El Barrio, Spanish Harlem – NY: What could be more frightening in today’s world besides a monetary collapse? Well, for a baseball fan who may be aware of the nature of the economy and its pits and falls, it could be their team team’s collapse going towards the finish line: having the lead of their division wither away and then lose it in the final game of the season. In the case of Boston it was losing their hold on the Wild Card. The surging Tampa Rays would win a trip to the post season instead of Boston.
For Yankee fans, whose use of the word “hate” is part of their vocabulary against the Red Sox – so much so that Yankees starting catcher Russell Martin got into the act – the amazing collapse of Boston was a moment of rejoice.
In fact, that the Yankees helped in the matter by losing 3 straight games against the Tampa Rays, makes one wonder if, for those last 3 games of the season, Yankee fans were not terribly disappointed, in particular the last two, in the way the Rays had terrific comebacks to win those games. In fact, did Russell Martin hit into a triple-play on purpose?
To speak in terms of the ‘collapse heard around the word’ as the reader may or may not know is a take from "Shot Heard 'round the World" in baseball history (the phrase was borrowed from other historical circumstance but that is another subject).
Far from this past Wednesday’s date of September 28th of terrific baseball, making one wishing for split screens on a huge TV monitor to watch 4 games, but speaking of a distant past, on October 3rd 1951, the Brooklyn Dodgers had as August 11 a 14 ½ lead over the New York Giants and would have an incredible collapse.
To make a long story short, at the end of the season both teams wound up with identical records (96-58). To determine the winner of the NL Pennant that year, a best-of-three-games showdown took place. The team split the first two games. The Dodgers were winning the deciding game 4-1 going into the bottom of the ninth at the Polo Grounds, Harlem’s home of the NY Giants. But the Giants would win the game in walk-off fashion. The bottom of the 9th rally produced 4 runs, the last 3 on a walk-off home run by Bobby Thompson of Dodger pitcher Ralph Branca. The term walk-off was not used then, as there were other differences worth noting and may be read at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shot_Heard_%27Round_the_World_%28baseball%29.
Coming back to the future, the Boston Red Sox had to win their last game after a terrible month of losing against the pesky Orioles while the Tampa Rays lose to the Yankees. How many Boston faithful were rooting for New York? But if both would win, it would have been a tie and a one-game showdown between the Rays and Red Sox in Tampa the next day.
So, if the Yankees did not help the Red Sox by winning, it was up to you, Boston. Now granted, Frank Sinatra never sang a song “It’s up to you, Boston,” but it was up to them. Leading the game 3-2 going to the bottom of the ninth in Baltimore, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon could not hold that lead after he registered the first two outs. The Orioles were real spoilers and after the walk-off hit by Robert Andino they celebrated as if it were them going to the playoffs. There have been other collapses for Boston, but could this be the mother of all collapses?
The Atlanta Braves had its own collapse; the St. Luis Cardinals, as the Rays, had an end of the season surge worth commenting and their story was also part of the “Last games of the Season and The collapse heard around the world.”
William Gerena Rochet is the Baseball Editor for Latino Sports.
Monday, October 3, 2011
First Game 1 of the ALDS between Tigers and Yankees rain suspended: resumes the day after.
El Bronx, NY - And then the rain came – again. In the course of this season the Yankees have played to 22 rain delays and have had a total of 9 rain-outs. With the score tied at 1-1 after 1 ½ innings around 9:07 PM the umpires called for the tarp to cover the infield. Speaking to a Latino Sports cohort Bobby Ciarfardini, in this instance working for Bronxnet TV, he told this writer that it would cause a problem for the starting pitchers to return if the day is too long. By 9:40 the tarp was removed and the grounds crew began to recondition the field for play. Then around 8 minutes later the rain came – again. The matchup of two of the American League’s top pitchers, Detroit Tiger’s Justin Verlander and the Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia was not to be completed by them.
Sabathia started the first inning striking out the first two batters he faced. But the third, right handed batter Delmon Young, hit an opposite field homerun to give the Tigers the lead. Young came to the Tigers after he had played 84 games as at Minnesota Twins. He finished the season with Detroit, playing 40 games for them. Young had been on the Twins two ALDS against the Yankees in 2009 and 2010 both series swept by the Yankees.
The Yankees got a run off Verlander in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Jeter got on a swinging strike out on a wild pitch by Verlander. Curtis Granderson walked on a full count. But runners advance to second and third on a groundout by Robinson Cano. Cleanup hitter Alex Rodriguez grounded out to third, but Tiger’s third baseman Brandon Inge did not attempt to throw Jeter out at the plate, instead choosing a sure out at first. Teixeira walked but Nick Swisher made the final out stranding two runners.
C.C. continued where he left off striking out another two batters after the first batter grounded out, and upon completion of the half inning, the rains came never to go away resulting in the game being suspended after a delay of one hour and 17 minutes.
The game will be picked up the in the bottom of the second inning the following evening at the same time of 8:37 PM. Game 2 will be played in the late afternoon on Sunday. Joe Giraldi said “Nova will pitch for us tomorrow and Freddy will go on Sunday. After that I can’t tell you how will do it.”
Well, it was a short game indeed and tomorrow’s starters will be today’s starters, meaning Game 1 pitchers. While it lasted it had the making of a pitcher’s duel, the marquee match-up, a “Heck of game. It was great,” quipped Tiger’s manager Jim Leyland to start his post-game conference. Later C.C. Sabathia would add, “It’s definitely disappointing. Game 1, it looked like it was going to be a good game.”
And as far as coming out no matter what the length of the delay would be, C.C. said, “I was going back out. No matter what. It’s that time of the year.”
Well, it may be that time of the year, but seeing Joe Torre in the post-game conference was somewhat strange. Only this time he is currently serving as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. He was asked on the possibility of more rain the following day and the possibility of a split double-header. But later MLB ruled out two games in one day. “I don’t want to think about that tonight,” Torre had said, and definitely no one else will. Well, perhaps not till tomorrow night.
Published at www.lationsports.com
Sabathia started the first inning striking out the first two batters he faced. But the third, right handed batter Delmon Young, hit an opposite field homerun to give the Tigers the lead. Young came to the Tigers after he had played 84 games as at Minnesota Twins. He finished the season with Detroit, playing 40 games for them. Young had been on the Twins two ALDS against the Yankees in 2009 and 2010 both series swept by the Yankees.
The Yankees got a run off Verlander in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Jeter got on a swinging strike out on a wild pitch by Verlander. Curtis Granderson walked on a full count. But runners advance to second and third on a groundout by Robinson Cano. Cleanup hitter Alex Rodriguez grounded out to third, but Tiger’s third baseman Brandon Inge did not attempt to throw Jeter out at the plate, instead choosing a sure out at first. Teixeira walked but Nick Swisher made the final out stranding two runners.
C.C. continued where he left off striking out another two batters after the first batter grounded out, and upon completion of the half inning, the rains came never to go away resulting in the game being suspended after a delay of one hour and 17 minutes.
The game will be picked up the in the bottom of the second inning the following evening at the same time of 8:37 PM. Game 2 will be played in the late afternoon on Sunday. Joe Giraldi said “Nova will pitch for us tomorrow and Freddy will go on Sunday. After that I can’t tell you how will do it.”
Well, it was a short game indeed and tomorrow’s starters will be today’s starters, meaning Game 1 pitchers. While it lasted it had the making of a pitcher’s duel, the marquee match-up, a “Heck of game. It was great,” quipped Tiger’s manager Jim Leyland to start his post-game conference. Later C.C. Sabathia would add, “It’s definitely disappointing. Game 1, it looked like it was going to be a good game.”
And as far as coming out no matter what the length of the delay would be, C.C. said, “I was going back out. No matter what. It’s that time of the year.”
Well, it may be that time of the year, but seeing Joe Torre in the post-game conference was somewhat strange. Only this time he is currently serving as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. He was asked on the possibility of more rain the following day and the possibility of a split double-header. But later MLB ruled out two games in one day. “I don’t want to think about that tonight,” Torre had said, and definitely no one else will. Well, perhaps not till tomorrow night.
Published at www.lationsports.com
One of the teams had to lose Game 2 the same day: Yankees did 5-3 despite an almost comeback
El Bronx, NY - Ex-Yankees manager Joe Torre once called the 5-game ALDS a crap shoot. That would compare the series more like a game of chance, something random, something thought not to involve skill – something that cannot be the case with a team that makes the postseason, it is just that in that scenario sometimes that best team can go down in defeat. Who is the best team or who is really the underdog is yet to be determined. Only that the series is now at 1-1 with the Yankees loss on a Sunday afternoon.
After a long 162 game season to get there, it is all suddenly lost in the brevity of the contest. But really, the weather conditions seemed to want to get into the act in this regard as well. The afternoon started with a show of blue sky interspersed with thick cloud formations, but lo and behold, that all changed with a shower in the bottom of the seventh. Luckily it did not last long and totally dark clouds covering the sky above the Stadium moved towards the North Bronx.
With the Yankees Game 1 victory it appeared that it would be up to the Tigers to salvage something on Sunday afternoon in New York, lest they travel home in a precarious spot? Well, not really. Not the case 5 years ago.
On the other hand a Yankees loss resulting in a 1-1 series tie, with the next two games at Comerica Park in Detroit – with Justin Verlander, who threw just 25 pitches before Game 1 was suspended, scheduled to start Game 3. It is made to appear by some as having the chilling effect of a dangerous creature waiting in the dark to get you – albeit being just early October and with C.C. Sabathia to oppose him.
RHP Max Scherzer no hits Yanks through 5
But coming back to the present: RHP Max Scherzer, described to possess biting pitches but also proven hittable (ERA of 4.43) gave up a few hard hit balls that were caught, but had a no-hitter through 5 innings. Robinson Cano got a bloop single to left for the Yankees’ first hit in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh a walk and a grounder up the middle had Tiger Skipper remove Scherzer. His pitching line: 6 2/3, no runs and no hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Would the Yankee offense be happy to see him go? Not when RHP Joaquin Bonoit got the final two outs striking out pinch hitter Eric Chavez (for Gardner) and Derek Jeter looking.
Alex Rodriguez booed
After Curtis Granderson got the Yankees on the scoreboard with his first postseason homerun (fifth career) off Bonoit, Alex Rodriguez popped up to the second baseman Ramon Santiago and the boos of yesteryear returned to the Stadium much as the rain had minutes ago.
Bottom of ninth excitement with Tiger closer José Valverde as rain closes game.
In the bottom of the ninth Nick Swisher greeted Tiger closer Valverde with a first pitch homerun to right. Now, it is known that Jose Valverde established a Detroit single-season record with 49 saves during 2011 – converting all his save opportunities. Jorge Posada tripled to left center, his first career postseason 3-bagger. He scored the Yankees third run on a sacrifice fly by Andruw Jones (who replaced pinch-hit for Brett Gardner at left field).
Derek Jeter followed by striking out for the second out. Curtis Granderson walked, after popping up a ball the catcher, Alex Avila, could have caught: he slipped going after it near the Tiger dugout. And then the dark clouds and rain came back over the Stadium again.
And then Robinson Cano came to bat underneath a steady shower. Valverde got 2 strikes on Cano before he bounced out to the second baseman for the final out. No save for Valverde, but just getting finally out of the inning may have had the feeling of that one-batter out by Mariano Rivera on Saturday.
While the Yankees have made it past the last two years’ ALDS, it remains to be seen if that crap shoot scenario Joe Torre had to suffer through in his latter Yankee years will return in 2011.
First published at www.latinosports.com
After a long 162 game season to get there, it is all suddenly lost in the brevity of the contest. But really, the weather conditions seemed to want to get into the act in this regard as well. The afternoon started with a show of blue sky interspersed with thick cloud formations, but lo and behold, that all changed with a shower in the bottom of the seventh. Luckily it did not last long and totally dark clouds covering the sky above the Stadium moved towards the North Bronx.
With the Yankees Game 1 victory it appeared that it would be up to the Tigers to salvage something on Sunday afternoon in New York, lest they travel home in a precarious spot? Well, not really. Not the case 5 years ago.
On the other hand a Yankees loss resulting in a 1-1 series tie, with the next two games at Comerica Park in Detroit – with Justin Verlander, who threw just 25 pitches before Game 1 was suspended, scheduled to start Game 3. It is made to appear by some as having the chilling effect of a dangerous creature waiting in the dark to get you – albeit being just early October and with C.C. Sabathia to oppose him.
RHP Max Scherzer no hits Yanks through 5
But coming back to the present: RHP Max Scherzer, described to possess biting pitches but also proven hittable (ERA of 4.43) gave up a few hard hit balls that were caught, but had a no-hitter through 5 innings. Robinson Cano got a bloop single to left for the Yankees’ first hit in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh a walk and a grounder up the middle had Tiger Skipper remove Scherzer. His pitching line: 6 2/3, no runs and no hits with 4 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Would the Yankee offense be happy to see him go? Not when RHP Joaquin Bonoit got the final two outs striking out pinch hitter Eric Chavez (for Gardner) and Derek Jeter looking.
Alex Rodriguez booed
After Curtis Granderson got the Yankees on the scoreboard with his first postseason homerun (fifth career) off Bonoit, Alex Rodriguez popped up to the second baseman Ramon Santiago and the boos of yesteryear returned to the Stadium much as the rain had minutes ago.
Bottom of ninth excitement with Tiger closer José Valverde as rain closes game.
In the bottom of the ninth Nick Swisher greeted Tiger closer Valverde with a first pitch homerun to right. Now, it is known that Jose Valverde established a Detroit single-season record with 49 saves during 2011 – converting all his save opportunities. Jorge Posada tripled to left center, his first career postseason 3-bagger. He scored the Yankees third run on a sacrifice fly by Andruw Jones (who replaced pinch-hit for Brett Gardner at left field).
Derek Jeter followed by striking out for the second out. Curtis Granderson walked, after popping up a ball the catcher, Alex Avila, could have caught: he slipped going after it near the Tiger dugout. And then the dark clouds and rain came back over the Stadium again.
And then Robinson Cano came to bat underneath a steady shower. Valverde got 2 strikes on Cano before he bounced out to the second baseman for the final out. No save for Valverde, but just getting finally out of the inning may have had the feeling of that one-batter out by Mariano Rivera on Saturday.
While the Yankees have made it past the last two years’ ALDS, it remains to be seen if that crap shoot scenario Joe Torre had to suffer through in his latter Yankee years will return in 2011.
First published at www.latinosports.com
Game1 Part II: Cano & Nova excel as Fister fails “as ace in the hole,” in Yanks trouncing of Tigers
El Bronx, NY - And again the rain came, but stopped before the game began at 8:30 P.M. According to the weather report, rain would have made its reappearance around 11 P.M. some 2 ½ hours after the start of the game and the fact that this was the continuation of the prior evening’s suspended game, it would have seemed as it had started earlier – well, meaning a typical 7:05 start and in this way if the game was played at a good pace it could beat the possible return of the rain. No such thing was necessary as Yankees trounced the Tigers 9-3 on the strength of Nova’s good pitching and Robinson Cano’s 6 RBI night by the time 11:15 came around.
More than thinking of beating the rain, the Tigers and Yanks were thinking of beating each other. And while it was not the marquee matchup of the 1 ½ innings pitched by Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia, the games “relievers,” or the Game 2 starters pressed into action by the weather, were two pitchers that could have made it a pitcher’s duel. Only that one would falter and the other would prevail.
And thus it was that the rain did not return to disrupt the game, but instead the Yankees offense disrupted the string of season victories Detroit’s righthander Doug bought to the post season. Consider that since the start of August, the 27-year-old right-hander led the AL in ERA at 1.79, ranked second in wins with eight and led everybody with an amazing 11.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio, had him qualify as the Tigers’ second Ace. But not tonight. In 4.2 innings he gave up 7 hits and 6 runs while his 6 strike outs to just two walks had Jim Leyland say, “Actually I thought Fister pitched really well. I thought Fister made one bad pitch all night.” He was referring to a sixth inning 2 RBI single to right-center field by Brett Gardner. At that point it increased the Yankees lead to 4-1.
The 6 inning went on to produce 4 more runs with Robinson Cano’s grand-slam homerun of RHP reliever Al Albuquerque. Later Leyland was questioned on bringing a right-hander to face Cano. “Left-handers are hitting .177 off Alburquerque,” said Leyland. But the Tiger skipper knew that in Cano it could have gone either way. “Cano is .320 of left-handers, .295 off righties.” The manager knew his pitcher had struck out Cano earlier in the year only that this time it did not work.
Cano had two doubles. His first broke the 1-1 tie inherited by the “replacement pitchers” in the bottom of the 5th.” His second double plated the Yankees 9th run in the bottom of the 8th.
Ivan Nova got into trouble in the 9th as he gave up an infield single to Delmon Young after one out. Miguel Cabrera walked on a 3-2 count and Victor Martinez’s single to right loaded the bases. Luis Ayala, bought in by skipper Giraldi, got a force out that produces the Tiger’s second run. The third run came in on another single by second baseman Ryan Raburn.
Mariano gets the final out of the night after Jhonny Peralta singles of Ayala loading the bases. Mariano then struck out Wilson Betemit to end the game.
Cano tied the Yankee postseason franchise record with 6 RBI and becoming the 4th Yankee to do so. His grand –slam was his first and 7th career postseason homerun. Ivan Nova’s victory became the first for Yankee rookie since Orlando Hernandez did it in 1998’s ALCS vs. Cleveland.
Game 2 will take place on a late Sunday afternoon before the two teams travel to Detroit where they will play on Monday and Tuesday before having a Wednesday break and play in New York on Thursday if needed, something that holds true for game 4 as well with all things considered.
More than thinking of beating the rain, the Tigers and Yanks were thinking of beating each other. And while it was not the marquee matchup of the 1 ½ innings pitched by Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia, the games “relievers,” or the Game 2 starters pressed into action by the weather, were two pitchers that could have made it a pitcher’s duel. Only that one would falter and the other would prevail.
And thus it was that the rain did not return to disrupt the game, but instead the Yankees offense disrupted the string of season victories Detroit’s righthander Doug bought to the post season. Consider that since the start of August, the 27-year-old right-hander led the AL in ERA at 1.79, ranked second in wins with eight and led everybody with an amazing 11.40 strikeout-to-walk ratio, had him qualify as the Tigers’ second Ace. But not tonight. In 4.2 innings he gave up 7 hits and 6 runs while his 6 strike outs to just two walks had Jim Leyland say, “Actually I thought Fister pitched really well. I thought Fister made one bad pitch all night.” He was referring to a sixth inning 2 RBI single to right-center field by Brett Gardner. At that point it increased the Yankees lead to 4-1.
The 6 inning went on to produce 4 more runs with Robinson Cano’s grand-slam homerun of RHP reliever Al Albuquerque. Later Leyland was questioned on bringing a right-hander to face Cano. “Left-handers are hitting .177 off Alburquerque,” said Leyland. But the Tiger skipper knew that in Cano it could have gone either way. “Cano is .320 of left-handers, .295 off righties.” The manager knew his pitcher had struck out Cano earlier in the year only that this time it did not work.
Cano had two doubles. His first broke the 1-1 tie inherited by the “replacement pitchers” in the bottom of the 5th.” His second double plated the Yankees 9th run in the bottom of the 8th.
Ivan Nova got into trouble in the 9th as he gave up an infield single to Delmon Young after one out. Miguel Cabrera walked on a 3-2 count and Victor Martinez’s single to right loaded the bases. Luis Ayala, bought in by skipper Giraldi, got a force out that produces the Tiger’s second run. The third run came in on another single by second baseman Ryan Raburn.
Mariano gets the final out of the night after Jhonny Peralta singles of Ayala loading the bases. Mariano then struck out Wilson Betemit to end the game.
Cano tied the Yankee postseason franchise record with 6 RBI and becoming the 4th Yankee to do so. His grand –slam was his first and 7th career postseason homerun. Ivan Nova’s victory became the first for Yankee rookie since Orlando Hernandez did it in 1998’s ALCS vs. Cleveland.
Game 2 will take place on a late Sunday afternoon before the two teams travel to Detroit where they will play on Monday and Tuesday before having a Wednesday break and play in New York on Thursday if needed, something that holds true for game 4 as well with all things considered.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
LS Blog:Big Papi answers commotion made of his “swaggered” home run with a homer
Written for Latino Sports (www.latinosports.com)
Thursday, 09 June 2011
El Bronx – Latino Sports “MAN OF THE YEAR,” David “Big Papi” Ortiz’s two run homer on Tuesday got him into an ego driven drama that made some of the protagonists interpreting Ortiz’s gesture as worthy of practically spilling blood. Ok, a little exaggeration here. The way it was described by Ian Browne of MLB.com Boston, “The big slugger flipped his bat emphatically to the side and did a bit of a pirouette, before savoring his trot around the bases.”
Now, some Latinos may want help pronouncing the word pirouette and may even look it up for its definition. Anyone seeing and hearing Yankee skipper Joe Girardi comment on the incident may want to take a second take on the definition of the word “ire.” Why? Because the title of Mr. Browne’s article was: “Big Papi’s swagger draws Girardi’s ire.” And if what Girardi displayed was ire, then some day if he really gets pissed off, he may make Terry Collins’ recent display of anger at his Mets losing ways look like loving tenderness and compassion.
Still, the swagger of Big Papi caused many in the media bring up the “flipping of the bat” and the “bit of pirouette,” after the Yankees Tuesday 6-4 loss, not only to Girardi but to several players as well. For one, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was asked and he simply said he did not see it.
After the Wednesday game the Yankees would lose 11-6, Latino Sports caught up with Big Papi and asked him if he would like to comment on the situation and he laughed and gestured as if to say enough of it and said “Turn the page.” When asked if he expected anything the next day, he asked, “Like what?” When told he may be brushed back or hit by a pitch, he said, “We got pitchers too, who throw very, very hard.”
The question Latino Sports asked Big Papi came as a result of hearing commentaries prior to the Wednesday game on the bat flipping scenario by two of New York’s sports-talk radio stations. One, or both called for retaliation in the form of having Big Papi get hit by a pitch. One predicted that if A.J. Burnett did not do in his outing on the second game of the series, it would most likely be done by C.C. Sabathia in the third and final game of the 3-game set.
As it turned out A.J. Burnett did not do it and not only got hit hard giving up 8 runs (7 earned) in 5.2 innings on 7 hits (4 walks, 3 strikeouts) but gave up a two-run homer to Big Papi on the top of the first inning.
Eventually, he was asked again by another reporter, “Did you feel at your first a bat you would get drilled, because Joe Girarldi said he was upset…” Ortiz said, “I don’t care what Joe Girardi said, I come to play the game every day, so enough with that…” If we cross that line we take it like a man.”
However, and In fact, this much was admitted by the talk-show hosts on ESPN 1050 A.M. radio: Ortiz is well liked by many Yankee players (maybe not all pitchers) and in fact skipper Giraldi said, "I've never had a problem with David Ortiz. This guy has been a clutch player for a long time. My reaction is probably more to protect our young kid. That's what I'm going to do." (Referring to Hector Noesi for which a swaggering Ortiz would not likely doom the young pitcher).
Great, not by having one of his pitchers throw at him. But if this madness were to come to its conclusion it would be C.C. Sabathia on Thursday’s finale. If not, it was just good fabricated drama, good for some of the media to entertain fans between games at the expense of a Latino who has been a thorn on the side of the Yankees: As if to say that Ortiz’s bat flipping has added insult to injury. “I have bat flipped my entire career. I just don’t do it that often,” said Ortiz, as if to imply what is the big deal.
What seems to be a real big deal is that Big Papi is back to his Old’ days: Coming to the second game of the series batting .324, 14 homers and 32 RBI.
Additionally, one other thing that has been a constant with David “Big Papi” Ortiz has been his congeniality on and off the field. His availability to the Press, to fans and his support for community: this has earned him the LATINO MAN OF THE YEAR AWARD; as a person of integrity.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Mike Francesa misplaced his apology, make it to the Latino Community, dude!
El Barrio, NY - Mike Francesa quipped that “If you could find a Mets baseball player that could speak English,” which he attempts to ameliorate, or lessen the effect of his words, by saying “That (if you find one) I hope is one who speaks English,” ̶ just a shade of difference that leaves you with a ‘Daa???’ – a comment he glosses over by adding a “Just kidding Folks!” to a caller to his YES talk Show recently. Although he went on to apologize to the caller, the apology is flawed by the fact that is not about insulting the Mets whom he said had no ‘problema’ with what he said. It is about insulting the Latino Community. For this reason Mike Francesa’s apology needs a remake.
To put all this into context, let’s remember that much of what has been said about former GM Omar Minaya's Latinization of the Mets has not been in an affirming way, but as a "concern.” So when Francesa said that he is kidding, this is coming from someone outside the group he is kidding about, then that joke is at the expense of the group: it is like, when the joke is on you – here the Latino collective self-esteem, and because it was said over the air it adds fuel to those who lend themselves to demean and degrade the Latino community. This is irresponsible gab.
Minority groups in this country have enough of their own comedians who can quip with self deprecating humor but, Yo, not if you belong to the group that in essence has had white skin privilege in the country and still does, then ‘callete la boca.’ This has become an established protocol in this country by now as a result of the struggle against racism and stereotyping.
Just because there are many Latinos in the game of baseball does not mean that the community at large (and the players themselves) is free from racial or nationalistic prejudices at the hands of white chauvinist and the narrow minded of all stripes. There are many white fans that may cheer José, José, José, but would not like to see him move to their neighborhood. In fact there are neighborhoods that if the likes of José find themselves in, he may suddenly see a bunch of guys with baseball bats on their hands and they are not inviting you to play ball with them: run for dear life.
This also comes at a delicate time for the NY Mets, that can be lauded for their Latino nights and cultural celebrations (something that leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the Yankees), but comes at the heels of dismissing Omar Minaya, the first Latino General Manager in baseball: after his reign fell into a quagmire of injuries, of tough turn of events not only for the team as a collective but for individual players with poor season performances, or as in the case of the much maligned Luis Castillo, all the years he has played with the team so far. Besides these turn of events, what GM has not had some bad rap for trades or signings of players that when coming to New York seem to fall short of what their previous resume say about them? The Mets owners extended Minaya’s contract, but unfortunately the poor results that took hold of the Mets after their post season year, also extended to several seasons to the present.
Exit Minaya, rebuilding now a work in progress. What remains in the mix are some of the Latino players, perhaps a remaining legacy of Minaya, in the team, many, by the way, who speak English, but it is as if, perhaps, the language per se is not the issue.
Then let’s take some things into further perspective as far as the English proficiency of some of the Latino baseball players is concerned. If a player comes from Puerto Rico, he would most likely speak English well; well enough to get by the Media demands of their usually profound questions (like how did you feel about…?). It is just part of the nature of the colonial status of the island.
But if the player comes from the Dominican Republic, where Major League Baseball sets up farms much as corporate farming is geared towards mass production, the poor kids who are allured to these “Academies,” usually do not enjoy a viable educational setting with English as a Second Language instruction. Other countries such a Venezuela, Cuba and Mexico have their own organized baseball leagues and MLB benefits from this setup (this got President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela thinking that MLB should perhaps pay the country a fee), but as in the case of having grown up with just one language, then learning another as an adult is very challenging – particularly coming from a phonetic language to one where anything seems to go.
Which brings us back to Mike Francesa and one wonders how many languages he speaks (If he speaks Spanish kudos for him). Because if Latin-American and Caribbean players come from a one-language environment – it should be noted that in this country – the wealthiest in the planet and certainly in the hemisphere, one that could lead the way teaching its English speaking citizens another language to a point of proficiency, here Spanish for one, then a Mike Francesa would not have to find anyone but himself to understand what the players say in the club house.
It is doubtful a talk host sports celebrity in a similar role in Europe would have ever made such a narrow minded comment.
Not this being the case, Mike Francesa should extend his apology to the Latino Community and if you please, “Mira, no jodas más.”
This article was first published at latinosports.com on November 8, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
LS WS Blog: Treat or Trick with torture admitting George W. Bush as Giants apply some to Rangers
On the day of All Day’s Saints, those from a city named after a saint, San Francisco, the dubious name of torture may be good karma for one, but not in its sinister meaning for others. Final outcome in progress.
First appeared in www.latinosports.com
Monday, 01 November 2010
El Barrio, N.Y. - A curious thing is happening with the word torture lately. The San Francisco Giants have began to use it as a one word motto as a result of their wins being: “low-scoring, ugly, and excruciating, ”* and seeing the Bush Clan seating behind home plate, with George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch in Game 4 of the 2010 Classic, when this war President has admitted the United States government is in the business of using torture against alleged and suspected terrorist, then it seems that the use of the word becomes a subliminal message that goes in tandem with making acceptable what generally has not been part of a heretofore American self image. The word was used by Game 5 starter Tim Lincecum after the Giants’ struggle and victory over Atlanta in the NLDS. Dave Sheinin in his article “Winning is ‘torture’ for the Giants” (The Washington Post October 15, 2010) points out that the word ‘torture’ was first used in the TV booth by the Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper to describe the teams play in an early season nail-biter.
On the other hand the SF Giants so far have not lived to their one word motto image even if game 4 was a relatively low scoring game for them. Ironically, the Giants’ 3 wins in the World Series have not been of the ‘torture’ variety, albeit game 4’s relatively low scoring with a victory master piece, 8-inning shut-out by Giants rookie, LHP Madison K. Bumgarner.
He tricked the Rangers allowing only 3 hits and punching out 6. His middle initial is indicative of what kind of pitcher he is. With Giants closer Brian Wilson not treating the Rangers to any runs in the bottom of the 9th, this Halloween, no doubt instead turned out be, ah, a ‘holloween’ for the Bush clan and Ranger President Nolan Ryan. President Ryan looked at times, as he does with his team losing, like a tortured man. (And I hope this is not a contribution to accepting the unacceptable but let’s play.)
For Latino Sports, as it relates to the San Francisco Giants, it has been torture not to see Boricua LHP Jonathan Sanchez win in the 2010 postseason and so far has lost 2 games, one in the LCS and one in the World Series. On a brighter note, Javier Lopez has done a great job as a LHP specialist. Santiago Casilla has pitched 1.1 innings and not allowed a run. Sergio Romo: 0.2 innings has allowed one hit and no runs with 1 K. Ramón Ramirez has allowed 2 runs on one hit, one BB in 1 inning, and 1K in a span of two games. And ex-Mets and well traveled Guillermo Mota has pitched in two games and has not allowed a run in 2.1 innings of work with 2 BB and no K’s.
On the other hand the performances of some of the team’s every day Latino players have been fun to watch. Besides Juan Uribe, Freddy Sanchez, particularly outstanding is Columbian Edgar Renteria: .429 BA, 5 runs, 1 home run and 3 RBI and Boricua Andres Torres: .333 BA, 3 runs, 4 doubles, 1 home run and 3 RBI.
So with game 5 set for a possibility of San Francisco returning home as Champions or to play another game, there is to be what game 1 turned out not to be with the two team’s aces facing each other for a second time: Texas Cliff Lee and Giants Tim Lincecum.
Who will say at the end of Game 5 that it was pure torture?
Republished on November 2. I said Edgar Renteria was Venezuelan. He is a native of Baranquilla, Columbia.
First appeared in www.latinosports.com
Monday, 01 November 2010
El Barrio, N.Y. - A curious thing is happening with the word torture lately. The San Francisco Giants have began to use it as a one word motto as a result of their wins being: “low-scoring, ugly, and excruciating, ”* and seeing the Bush Clan seating behind home plate, with George W. Bush throwing out the first pitch in Game 4 of the 2010 Classic, when this war President has admitted the United States government is in the business of using torture against alleged and suspected terrorist, then it seems that the use of the word becomes a subliminal message that goes in tandem with making acceptable what generally has not been part of a heretofore American self image. The word was used by Game 5 starter Tim Lincecum after the Giants’ struggle and victory over Atlanta in the NLDS. Dave Sheinin in his article “Winning is ‘torture’ for the Giants” (The Washington Post October 15, 2010) points out that the word ‘torture’ was first used in the TV booth by the Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper to describe the teams play in an early season nail-biter.
On the other hand the SF Giants so far have not lived to their one word motto image even if game 4 was a relatively low scoring game for them. Ironically, the Giants’ 3 wins in the World Series have not been of the ‘torture’ variety, albeit game 4’s relatively low scoring with a victory master piece, 8-inning shut-out by Giants rookie, LHP Madison K. Bumgarner.
He tricked the Rangers allowing only 3 hits and punching out 6. His middle initial is indicative of what kind of pitcher he is. With Giants closer Brian Wilson not treating the Rangers to any runs in the bottom of the 9th, this Halloween, no doubt instead turned out be, ah, a ‘holloween’ for the Bush clan and Ranger President Nolan Ryan. President Ryan looked at times, as he does with his team losing, like a tortured man. (And I hope this is not a contribution to accepting the unacceptable but let’s play.)
For Latino Sports, as it relates to the San Francisco Giants, it has been torture not to see Boricua LHP Jonathan Sanchez win in the 2010 postseason and so far has lost 2 games, one in the LCS and one in the World Series. On a brighter note, Javier Lopez has done a great job as a LHP specialist. Santiago Casilla has pitched 1.1 innings and not allowed a run. Sergio Romo: 0.2 innings has allowed one hit and no runs with 1 K. Ramón Ramirez has allowed 2 runs on one hit, one BB in 1 inning, and 1K in a span of two games. And ex-Mets and well traveled Guillermo Mota has pitched in two games and has not allowed a run in 2.1 innings of work with 2 BB and no K’s.
On the other hand the performances of some of the team’s every day Latino players have been fun to watch. Besides Juan Uribe, Freddy Sanchez, particularly outstanding is Columbian Edgar Renteria: .429 BA, 5 runs, 1 home run and 3 RBI and Boricua Andres Torres: .333 BA, 3 runs, 4 doubles, 1 home run and 3 RBI.
So with game 5 set for a possibility of San Francisco returning home as Champions or to play another game, there is to be what game 1 turned out not to be with the two team’s aces facing each other for a second time: Texas Cliff Lee and Giants Tim Lincecum.
Who will say at the end of Game 5 that it was pure torture?
Republished on November 2. I said Edgar Renteria was Venezuelan. He is a native of Baranquilla, Columbia.
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