Jeffress story -- Signs MiLB deal w/MIL (post #23); KC/MIL Greinke trade discussion in MiLB forum

[monty57]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130909&content_id=60054572&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

 

I thought some here might like this story. Apparently Jeffress has juvenile epilepsy, and has been misdiagnosed since back in 2008. He's now on medication and has a good shot to make a splash with the Blue Jays.

[Roderick]

That sure put things in perspective. Hope he is able to make it.

[Outlander]

Interesting that it is from September and nobody noticed until now. Hopefully that helps him turn the corner as he was dominant in his brief time with the Blue Jays. Would be cool to see him when the Blue Jays come to Miller Park in August.

[TheCrew07]

Wow, best of luck... too bad neither the Brewers or Royals were able to help him out with such a serious issue on a personal level, forget about baseball and being a #1 pick.

 

There were hints as to there being more behind the story of Zach Braddock as well, all that talent and out of baseball at age 23... too bad.

[jerichoholicninja]

It's great that he has answers to his health but unless it helps him walk less that 6.4 per 9 I don't like his chances of sticking in the bigs.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

Braddock is in camp with someone . Maybe the Padres if memory serves.

[recte44]

Braddock is in camp with someone . Maybe the Padres if memory serves.

 

Yup.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Braddock

[Outlander]

It's great that he has answers to his health but unless it helps him walk less that 6.4 per 9 I don't like his chances of sticking in the bigs.

Obvious small sample but walked 3 and struck out 11 without allowing a run or extra base hit in 9.1 innings after he rejoined the Blue Jays after the diagnosis. Now that he has been told he will be a bullpen guy I think he definitely still has closer potential. With Janssen hitting free agency after the season Jeffress has a nice opportunity.

[torts]

they werent misdiagnosed by the Brewers medical staff, were they?

[Outlander]

Well it started happening in 2008 so he was with the Brewers a couple of more years after that. Hard to blame the Brewers though as I doubt they have somebody that specializes in epilepsy but kind of odd that another doctor couldn't get him a correct prescription prior to 2013. Can't even imagine going to bed at night knowing that you probably are going to have a seizure in the morning.

[jerichoholicninja]

they werent misdiagnosed by the Brewers medical staff, were they?

 

According to the story, he was misdiagnosed by doctors everywhere he went.

[Invader3K]

Apparently this was the reason he was smoking marijuana.

[torts]

im not really blaming the brewers for this, I just wasnt sure if their medical staff would send conditions like this out to specialists, or if they keep it in house.

[monty57]

Apparently this was the reason he was smoking marijuana.

 

That's an assumption made by the author.

[Invader3K]

Apparently this was the reason he was smoking marijuana.

 

That's an assumption made by the author.

 

Actually, this article from December says otherwise, and includes from Jeffress' agent, Joshua Kusnick.

 

http://www.denverpost.com/marijuana/ci_24809226/medicinal-marijuana-striking-out-major-league-baseball

 

The demands of their 162-game season grinds down Major League Baseball players, often turning nagging injuries into chronic ailments. But there is no provision in MLB's collective bargaining agreement with the players to allow use of marijuana for medicinal reasons.

 

That frustrates agent Joshua Kusnick, who represents Jeremy Jeffress, a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays. Jeffress suffers from epilepsy. The seizures from that disease nearly ruined his career and could have cost him his life, until he discovered that marijuana helped him control his condition. He has since found another medication that has proved effective.

 

"Had Jeremy not been able to use a suitable medication, the outcome would have been for us to pursue legal action," Kusnick said. "Basically, if he couldn't have found something other than pot to control his seizures, baseball would have said 'too bad.' Which is insane, because this was ultimately not a lifestyle decision by Jeremy. It was a life decision."

[joepepsi]

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2022939197_medicalmarijuanaxml.html

 

Big article in the papers and internets last week regarding marijuana's ability to control seizures in kids. he,p and pot have many great uses in this world. It's time we lift the Reefer Madness fears from our culture. Regulate, tax, make it legal.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Hoping Jeffress can make good on this opportunity - talent is unquestionable, but having a big arm doesn't make anybody a great pitcher in MLB just by itself.

 

In regards to weed, until the medical marijuana industry stops having "doctors" write bogus prescriptions to anyone who walks in their doors with any kind of bogus ailment, the legit cases where marijuana use may be beneficial medically will be overshadowed by the dreadlocked hippies with "anxiety" or selective OCD. Places like venice beach basically have people handing out signed prescriptions on the street next to medical marijuana stores.

 

I agree that it should be legalized, but taxed heavily and subject to the same scrutiny in the workplace as alchohol is. Marijuana may be effective to treat certain medical disorders, but I don't want a crane operator, bus driver, or cop high/intoxicated/impaired in any way while they are doing their jobs. Even if it's legal, there's going to be alot of types of work where use of marijuana even for medical purposes won't be allowed. The other issue is even if it's legalized, I don't see the drug trade being signficantly impacted - people are still going to want to buy weed without getting taxed on it if it's available to them, let alone other more dangerous drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack, etc.

 

People think that legalizing weed will empty out prisons and ease law enforcement's duties - people thought the same thing after prohibition...unfortunately as is the case with any substance, people find ways to abuse it both physically and criminally after awhile.

[jjkoestler]

Let's keep the discussion focused on Jeffress. Medical Marijuana can be discussed in the political forum or at a Phish show.

[Outlander]

Still had control problems this spring but he made the Blue Jays roster. Imagine he will have a short leash if he can't find the strike zone.

[3and2Fastball]

Let's keep the discussion focused on Jeffress. Medical Marijuana can be discussed in the political forum or at a Phish show.

 

Hey, Phish shows!

 

I hope Jeffress is able to have a great career. He was a player I really rooted for in the Brewers system. He has a tremendous, live arm, it is just a matter of him gaining more control. I wonder if that is strictly a mechanics issue that can be coached into him?

[jerichoholicninja]

DFA'd

[torts]

Told that at least 3 teams, including #StLCards, #Brewers, #WhiteSox, have shown interest in former #BlueJays P Jeremy Jeffress. #MLB

 

— Scott MacArthur (@TSNScottyMac) April 18, 2014

[markedman5]

Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 16m

#Brewers sign RHP Jeremy Jeffress to a minor league deal, as @JeffPassan noted was close.

 

EDIT: McCalvy's tweets

 

- #Brewers have signed former first round Draft pick Jeremy Jeffress to a Minor League deal, club announces.

 

- #Brewers are rolling the dice with former first-round Draft pick Jeremy Jeffress: Link

 

- His health in order and mind clear, Jeremy Jeffress represents a "good risk," says Gord Ash

 

- One thing to note re: Jeffress. Because he's not on a 40-man roster, one more positive test for marijuana means lifetime ban.

[TooLiveBrew]

Let's keep this on the Jeffress signing. If the discussion WTP picked back up wants to continue, we can make a thread to revisit the trade(s) in question.

[igor67]

Certainly worth watching in the Nashville box scores. You'd figure even a modest improvement in his walk rate and he becomes a pretty useful reliever fast.