Maybe Vegetables Are the New Chewing Tobacco

Following Prince Fielder’s still-baffling (at least to me) admission that he intends to compete at the major league level of baseball without eating meat comes the revelation (via Big League Stew) that Minnesota Twins reliever Pat Neshek is a vegan. That would give Neshek the conversational upper hand over Roger Clemens at cocktail parties or Congressional , by the way.

Clemens, you might remember, was asked by Representative Bruce Braley of Iowa if he was a vegan, as that would be a reason for taking B-12 shots. Clemens said he didn’t know what a vegan was. Maybe Neshek can drop some knowledge on ol’ Rog, along with a box of Boca Burgers. (I actually think the Morningstar vegan burgers are better, if that’s how you really have to go with your food choices. My dear vegetarian friend, Mis Hooz, had those in her freezer, and they got us through a Sunday night of watching TV quite well. Quick tip: pickle slices helped tremendously.)

After breaking down at the end of last season, Neshek decided a change in his conditioning and diet would keep him strong this year. His wife’s cooking has helped him with the no-eating-meat part for now, but how difficult will it be to stick to that lifestyle when the Twins are on the road? I wondered the same thing when I read about Fielder’s conversion. What happens when the Brewers take a road trip? Never mind that he’ll be playing baseball in the land of the bratwurst. Maybe his wife, Chanel, will pack a copy of Skinny Bitch - the book which convinced Prince that meat was too gross to eat - along with his luggage.

I don’t think I would’ve revealed that particular reading choice to the public. (Neshek probably could’ve gotten away with it, since he throws sidearm, which we all know means you’re a weirdo.) Of course, when you hit 50 home runs, you can probably admit whatever you’d like. Except taking steroids, that is.