Last week, the Cardinals made a statement when they cut ties with veteran third baseman Scott Spiezio. This happened after General Manager John Mozeliak learned of Spiezio’s six-count arrest warrant, which includes driving while intoxicated, a charge issued by the Irvine, Calif., Police Department.
It was no secret that Spiezio had struggled with substance abuse in the past. He took a leave of absence last year to enter rehab in the middle of the season-the same season, ironically, that began with Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock passing away in a drunk driving accident and Manager Tony La Russa pleading guilty to DWI.
When Spiezio left last year, the organization and fans stood behind him, supporting his decision to clean up his life. Upon returning to the club, he admitted that he was not in a good place before rehab, but that things could have been worse.
After rehab, everything was good. He seemed to have a new outlook on life, getting back on the straight and narrow and shaving off his popular, red soul patch. But that didn’t last. Spiezio fell back into his old ways and left the rest of us wondering why.
Spiezio’s decision to drive drunk is especially reprehensible because he is a professional athlete. He is representing not only himself, but the entire Cardinals club as well. He needs to put his big head away for a second and think of the example that he is setting. If he cannot handle the responsibility that comes with being a professional athlete, then he should not be playing.
Mozeliak was right in releasing Spiezio. The team gave him several chances to deal with his addiction, but he only proved himself more untrustworthy. After everything the team and fans went through last year-losing a player to drunk driving-Spiezio still had the nerve to put himself and others in danger in a similar situation. And, for that, he doesn’t deserve to be a Cardinal.
By releasing Spiezio, this team sent a strong message to fans and players, telling them that this behavior will not be tolerated. These players, especially the ones who played with Hancock, need to man-up and take responsibility for their actions and the actions of their teammates.
Luckily for the Cardinals, Mozeliak refuses to let the team’s image become that of crazy, irresponsible ballplayers. He holds them to a higher standard. In Spiezio’s case, he messed up one too many times, and this time, it cost him his job.
I hope Spiezio gets the help he needs, reorganizes his life and stays out of trouble. I hope everyone around him learns from this, and I hope the team can close an ugly chapter in its history and start fresh this year.
The last thing this team and its fans need is another season filled with distractions and embarrassing behavior by players and coaches.
Max Vosburgh is a freshman in the John Cook School of Business.
