Kudos to the Cardinals for swiftly dismissing Scott Spiezio.
By Bernie Miklasz
02/28/2008
Owner Bill DeWitt, GM John Mozeliak and the organization made a strong statement about establishing standards for personal conduct.
Mozeliak, in particular, stood up in a strong way that reaffirmed that there's a new GM in charge, and he won't be weak.
Human beings make mistakes, and are entitled to second chances as long as they're genuine about growing from the experience in a way that makes them a better person. Tony La Russa and his DUI in Florida last spring is an example of what I'm talking about. La Russa was ashamed by what he did, and I'd be absolutely shocked if TLR ever put himself in that irresponsible position again. He learned from his poor judgment.
But Spiezio was given many chances by the Cardinals. He was signed off the street when no one wanted him after the 2005 season. As we found out later, he was given an opportunity to get his act together early in the 2007 season, when rumors of his use of alcohol and substances began to surface. The team backed him again when he went into a rehab facility last season. They supported him again, and with a warm embrace, when he checked out of rehab and returned to the uniform. And they were behind Spiezio again by bringing him back for 2008.
At some point, he had to return that loyalty. He had to prove that he was trustworthy and reliable and honest and clean. And Spiezio failed miserably on all counts. For this knucklehead to essentially conceal the nature and magnitude of the wild spree that allegedly occured on the night of Dec. 30 in Irvine, Calif. was simply unacceptable, and unforgivable.
And this is especially true in the aftermath of Josh Hancock killing himself by driving drunk last April.
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Spiezio's con was so good it even had him fooled
By Bryan Burwell
02/28/2008
JUPITER, FLA. — It was all unraveling before him, his life, his job and the flimsy lies he had desperately used to hold them all together. So now Scott Spiezio was in the players' parking lot at Roger Dean Stadium on Wednesday afternoon pacing anxiously with a cell phone pressed to his ear. He was animated and agitated and behaving like a cornered man, which is exactly what he was.
"He kept walking back and forth kicking the curb," said a concerned teammate who had no idea what was wrong. What was wrong was that Scott Spiezio had blown it. The Cardinals had given him a second chance after he'd missed part of last season in rehab for substance abuse. They had given him a second chance even after he'd breezed through that rehab like it was a fast food drive-through. They'd given him a second chance, and he spent the past few months telling everyone and anyone who'd listen that he was an inspiring comeback story.
And we all fell for the con. On Tuesday morning, he was on the front page of the Palm Beach Post in a touching story about how he'd turned his life around. But it was a lie and he knew it. There was an arrest warrant in California with his name on it, and now on Wednesday afternoon, it became public, and the details were beyond disturbing. The 35-year-old infielder was accused of going on a drunken binge, climbing behind the wheel of his expensive sports car, weaving dangerously through lanes into oncoming traffic, then crashing to a halt when he ran into a fence in the early morning of Dec. 30.
And then he lied to the Cardinals about it. He told them it was a car accident and nothing more, which is sort of like saying a trip on the Titanic was just a boat ride. And Wednesday Cardinals management did the absolute right thing for their organization and this troubled man. They told him he was done in a Cardinals uniform.
Yet they also sent a message that should resonate into every corner of their clubhouse, their organization and throughout Cardinals Nation. "I think there is a message," said general manager John Mozeliak. "Clearly given what is at stake, we want people to understand that ... we do have expectations about how they live their lives. Not trying to be the moral compass, but we felt it was the right thing to do for this organization."
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Spiezio had to go — for his sake and the team's
By Jeff Gordon
02/27/2008
...The Cards must move forward without Spiezio. In baseball terms, this is a tough blow.
When healthy, Spiezio could fill in at the corner outfield and infield spots -– and play second base in a pinch. He could hit from both sides of the plate and provide power.
At his best, Spiezio could do the job of two bench players and give La Russa great tactical flexibility. His abrupt departure is just one more sign that 2008 will be a rebuilding year for the former champions.
His demise is just another unhappy development for this team. Juan Encarnacion could not make it back from his eye injury. Chris Carpenter and Mark Mulder are on the mend from major surgery.
David Eckstein and Troy Percival left as free agents. Scott Rolen demanded a trade and was moved to Toronto for Troy Glaus. Mozeliak sent Jim Edmonds to San Diego in a salary dump. One by one, key veterans from a once-formidable clubhouse have gone by the wayside.
The Cards are starting over. Young infielder Brendan Ryan moves up a peg, since he can play third base in addition to shortstop and second base.
The team’s youthful outfield depth becomes more critical. Extra veterans like Brian Barden and D’Angelo Jimenez suddenly have more hope, too, as La Russa explores all his options.
As for Spiezio, well, you can only hope he finds his way. He faces the distinct possibility that his career is done.
Perhaps this stark realization will scare him straight. Nothing else has.
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My take:
All of you that know me can only imagine the soapbox I was on late yesterday ...
He is a classic example of squandering god given talent and family connections to be able to PLAY A GAME FOR A LIVING at the Major League level. And what does he do? Takes a second chance that 99.5% of players and wanna be major leaguers never get and gives everyone around him and his fans in STL the middle finger.
AP article I read said, “Spiezio was entering the final season of a two-year, $4.5 million contract. He was released the same way most players are cut, for failure "to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability." That means the Cardinals owe him this year's $2.3 million salary plus a $100,000 buyout of a $2.5 million team option for 2009 -- because of that, the likelihood of a grievance by the players' union is small.”
That’s a lot Mr. Red Soul Patch Man, you lied, played us in Cardinal Nation for fools and have cost us 2.4 million dollars for the next year so you can go to a pish posh rehab resort on our dime and “find yourself”. Nicely done skipjack.
By the way, Spiez, that flushing sound you hear is your MLB career.
