least. Also, he was the one who came forward with it, and he went into treatment himself. Give him a few months to come clean and then let him back. With respect. The guy is going through a lot more than most people can possibly understand, and I don't think he should be punished for trying to overcome it. Let him play ball. It's his therapy and passion. He fell back on drugs during the offseason, and though I won't make excuses for him, I believe that MLB shouldn't lengthen that offseason more than is absolutely necessary.

[Thrylos]

Interestingly enough, I'd probably argue that Cocaine is a performance enhancer (at least if he's using it while playing).

 

Just curious. Based on this, I suspect that you feel that since Molitor is in the Hall of Fame, Bonds and Clemens should be too, correct?

[biggentleben]

Just curious. Based on this, I suspect that you feel that since Molitor is in the Hall of Fame, Bonds and Clemens should be too, correct?

 

If Mickey, Willie, and Hank are in...