Shakedownsports.com

Earlier this week Giants reliever Vinny Chulk went on the DL for what was believed to be a blood clot in his hand. Tests later revealed that there was no blood clot, and doctors now believe Chulk has a circulatory problem called Buerger’s disease. The disease has caused a cold sensation in his right hand and some discoloration in one of his fingers. If it goes untreated the disease can lead to gangrene in fingers and toes.

Here’s the important part. Buerger’s disease is associated with tobacco use, and while Chulk doesn’t smoke, he does chew smokeless tobacco. Like performance enhancers in the 1990’s, MLB players’ use of chewing tobacco is widely known but rarely discussed. Because its health hazards aren’t as serious as something like steroids or painkiller abuse, both MLB and the media have largely given chewing tobacco a free pass.

Now there’s a chance that Chulk’s ailment will change all that. Major League Baseball cannot ban the use of chewing tobacco—that would be like telling players they weren’t allowed to smoke cigarettes–but MLB could make a greater effort to stop its use and get younger players aware of its dangers.  Over the last 30 years Hollywood finally let its social conscience get the best of it and it started portraying smoking in movies in a less positive light. Major League Baseball could delicately attempt to do the same kind of thing.

It’s really all up to Chulk and Bud Selig. If Selig believes this isn’t important or Chulk decides he doesn’t want to make a big deal of of his ailment, Major League Baseball can just sweep it under the rug. If not, they could actually try and turn this into something positive.

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