Scott Proctor whose career detoured through a bottle, seeks SF Giants job

The right-hander is a recovering alcoholic who said he has been sober for four years and sees his career and life on an upswing. In two Cactus League games for the Giants he has faced eight batters and allowed no hits, with one walk.

The popular narrative of Proctor’s downfall as a pitcher held that his arm blew out because Yankees manager Joe Torre overused him in 2006 and 2007. He pitched in 83 games both year, including 31 for the Dodgers after a midseason trade in 2007.

Proctor tells a different story.

“I think some things that happened and some poor choices on how I lived my life led to it more than anything,” he said.

Part of that was not eating right or sleeping enough, the basics of being a good athlete, but that was not the killer. He said he had a “serious drinking problem,” a binge drinker who stopped when he ran out of booze or passed out.

His teammates saw it. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was not shy about telling Proctor he needed to stop. In 2009, he said, he did stop while rehabbing after Tommy John surgery.

“Mariano had been on me a long time about just making wiser choices,” Proctor said. “Then I had a bullpen coach, Steve Foster, a really good Christian guy who tried to help me make a change in my life, and thank goodness I’m married to a great woman (Carrie) who has been supportive throughout my career, through the good and bad, and I owe a lot to her.”

Thanks to Phil.