Baseball Reflections

Stupidity Is Better Kept A Secret Than Displayed

Charles S. Farrell — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:23:58 +0000

DRSEA INFORMER

Volume III, Issue 5: A Publication For Your Reading Enjoyment

Torii Hunter apparently never read Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus’ caution on stupidity. The Anaheim Angels center fielder gave new meaning to the phrase “dumb jock” when he claimed that dark-skinned baseball players from the Dominican Republic are not black but “imposters.”

“People see dark faces out there, and the perception is that they’re African American,” Hunter said, according to an article in USA Today that examined the lack of African American baseball players. ”They’re not us. They’re impostors. Even people I know come up and say, ‘Hey, what color is Vladimir Guerrero? Is he a black player?’ I say, ‘Come on, he’s Dominican. He’s not black.’ “

African Americans made up only 9 percent of Major League Baseball rosters last season, compared to 29 percent foreign players, with the Dominican Republic contributing the largest share of that percentage.

The article also quoted Hunter as saying teams chase Latino players “because you can get them cheaper. It’s like, ‘Why should I get this kid from the South Side of Chicago and have Scott Boras represent him and pay him $5 million when you can get a Dominican guy for a bag of chips?’ “

While Hunter is right in his assessment that it is cheaper to develop Dominican talent, his marginalizing the ethnicity of Dominican players is absurd. I happen to know of one Major League Baseball team that is developing a couple of Ghanaian baseball players who I predict will one day be in Major League Baseball uniforms. By Hunter’s standard, those African players should not be considered black.

Torri Hunter

Hunter exacerbates his ignorance by excluding Guerrero from “blackness” by creating a new ethnicity – Dominican. The official ethnic breakdown in the Dominican Republic is 16 percent white, 11 percent black and 73 percent mixed, with that mix being undeniably of African Diaspora ancestry. Just as there is a melting pot of Americans who consider themselves black, so it is in the Dominican Republic. President Barack Obama is called our first black president even though his mother is white. Remember the one drop rule? The fact Hunter needs to face is that more and more great baseball players are black, regardless of their nationality.

Hunter is correct that Major League Baseball pursues Latino talent because of the cost factor; it is less expensive to develop players in the Dominican Republic than in the United States. Baseball spends $100 million annually on development factories here; it is a business decision to do so.

But that should not negate a responsibility by Major League Baseball to improve the number of African Americans playing baseball; in 1975, 27 percent of the players were black Americans.

Without a doubt, Major League Baseball’s decision to mine talent offshore has played a role in the decline of African American participation in the game, but it is only one factor.

Even six decades after Jackie Robinson broke the color line, baseball continues to have a public relations problem in the African American community because many believe America’s pastime is inherently racist. The fact that there was a color line for Jackie Robinson to break remains fixed in the minds’ of many, most of whom couldn’t tell you who broke the color line in professional football, basketball or hockey.

Add to that the fact that most high school athletes today are not triple threats, playing three sports a year. Summer, the primary baseball season in the United States, is also the evaluation period for college basketball. If you are a gifted basketball player looking for a college scholarship, you concentrate on that sport in the summer, not baseball.

One result is that blacks are poorly represented in college baseball. Only about 6 percent of college players are black; about 5 percent are Latino. With only 11.5 scholarships allotted for NCAA Division I baseball teams, the competition is fierce.

On top of that is my belief that baseball is not marketed well to the African American community. Go into any black community and you will see an abundance of basketball courts; rarely do you see baseball diamonds, and the ones that do exist are generally poorly maintained. Listen to black radio and rarely do you hear an ad for “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”

On the positive side, baseball is acutely aware of the problem it has attracting African American players and fans to the game. Several years ago it created the RBI program (Reviving Baseball in the Inner Cities), which is now nationwide and even in the Dominican Republic. The program has established baseball academies in Compton, CA, and Houston, with sites approved for Miami and New Orleans. Hunter, to his credit, gives generously to charitable efforts for the development of baseball in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Major League Baseball also created the Civil Rights Game in 2007 to honor the civil rights movement in the United States, and to mark the end of the league’s spring training. Last year, the game became a regular season game.

Can baseball do more to improve African American participation? Sure, but it also needs to work on blunting the beliefs of those like Torii Hunter that pit black Americans against black Dominicans.

Keith Lee

Keith Lee, chief operating officer of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Dominican Republic Sports & Education Academy, said, “I have been very saddened by the lack of black American players in Major League Baseball. I am aware of the various reasons for that, but I don’t want to see it turn into a war between the foreign players and the black American players.”

Lee, a former professional football player and an expert on diversity in sports, added, “I think there is room for all players from the global community to enjoy this game.”

Meanwhile, the Dominican media is having a field day with Hunter’s comments. Said one radio talk show host, “Hey, what color is (NBA star) Dirk Nowitzki? Is he a white player? I say, ‘Come on, he’s German. He’s not white.’ “

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Baseball News, Tweets & More: Friday pm

Peter Schiller — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:40:50 +0000

: Image by mikeleeorg via Flickr

Friday Afternoon Edition

@ESPN_baseball: Dodgers’ legend Scully hospitalized overnight – http://tinyurl.com/yjmlhde & Sign him now, or Mauer talks could be tabled – http://tinyurl.com/yfs47yj
@mlbtraderumors: Twins Eyeing Heath Bell http://bit.ly/au0wAX #mlb & Heyman On Mauer, Beckett, Lowell http://bit.ly/b7OFgP #mlb
@robneyer: Yes, in two seasons Clayton Kershaw is just 13-13. On the other hand, today Clayton Kershaw turns just 22 years old. I’ll take him.
@alexspeier: Ortiz -mocked by the #pirates parrot during pre-game stretch- enacted revenge by smoking a 2R HR to right off LHP Maholm. #nopanic #redsox
@MLBHomeRun: Lowell Avoids Trade Talk, Works at First http://bit.ly/bfOj6A #MLB
@federalbaseball: federalbaseball.com. Washington Nationals: Future on Display – Stephen Strasburg And Bryce Harper?: … http://bit.ly/9nNjji
@WriteField: Arizona is One Possible Destination for Yanks’ Gaudin or Mitre: http://bit.ly/9nIZC1
@SlidingIntoHome: Sherman: Yanks “Almost Certain” to Trade Gaudin or Mitre http://bit.ly/aaS1Xo
@prorumors: New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Could they deal Gaudin or Mitre to Diamondbacks? http://goo.gl/fb/kOXU

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The Lineup, a New Original Series and Interactive Fantasy Game

Peter Schiller — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:25:33 +0000

“The Lineup: New York’s All-Time Best Baseball Players” will premiere on Tuesday, March 23 at 10:30 p.m. ET on MSG Network with “Catchers,” the first of ten weekly episodes. Each 30-minute episode of “The Lineup” will present a number of nominees for consideration at each position, from the Yankees, Mets, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers, with one episode dedicated to the best New York manager of all-time. MSG’s Fran Healy will host a panel, consisting of Hall of Fame Mets catcher Gary Carter, former Yankee bullpen ace Sparky Lyle, New York Magazine contributing editor and baseball aficionado Will Leitch, and executive vice president of the Elias Sports Bureau Steve Hirdt. The panel will whittle down a larger list of players from each position and determine the top five from each spot on the diamond. By the end of each episode, they will crown the top player at each position and name him to the official “Lineup” card.

With an interactive fantasy game launched in conjunction with the on-air program and hosted on MSG.com/lineup, viewers can see how they stack up against The Lineup's experts. Fans will try to predict the five players who will be nominated each week and ultimately who will be selected as the starter in the final “Lineup.” Participants will receive points for each correct pick and will be eligible for weekly prizes such as signed memorabilia from baseball greats like Don Mattingly, Joe Torre, Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter. At the end of the series, the participant with the most points will win a Grand Prize. The site will also feature chats for fans to interact and debate each position, quizzes about the nominated players, photo and video galleries, and player statistics for fans to comb through before making their picks.

The first episode of The Lineup airs on Tuesday, March 23rd at 10:30 p.m. ET on MSG Network, but you can already head over to MSG.com/lineup and make your picks for the best catcher in NY baseball history. Piazza? Posada? Yogi Berra?

The Lineup: New York’s All-Time Best Baseball Players – http://www.msg.com/lineup/

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Baseball News, Tweets & More: Thursday pm

Peter Schiller — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:08:23 +0000

: Image by mikeleeorg via Flickr

Thursday Afternoon Edition

@ mlbtraderumors: The 2012 Free Agent Class http://bit.ly/acVVLx #mlb & The New Market For Cuban Players http://bit.ly/cPfuwV #mlb & Rockies Interested In Joe Beimel http://bit.ly/94ZIli #mlb

@ JaneMLB: Rajai Davis injury isn't actually quad-related, as team originally announced, but rather tied to abdominal pain. #Athletics & Coco Crisp tells me he's close to return. Full story: http://bit.ly/aVnFxL #Athletics #mlb

@ keithlaw: I admit it: Right after ESPN extended my contract last year, I used RBI in a column. But just once. It'll never happen again. (Funny!)

@ MLB_Monster: Carmona continues to show ace potential: Carmona continues to show ace potential http://bit.ly/9UspC0 & Devine giving his elbow more rest (source: CBS News): Athletics RP Joey Devine, who is coming off Tommy John surge… http://bit.ly/8XLiDe & Bailey's injured elbow further thins bullpen (source: SF Gate): The A's believe their bullpen is among the best in… http://bit.ly/aD3Czy & Arroyo not quite himself Wednesday (source: CBS News): Reds SP Bronson Arroyo, who had pitched five scoreless innings… http://bit.ly/ccLuNA & Morales to replace Street for now (source: CBS News): The Denver Post reports that Rockies RP Franklin Morales wil… http://bit.ly/98tQHW & McCann raking this spring (source: CBS News): The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Braves C Brian McCann … http://bit.ly/cDIP8y

@ SI_JonHeyman : nicest team in baseball? gotta be #twins (mauer, nathan, o-dog, cuddyer, thome)

@ insidethepark : ESPN Insider: Ryan Rowland-Smith, Ian Snell worth watching in Seattle Mariners rotation http://bit.ly/bDJxaV

@ MLBHomeRun: Webb targets late-April return http://bit.ly/bRVhQk #MLB #Baseball & Spring stats could be eye-opener for some http://bit.ly/dqWHWN #MLB #baseball & M's Cliff Lee gets five game suspension http://bit.ly/aNT1Th #MLB (In Spring Training?!?!) & Votto gets defensive tips from Vizquel http://bit.ly/9oznsI #MLB #Baseball & Bradley ejected on Wednesday http://bit.ly/ccdAot #MLB & Towles and Castro competing to start at catcher http://bit.ly/cXSbmb #MLB

@ PitchersHit8th: Going to try to put together a post full of links to "learn sabermetrics" posts for the pre-season – what links should be on there?

@ detroit_tigers: How much longer does Jim Leyland want to manage Tigers? http://bit.ly/dptOVL & Tigers pitcher Nate Robertson learning to be crafty from Kenny Rogers, Frank Tanana http://bit.ly/dazlkD & Detroit Tigers option Armando Galarraga to Triple-A Toledo http://bit.ly/bxLodl

@ BattingStanceG: Why are people harping on Nate McLouth? He's hitting .360? That's grea…. oh wait, .036?…Nevermind. #braves #MLB (should fantasy owners be concerned?)

@ madfriars: MadFriars.com Exclusive: Jed Hoyer Q&A: How do you know when a player moves too fast? What is this ‘information ga… http://bit.ly/d1Wy8K

@ GaryArmidaFCP: RT @fullcountpitch: Yes, The Red Sox Can Still Hit http://bit.ly/9bemgX #redsox #MLB #fb (who ever doubted that?)

@ JimmyScott: Jason Grilli on his injury: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/364414-cleveland-indians-grilli-writes-next-chapter-on-overcoming-obstacles (by a friend, Todd Civin)

@ NYBD: New blog post: Why Mauer to Yanks Makes Sense for Both Sides http://kyrg5.th8.us & RT @HighCheese: Brad Lidge says he realizes an Opening Day return is unlikely at this point

@ sbnbaseball: Using Spray Charts to Examine Wrist Injuries: Last season Sky pointed out in this Fanshot that David Ortiz wa… http://bit.ly/9BiQgg

@ sabermetricsman: Have Red Sox Mastered the Art of Moneyball? http://bit.ly/diCXzz

@ prorumors: Albert Pujols Contract Rumors: Cardinals may not retain him if he wants to be highest paid http://goo.gl/fb/28ZX & Chicago Cubs Trade Rumors: Could they go after Yankees Gaudin or Mitre? http://goo.gl/fb/rldb & Joe Beimel rumors: Colorado Rockies interested in reliever http://goo.gl/fb/x6bH

@ SlidingIntoHome: Sign up for the brand new Sliding Into Home Message Board – http://slidingintohome.yuku.com/

@ sonsofsamhorn: #RedSox ml Post: Red Sox acquire Miguel Celestino from Mariners to complete Kotchman deal http://bit.ly/b7OGz4

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Announcing a New Baseball Book: Fifty-nine in ‘84

Peter Schiller — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:55:36 +0000

Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had

In 1884, Hall of Fame pitcher Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn won an astonishing 59 games, started 73 games and completed them all, and pitched more than 678 innings. Then he went out and won all three games of baseball's first World Series. This is the book about how he did it, day by day, the agony he
endured, the courage he showed, and about how wild and intense major-league baseball was in his day.

It's also about an off-beat and compelling character. Radbourn was the first man to be photographed flipping the bird. He was prickly, hungry for money, and jealous of his reputation. A relative said he drank a quart of whiskey a day. But he may have been the most dogged competitor in baseball history. The book is also about his affair with a married woman who ran a dubious boarding house in downtown Providence, and was said to personally know every man in the National League. Radbourn died of syphilis at 43.

I'm an editor with The Providence Journal, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Distinguished Commentary. The book has received incredible reviews, from baseball diehards, professional reviewers, baseball biographers like Larry Tye and Robert Creamer, and from some of America's best-selling historians,
including Pulitzer winners Joseph J. Ellis and Gordon S. Wood. It's already one of the best-selling baseball biographies and histories at amazon.com.

For more details, please see www.oldhoss.com

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br /&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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Baseball News, Tweets & More: Wednesday pm

Peter Schiller — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:52:34 +0000

Wednesday Afternoon Edition

@ ESPN_baseball: Josh Reddick's story – http://tinyurl.com/yh7qwxo (Red Sox OF prospect)

@ JCRMarlinsbeat: Florida Marlins: Josh Johnson told to watch his mouth; Derrick Turnbow done? http://goo.gl/fb/SONt

@ mlbtraderumors: Odds & Ends: Washburn, Michael Garciaparra, Byrd http://bit.ly/dnaj2k #mlb & White Sox Release Daniel Cabrera, Jason Botts http://bit.ly/bC07qJ #mlb & PRO Rumors: Michael Garciaparra, Corey Wade and Mike Lowell http://goo.gl/fb/zHVq & Dodgers send Eric Gagne to the Minors http://goo.gl/fb/axYA & Joe Mauer Trade Rumors: Yankees have an eye on catcher http://goo.gl/fb/JErZ & Nationals Interested In Jermaine Dye http://bit.ly/aZwVW8 #mlb

@ alexspeier (about Red Sox top prospect 19-year old OF Ryan Westmoreland): Sox prospect and cancer survivor Rizzo: 'I knew what to expect. With him, no one knows any details on how he’s going to come out.' BUT Initial indications from a team source, according to ESPN.com, are that surgery went well, but it will be a few days before a full prognosis. More of Rizzo's comments on Westmoreland – whom he considers a good friend – are here: http://bit.ly/a5ADX2 #redsox & #redsox say Ryan Westmoreland surgery 'successful,' but that he faces 'difficult period' prior to recovery: http://bit.ly/bbYWQD

@ MLB_Monster: Nationals cut OF Dukes in surprise move (AP): Outfielder Elijah Dukes has been released by the Washington National… http://bit.ly/ajUjao

@ JaneMLB: Wuertz (shoulder) won't throw in intrasquad game today as originally planned, but there's a "chance for tomorrow," Geren says. #Athletics & Bailey not throwing for 5-7 days w lateral epicondylitis. Breslow out 3-4 days w medial tendinitis. In English, both have elbow soreness.

@ hyphen18 (aka Ryan Rowland-Smith, Seattle Mariners Pitcher): RT @LookoutLanding: Apparently there has been so much demand that the M's are thinking about making and selling those Hyphen shirts

@ GrillCheese49 (aka Cleveland Indians Relief Pitcher, Jason Grilli): If this kid isnt inspiring then I dont know who is: Lets help him raise more than his $200 goal! http://www.elliotmast.blogspot.com/

@ MattAntonelli9: ONLINE INTERVIEW http://bit.ly/dtORF7

@ detroit_tigers: Tigers rookies Austin Jackson, Scott Sizemore have passed the test http://bit.ly/cwTsrj

@ JimmyScott: Did you listen to Part 1 of the interview with Gorman Thomas? http://www.jimmyscottshighandtight.com/node/1068 C'mon. He'll complete you.

@ sbnbaseball: New York Yankee notes: Big day for Joba: After all the arguing, all the back-and-forth between starting and reliev… http://bit.ly/degNqI

@ sabermetricsman: Nolan Ryan and pitch-count freedom http://bit.ly/auOTdL

@ NYBD: New blog post: Maybe the Mets Should Trade for Sonnanstine http://cq39x.th8.us BUT what do you think?

@ GaryArmidaFCP: Love that the Nats released Elijah Dukes. Don't know the whole story yet, but times are changing in DC with Mike Rizzo. #nationals #MLB http://bit.ly/bOxQLd & Working on a #redsox article for tomorrow and it struck me how underrated JD Drew is as a hitter. #MLB I mean, really, is it b/c of the draft holdout and Bizzinger's book that JD Drew isn't looked at as an elite hitter? @rudyjuly2 True, but lifetime .283/.392/.504 is outstanding. 7 seasons of .390+ OBP. Not a star, but damn close. Injuries kill his case.

@ HOVG: It's time to catch up with the 2010 AL East Milestones, gang! http://ow.ly/1ndTH #redsox #yankees #rays #bluejays #orioles #mlb #sblog

@ MLBHomeRun: Rockies' closer Street to undergo shoulder MRI http://bit.ly/bFL3pM #MLB & Rangers manager Ron Washington failed drug test for cocaine http://bit.ly/ae8Rmw #MLB WHAT?!!

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Nats Fans Beware: The Strasburg Effect

Peter Schiller — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:39:34 +0000

Nats Fans Beware: Too much of a good thing can be bad for your health. Here's what can happen when watching future Nats Ace Stephen Strasburg battle back from a 3-0 count to strike a batter out!

The first time around shows Strasburg's last three pitches (all strikes) & you have to look hard in order to see the incontrollable response of a rabid Nats fan.

This next shot is a zoomed in look at that last strike

Last, is a freeze frame of the fan in question, fist to head!

wp-image-2813" height="225" src="http://baseballreflections.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/StrasburgFreezeFrame-300x225.jpg" title="StrasburgFreezeFrame" width="300" />

Beware: this could happen to you! Nats fans just aren't use to this type of quality player in recent years!

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Baseball News, Tweets & More, Tuesday pm

Peter Schiller — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:03:07 +0000

: Image by mikeleeorg via Flickr

Tuesday Afternoon Edition

From yesterday @MLB_Monster: Mets’ K-Rod perfect in spring debut (AP): St. Louis starter Brad Penny absorbed a line drive off his pitching elbo… http://bit.ly/cV9xIn & Mariners lefty Lee ejected for throwing at Snyder (source: SI.com): TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Seattle Mariners ace Cli… http://bit.ly/cWsb5j & filed under OUCH!… A’s Sheets allows 10 runs, gets no outs (AP): Ben Sheets was battered for 10 runs without retiring a batter in his… http://bit.ly/bTF5bm

@MLB: If you’ve missed a 30/30 episode on @MLBNetwork, catch up at http://bit.ly/c4cylw – thanks @trenni #MLB … that’s 30 teams in 30 days… & Peter Gammons of MLB.com sends Postcards from the Road http://is.gd/aJjPi #MLB

@ESPN_baseball: Throwing darts at fielding stats – http://tinyurl.com/yzu2cum What do you think about what they’re saying? & in the category of sign him or trade him already…A debate on how long San Diego keeps A-Gon – http://tinyurl.com/yk249ep & Podcast: Rob Neyer – http://tinyurl.com/ylefp7o

@PeteAbe: New blog post: Big Papi makes a big promise – David Ortiz was not worried when he was 1 for 19, saying spring train… http://ow.ly/16OkL8

VERY interesting if you ask me! @mlbtraderumors: Marlins Interested In Mike Lowell? http://bit.ly/9yEYhJ #mlb & Smoltz Lands TBS Job http://bit.ly/cEz3rU #mlb

@alexspeier: Though #redsox optioned Jose Iglesias to Double-A, they still haven’t decided if he’ll start ‘10 in Hi-A or Double-A http://bit.ly/bCuM42

@sabr: From the BB Research Journal archive, great article asks: can we find another Babe if we don’t let pitchers hit? http://tinyurl.com/ygjw5hh

@JCRMarlinsbeat: Mike Stanton did not make the trip to Lake Buena Vista as scheduled because of a sore elbow. #Marlins. Although I expect to see Stanton in the majors sometime in 2010 no matter where he starts the season!

@GlobeMazz: Mazz blog: Catching up on the catchers, and more – http://b.globe.com/9GfrU8 That The Boston Globe for those of you that were unsure…

From yesterday…@HOVG: Former MLB All-Star opens up regarding steroids, “greenies” and other drugs in baseball. http://ow.ly/1ll11 #mlb #astros #sblog

@MLBHomeRun: Red Sox infielder Jed Lowrie tests out OK after medical scare http://bit.ly/94rWQd #MLB #baseball

@sbnbaseball : Godspeed, Ryan: Good luck. You’ve got our thoughts and prayers today. http://bit.ly/aDqmOx & Craig Calcaterra on the Ranger Sale Situation: More photos » … http://bit.ly/9hlX5J & another one… Mariners Release 2010 Commercials: I haven’t watched them yet, but here’s your link to the five spots, and here’s … http://bit.ly/dBYmK9

And from Baseball Reflections’ favorite umpire…@perrybarber: Part II of my absorbing conversation with Joe Magennis for baseballisms.com: http://shar.es/moQpm

@sabermetricsman: THE BOOK–Playing The Percentages In Baseball http://bit.ly/cMB09A

@immortalkid (aka Fire Brand of the AL): Tim Wakefield returns to the bullpen http://bit.ly/cUFxkc

@FenwayNation: Is Josh Reddick Ready For The Show? http://ow.ly/1n0w4

@federalbaseball: From an MLB.com article by Peter Gammons: “The Nationals have been looking for another veter… http://bit.ly/dAVdcK

@jorgesaysno: *New Post* Carlos Pena’s Love for Tampa: Once again, Carlos Pena professes his love for the Rays and his desire to… http://bit.ly/bjlTsQ

BBA Pres. Promoting the organization…@C70: And then join the #BBBA. RT @injuryexpert: I don’t understand why people want a forum at BP. You want to write, start a blog.

@SlidingIntoHome: What will Jeter’s extension cost the Yankees? http://bit.ly/aAqfLc …my questions are, what would you pay & what’s he worth to you?

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The Oendan: The Japanese Baseball Fan Club

Susan Hamaker — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:01:34 +0000

“What I was amazed, bewildered, and never, never surprised at was the love that the Japanese people have for the game of baseball. It’s mindboggling. It’s not to be understood . . . in a normal way. It’s abnormal.”

When Bobby Valentine made the above remark about Japanese baseball fans at an event at New York’s Japan Society in January, I knew exactly what he meant. My first experience with Japanese baseball was in 2004, when I went to Tokyo as a member of the television crew that broadcast four Yankees games. I’d heard that the crowds in Japan were crazy, but I didn’t see much evidence of that during New York’s exhibition games with the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers. There were pockets of fans cheering for then Yankee and former Giants star Hideki Matsui, but overall everyone seemed somewhat subdued.

It wasn’t until 2008, when I had the opportunity to see eight baseball games in Japan, that I saw Japanese fans in action. The Japanese baseball fan club, known as oendan, is probably one of the most fascinating things about Japanese baseball. Obviously, fans are all over the stadium, but the oendan – an organized, fee-based group that consists of brass bands, drummers, flag wavers, and cheer chanters – has its own section in the bleachers. Even the away team’s oendan has a designated section.

Clad in happi coats and armed with noisemakers, members of a team’s oendan follow the game and wave flags and yell specific cheers for each player. In a way, life in an oendan is much like life as a salaryman: Set up with rules that are carried out in an orderly fashion. Only with more yelling and singing. The fans sing their team’s fight song during the Japanese version of the 7^th inning stretch. They used to release the balloons that they spent the previous inning blowing up, but that practice ended last season due to H1N1 concerns.

Not only did the oendan prompt Bobby V. to discuss it at a lecture, it inspired Robert Whiting to devote a chapter to the phenomenon in his book You Gotta Have Wa.

The Japanese are known for being a reserved group of polite workaholics. However, once one of them is seated in the bleachers with the rest of the oendan, Whiting writes, “he quickly sheds his traditional restraint. Spurred on by energetic cheerleaders, and the pounding rhythm of taiko drums, horns, whistles, and other noisemakers, he becomes a veritable wildman, yelling and screaming nonstop for nine solid innings.”

I work Yankees games, so I know crazy fans, but Japanese fans are different. The oendan provides organized fanaticism, cheering on the good guys without insulting the other team. Watching the fans is almost as much fun as watching the games. As Bobby V. says of the oendan, “It’s wonderful; it’s what I call one of the great national resources that Japan has.”

For whom is this great national resource cheering? I’ll have a rundown of Japanese teams in next month’s column.

Last month I promised I’d talk about Japanese stadium food – which is amazing – but ran out of room this month. If you’d like to read about baseball fare in Japan, please check out my article in The Japanese Food Report.

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Baseball News, Tweets & More: Monday pm

Peter Schiller — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:13:00 +0000

: Image by mikeleeorg via Flickr

Monday Afternoon Edition

This one is BIG scary news for the Red Sox…@PeteAbe: In today’s Globe: Concern evident for Sox’ Westmoreland – http://b.globe.com/bOw5Ya

@alexspeier: Ellsbury trying to become 1st AL LF since ‘81 to win Gold Glove. Ellsbury ‘not losing any sleep’ about UZR +/-. http://bit.ly/b8kDK0 #redsox

@PeteAbe: New blog post: Thanks for coming, kid – Terry Francona had to send 12 players down to the minor league camp this mo… http://ow.ly/16NSwh & New blog post: Lowrie out with mystery illness – Jed Lowrie has not been with the team since Thursday because of an… http://ow.ly/16NMqP

@mlbtraderumors: Discussion: Is A Howard-Pujols Swap Realistic? http://bit.ly/bvuv2H #mlb & Mauer Talks Still Progressing http://bit.ly/cU7o71 #mlb

@prorumors: Arizona Diamondbacks and Kris Benson agree to a Minor League contract http://goo.gl/fb/yUGx; Washington Nationals release LHP Ron Villone http://goo.gl/fb/hi5F; This makes a whole lotta sense: Ty Wigginton Trade Rumors: Could the Orioles trade Wigginton? http://goo.gl/fb/iEIf & Johnny Damon Rumors: Wanted to take a year off from the AL East http://bit.ly/ba07WW #tigers #rays #yankees (Right!)

@MLBHomeRun: Dodgers send Gagne packing for the minors http://bit.ly/cuT8JZ #MLB

@SI_JonHeyman: mark reynolds $: 500 grand in ‘10, $1 mil sign bonus, $5 mil in ‘11, $7.5 mil in ‘12, 500 grand buyout on $11 mil option in ‘13

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