only one drunk driver allowed on Cards Spiezio cut

[TheBenjamin]

Scott Spiezio-3B-Cardinals Feb. 27 - 6:11 pm et

Cardinals released infielder-outfielder Scott Spiezio.

They should know by now that only the manager is allowed to drive drunk in St. Louis. Spiezio's life is a mess, and this probably won't help him turn it around, not that the Cardinals necessarily owe him anything. They were certainly more than generous when they gave him a two-year, $4.5 million contract after the World Series in 2006. Say it again with us... multiyear contracts for bench players rarely work out.

[ryno4ever]

It's really kind of sad. These athletes have so many people who look up to them, who idolize them, and then they go and do stuff like this.

More on this story:

Utilityman Scott Spiezio was cut by the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, released after police issued a six-count warrant for his arrest following a December car crash.

“We hope Scott will continue to seek appropriate help and wish him the best in baseball, but more importantly in life,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said.

Spiezio, who missed more than a month last year while getting treatment for substance abuse, did not play in Wednesday’s exhibition game against St. Louis University at Jupiter, Fla.



The warrant filed Tuesday by Irvine police alleges driving under influence, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more, hit and run, aggravated assault, assault and battery.

Police said the accident occurred Dec. 30. The maximum penalty is two years in state prison.
“We’ve never been able to talk to him,” Irvine police Lt. Rick Handfield said. “The detective has expressed an interest in having Mr. Spiezio come to California.”



When the Cardinals activated from the restricted list last September, Spiezio said, “I was out of control for a while. I learned a lot and I’m ready to start contributing in a good way now.”

At the time, Spiezio said he’d been struggling with substance abuse for six or seven months, although he wouldn’t disclose the substance, saying “I’ll save that for the book.”

Earlier in the day, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he did not have specifics on the warrant and had not spoken to Spiezio.

“I had heard there was an incident in California. I didn’t think anything would come of it,” he said.

Spiezio is best remembered in Anaheim for a three-run homer in Game 6 against the San Francisco Giants that helped the Angels rally from the largest deficit ever in a potential Series-deciding game.

Spiezio played in Seattle for two seasons before joining the Cardinals in 2006 and helping them win the World Series that year.

Irvine police responded to a report of a single-car crash at 12:20 a.m. on Dec. 30 in Orange County.

Officers found a 2004 BMW registered to Spiezio had crashed into a curb and fence. The driver was seen running from the crash site, Handfield said.

Police located a neighbor of Spiezio who told officers that he was assaulted by Spiezio at their condo complex a short distance from the crash site, Handfield said.

The neighbor said Spiezio had arrived home appearing disheveled and apparently injured. Spiezio vomited in his condo and then allegedly assaulted the neighbor, causing significant injuries, Handfield said.

Spiezio was devastated by the death of Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock, who was legally intoxicated when he crashed into the back of a flatbed truck last April.

Spiezio said the situation might have pushed him deeper into dependency.

“You’ve got to put yourself in the right situations, sometimes change friends or go out to breakfast with a friend and not to a place where you can start making bad decisions,” he said in January. “I’ve got to be in a frame of mind where I can’t lose focus in any way.”

[DLee25]

I just don't get how pro athletes mess it up. They have had everything going for them.......

[TheBenjamin]

they being to think that they are invincable, and can do and get away with everything

[VanMan]

Boy, Jim Rome and the clones were really laying into Spiez and LaRussa during his radio show today. Every time a clone e-mails or texts something about it, Rome has Alvin, the engineer/sound guy on the show, play the clip from LaRussa's field sobriety test where he mixes up the alphabet.