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Why HIM?

MFS62 Mar 23 2016 03:18 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 23 2016 03:33 AM

By now you've read that there was an exhibition baseball game played between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team. It was attended by Presidents Obama and Castro. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ear ... -the-wave/ There was a heartwarming side story about a Cuban-born minor leaguer who was reunited with his family. But, accompanying the Major League team were Joe Torre (ok, he works in the MLB office), Jose Cardenal (ok, he was born in Cuba) and Derek f'n Jeter!!! He said he was there because he "had played with a lot of Cuban ballplayers". Well, so did every other player from that era. So why was he there? I'm guessing it was because the ballpark in Cuba was the only stadium in the Western Hemisphere he didn't visit during his year long [crossout]fellatiation[/crossout] retirement tour and he was afraid he missed out on some gifts. What ever happened to Yankee Go Home? Later I love it when I have a chance to take a swipe at Jeter.

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2016 03:32 AM Re: Why HIM?

It was Tampa Bay, not Blue Jays... The real question is does Derek's room have an adjoining door to Señor Torres' luxury suite? Who's on top is none of our beeswax.

MFS62 Mar 23 2016 03:32 AM Re: Why HIM?

Fixed, thanks. Later

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2016 03:33 AM Re: Why HIM?

Wow, fast!

MFS62 Mar 23 2016 03:43 AM Re: Why HIM?

d'Kong76 wrote: Wow, fast! LOL! I drink coffee to stay awake during the drive home from work and I guess it was still kicking in. Later

Edgy MD Mar 23 2016 03:44 AM Re: Why HIM?

I'm guessing because when the face of the game retires, he is invited to act as a semi-official ambassador for the game.

MFS62 Mar 23 2016 03:50 AM Re: Why HIM?

Edgy MD wrote: I'm guessing because when the face of the game retires, he is invited to act as a semi-official ambassador for the game. Of course you're right. You thought my "guess" was serious? Anyhow - The thought of him now becoming the face of the game emeritus gives me the urge to regurge. Later

cooby classic Mar 23 2016 12:55 PM Re: Why HIM?

I saw part of that game. Nice story of some players touring Havana and talking to people.

Lefty Specialist Mar 23 2016 01:12 PM Re: Why HIM?

Well, Derek Jeter IS a well-known Communist sympathizer.

Frayed Knot Mar 23 2016 01:46 PM Re: Why HIM?

cooby wrote: Nice story of some players touring Havana and talking to [crossout]people[/crossout] those permitted by the government to be out where the players were. Dave Winfield appeared to be the other (in addition to Jeter) ex-player who was a guest at the game despite no connections to Cuba or currently employed within MLB (Torre, Tony Clark).

Edgy MD Mar 23 2016 02:03 PM Re: Why HIM?

Winnie's got some tough mixed interests working for both MLB (as an ambassador, going back to 2007, when he participated in the Ghana trip) and for the MLBPA (as a special assistant to Tony Clark).

Frayed Knot Mar 23 2016 02:14 PM Re: Why HIM?

Didn't realize that DW was working with Clark.

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2016 02:27 PM Re: Why HIM?

Edgy MD wrote: I'm guessing because when the face of the game retires, he is invited to act as a semi-official ambassador for the game. He never was and certainly still isn't the face of my game.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 23 2016 02:41 PM Re: Why HIM?

Me neither, but there's no denying his celebrity. He's definitely been good at cultivating a particular image, and a lot of people have bought into it.

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2016 02:51 PM Re: Why HIM?

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Me neither, but there's no denying his celebrity. He's definitely been good at cultivating a particular image, and a lot of people have bought into it. Agreed, but for that was a large part of the yuck for me. I'm surprised he hasn't been Gretsky'd into the HOF already. But enough about him. How long before there's an expansion team in Cuba?

Frayed Knot Mar 23 2016 02:52 PM Re: Why HIM?

ESPN televised the game, so perhaps in return for giving face time to Obama and Manfred, they requested that a baseball player be present that their anchors would actually recognize.

Edgy MD Mar 23 2016 02:58 PM Re: Why HIM?

d'Kong76 wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Me neither, but there's no denying his celebrity. He's definitely been good at cultivating a particular image, and a lot of people have bought into it. Agreed, but for that was a large part of the yuck for me. I'm surprised he hasn't been Gretsky'd into the HOF already. But enough about him. How long before there's an expansion team in Cuba? I'm guessing it's a while. As popular as baseball is in Puerto Rico, MLB has only daytripped there. MLB doesn't want to place their franchises where the baseball fans are, but where the Monet is.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 23 2016 03:03 PM Re: Why HIM?

And I think they'd want a politically stable country. They'd be rightfully reluctant to put a team in Havana when there's no telling what will happen after the Castros die off. Will things get better? Or worse? There could be a lot of turbulence ahead.

Ceetar Mar 23 2016 03:15 PM Re: Why HIM?

yeah, MLB is definitely aiming more towards the pillage the Cuban teams for players and bring them here rather than go there.

Frayed Knot Mar 23 2016 04:50 PM Re: Why HIM?

Edgy MD wrote: d'Kong76 wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Me neither, but there's no denying his celebrity. He's definitely been good at cultivating a particular image, and a lot of people have bought into it. Agreed, but for that was a large part of the yuck for me. I'm surprised he hasn't been Gretsky'd into the HOF already. But enough about him. How long before there's an expansion team in Cuba? I'm guessing it's a while. A very long while. I think MLB would like to do additional exhibitions there in the future, but that's probably about the extent of it until a lot of things change. I mean even if the embargo ends tomorrow that country is still a very long way from being an open and free nation. The Cuban head of baseball (or whatever his title is) was being interviewed by ESPN's bi-lingual Pedro Gomez yesterday, and the official is saying how nice it would be for a future where players would not to have to risk their lives, abandon their families, or renounce their citizenship in order to play where they choose -- as if his country isn't the only one which dictates such terms. So yeah, until you know what kind of economy or political stability is going to exist there in the future, the occasional "friendly" is about the most we're going to see.

d'Kong76 Mar 23 2016 05:33 PM Re: Why HIM?

I don't think that a decade from now is out of the question. I think the winds of change (sorry) are in motion and once things get going there will be no turning back and freedom will ring (sorry again). Commonwealth of Cuba has a nice ring to it. haha

Frayed Knot Mar 24 2016 04:39 PM Re: Why HIM?

d'Kong76 wrote: I don't think that a decade from now is out of the question. I'll take the 'Over' on that.

Lefty Specialist Mar 24 2016 08:30 PM Re: Why HIM?

Not happening for decades, if ever. There wouldn't be any luxury boxes and sky-high ticket prices in Cuba, which means no team could make enough money to make it work. They get a lot of players from the DR, but I'm not waiting for an expansion team in Santo Domingo either.