Players Accused of Drinking at Ball Game

Near the beginning of October 2011, there were three Major League Baseball pitchers from the Boston Red Sox who got into some trouble for drinking beer in the dugout during the game. All three were starting pitchers: Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and John Lackey. To their credit, it should quickly be added that these were not games in which they were supposed to pitch. So they were just hanging out there during the game and, well, drinking beer.

Now the Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations, Joe Torre, has reported that they are considering making a rule against it for all 30 teams in Major League Baseball. Apparently some of the clubs already have a rule, but some did not.

“We should be role models for the youngsters and how they behave,” said Torre. “It’s something we’ll certainly look at.”

It should be mentioned that Lester, Beckett and Lackey all denied these allegations, saying that they did not drink beer in the dugout during the game. Former Manager Terry Francona backed them up in the denial.

It’s an interesting thought to consider: will it make a difference in the role model department or not. After all, after almost every major victory the players are seeing drinking champagne and pouring it all over one another. Beer companies are a major advertiser during television commercial breaks as well as at the ballparks. People buy and consume beer pretty freely during the entire game that they attend, and others include beer in their tailgate parties before the game or at home.

It just seems a little lame to be suddenly worrying about whether a child in the stands might see a baseball player drinking a beer and then become an alcoholic because of it. The players aren’t required to be tea-totalers. It would make more sense to be concerned about the fact that people all around them are consuming beer during the entire game.

Of course, there could be other great reasons to ban alcohol in the dugout. After all, these men are “on duty” and working, even if they are only watching and encouraging the other players. If the MLB decides to draw a line at letting people see “drinking while working” then it’s a start, at least. Also, keeping them from seeing a guy get drunk and say or do something stupid is a good goal for them as well.