OnlyBucs

I've known a couple alcoholics. It was not pretty. I've also known people who got DUIs who were not alcoholics. One is a medical condition. One is a stupid condition. They can be linked but don't necessarily have to be. For Kang's sake, I hope he's just stupid.

Well it's all complete speculation on my part and irrelevant to the larger discussion, but:



It seems somewhat unlikely to me that Kang is a functioning alcoholic.   A lot of us know of a few people like this, and in-shape athletes they just are not.    Back in the day, I understand that there've been examples of baseball players with alcoholism problems.    I think in todays game, it would me much more difficult to hide that sort of long term self-inflicted physical abuse.    Of all the substance abuse problems a player might be able to hide (painkillers, cocaine, etc), I think alcoholism would be one of the more difficult because of the extreme physical toll and frankly, just the amount of time necessary to feed the addiction.



Your competition are gym rats, with very healthy diets and possibly even performance enhancing drugs.    While not impossible to be a true alcoholic and still be a successful MLB baseball player in todays game, I think the odds would be long. 



So I'm going with "stupid". While getting 3 DUI's doesn't mean he's an alcoholic ( I agree with you Dog), it does mean pretty much without question that he's a cocky idiot.   No worries.  Lots of those around.  Especially 20 something pro-athletes.   He can turn it all around starting right now.

525B53424C360 wrote: Well it's all complete speculation on my part and irrelevant to the larger discussion, but:



It seems somewhat unlikely to me that Kang is a functioning alcoholic.   A lot of us know of a few people like this, and in-shape athletes they just are not.    Back in the day, I understand that there've been examples of baseball players with alcoholism problems.    I think in todays game, it would me much more difficult to hide that sort of long term self-inflicted physical abuse.    Of all the substance abuse problems a player might be able to hide (painkillers, cocaine, etc), I think alcoholism would be one of the more difficult because of the extreme physical toll and frankly, just the amount of time necessary to feed the addiction.



Your competition are gym rats, with very healthy diets and possibly even performance enhancing drugs.    While not impossible to be a true alcoholic and still be a successful MLB baseball player in todays game, I think the odds would be long. 



So I'm going with "stupid". While getting 3 DUI's doesn't mean he's an alcoholic ( I agree with you Dog), it does mean pretty much without question that he's a cocky idiot.   No worries.  Lots of those around.  Especially 20 something pro-athletes.   He can turn it all around starting right now.


Totally agree. That is my assumption too. Because someone gets drunk here and there it doesn't mean they are an alcoholic. Stupid? Yes, he has been very stupid and cocky (good description).

Frank Coonley was a guest on The Fan this morning and he could not inform the hosts when Kang will arrive at spring training. At this point he is having trouble getting his work visa to come to the states. If and when he arrives I don't think he will be placed on the active 25 man roster until after the Bucs play the Cubs in Chicago the second weekend of the season. After the DUI s the Pirates won't want him to face the Chicago media which will want to interview him about the incident last year.

You would sit him all of April? No way would I do that. The Pirates need to win games and he gives them the best option. The fear of media questions shouldn't be on their radar. The Pirates can shield him from the media too.



Kang can be a top 3B in all of baseball. I assume he is working out now. He shouldn't be that far behind when he arrives. He is a special talent.

6A61696560617A3F394E776F666161206D610E0 wrote: You would sit him all of April?  No way would I do that.  The Pirates need to win games and he gives them the best option.  The fear of media questions shouldn't be on their radar.  The Pirates can shield him from the media too.



Kang can be a top 3B in all of baseball.  I assume he is working out now.  He shouldn't be that far behind when he arrives.  He is a special talent.


I agree. Activate him when he is ready. He will go to Chicago and will get interviewed by the media so get it over with. Waiting to activate him until after that series to avoid the media is overthinking things.

That's the easiest prospective interview ever. Through a translator he says "I have no comment"

717870616F150 wrote: That's the easiest prospective interview ever.   Through a translator he says "I have no comment"


The comment "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" was forgiven before.



Agreed. No comment. Move on.

Pirates place Kang on the restricted list.

What seems odd is that once Kang went on the restricted list the Bucs added Chase Simpson to the 40 man roster. Simpson only played at high A Bradenton last season. I would have thought they would have left the spot open due to the possibility of signing or acquiring a player with some MLB experience.