Thursday, December 31, 2009

It only takes one to ruin it for all


Happy 38th Birthday to thoroughly average retired pitcher, Esteban Loaiza.

Hate to bring it up but Loaiza's career "lowlight" occurred on June 14, 2006 when with the Oakland A's, he was arrested after being pulled over by police who clocked his Ferrari doing 120 MPH on a California freeway. If that wasn't enough, he also failed a sobriety test.

After the incident, A's general manager, Billy Beane banned alcohol in both the home and visitors clubhouse for good.*

I am sure that Loaiza was REALLY popular upon his first return to the clubhouse after being released from jail.

Flashback to the A's clubhouse, June 15, 2006 when Loaiza walks in:

Silence.

Uncomfortable silence broken by the following coming from the back of the room:

"Thanks a lot! 110 MPH wasn't good enough for you?"

At that moment, Loaiza knew that he was through with the A's.

*No wonder the A's can't sign free agents.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Esteban Loaiza could afford a Ferrari? Never would've guessed.

Contrary Guy said...

$6 million (2006 salary) goes a long way nowadays.

Mark Aubrey said...

My first thought was: "Only 120 in a Ferrari?"

Then I saw the sentence about him failing the sobriety test. Idiot.

I'm curious as to which model Ferrari it was, though.

Contrary Guy said...

I hear you.

Michael Schumacher regularly beat 120 MPH (though I think it is measured in KM over there) even on the turns.

He would be SO not impressed.

tastelikedirt said...

It was less than 24 hours before his scheduled start also.

Contrary Guy said...

Maybe he was looking to get "revved up" for his start.

Jail is a downer though.