Joe Torre, MLB “Concerned” With Red Sox Pitchers’ Beer Drinking

By KC Downey in Featured, Red Sox, Top Story ⋅ October 23, 2011 at 11:14pm ⋅ Post a comment

Joe Torre, Matt Kemp (UPI/Bill Greenblatt)

Joe Torre expressed concern on behalf of Major League Baseball on Sunday with the reports of the Red Sox starting pitchers drinking beer in the clubhouse.

“It’s something we’re concerned about, just to make sure that we get all the facts and that’s my area,” Torre said. “I know I have plans just to talk to some people.”

Jon Lester and Clay Buccholz specifically admitted to drinking in the clubhouse, while John Lackey and Josh Beckett admitted to doing something wrong. All four pitchers, however, denied the report they drank beer in the dugout during games.

It appears MLB was paying attention to the reports.

“It’s something we’re going to look at and find the best way to approach it, let’s put it that way,” he said. “That’s one thing where I feel comfortable, the fact that I played and I managed. I have no problem talking to someone in regards to baseball, whether it’s behavior or otherwise.”

But, would Torre actually consider banning alcohol in baseball clubhouses?

“If we do happen to bar alcohol from the clubhouses, you have to understand the intent of this thing and what it looks like,” Torre said. “We’re up there and we’re role models, or we should be role models for the youngsters and how they behave.”

Reaction

I think banning alcohol in clubhouses would be a bit much, but it would send a message: No drinking on the job. It’s a motto that the vast majority of working Americans (that want to keep their job) follow.

But, as you can see, Torre would be the pot calling the kettle black.