Wall Street Journal : Professional Baseball Faces Loaded Issue: Mental Health

[Tusch]

Professional Baseball Faces Loaded Issue: Mental Health

They talk about the Willis situation a lot in this article. Its an interensting read.

"Baseball's anxious include Detroit pitcher Dontrelle Willis, St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Khalil Greene and Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto, who all spent weeks on the disabled list spring for mental-health issues. Mr. Willis, who returned to the lineup in May, was placed on disabled status again in mid-June for anxiety.""

[DaYooperASBDT]

Hopefully some of these high profile cases will help to lessen some of the stigma involved with common mental health issues like depression and anxiety. According to this article, over 13 million Americans deal with depression at any given time, but only 50% are getting any form of treatment. One in every six of us will experience major depression at some point in our lives.

Discovery Health :: Depression Touches 30 Million

[wolverinefan]

Like Yoop said, hopefully when people see that their heroes have the same illnesses as normal people, it can influence them to get help..

Ian Snell Says Depression, Thoughts of Suicide Led to Self-Demotion to Minors -- MLB FanHouse

There have been very few stranger soap operas in baseball this year than the Ian Snell saga in Pittsburgh. Expected to be one of the Pirates' top starters after signing a contract extension before the 2008 season, Snell has struggled on the mound in the past two seasons, posting 5.00-plus ERAs and struggling with his control. It all came to a head about a week ago when Snell asked the Pirates to be demoted, then gave a strange impromptu press conference where he lashed out at reporters and bloggers and talked about his need to get away from the negative atmosphere of Pittsburgh.

On Sunday, Snell struck out 17 hitters in seven innings in his first start back in Triple-A. Wednesday, he talked to Indianapolis TV station WTHR and revealed that he's been battling depression and actually contemplated suicide about a month ago. He says he wanted the trip to Indianapolis to help clear his head because it's somewhere he's always liked pitching, having thrown a no-hitter with the Indians back in 2005.

As a Pirate fan and as one of the bloggers that Snell lashed out at (I'll certainly admit to being critical of Snell on my own personal blog), hearing this from Snell is a pretty sobering thing. It's always easy to read quotes from players, watch them perform, listen to them talk, and assume that you know what's going through their minds. That's certainly not always the case. Snell is the fourth big-league player to openly admit to dealing with these sorts of issues this year, with Khalil Greene, Dontrelle Willis and Joey Votto spending time on the disabled list for stress and anxiety reasons.

In the end, Snell's relationship with the Pirates may be damaged irreparably, and he may or may not ever pitch for them again. Whatever the case, I hope this trip to the minors helps him clear his head a little bit. It's always scary to hear of anyone dealing with the issues he has.

[djhutch]

Some fans might not feel much sympathy for the psychological burdens of professional baseball players -- athletes who typically earn huge salaries to do what many people would consider a dream job.

I'm tired of hearing this lame reasoning, from fans or writers. As if how much money you make has anything to do with whether you struggle with depression.

[iholly]

Sounds like a Snell for Willis trade is in the works!

[catswithbats]

Originally Posted by iholly

Sounds like a Snell for Willis trade is in the works!

Is this supposed to be funny?

[gzbach]

Originally Posted by iholly

Sounds like a Snell for Willis trade is in the works!

Quotes like this remind one of how many pathetic losers there are out there.

[ToledoTigerFan]

Originally Posted by gzbach

Quotes like this remind one of how many pathetic losers there are out there.

That assessment might be a tad harsh. It wasn't a funny remark, to be sure, but there are better ways of getting one's point across.

[gzbach]

It wasn't a tad harsh. People who make jokes about this kind of thing deserve whatever they get.

But actually I guess you're right: it's probably better to get people to see themselves, and a vicious attack is not the way to do that.

[ToledoTigerFan]

Originally Posted by gzbach

It wasn't a tad harsh. People who make jokes about this kind of thing deserve whatever they get.

But actually I guess you're right: it's probably better to get people to see themselves, and a vicious attack is not the way to do that.

Exactly. Plus, it's too easy on the Internet to say things you wouldn't say to the person if you were face-to-face. Ya know? The original remark wasn't, ummm, sensitive, but why add to it?

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by gzbach

It wasn't a tad harsh. People who make jokes about this kind of thing deserve whatever they get.

But actually I guess you're right: it's probably better to get people to see themselves, and a vicious attack is not the way to do that.

Get over yourself

[gzbach]

Originally Posted by Edman85

Get over yourself

???

[The Truman Show]

I'm really failing to see how iholly's comment was so bad. I didn't realize being traded was such a horrific, unconscionable thing.

[gzbach]

Originally Posted by Edman85

Get over yourself

Edman, this is great advice for anyone. Why single me out?

[jake]

Originally Posted by gzbach

Edman, this is great advice for anyone. Why single me out?

Because you completely blew the remark out of proportion.

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by jake

Because you completely blew the remark out of proportion.

For the first time in seven years, Jake and i agree... Write this day down.

[gzbach]

Originally Posted by Edman85

For the first time in seven years, Jake and i agree... Write this day down.

I wrote it down.

[catswithbats]

Originally Posted by The Truman Show

I'm really failing to see how iholly's comment was so bad. I didn't realize being traded was such a horrific, unconscionable thing.

That wasn't really the point.

[Edman85]

Honestly, I thought it was a clever idea... Trade a couple of bad contracts who could benefit from changes of scenery.

[jake]

Originally Posted by Edman85

For the first time in seven years, Jake and i agree... Write this day down.

I disagree that Brandon Lyon will be a class B free agent. No way!!

[jake]

Originally Posted by Edman85

Honestly, I thought it was a clever idea... Trade a couple of bad contracts who could benefit from changes of scenery.

Me,too. I saw no ill will.

[gzbach]

It actually never occurred to me that it might be a serious comment. If it was I apologize, but if it was an attempt at a joke I stand by everything I said.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Originally Posted by gzbach

It actually never occurred to me that it might be a serious comment. If it was I apologize, but if it was an attempt at a joke I stand by everything I said.

What makes one think that comment was intended as a joke?

If that was intended as a joke, I guess I am more offended by it not being a good joke than somehow being a knock on someone with anxiety concerns.

[potthole]

Having done my marketing internship at a mental health facility I've been able to experience some of the stigma related to that whole field while out doing PR events in public.

It would be great if the various players dealing with emotional issues could help bring about some positive thoughts/feelings to mental health.

[Tyrus]

I'd like to know if the rate of mental illness among ballplayers/athletes is any higher than the general population. I bet it is, although we'll probably never know, since the stigma of athletes reporting mental issues would drive down the numbers.

But I think a lot of pro athletes suffer from a degree of "mental irregularity," simply because it's not "normal" to expend crazy amounts of time/energy/emotion into any one activity.

In most athletic pursuits, but especially in baseball, natural talent is only part of the equation for success. Most players must also be fanatical about improving and maintaining their skills.

Nolan Ryan wouldn't go out for a beer, or even a lemonade, after pitching his no-hitters. Instead, he worked out on his stationary bike, because that was his routine, and he never broke his routine. That may be commendable in the spirit of competition, but it sure as hell isn't normal! There's some kind of loose wire afoot when you find someone who is that fanatically dedicated to something.

If your Uncle Joe refused to celebrate the birth of his granddaughter because he was too dedicated to building ships in a bottle, you probably wouldn't think better of him for it.

To put it in clinical psychological terms: I have a hunch many pro athletes don't take the time to stop and smell the roses. And the kind of mindset needed to be a good athlete isn't necessarily conduscive to normal, healthy relations with others.

Also, it's got to be stressful to have your entire life under a microscope. If an athlete does anything out of the ordinary in his personal life, there's a good chance millions of people will find out about it. And, of course, everything an athlete does on the field is scrutinized.

Add it all together, and I imagine it makes for a pretty stressful existence.

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bigglesworth

What makes one think that comment was intended as a joke?

If that was intended as a joke, I guess I am more offended by it not being a good joke than somehow being a knock on someone with anxiety concerns.

Jerry: I think that Whatley has converted to Judaism purely for the jokes!
Rabbi: And this offends you as a Jewish person?
Jerry: It offends me as a comedian!

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Edman85

Jerry: I think that Whatley has converted to Judaism purely for the jokes!
Rabbi: And this offends you as a Jewish person?
Jerry: It offends me as a comedian!

Great episode.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Originally Posted by Edman85

Jerry: I think that Whatley has converted to Judaism purely for the jokes!
Rabbi: And this offends you as a Jewish person?
Jerry: It offends me as a comedian!

I was thinking of that dialogue when I wrote me comment. I figured it was too obscure to quote and was wrong.

[Oblong]

It was a priest that Jerry was talking to though. He went to confession.

I don't get what the big deal over jholly's comment was either. Was it hilariously funny? No, but it was brief snicker funny.

[catswithbats]

Originally Posted by Mr. Bigglesworth

If that was intended as a joke, I guess I am more offended by it not being a good joke than somehow being a knock on someone with anxiety concerns.

That was more the point I was trying to make.

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by Oblong

It was a priest that Jerry was talking to though. He went to confession.

I don't get what the big deal over jholly's comment was either. Was it hilariously funny? No, but it was brief snicker funny.

Yeah... and he didn't know to kneel... I'm a bit rusty on Seinfeld.

[Ghostface]

so sensitive