Maryland Heights, MO
It had been 35 days since Cardinals third baseman David Freese had taken his last drink _ not that he had been counting or anything.Freese had been arrested in the early-morning hours of Dec. 14 in Maryland Heights on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. It later had been revealed that Freese had had some previous history in this regard and Freese and the club immediately got him enrolled in the Employee Assistance Program. On Sunday at the Cardinals’ Winter Warm-Up, Freese said he had taken the steps necessary to straighten out his personal life and prepare him for spring training.
“It’s been an embarrassing and humiliating experience for me and my family and our organization,” said Freese. “They have high demands for you as a person on and off the field. You try to learn from it, which I have.
Freese said he had met for two hours with general manager John Mozeliak the day after the incident.
“I’ve had some time to think about it,” said the 26-year-old Freese, who missed much of last season with an ankle injury. “I take full responsibility for the mistake I’ve made and I’ve definitely taken care of the off-field situation. Obviously, I had a little bump in the road. I’m just trying to move on and get ready for the season.
“Signing Matt Hollday kind of opened up the door for me a little bit at third base and I think the organization is happy where I am and where I’m headed as a person.
“As of right now, I’m not drinking.”