Major news that Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs passed away today at the age of 27. But you wouldn't know this tragic news which came out around 2 pm today if you've been listening to the recorded sports show The Dan LeBatard Show on KLAA AM 830 the Angels' FLAGSHIP station. AFAIK they didn't break in and start live reporting about this tragic event. I assume Roger Lodge will be live later
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Live and Local ... Not on AM 830
- Thread starter SuperRadioFan
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andreajesus
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also heard on WFAN 660 in NY as well - it was the top story of the "20/20 News Flashes" - so sad....
Amen radiojomo like you I am a big Angels fan, listened to a lot of Roger's show yesterday, just heartbreaking
I think you are a bit too tough on them considering how small of a station it is with almost no reporting or on-air resources to speak of outside of Lodge's show. However now I am going to be tough on them for another reason. it has now been several days and I don't see them (or anyone else for that matter) trying to get the story of actually how the young man died.
Without speculating on this specific case (as that would be bad form without a lot of known facts) one can say in general that in these situations, the longer the period of time that goes by without comment from "officials", the more likely it is that the person in question died of some sort of overdose. It seems that no one wants to be the bad guy for saying someone died by his own actions when (by definition) the death was preventable. When it begins to look like that is the scenario, the press always start to get very incurious and quietly move on. I personally see such behavior as just adding insult to injury.
As the Angels flagship station, they should be on the story and not stop until an actual cause of death is reported. The uncomfortable situation is the passing itself; there is never a good reason for the passing of someone so young. But we are all adults here (or children for whom this may be a very important teachable moment) and hiding the facts from us is never the right answer.
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Keep in mind 830 AM is controlled by the Angels and is effectively a branch of the organization's PR department. If it isn't expedient (i.e. natural causes), the station will most likely say very little.
That is fine and certainly their prerogative, but then they shouldn't be surprised when their audience gets in the habit of tuning elsewhere to get the "real news" about the team when something is going on that doesn't fit the agenda of the team's PR department.
An autopsy was done but according to reports it was inconclusive. This means they now have to wait for the toxicology reports to be done. This takes 6-8 weeks. This is very common to have to wait for the final results.
Well those toxicology reports are in, and just as surmised earlier based on the actions of all involved, particularly the remarkably incurious press corps, we learn he died of a drug overdose.
I like the way that instead of holding the young man responsible for his own actions, his family has deduced that someone in the Angels employ may have been responsible in helping him obtain the illegal (if not prescribed) drugs, so they are planning what any self-respecting family would do in the same situation - move forward in what could be a seven-figure "wrongful death" civil suit against the Angels.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/ange...aggs-death-drugs-angels-employee-legal-battle
The days we live in are indeed something to behold.
If you play for a team, the team has a certain responsibility for the health of the player. The death happened during the season, not in the player's off time. If the drugs were prescribed by the team doctor, there is some responsibility, don't you think?
As for the "incurious press," it's one thing to be curious, and another to print rumor or incorrect information. One has to be careful what one says until the official announcement is made.
Not if the patient overdosed on the drug that was prescribed in an otherwise normal dosage for appropriate symptoms. I have, like many others, have had opiates prescribed to me for pain. I have a healthy level of respect for them and make sure that I only take them in prescribed doses or less. Thus, there is little to no risk of overdose. That is how most people do it.
I didn't say they should make inappropriate comments. I said no one did any investigative reporting. There is a story there - who DID assist the young man in obtaining those drugs? Was it a team physician as you say is possible, or is it an equipment manager who "knows some people that can get you some stuff"? What happened in the fateful 24 hours before his death? Where did he stay, who was he out with, is there anyone else involved that took the drugs with him that could provide insight? Was it people he knew or strangers who he got caught up with in a town that he only travels to? These are all angles the press follows up on when they want to. My point is whenever it appears it is a unfortunate self-inflicted drug overdose, they never want to.
AS a somewhat unrelated side note, I can hear KLAA at home in Laramie, WY right before their power/pattern change. Sometimes its barely audible with just the ability to tell somethings under WCCO.. sometimes its two stations (WCCO and KLAA) mixing together, sometimes KLAA is way on top of WCCO and sometimes, like Saturday August 1st, KLAA was peeling the paint off the house and barreling in like a ton of bricks. (BTtw, 850 mile distance, give or take a few miles)
That investigation happens AFTER the official toxicology report comes out. Until then, the press is wrong to release its own investigation. That's not to say they haven't been asking questions. You make it sound like they haven't done anything, and you don't really know. The family statement was very careful, and said the team "might" be responsible. They don't know. So now the investigation begins. It's a process. It takes time.
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