A bad week on the field became a worse week off the field for the Kansas City Royals when reports surfaced that pitcher Danny Duffy was arrested on Sunday evening for driving under the influence. According to Overland Park Police, Duffy was arrested at the Burger King on 137th and Metcalf Avenue around 8 p.m. that day. According to Kevin Kietzman of 810 WHB, Duffy was passed out in the drive-thru lane.
Dayton Moore and the Royals released a statement early on Tuesday.
"We are obviously disappointed in the news we have received regarding Danny Duffy's DUI arrest on Sunday night. Danny was not part of the team traveling back from Cleveland on Sunday because he had returned to Kansas City a day earlier to undergo an MRI examination. We are still in the early stages of gathering the details, but I do know that Danny has always been accountable as a member of this organization and we expect the same accountability from him as this process moves forward. We obviously do not condone anyone driving while under the influence, but this is now a legal matter and we will allow the process to unfold and cannot comment any further."
In a press conference with the media this afternoon, Danny Duffy read from a prepared statement and citing legal reasons, took no questions. His acknowledged he had let fans down with his actions.
“To every kid out there who looks up to me, that has read a headline, seen something...I will continue to do great for the city, I promise you that.....I'm going to be better because of it....Please continue to have faith in me because I'm better than this distraction.”
Statement from Danny Duffy. pic.twitter.com/wLwo0OgKj6
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 29, 2017
Dayton Moore said he found about the situation on Monday, when Danny Duffy called for a meeting. He stressed accountability, but also acknowledged that people make mistakes. He also stressed he had not yet spoken to law enforcement and was still in the process of gathering the facts.
Dayton: "I'm not interested in any alibis, any excuses, there are no excuses."
— 610 Sports Radio- KC (@610SportsKC) August 29, 2017
Danny Duffy told GM Dayton Moore about his DUI on Monday. They discussed it. "We'll support him. It's a mistake." pic.twitter.com/FrwltlyQq0
— Neal Jones (@NealJoneskctv5) August 29, 2017
Moore was somber in tone and stressed the seriousness of Duffy’s actions.
“It could be worse. We’ve all been affected by situations like this. So it could be worse. He got lucky.”
Moore side-stepped questions on clauses in Duffy’s contract related to off-field conduct or any potential penalties from the league or the team for the DUI. He said that when a player goes through something like this, “it’s an issue - may be big, may be small”, He cited an earlier incident from a player when Dayton was early in his tenure with the Royals. Moore said that player was taken out of action to get treatment. The Royals placed Alberto Callaspo on the disabled list following a DUI in 2008.
Dayton Moore said that the organization does have programs in place to combat problems that plague many athletes, citing their anti-pornography program that seeks to address issues like domestic abuse that can result.
“Danny’s hurting. Honestly, I’m glad he’s hurting. He needs to feel shame. It's real and it's life changing and hopefully it never happens again."
Dayton: "We love him, we'll support him through this process."
— 610 Sports Radio- KC (@610SportsKC) August 29, 2017
Baseball has had a number of high-profile DUI cases affecting players such as Miguel Cabrera, Jung-Ho Kang, Shin-Soo Choo, and Yovani Gallardo. Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boating accident with alcohol and cocaine in his system, and Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock died in a drunk driving collision in 2007.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said back in 2011, when there were a number of high-profile cases, that a MLB DUI policy would be on the table for the next labor agreement, but a deal was struck last year with no changes made. NBA players typically face a two- or three-game suspension for a DUI conviction. NFL players receive a mandatory two-game suspension for a first offense, with greater penalties for repeat offenders.
Baseball has always had a complicated relationship with alcohol. Games on TV and radio were once “brought to you by” your local brewery, in Kansas City’s case, Schlitz Beer. Ads for beer still populate the stadium. Players used to find cold brews available in the clubhouse after games, a practice ended by most teams following Hancock’s death.
Duffy is the highest-profile player in the last year to get caught making a stupid mistake with alcohol, which could raise the possibility that MLB finally institutes some sort of DUI policy. Duffy is currently on the disabled list, although the club is hoping he will be able to return after missing just one start. It seems unlikely that Duffy will be suspended retroactively by a new policy, but the Royals seem prepared to take his issues, whatever they may be, seriously.