From the AP, yesterday :
Troubled Florida Marlins pitching prospect Jeff Allison, who returned to the mound last season following a near-fatal drug overdose, has been suspended for violating club policy.
The team disclosed the suspension in a one-sentence statement Thursday but declined further comment.
A heroin overdose, a failed drug test for marijuana and an addiction to the powerful painkiller OxyContin led Allison to miss the 2004 season. He spent time in rehab, then returned to make 17 starts last season for Class A Greensboro, where he went 5-4 with a 4.18 ERA.
Allison, 21, was slated to begin this season at Class A Jupiter in the Florida State League.
Not to make light of Allison’s troubles, but perhaps he could take Al Leiter’s roster spot on Team USA?
During last night’s WBC game, Buck Martinez was interviewed during the game and was asked about making some roster changes. He said the only way moves can be made is if somebody gets injured. I’d describe his tone as resigned. This was, if I remember right, immediately after he’d described Al Leiter as “not having two good outings (but) two bad outings” and immediately before one of the announcers asked “So, Matt Holliday’s okay?”
I don’t want to be seen as saying that it’s someone’s patriotic duty to injure Al Leiter, but…well, look. It’s obviously someone’s patriotic duty to do that.
How the heck did Leiter get chosen? Was no other US born middle reliever willing to play?