Josh Hancock

Hi guys...I actually have a few minutes to post a few things. Go figure. I have been so freakin' busy lately and now that I think about it, I can't figure out what I've been so busy doing. Strange, huh?

Anyway, just a little about Josh Hancock.

Early Sunday morning, April 29th, Josh Hancock (middle relieving Pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who was a key member of our 2006 World Series Championship bullpen) was instantly killed when his rented 2007 Ford Explorer struck a flat-bed tow truck that was parked on the highway assisting another motorist who had struck the median.

We were to play the Cubs Sunday night, however, the game was postponed. This all brought back painful memories as we just lost another teammate in 2002, Darryl Kile. If you'll recall, Darryl Kile died (of a coronary artery blockage) in his bed at the hotel in Chicago when we were in the midst of a Cardinals-Cubs series. It just strikes me odd that we're always playing the Cubs when one of our active team members dies. Think they're bad luck to us? I do.

Hancock, who just turned 29, was alone in his SUV at 12:35 am when he struck the tow truck. St. Louis Police Chief, Joe Mokwa, stated that Hancock died upon impact. The driver of the tow truck, however was not injured. Chief Mokwa also stated that Hancock was driving at or just above the posted speed limit.

Days later, it was discovered that Hancock had been driving under the influence and was on the phone with a female acquaintance at the time of the crash. Hancock's blood-alcohol level was 0.157 - nearly double the legal limit in Missouri. Police also found 8.55 grams of marijuana along with a glass pipe in the vehicle. An accident reconstruction team determined that Hancock was driving 68 mph in a 55 mph zone.

On May 1, details surrounding another minor drunk-driving accident in his GMC Denali three nights earlier were released. This minor accident was the reason behind Hancock driving a rented Ford Explorer.

Granted, I don't agree with his driving drunk, but I am very upset over losing another active team member and such a promising Pitcher. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and teammates. My thoughts and prayers also go out to Cardinal Nation as a whole. It's very upsetting to lose an active team member, not to mention one with a bright future ahead of him.

RIP JOSH HANCOCK - WE WILL MISS YOU DEARLY