Jeff Allison Article

Posted September 6, 200519 yr

For the record, Allison's first season a success

By Bill Hass

Staff Writer

GREENSBORO -- The record book will show Greensboro Grasshoppers pitcher Jeff Allison got no decision in Sunday's game at First Horizon Park.

But the statistical line for his final game of the season -- six innings, eight hits allowed, three runs (two unearned), three walks and four strikeouts in a 5-4 Hoppers loss -- is the least important element of his rebirth as a pitcher and a person.

Allison came to Greensboro amid widespread national attention. His well-documented substance abuse problems were rehashed. He was 20 years old, vulnerable and uncertain about how things would go in a new city.

And at the end of the season, Allison has found despair has been replaced by hope, anxiety has given way to confidence, and a life that just over a year ago had no direction is once again filled with promise.

"I couldn't have asked for anything better than the way they've treated me here, especially my teammates," Allison said. "I wasn't worried, but I was pretty nervous about how I'd be accepted. Ever since Day One it's just been great. There's been no negativity at all, absolutely none."

Hoppers manager Brandon Hyde said Allison has been "an absolute pleasure from the day he got here. He works hard, he listens and he's a great teammate. We have a group of guys who were sensitive to his situation and they've been great teammates to him."

Allison said he was also accepted by the fans who came to see him, especially members of the booster club.

"I remember the times when people would look at me with the most disgusted looks when I was doing things I shouldn't have been doing," he said. "Just to have people come up to me and 'Hey, how are you doing, Jeff?' -- it really puts a smile on your face."

Allison lived the first half of the season with pitching coach Steve Foster, not only to provide structure in the pitcher's life, but also to establish a close, caring relationship.

"The great thing that's happened this year is he has stayed clean from drug addiction," Foster said. "That's a miracle in itself, and more important than the wins and losses, the walks and strikeouts. He's making a huge life step."

The plan is to take another step this fall. Allison will return home to Peabody, Mass., for a few weeks, then sometime in October join teammate Jai Miller in Houston. They will undergo a conditioning program with Hoppers batting coach Bo Porter to get ready for spring training.

"Me and Jai are pretty good friends," Allison said. "We'll be living with each other in a condo, making the best of it and getting ourselves ready for the season."

The Florida Marlins, who drafted Allison in the first round in 2003, say this season wasn't about the numbers he put up, but about getting him back into the life of being a baseball player after a year-and-a-half away.

"We wanted him to get his feet back on the ground, to get him back on the mound throwing and improving," said Jim Fleming, director of player development.

Fleming believes Allison can be the outstanding big league pitcher they envisioned when they drafted him.

What everyone, including Allison, says about this season (5-4, 4.18 ERA) is that he showed glimpses of how good he can be. He gained 15 to 20 pounds after he arrived, hit 91 and 92 mph consistently with his fastball, showed a good curve at times and began developing an effective changeup.

Against Kannapolis, his teammates made four errors behind him, which led to two unearned runs of the three he allowed in the second inning. But he battled his way out of trouble in every other inning, stranding eight runners.

Allison knows he'll always carry the baggage of his past, but he believes that's behind him now.

"Last year, last July when I almost died (of a heroin overdose), I kind of wondered why me? How come I didn't die? I thought about it for a long time.

"I finally came around to realize that God had a plan for me. He gave me a gift, and that was the talent to play baseball, and the only thing I can do now is give back the gift to him and fulfill what he gave me."

There are no guarantees. Allison knows he's the only one who can make that happen.

"You've got to take it slow, one day at a time, minute by minute," he said. "I've finally learned that now. It took me a couple years out of my life to do it, but I'm glad I did it at 18, 19, 20, rather than older."

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