Ian Snell Says Depression, Thoughts of Suicide Led to Self-Demotion to Minors

by Pat LackeyFiled under: Pirates, NL CentralThere have been very few stranger soap operas in baseball this year with more drama than the Ian Snell saga in Pittsburgh. Expected to be one of the Pirates' top starters after signing a contract extension before the 2008 season, Snell has struggled on the mound in the past two seasons, posting 5.00+ ERAs and struggling with his control. It all came to a head about a week ago when Snell asked the Pirates to be demoted, then gave a strange impromptu press conference where he lashed out at reporters and bloggers and talked about his need to get away from the negative atmosphere of Pittsburgh. On Sunday, Snell struck out 17 hitters in seven innings in his first start back in Triple-A. Today, he talked to Indianapolis TV station WTHR and revealed that he's been battling depression and actually contemplated suicide about a month ago. He says he wanted the trip to Indianapolis to help clear his head because it's somewhere he's a...