July 14, 2005: Is the Dominican
Team Doomed?
By Ahchie
The
Dominican team may be doomed to fail next Spring. Alex Rodriguez, a.k.a. The
Cooler, has decided that he wants to be known as a Dominican now and he
wants to play for their team in next year’s World Classic. If he
gets his wish, The Cooler will prevent the Dominicans from winning it all.
It happened in Seattle, it happened in Texas, and it is happening now in New
York.
The funniest part of A-Rod’s comments is his statement, "I want to say it out loud: I am Dominican." That statement gives the impression that his perception is that people might be embarrassed to say they are Dominican, but he is making it clear that he is not embarrassed. It is as if he is coming out of the closet with his heritage. His statement leads us to believe that there is some type of social stigma with being Dominican. Big Papi, Pedro, Tejada, Sosa, and all other Dominicans have never even shown the slightest hesitation to show their flag and hype the Dominican Republic, yet The Cooler makes a point of saying that he is choosing to embrace his heritage without embarrassment. I wonder how the ones who were actually born in the Dominican Republic feel about someone born in New York identifying with them. I imagine his childhood was a whole lot different and a whole lot more comfortable.
Ultimately, the only reason The Cooler is trying to join the Dominican team is because he knows that the team is loaded. With David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Miguel Tejada, Vladimir Guerrero, Pedro Martinez, and others, the Dominican team is sure to have a solid chance to win, especially if U.S. born players follow Gary Sheffield’s selfish lead and decline to participate.
The
Cooler’s decision raises the question of how athletes who are born in
the United States choose which country they play for in international competition.
The problem is that, except for the Indians from whom we so cruelly stole
this land, everyone here in the United States has heritage from another country.
In an international wiffle competition you would not see members of the BMTG
Big Four branch off to play for other countries, even though The Diesel could
play for Sweden, Throcksmorton could play for Italy, and the Ukraine Brothers
could play for either Ukraine or Ireland. No, each member of the Big Four
would be on the United States team. The simplest way to look at it would be
to say that if you are born in the United States, then you represent the United
States.
During the All Star game Rodriguez said, "I am going to play for the Dominican Republic, and I am going to make the Dominicans feel proud." The thing is, the Dominicans already feel proud. They don’t need him to come to their rescue. Just one look at how they are thriving in the major leagues is enough to see that they are a dominant force with or without him. And the way The Cooler’s teams perform once he joins them may make the Dominican born Dominicans not want him on their team.
A-Rod also said, "We will have a great team, and we will try to win the title so that all the Dominican people will feel proud of their ballplayers and of their own nationality." Again he is indicating a need for Dominicans to feel proud of their nationality. And again the question is, since when are Dominicans ashamed of their nationality? And since when does he feel that he needs to be their savior?
Alex
Rodriguez has had numerous opportunities to say that he is Dominican, but
has chosen not to do so. When he made his decision to try to join the Dominican
team he should have said, "While both my parents are Dominican, I felt
no need to call attention to that fact, because I was raised in the United
States and it was of no benefit to me. But seeing how much fun the Latin American
players had with each other during the Home Run derby has led me to re-evaluate
my heritage. I now feel that it is time to exploit the fact that my parents
are from the Dominican Republic, because their team, which will compete in
the 2006 World Classic, will be super-duper. Not only will I be the lightest
skinned member of my team, I will also be the richest, which will allow me
to relate with my people. By the way, women love me and I am among the 50
most beautiful people in the world. I lift weights at the clubhouse six days
a week to keep myself in tip-top shape and I pamper myself like a movie star.
I am a little bit like Patrick Bateman, in that I wash my face with Clinique
soap, get my hair cut every 10 days and indulge in a monthly manicure and
pedicure. And nothing stands between me and my four-times-daily flossing routine.
I’m big into teeth."
And what about The Cooler’s childhood? To be fair, he did not grow up as a rich kid, despite the arrogant way he carries himself. He was born in New York and around the age of four his family moved to the Dominican Republic for about four years until they settled in Florida. The father left the family when Rodriguez was nine and Alex grew up in Florida, raised by his mother. The mother worked two jobs and The Cooler went to private school. So, while he did not grow up in luxury and saw his share of difficult days, he certainly did not grow up in the kind of poverty familiar to Miguel Tejada and others who were born in the Dominican Republic and other Latin countries. For many of these Latin players, playing baseball is seen as their only chance to escape from a life of poverty. A quick look at the numbers from the CIA Factbook confirms what we already know. 25% of the population in the Dominican Republic live below the poverty line, compared to 12% in the U.S. The infant mortality rate in the Dominican Republic is 32.38 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to 6.5 per 1,000 in the United States. The unemployment rate in the Dominican Republic is 17%, compared to 5.5% in the U.S. The plain and simple truth is that those growing up in the United States will have far more opportunities than those growing up in the Dominican Republic.
The Cooler’s inspiring declaration of his heritage has led the BMTG to do a little research into some of the demographics of major league ballplayers.
Of the 58 players who played in this year’s All Star game, 9 were born in the Dominican Republic. 12 were born in countries other than the United States and the Dominican Republic, including 4 from Venezuela, 3 from Puerto Rico, and 2 from Panama. There were 37 United States born players, including a large contingent (12) from California. The list of 37 U.S. players includes Alex Rodriguez.
After looking at the numbers, it is clear that California could have its own team. Just from the All Stars, California would have Jon Garland and Dontrelle Willis as starting pitchers, Brad Lidge and Chad Cordero as closers, along with Derrek Lee at first, Jeff Kent at second, Michael Young at short, Garrett Anderson in left, and Jim Edmonds in center. Backing them up would be Jimmy Rollins at short, and Morgan Ensberg and Mike Sweeney at first. Non All Stars this year that could make a big impact on an all California team include, among others, Barry Bonds, Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby, Mark Prior, Hank Blalock, C.C. Sabathia, Phil Nevin, Brian Giles, Nomar Garciaparra, Troy Glaus, and Trevor Hoffman.
This
year’s All Stars from the Dominican Republic are Albert Pujols and David
Ortiz at first, Alfonso Soriano and Luis Castillo at second, Miguel Tejada
at short, Aramis Ramirez at third, Manny Ramirez in left, Vladimir Guerrero
in right, and Bartolo Colon on the mound. Dominican born Dominicans who did
not play in the All Star game include, among others, Pedro Martinez, Sammy
Sosa, Adrian Beltre, Yhency Brazoban, Wily Mo Pena, Jose Guillen, Odalis Perez,
Guillermo Mota, and Rafael Furcal.
Of the approximately 339 foreign born players who appeared on a major league roster in 2004, about 127 were born in the Dominican Republic. The big three sources of foreign-born players were the Dominican Republic (127), Venezuela (66) and Puerto Rico (46). All other countries combined for just 89 (including 23 from Mexico and 18 from Canada).
The point, if there actually is one, is that the Dominican Republic is already a dominant force internationally and plays a huge role in Major League Baseball. The United States still has an abundance of talent and could easily field a highly competitive team formed only of players born in California. Even though he is a phenomenal talent, both teams could get along fine without The Cooler and the BMTG doesn’t really care what team he ends up playing for. What the BMTG does not like is the disingenuousness of A-Rod’s comments and the arrogance with which he carries himself. In reality, Alex Rodriguez is quite possibly a really great guy who would do anything for a friend in need, or he could be an arrogant a-hole who enjoys looking at himself in the mirror a little too much. Perhaps he is just misunderstood. Like it is with so many people in the spotlight, we really don’t know the real person behind the public persona, but his comments, as well as the way he handles himself, can speak volumes.
In the end, as it was later revealed, Mr. Rodriguez will not get to choose which team he represents (link). It will be up to the commissioner, who will most likely find a new and unique way to screw it up. It also appears that Rodriguez’s spokesman is backtracking a bit on the comments made during the All Star game. It looks like The Cooler will now be content to play both sides of the fence and even though Rodriguez specifically said “I am Dominican,” his spokesman says that Rodriguez “considers himself an American.”
July 12: Sheffield won't play in 'something that's made up'
Gary
Sheffield wants nothing to do with the World Baseball Classic.
Several major league players spoke of the honor they would feel to represent their countries in baseball's first World Cup-style tournament when the groups for the event were unveiled Monday.
Sheffield was not among them.
The Yankees right fielder told reporters at the All-Star festivities in Detroit on Monday there was no chance he would participate in the event scheduled for March.
"My season is when I get paid," Sheffield told the New York Daily News. "I'm not doing that. ... I'm not sacrificing my body or taking a chance on an injury for something that's made up."
"A lot of guys feel that way. They won't say it like I will, though," he added.
Unlike Sheffield, Miguel Tejada (Dominican Republic) and Dontrelle Willis (United States) were among several players to come out in support of the tournament at press conferences Monday.
"I just hope I make the team," Willis said jokingly.
Tejada said fans back home would look forward to the event, which baseball hopes will be played a second time in 2009.
"They're going to be really excited to see all the players on one team," he said.
The 16-nation, 18-day event opens March 3 in Tokyo or Taiwan, where Group A will include Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China.
The United States will be in Group B, which starts play March 8 along with the other groups and will be based in the United States.
Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama and the Netherlands are in Group C, which will be in Latin America, and the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy are in Group D, which will be based in Florida.
Major League Baseball has spent more than a decade discussing the tournament and hopes the event will gain in prestige, such as soccer's World Cup.
Sheffield didn't hold playing in the World Baseball Classic in the same high esteem as playing in the Olympics.
"This isn't the Olympics," he told the Daily News. "That's a big difference. This is something you made up."
The International Olympic Committee voted last week to kick baseball out of the Olympics following the 2008 Beijing Games.
Sheffield, who has been outspoken this season on other topics as well, including deferred money in his contract and the possibility of being traded, attributed some of his negative feelings about the Classic to the risk of being injured during the event -- which would take players away from their MLB teams during spring training.
"A lot of guys say, 'Give it a shot, give it a try,'" Sheffield told the Daily News. "But I don't think so."
The Diesel's Take on Sheffield's Latest
Many times people who say they are just being honest are really just too ignorant or crass to phrase their beliefs in a more appropriate manner. They are simply loudmouths. When these loudmouths profess to speak on behalf of others, they are doing so to lend credence to their beliefs and not for their concern of the silent majority. Sheffield's act is tiresome and can no longer be discounted due to his youth, team ownership, unfair managers, or bad teammates. If the game can promote itself better with the tournament he should be supportive of that. Instead, he comes off as a guy who would hate any idea, regardless of its merit, that requires him to quit acting like a thug and use common sense. It would be unfortunate if Sheffield was chosen to represent the United States in the tournament as he has done a poor job just representing himself.
Other Sheffield Moments:
April 22, 2005: Sheffield Plays the Victim
June 30, 2005: Gary Sheffield's Big Mouth
DETROIT -- Alex Rodriguez feels determined to help the Dominican Republic play a key role in baseball's first World Classic, which will take place in March.
That's why the Yankees third baseman has already decided which country he will represent in the most important international event in baseball's history.
"I am going to play for the Dominican Republic, and I am going to make the Dominicans feel proud," Rodriguez said during the All-Star Game.
"I want to say it out loud: I am Dominican," added Rodriguez.
Major League Baseball, the Players Union and the International Baseball Federation have already announced baseball's first World Classic on Monday, with 16 countries slated to participate.
Rodriguez is one of the many baseball players who has dual citizenship and has the choice of representing the country he prefers.
Rodriguez is son of Dominican parents, but was born in New York. Along with other Dominican players born in the U.S., Rodriguez could play for the United States if so chooses.
"I am Dominican, and that's the flag I will represent in the World Classic," said Rodriguez. "We will have a great team, and we will try to win the title so that all the Dominican people will feel proud of their ballplayers and of their own nationality," he said.
The Dominican Republic will share Pool D, which will play the first round in Florida, with Australia, Venezuela and Italy. The two best teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
The Yankees third baseman was one of the five Dominican players to occupy successive places in the batting order for the American League lineup at the All-Star Game. Rodriguez batted second, a place he has been comfortable with during his last two seasons with the Yankees.
David Ortiz, the designated hitter, was the third player in the batting order, leftfielder Manny Ramirez was the cleanup, shortstop and eventual MVP Miguel Tejada was fifth and outfielder Vladimir Guerrero was sixth.
"Our country is a baseball power. With players like Miguel Tejada, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and others, we are going to keep the Dominican flag at the top," concluded A-Rod.
After saying he'll be playing for the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic, it appears that Alex Rodriguez doesn't have a say in choice of teams.
Shortly after Rodriguez told ESPNdeportes.com that he would "make the Dominicans feel proud," Bud Selig told Rodriguez that it's a commissioner's decision, Newsday reported.
"It's too early in the process for these type of decisions to be made," Rodriguez's spokesman, Steve Fortunato, told the paper. "First, he has to be selected to be a part of it. Then he has to decide if he wants to play, or if he will be allowed to play. Then he will be told what country to play for."
Rodriguez, who carries a U.S. passport and considers himself an American, was born in the United States, but has parents of Dominican descent, Fortunato told the paper.
Selig did not indicate what his decision would be, but when MLB came to Rodriguez about particpating the home run derby, baseball asked him to represent the United States.
"He would be happy to represent either," Fortunato told Newsday. "Alex is content to let the commissioner decide."