March 7, 200521 yr rotoworld.com Former first-round draft pick Jeff Allison may not get another chance to pitch for the Marlins organization. The highly touted prospect has battled addiction problems since being drafted in June of 2003. Allison remains on the team's ''restricted'' list and the team refuses to say if Allison will be allowed to report to minor-league training camp. Mar. 7 - 9:25 am et miamiherald.com Former No. 1 pick Allison might not get another shot BY KEVIN BAXTER kbaxter@herald.com The Marlins open their minor-league spring training camp Tuesday when pitchers, catchers and players with visas are required to report, although the team refuses to say when, or if, former No. 1 draft pick Jeffrey Allison will show up. The Marlins selected Allison, Baseball America's High School Player of the Year, with the 16th selection in the 2003 June amateur draft and introduced him to the media with considerable fanfare. But a few months later, the Marlins became aware of the right-hander's addiction to OxyContin, which was detailed in a December 2004 Sports Illustrated story, and the team has refused to speak about him since. Officially, Allison remains on the Marlins' restricted list and, according to a team spokesman, must be removed from that list to participate in spring training. ''His status has not changed,'' said Jim Fleming, the team's assistant general manager for player development and scouting, who refused to elaborate. Nor would minor-league director Brian Chattin. ''I can't talk about that,'' Chattin said of Allison, who nearly died from a heroin overdose last summer and was fined by the club for failing a drug test last spring. Privately, however, two front-office executives with the Marlins have said they don't believe Allison will ever pitch for the club. In November, the 20-year-old pitcher told his hometown newspaper, The Salem (Mass.) News, that he planned to return to the Marlins, who have withheld approximately two-thirds of his $1.85 million bonus because of the repeated drug problems. ''I talked with the club . . . and they said I'm welcomed [back],'' Allison said in the fall. ``I definitely intend to be there.'' Allison went 9-0 and did not allow an earned run in 64 innings, striking out 142 as a senior at Peabody (Mass.) High School in 2003. But after pitching nine innings for the Marlins' Gulf Coast League that summer, he was sidelined with what was described as shoulder tendinitis. what an absolute waste
March 7, 200521 yr What a jackass. I wish I had 1/4 his talent. I hope he keeps abusing and winds up in a crackhouse doing unseemly things in order to get his next hit.
March 7, 200521 yr he's young and has a live arm,yes he's messed up more than once but he's a kid and kid's make dumb mistakes,i say they give him another shot but on a tight leach
March 7, 200521 yr i'm wrong... always o so very wrong... nothing unexpected though, not even really anything new either
March 7, 200521 yr If he doesn't have the guts and determination to believe in himself, why should we?
March 7, 200521 yr Jeff Allison is a fine example to the youth of America. If you want something bad enough, don't do drugs.
March 8, 200521 yr Jeff Allison, Josh Hamilton..what great talent wasted. Where the hell is his family in this whole process?
March 8, 200521 yr Jeff Allison, Josh Hamilton..what great talent wasted. Where the hell is his family in this whole process? 704874[/snapback] Reaping the benefits of his quasi-stardom... i.e.--smokin his sheet.
March 8, 200521 yr Jeff Allison, Josh Hamilton..what great talent wasted. Where the hell is his family in this whole process? 704874[/snapback] He's 20 damn years old. He should be responsible by now.
March 8, 200521 yr Jeff Allison, Josh Hamilton..what great talent wasted. Where the hell is his family in this whole process? 704874[/snapback] He's 20 damn years old. He should be responsible by now. 704943[/snapback] I'm going to be 20 in a month, and I still huff Glade on a daily basis.
March 8, 200521 yr Jeff Allison, Josh Hamilton..what great talent wasted. Where the hell is his family in this whole process? 704874[/snapback] He's 20 damn years old. He should be responsible by now. 704943[/snapback] I'm going to be 20 in a month, and I still huff Glade on a daily basis. 704944[/snapback] Ya but you werent drafted by a pro team with the possiblity of making a few million a year.
March 8, 200521 yr Well as long as he's a alive and can throw over 90 he'll be able to catch on somewhere. He's only 20, anyone above 30 knows that people do stupid stuff at this age, and that this is not permanant. Hey maybe he'll come around and maybe he won't, but he's way to young and worth too much to just outright give up on him. I'm sure there is some team willing to take a shot with him.... hum drug problem acts like a jerk, let's call Stienbrenner.
March 8, 200521 yr Jeff Allison, Josh Hamilton..what great talent wasted. Where the hell is his family in this whole process? 704874[/snapback] He's 20 damn years old. He should be responsible by now. 704943[/snapback] I'm going to be 20 in a month, and I still huff Glade on a daily basis. 704944[/snapback] Ya but you werent drafted by a pro team with the possiblity of making a few million a year. 704957[/snapback] note the sarcasm
March 8, 200521 yr he's young and has a live arm,yes he's messed up more than once but he's a kid and kid's make dumb mistakes,i say they give him another shot but on a tight leach 704821[/snapback] Hopefully you're right. He should get another chance. Honestly though, most people that are headcases and have serious issues at 19 are headcases and have serious issues the rest of their lives. One thing is to say that he smoked weed every once in a while, took some coke once or twice, all the while he was at least semi-responsible. Another thing is to be hooked on heroin, nearly die of an overdose, and basically give up your profession. I hope he recovers and does well, but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were the Marlins (and I don't think they are).
March 8, 200521 yr He'll be given a chance. I think the Marlins are trying to "starve" him, make him realize that it's a "now or never" kind of thing, you know, seeing if he wants it. Although, with all the crap he's pulled, he is on the shortest of leashes, and I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't reinstated until Spring Training is over with.
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