More shady use of the disabled list

[Mr. Happy]

Co-Ards placed Khalil Greene on the DL for "social anxiety disorder." WTF?

[Greg M]

Social anxiety disorder can be pretty damn debilitating.  Wish him well.

[Noe]

It's no laughing matter.  It's pretty serious.

[JackAstro]

Co-Ards placed Khalil Greene on the DL for "social anxiety disorder." WTF?

I absolutely don't mean any disrespect, but shouldn't you be sympathetic to people who are dealing with very real problems that many people dismiss as not being an actual disease?

[Greg M]

It's not a disease per se.  It's a disorder and fortunately for Greene many people respond to treatment for SAD well. 

[Mr. Happy]

I absolutely don't mean any disrespect, but shouldn't you be sympathetic to people who are dealing with very real problems that many people dismiss as not being an actual disease?

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm probably more sympathetic because of my personal situation. I was merely pointing out that this seems to be an abuse of the physical nature of the DL. That's all I'm saying.

[HudsonHawk]

It's not a disease per se.  It's a disorder and fortunately for Greene many people respond to treatment for SAD well. 

I'm not a physician, but the way I understand it, all disorders are diseases, but not the other way around.  The former is a subset of the latter.

[Noe]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm probably more sympathetic because of my personal situation. I was merely pointing out that this seems to be an abuse of the physical nature of the DL. That's all I'm saying.

It's not something a person does to him or herself.  It is about having a wrong mental state about performance and being watched and judged.  It is a breakdown of rational thinking and put into an irrational thinking pattern and thus having the adrenal glands produce (falsely) protection for your irrational fears.  If you had a car coming at you, the adrenal gland will send the proper chemicals to heighten your awareness and reaction and thus cause flight.  If the brain is sending the wrong message to the gland (an irrational fear, thus your body thinks it's time to fight or flight), then you're going to be a mess.

It can be helped with drugs or therapy or both.  There was a famous right fielder for the Red Sox (Jimmy Piersall) who suffered from this malady.  It is no laughing matter and not an abuse of anything.  It is about helping a young man deal with a disorder that is very real.  Same thing happened to Zack Grienke (anxiety disorder) and now look at how well he's doing (although he's always aware he's going to have to deal with this disorder).

[JackAstro]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm probably more sympathetic because of my personal situation. I was merely pointing out that this seems to be an abuse of the physical nature of the DL. That's all I'm saying.

Fair enough. I think I probably misinterpreted your use of quotes, and it seemed oddly dismissive, coming from you.

[strosrays]

Was that the same thing Jim Eisenreich had?  He missed seasons because of his anxiety.  Damn good hitter, too.

[Ty in Tampa]

Was that the same thing Jim Eisenreich had?  He missed seasons because of his anxiety.  Damn good hitter, too.

Eisenreich has Tourette syndrome.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Jimmy Piersall was bipolar, which is/was even more debilitating.

Social Anxiety Disorder is very bad for an athlete or entertainer. When he quit taking Valium all the time, Andy Partridge of XTC discovered couldn't perform live because of severe anxiety. Most people get stage fright or are uncomfortable with public speaking with their initial efforts at it. Over time, with practice and repetition, a person will become more comfortable performing in public, some will learn embrace the rush of butterflies in the belly. Someone with SAD might never get comfortable their performance being watched/judged, or toggle back and forth between comfort and anxiety.

[geezerdonk]

There was a famous right fielder for the Red Sox (Jimmy Piersall) who suffered from this malady.

Piersall was a phenomenal athlete. I think he came up as an infielder but was moved to right for the first part of his career. When Dom DiMaggio retired, Piersall took over in center and Jackie Jensen became the right fielder.
Piersall's on field antics were often funny. Late in his career he ran the bases backwards after hitting a home run. I wonder if he was thrown at the next time he came up. 

[hostros7]

Votto now on the DL due to "stress related issues" according to Fox broadcasters.  They proceeded to list others afflicted with similar issues, and Tim McKarver follows up with, "and the most celebrated of all the anxiety sufferers, Zack Grienke."  Or something similarly squarenoggined.  He certainly used the word "celebrated" to refer to "anxiety disorder," nonetheless.

[juliogotay]

Votto now on the DL due to "stress related issues" according to Fox broadcasters.  They proceeded to list others afflicted with similar issues, and Tim McKarver follows up with, "and the most celebrated of all the anxiety sufferers, Zack Grienke."  Or something similarly squarenoggined.  He certainly used the word "celebrated" to refer to "anxiety disorder," nonetheless.

Votto has had inner-ear related dizzy spells. Is this related?

[hostros7]

Votto has had inner-ear related dizzy spells. Is this related?

Yeah they weren't completely clear, but they referred to some illness, dizzy spells, and other factors creating a "stress related" trip to the DL.  Can't find a link on the interwebs, the broadcast just cut to Fox's Greg Lucas for the update.

[TheWizard]

I can't recall another year where as many players have been placed on the DL for psychiatric-type ailments.  It'll be interesting how this all develops and whether there will be any tinkering with how the DL can be used.

[hostros7]

I can't recall another year where as many players have been placed on the DL for psychiatric-type ailments.  It'll be interesting how this all develops and whether there will be any tinkering with how the DL can be used.

It's interesting not in the manipulation aspect to me but more how anxiety, depression, etc. is becoming a more open and expected topic in the world, particularly in the "macho" world of sports.  It's nice to see, honestly.  People shouldn't have to hide in the shadows.

[Reuben]

It's interesting not in the manipulation aspect to me but more how anxiety, depression, etc. is becoming a more open and expected topic in the world, particularly in the "macho" world of sports.  It's nice to see, honestly.  People shouldn't have to hide in the shadows.

I agree. Why should baseball "tinker" with this use of the DL? The team still has to be without the player for 15 days.

[Mr. Happy]

It's interesting not in the manipulation aspect to me but more how anxiety, depression, etc. is becoming a more open and expected topic in the world, particularly in the "macho" world of sports.  It's nice to see, honestly.  People shouldn't have to hide in the shadows.

You're right. People should not have to hide in the shadows.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

You're right. People should not have to hide in the shadows.

but it's kind of hard to hide right out in the open.

[Mr. Happy]

but it's kind of hard to hide right out in the open.

I meant that it is okay to suffer from these maladies. I wish them all well and much happiness.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I meant that it is okay to suffer from these maladies. I wish them all well and much happiness.

I knew what you meant. I was just being a fuckface. People shouldn't have to hide for or feel shamed or for something they have no control over.