Aubrey Huff
I have only done some preliminary reading about Huff’s DL stint and the *anxiety disorder* that is being attributed as the cause of the DL move. Without getting into too many details, I have a fair amount of experience (as well as a Masters degree) in the field of psychology. So I’ll preface this thread by saying that with almost no information about this case I still feel like I am in the ball park of being able to comment on it. And that’s what I’m gonna do……
One thing that I’ve been reading in the preliminary reports, especially from the bloggers, is that they are assuming Huff is suffering from *panic attacks*. This is not necessarily the case, it’s more of a presumption based on the the word *anxiety*. Though they can be treated with different cognitive techniques as well as medication, panic attacks can be crippling. But again, we don’t know that is what he’s dealing with. All that has been disclosed is that he has gone to the DL with something to do with *anxiety*.
And there are many different anxiety disorders that he could be diagnosed with. PTSD is an anxiety disorder, and it’s entirely possible that he has suffered from this for years. I don’t know the details of his father’s murder, but he wouldn’t have to necessarily witness the murder to suffer from this disorder. And it’s often impossible to tell what triggers an episode.
Believe it or not, OCD is also classified as an anxiety disorder. There’s nothing that remotely seems to connect Huff to OCD. I’m just saying, it falls under the anxiety classification….
Panic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder are related but the symptoms are different………
And there is more, but you can google more info if you want it. My point with this thread is to not just automatically assume he’s having panic attacks just because you see the word *anxiety*. He could be having them, and it would render him almost incapacitated during such an episode. The aftermath of a panic attack (or multiple attacks) can be difficult to deal with, too. They can be like an earthquake— there’s *the big one* and then a bunch of after shocks afterwards. Regardless of whatever anxiety disorder he’s dealing with, at his age, I doubt it’s the first time he’s dealt with it. It’s my guess that he was diagnosed years ago and something has disrupted his medication treatment. It could be related to the past week or it could just be a problem that needs a med adjustment. Maybe he stopped taking them. Or maybe he was never on them at all. No one knows……
Over the last season and 3 weeks I’ve spent a lot of time being frustrated with Aubrey and his production at the plate and in the field. I’ve made fun of his name. I’ve criticized a possible smoking habit. I’ve questioned his conditioning. But today’s news was a critical reminder that I’m never better or worse than anyone else in this world. I was reminded today that it’s irresponsible for me to render judgement on a fellow man and his performance in baseball without knowing anything about the man personally. I never walked the earth in his shoes. No one has. And I will try to remind myself of that the next time I get frustrated with a baseball player’s performance……..
A Place To Talk About Giants Baseball 
Well said.
I’m amazed at how any of the pro and big-time college athletes can function out there. What’s it like to be on the field of play with tens of thousands of people staring at you, plus another multitude watching on TV? It’s hard to imagine.
Well stated Flav, hard to tear into the guy. But he may also just be feeling the pressure from his lack of performance and it boiled over after Saturday and may be his way of trying to turn the situation around and build up some suppoprt from his teammates and fans. But it is certainly not common for a baseball player, let alone an athelete, admit to a weakness or a mental issue.
Still, best of luck Aubrey, but may be the end of the road as a Giant…
“Hard to tear into the guy” and then you suggest it may be a sham because he was playing poorly. I think you may want to rethink your show of “support”…
Well said Flav…tough place for him to be…I feel for him. Times like this, the shift does become about the person and the baseball part is in the background…hope he gets the help and the calm he needs to feel like himself again…
Good thread, Flav. Like you said…none of us have walked in his moccasins. Who knows what is going on. Regardless, I just hope he gets the help he needs and gets his life straighted-out. If he can come back and be a productive part of the team, then that is all gravy. But like I said yesterday, it isn’t like the Giants don’t have options. Many are clamoring for Belt to be at 1B full-time. Pill is waiting in the wings for his shot at any time, and then there is the option of Buster at 1B occasionally. Wishing Aubrey the best and it will be interesting to see how this all plays out in relation to the 25 man roster.
Aubrey wears mocaisins?
I had class last night so missed the game until I got into my car in the 7th (and had to hear the wheels come off). Zito with another quality start…all for naught.
It is so frustrating to see the two common themes this year…lack of the key knock with RISP (we all know how frequently that happened last year), and then to see them kick the ball around like the Bad News Bears. I know they can do better. Cincy is our House of Horrors…need to avoid that place like the plague. Hopefull they can get a win today and get outta town on a good note.
I’m not actually worried about the RISP failures. If I believe the offense is much better than it was last year (and I do) then the RISP number will sort itself out on its own…….
I agree Flav…it is just frustrating when it happens. There have been a couple of instances where if they got that one hit…it probably translates to a win instead of a loss. They have only played about a 10th of the season…small sample. Kicking the ball around is another story…just some really sloppy play. Only one team with more errors than our beloved Los Gigantes…
Pagan CF, Cabrera LF, Sandoval 3B, Posey C, Schierholtz RF, Belt 1B, Arias SS, Theriot 2B, (Vogelsong P)
Dammit – I got “Twin’d!” Was just going to post the line-up…Burriss and Crawford need a day off…Let’s Go Giants…need to get at least one win in Cincy!
I don’t trip off of LUs, but that is an interesting one. I give bochy credit for getting people ABs.
Baseball hitters, with all the failure built into the situation, face an enormous challenge to having a calm approach to their daily task. A guy like Huff, who was in total limbo two years ago, could be out of a job and wind up having to ride buses in minors as a coach. the big salaries only last for a short time, and once it’s over those days ain’t coming back. Pops Stargell’s famous advice to not get too high or too low is sure harder than it seems.
This certainly can’t throw be helping Huff’s mental state…
According. to court records from Hillsborough,County Fla’ his wife Barbi filed for divorce. on Jan 31.The couple have been married since 1997 and have two young sons.The latest case management conference. between the parties was held April 11
Poor Guy.I just hope he gets all the help and support he needs in this difficult time for him.Baseball is secondary to family and life!
Weatherproof game: Angels at Rays. If you’re playing outside today, there’s probably a chance of some rain with early morning showers in the forecast for Cleveland, Detroit and San Diego. However those games shouldn’t be impacted. Rain in New York might be a bit more problematic, though the action should eventually get under way. Thunderstorms might interrupt the proceedings at some point in both Baltimore and Cincinnati (our Giants). Chicago might be the only game in the clear, with sunny skies and a cool 54 degrees in the forecast.
Blade – you just have too much damned time on your hands since retiring…now I get the whole meterological survey/weather report thing. We going to be seeing you do the 6 o’clock weather reports in Denver, soon? 😉
Ya never know Chi . . . By the by, I just scored 2 more tickets (May 2nd Marlins game) via my cousin via KNBR (he has them on speed dial and knows exactly what time they do the giveaways (he cracks me up – he tries to time his taking a shit at work, when these giveaways are announced, so he isn’t . . . umm, disturbed).
Anywho, I have a situation where I have the aforementioned tickets at Will Call and will probably use them if the 2 tickets I already have for that game suck, i.e., if any of you want 2 tickets, let me know.
Coupled with that game, I have plans to go to the next 2 Sunday games (Friars and Brew Crew), so my dance card for baseball is filling up nicely. Meanwhile, I am open to meeting up with one or more of you Flapsters on a weekday (weekends already reserved with visiting friends and relatives). Let me know . . .
I love it. It impacts how I fill out my beat the streak entry every day.
Wow, hard to believe anyone thinks he’s having emotional problems because of poor baseball performance, rather than the other way around.
Well, with the additional info that Kat provided (divorce going on)…you compound that with your professional life going to hell in a hand-basket…I would guess that it is certainly a combination of family and professional issues. I do wish Aubrey the best…and second what Kat said in that baseball (and everything else, really) is secondary to life and family.
Yes, Chi, agree, I was referring not to Kat’s but to an earlier post….
Watched the replay (3 times) of JA yelling at Hector in the dugout last night. You can read Affeldt’s lips, “Fuck that. You gotta catch that.” No, Jeremy, fuck you.
Denny is right on that, as I posted last night. Anyone who blames another teammate is wrong even if he’s right, if you follow. That’s Armando crap, we’ve seen very little of it under Bochy and he needs to put and end to it now. It’s one of the first signs of a manager losing his team.
According to knbr Bochy held a closed door meeting b4 the game
These first two are from Pavlovic’s blog, the Huff divorce news is also from the Merc, and other media..
Eric Hacker’s agent tweeted that Hacker will start for the Giants Friday..
Fred Lewis has signed with the Mets..
Excellent final paragraph from Craig’s post…
Huff has been dealing with off-field issues. As first reported by CSN Bay Area and confirmed via court records, Huff’s wife, Barbara, filed for divorce Jan. 31.
I got this off the Sac Bee article
And it’s always worse where there are children involved
Thanks for the data, Flav. Odd I was never too critical about Huff because he’s always had a see-saw career. I just figured his 2011 season was to be expected after 2010. Best of luck to him. I’ve known folks diagnosed with depression but not an anxiety disorder.
Oh, and one other thing–Arias SS, Theriot 2B?! Ooooookay
Off topic . . . I just made a trade with Ed (see below):
Receive Heath Bell, Mia RP from Bombers to Bench
Send Alex Rios, CWS OF from OF to Bombers
Send Sergio Santos*, Tor RP from DL to Bombers
Undisclosed Player will be conditionally dropped by Bombers
I mention it because I received an email (I’m not going to reveal who it was, because it doesn’t matter and is a moot point), where this person said, “You suckered somebody.”
Bullshit! This trade is fair for the reasons I told the person that sent me the email, i.e., “Actually, it pained me to get rid of Rios, who has been lights out. Ed did good to counter with me giving up Santos. Besides, Bell’s job security might be ironclad, but he has been less than dominant (check his stats thus far). Bottom line is that I needed a reliable closer and Bell (hopefully) fits the bill.” I just received a second email from him, where he said, “Ok, I have not been tracking Rios….I am doing much better…need to bring down Chuck now…”
Bottom line is what I learned from Flav and other people (Dennis, Dirt, Clown, Pawlie, Peter, No Talent) that are good in Fantasy League (doesn’t matter what sport, e.g., baseball, basketball, or football) – You need to know what the other teams need, and not just your own team, if you want to consummate a trade. Similarly, if you are not in first place, then how do you plan on getting there? I am in 5th place right now and I don’t plan on staying there. I may go down in flames, but I plan on looking at the waiver wire every day and sending out trade proposals too (all things I learned from the Flavster). Ed is in 9th place and he knows this too . . . I will bet anyone dollars to donuts, that HE WILL NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR LAST PLACE BECAUSE HE HAS LEARNED HIS LESSONS WELL FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. Not even Chuck – who is in first place – can afford to sit on his team. Today, I will win my second basketball championship and believe me it wasn’t by me ignoring trades, waiver wire, and not setting my lineup each day.
Anywho, that’s my rant for the day . . . I return you to your regular broadcast. 🙂
I don’t have a problem with that trade. I don’t think Santos is going to keep his job but if I’m wrong he will pt up a sicker k ratio than Bell, for sure. And Rios is serviceable, Hell, Bell was shit earlier in the season, I picked up Mujica just in case he was about to lose his job……
Trades are my learning point this season. I sholdn’t have had to drop a player because santos can go on the DL, but it didn’t work that way. I am also going with the reports of two baseball reporters opinion that the injury doesn’t sound serious. If santos comes back it will be an even trade. I am aiming for the top half this year 6th or better. My team has been dead in the water offensively the past week and my current position reflects that.
gotta hold cincy and get some runs
if rios was a middle infielder I would be over the moon. Bell should have been off limits, but looking at the numbers (with santos coming back) it was a good trade.
Look at what Bell did today. Total implosion. You are getting rid of a closer that, in my opinion, has a 50/50 shot of losing his job this year. And Santos has an injury that is not good for a pitcher but whatever, getting rid of Bell is the plus. And, you get Rios too, which is a bonus.
The real score would be if you can find Bell’s ultimate replacement on the WW. I thought it would be Mujica, and it still might, but there are other options out there…….
Damn…Bailey mows thru the Giants in 8 pitches. Let’s go Giants!
I once mowed thru 8 Bailey’s Irish Coffees.
Old Dennis, returning—LIKE
Some pussy just p/u Mesoraco this morning in our fantasy league. You can blame the PUSS for that sac fly, but not the 2-out RBI to the pitcher, Homer. That’s not on me, that’s on Vogey.
Mmmm…Irish Coffee…
once?
I expect perfection from the Giants and or at least play well but it doesn’t happen in Cincy for some reason. Perhaps the team gets tired or their focus suffers. As far as Huff is concerned, he looks about done just on production alone. Tack on this illiness and a divorce piled on and he’s ready for the fork as a player. To me for this season and last he doesn’t do the job. 2010 will always be remembered.
Good post Nipper. I agree with all of it.
Brandon! Giants on the board!
I think Dusty just swallowed his toothpick…bases juiced…need to capitalize on the Reds gaffe…
Belt with a nice hit up the middle. Funny thing about Belt going to 2nd is they could have called him out for not touching the bag on his slide . . .
If Posey ever wanted retaliation for getting run over, he just wasted his shot.
He doen’t have to touch the bag, he has to be able to touch the bag..
Seeing as he was about 5′ away from the bag when he slid, it would have been a stretch.
You are overestimating, probably beause you got the rule wrong. Anyway, the ump got it right.
The catcher was illegaly bllocking the plate, as he didn’t have the ball when he blocked the basepath..
Huff may or not be done but throwng the illness and divorce in as a reason is wrongo. I’m willing to wait and see how it goes with his treatment, as we all should.
Wow! Vogie with the gutsy play . . .
Nice throw by Panda as well . . .
Nice play by Vogelsong and the Panda.
Crap on a biscuit.
The have to move those fences out.
Damn! Blanco tatted that ball…at least they got one back!
“Glass” had another setback with some shoulder tightness. If Freddy was a horse you know what they’d do to him.
Let’s keep this rally going!
I knew that was gone before it hit his bat . . . sigh.
Wheelhouse pitch.
No shit. I wealked inside, saw the location and ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh no.
What is that? Pre ja vu?
🙂
Dammit! Scratch out a run and give it back right away. I am so ready for the team to get the hell outta Cincy, already! They can’t buy a win in that dreaded bandbox!
Wow. Mota left a tater there . . .
Wow! Great play by Melky!
And Pablo
Didn’t see the play (video portion of my radio sucks), and all they mentioned on the radio was the throw by Melk.
I didn’t mean anything other than to note that it was a good catch and tag from Pablo.
Uh, I think Mota needs to sit down.
Anyone else think that Mota may not have it today?
You’d prefer Otero? 😉
Actually, I would prefer Walter Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal . . . Even the pitcher from the Bad News Bears.
Chuck hasn’t mentioned how his birthday went yesterday? Was the whorehouse closed?
Oh yeah…what was it…his 52nd?
51
66th.
Strike 4.
Shitholtz is 0 fer Cincy. And his ABs have been nothing short of abysmal.
Bleeeech. Never want to see Cincy again.
Let’s go. Gotta steal one of these games.
No shit…come on Pill…jack one out, baby!
So much for that theory…
PaGONE!!!!!!!!!
Oh Yes!
Yeah, Pa-GONE!!!!
FUCK YEAH! Pagan!
Twin, you warming up to him yet?
Loved that hit, obviously. But gimme a break. He’s now at .240 with an OBP under .300 , 2 steals, and substandard defense.
But obviously he’s way better than how he started- and I posted several times that he needed time to get going . But it’s way early for anyone to be gloating over his performance, as if I don’t want him to perform.
Pa-going-going-gone!
One more fucking tater here. Give ’em some of their own shit.
Come on Santiago! Slam it shut and let’s get the hell outta Cincy…
Pagan may be getting a groove on
Sandoval hits the venti mark
and now a win with the save
YES! Way to go Santiago!!!
Great comeback team win! Enjoy your day gentleman. 🙂
Yowza. Brutal K pitches there. Casilla!!
KKK!
Got ’em all on the hook. Impressive save from Casilla. He can be as dominant as any when he’s on.
So Loo- how was this game affected by Wilson’s absence..
4-3 roadie . . . .
Hard-fought game, and I’m damn glad the G’s took this last one.
And they didn’t get sucked in to Dusty’s bullshit.
Yep…if he gets some consistency…he’ll be a great closer.
He was 6 for 7 in save opportunties last year, 2 for 2 this year.
If Casilla can keep that shit going, we won’t skip a beat . . .
Gotta get to Casilla first. Almost got away there in the 7th.
nice, my third game this week, gotta love a win in the daytime.
Angel gets POTG. A strong tie for second between Arias and Casilla.
What about Belt? Honorable mention?
Well, he was only 2 for 4 with an RBI. That earns him pine time around here.
😉
Bunch of damned hardasses around here!
I was kidding about Belt sitting. I’ve wanted him out there everyday.
I know Twin…and I’m with ya there. Even if Belt goes into a funk (0-for whatever)…he needs to be given plenty of time to play through it.
I’ll second that. He’s up to .273 by the way. Good to see Theriot get a couple of hits as well.
I say this envy, not with criticism- Craig has positioned himself so that he can be right if Brandon succeeds *or* fails.
Heath Bell is giving me a good-bye kiss over at the NY Metropolitans
The faulty thinking about Wilson’s loss being huge is the presumption that if he hadn’t required surgery, he would have been the elite closer of old. But Casilla is the perfect replacement, today notwithstanding he’ll be every bit as tortuous as Brian was…
Huff out shows what a negative the logjam at 1B is for the squad. Arias adds a lot of needed lexibility for Bochy at second and particularly SS, not to mention he’s a better hitter than Burriss. With Pill, Belt and Buster at first, they don’t need Huff. No idea what they’re going to do with him, but they are clearly etter and more balanced without him. Belt is finally getting some consistent ABs, and is responding and no doubt developing some confidence. Better slugging should follow. More please…
I know it is just one game and he had the one miscue in the field, but I liked the look of Arias. Maybe he is one of those guys that figure it out at the plate later on in his career, although he isn’t that old either. I would sure rather keep him around than Theriot.
He hasn’t been shabby at the plate before this, compared to what we’re getting from SS in particular:
Arias career .275 BA .313 OBP .673 OPS
Crawford ” .206 BA .275 OBP .584 OPS
It’s looking worse and worse for the Fruckster. And all of our SS prospects are sucking at the plate.
With yet another set-back for Glass…Arias could prove to be a major piece of the pie this year. If Sanchez doesn’t make it back…I don’t see Theriot or Arias going anywhere soon…
I’d be surprised if Arias wasn’t starting at one of the middle infield positions soon.
I did not see that clip of Affeldt yelling at Sanchez. I did see the pitch and multiple replays. It was a big banana and way way outside about 3+ feet. If Sanchez had blocked it, it would have been a great play. Affeldt should shut his piehole and throw good pitches. A vet yelling at a rook for that is way outta line. El Presidente woulda waived at that shit as it went by him. The squad doesn’t need that kind of bullshit developing, especially with a catcher that can friggin bring it at the plate. Bochy hopefully took care of that BS by Affeldt right away to get the pitchers’ heads where they need to be re: Hector…
While JA was bitching, he also made a motion with his hand indicating that Hector had his glove turned the wrong way. Since when has Jeremy been an expert at the catcher’s position? If Affeldt keeps that act up he can be our bullpen catcher for all I care.
Snarkk . . . I got Flav’s message and sent you an email.
So it looks like F Sanchez might not be here May 11 after all!! anyone surprised? no, no not asking you BF, I already know your answer!! ha ha
yes, I find all of those “He’s *almost* back guys to be seriously dreaming.
The way this whole Freddie Sanchez mystery thing has been playing out,if this was an Oliver Stone movie–he’d *really* be dead
Flavor, I don’t post much but I’ve been reading this blog since it started on blogspot. Today’s post was the best post you have ever made in my opinion & it hit home for me. My wife was diagnosed with both borderline & bipolar disorders last year & also suffers from panic attacks. It has been a tough road, especially for her. I tended to separate sports figures from “real life” & criticize them for their failures on the field — until today. They are human just like everyone else & have the same human problems despite their god-given talent or income. I’m not excusing every athlete from stupid decisions or acts that they may commit; but I will have a different view of poor on-field performance in the future since there can be many underlying reasons for it. I guess when we sometimes use sports as an escape from the problems of everyday life we can lose sight of the fact that athletes can be dealing with the same problems on the field. Problems you yourself are dealing with daily. Anyway, not to be a downer on the day of a great Giants’ comeback win, but your post made a difference today. Thank you.
wow, you go back to the old blogspot site? that’s WAY back. Thanks for your post ’78, they are always welcomed and appreciated.
makes this place a cathedral
HAHAHA! Trap game in Boston, i.e., I hope no Flappers picked up Humber after his perfect game . . . Youkills just went Grand Slam and a nano second after that, the Italian (Saltamachhia or something) catcher went yard too.
All the game yer going to blade, and you aren’t going May 4th?
That’ll be my 1st game this year.
Chuck, if you have got extra tickets, I am there . . . Give me a shout if that is the case.