03/14/2010 02:01:59 PM EST

Dominicans in baseball

posted by hazmat

I was listening to the thursday show and Ana and Cenk's discussion of Torii Hunter's comments about "imposter" players from the Dominican republic. It reminded me of the movie "Sugar" about the short and illustrious career of a dominican pitcher. I would never have seen this film if Ben Mankiewicz hadn't recommended it as one of the best films of 2009 in one of his guest appearances on the show. One of the comments he made was that this film would make you think you loved baseball afterward even if in real life you detest it. I couldn't help but wonder if Cenk or Ana's opinions on this episode would be completely opposite, and maybe even sympathetic to Torii Hunter if they had seen this movie.

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Basically, it turns out in real life that recruitment of Dominican players has increased pressure and competition on Americans, and they do get paid about a bag of chips. They come out of these baseball factories that groom players for play in the major leagues. Baseball isn't a significant cultural phenomenon there outside of these semi-pro leagues. I'm not knocking it--hey--its capitalism. But unlike here, kids in the DR don't practice for love of the game, they play for the promise of a one-way trip to America and a big payday. Its not really out-sourcing, its insourcing--importing cheap labor. Any thoughts?

p.s. I couldn't find the segment on youtube where Ben discusses "Sugar" to post with this blog, but if you can, please post it.

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Dominicans in baseball | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
baseball (none / 0)
Obviously Cenk named off the top players who make big bucks but I think the lesser known players are not as aware of what their salary should be until they have been in the league a few years. I do not know baseball that much as since I find it the most boring thing ever to watch and even playing isn't that fun but I would assume they can get these pitchers for really cheap from Dominican, puerto rico etc. and just gt them on a small contract for a couple of years and just wear them out by over playing them. I am not sure if this actually happens but that is the only thing I can think of why they would go for these guys over american talent.

by ilockitdown on 03/14/2010 02:53:40 PM EST

yes (none / 0)
Cenk cited a couple of modern day players that make pretty good money. I'm all for it, for dominicans in the major leagues. That's not what Torii Hunter was whining about. (He was whining, in my opinion). But listening to the segment on TYT, Cenk made it sound like Hunter was coming from another planet.

Roberto Clemente was one of my heros growing up. Small correction: he was from Puerto Rico. I'll check out the documentary anyway. Anyone interested can watch it here.

by hazmat on 03/14/2010 03:13:39 PM EST

"First Carribean player" (none / 0)
Sure, okay. I'm not german by the way, I just speak the language. And not very well any more. You crack me up.

by hazmat on 03/16/2010 01:00:54 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Dominicans and baseball (none / 0)
Dominicans have been playing baseball for the US for far too long that they are now an issue. Farm teams or not, they are not an issue. Check your baseball Hall of Fame as far back as the 1970s.

You have to remember that the rest of the planet plays soccer. In America, we play American sports, baseball being one of them. We own it. We also own football the Brits play Rugby. The Canadians own hockey, though. LOL.

The farm teams are very competitive. When someone comes out of there, they can play. As for the bag of chips, you can anyone playing professional sports how much they make  when they make the cut or graduate from the farm team.

As for love of the sport, I already told you. Dominicans have been in the Baseball Hall of Fame for a long time (the Alou Brothers, for instance). 

Another sport Dominicans love is basketball, but they are not as tall as the Cuban players. Some did get to play pro--In Spain. LOL.

by motelcalifornia on 03/15/2010 09:05:11 PM EST

I agree with Hunter. (none / 0)
First, let me state that Torii Hunter is probably the most underrated player in baseball. Defensively he is undoubtedly the best centerfielder in the game -- even at his "old" age of mid thirties. He makes the plays that Ken Griffey, Jr. made when he was in his prime, but unfortunately he doesn't have nearly the same offensive numbers.

When I read your "impostor" comment-- without description-- I immediately researched it further because I thought that I knew instantly what he was saying. My assumption was right, and I agree with him. Where the hell are the AMERICAN blacks in baseball, and why the hell is there a revolving door of central and south Americans who are as talented as American blacks and whites? As Cenk would say, "the moooonneeeeyyy, Lebowski!"

But of course Selig will force him to apologize for his factual statement soon.

by FlaccidMember on 03/16/2010 01:49:03 AM EST

American blacks (none / 0)
I think its probably unwise to assume that Dominicans are replacing American blacks, but now that you mention it I think that this was implied during the movie I mentioned in my post, and was certainly implied by Torii Hunter in his comments. The fact that there are so few american blacks in baseball is due to lack of interest in the black community, not outsourcing to dominicans. Its absurd on its face when you think about it, but I guess its natural for people to jump to that conclusion, because its just the way our brains work. Dominicans are a cheap source of labor that compete with ALL domestic baseball players, regardless of skin color. I bet that they have two effects: 1) its harder for domestic players to get into the majors and 2) those that do make it have higher salaries than they would if second-tier players were all American. An alternative possibility is that the Dominican (and other imports) players suppress wages. It would be interesting to hear from an economist about this. Ironically, if my theory is correct, Torii Hunter ought to shut his trap and hope for more Dominicans.

by hazmat on 03/16/2010 12:06:51 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Dominicans in baseball | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 hidden)
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