Breaking the glass homeplate

Say what you will about communism, but they were always ahead of the western world in some ways. Such as women having a prominent role in, well, almost everything. And while Cuba is technically our enemy (someday I'll have to start a political blog), they have outdone the United States in the area of women in baseball:

On a field dominated by men, Yanet Moreno is the only woman to step onto the baseball diamond during Cuba's national championship.

As the only female umpire to call in the National Series -- Cuba's equivalent of the big leagues -- Moreno, 35, has set a historic precedent.

Depending on how you feel about baseball outside the states, the Cuban league is a major league. Maybe the equivalent of AA or AAA (anyone?), but it is a major league, and she is a woman calling a championship series.

In keeping with the communist tradition of the state picking careers for it's citizens, Moreno was chosen:

Moreno was encouraged to train as a professional umpire, and before she had even finished school she was called to the National Series. She refereed her first game in December 2006, right at the start of the four-month baseball season.

While working in a (supposed) man's world, Moreno manages to keep in touch with her feminine side:

Still, she has advice for women trying to succeed in a man's world: "Those of us who work with men, should never stop being feminine," she says.

"We have to keep painting our nails, fixing our hair, plucking our eyebrows, never stop being women."

True to her word, at a recent game, Moreno sported bright red fingernails and a neatly coiffed hairdo. Before each game, she sprays herself with perfume.

"It's a tradition of mine," she said as she geared up. "So when I sweat, I smell like perfume."

Between women umpires and women pitchers, the lines are becoming blurred. Some will be happy, some will be angry, and some just won't care. I've umpired for years, and the main thing is competence. Is she good? Can she handle the game? Does she know the rules?

I'll admit, as an old-fashioned kind of guy, I have mixed feelings about this. In some ways, I like it as the mans game, while softball is for girls. But I also know from my time in the Army, that there are a lot of women who outperform men in many ways.

So what's the answer? As usual, my opinion is - does it make the game better?

As of yet, no word on whether Pam Postema wants to defect.

The "real" World Series

I'm a little bit late with this, but life happens. I thought I would go ahead and add my opinion to the subject of a season-ending 'World Series' between the American major leagues and the Japanese major leagues. And contrary to what most people might expect, I'm dead against it and don't think it's a good idea.

I'm not really sure I understand the reasoning for this, especially with Bud pushing it. He's never cared much for the international game, and hasn't done anything to promote it before. It might be a marketing ploy, but that doesn't make sense either. Any merchandise featuring Japanese players are going to sell well regardless of any international series. Even if there is an upturn in sales, it doesn't figure to be enough to offset the cost of staging the games.

Unless he's looking to get some other names out there beyond the Yankees/Red Sox/Dodgers/Mariners, or the the individual Japanese players. Sure, they could sell a lot of Pujols jerseys, but you have to assume the Cardinals will win the series (they will). Or the Giants to get Lincecum's name out there, or the Brewers or Rays to get their players some notice. Good idea, but not enough to make this thing go.

The idea of playing for national pride doesn't work either, because Bud hasn't figured out yet that the major leagues have become international, and the 'teams' aren't American. Yeah, they play in American cities (with respect to Toronto), in front of American fans, but the teams aren't really American.

In the last World Series, the Yankees had players from the United States, Puerto Rico (hey, I don't agree, but they claim it), the Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Cuba, Panama and Taiwan on their roster last season, while the Phillies had players from the United States, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, South Korea, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Canada. That doesn't really make for a lot of national pride in a series like this. Even the Japanese teams are international, featuring Americans, South Koreans, Taiwanese, Mexicans, and Dominicans, at a minimum.

These guys aren't playing for their country, they're just playing for their team in the city it resides in. The American public, as a whole, isn't going to care about this all that much. Which brings up the next bit of confusion. Is the idea that the fans of the particular team playing in the series is going to pull the weight to make it worthwhile? Again, if you have the Yankees, or Dodgers, (please apply East Coast/West Coast bias here), or teams that or a team such as the Cardinals that routinely draw over 3 millions fans a year, maybe. But what happens when you have the Rockies or the Twins win the series, and then go on to represent MLB? The fanbase just isn't there. That doesn't mean the fans of those particular teams wouldn't watch, but there wouldn't be enough to justify this as a reason for the series.

Then look at the players. I don't see the union allowing this, at least not without some major concessions in the next CBA. Plus, I don't imagine a lot of the players are going to really care about this all that much. If there is a Japanese player on the team playing, he might care. But why would the rest of them? After spring training, a 162-game season, two rounds of playoffs and the World Series, I can't see most players really wanting to do this. And why would they?

Money. Some of them will do it because they will get compensated for it, and there will some sort of winner's share. But is that why we want these guys to play this series? For a paycheck? When you know the Japanese team will be going all out to knock off the American team and prove they are just as good. I can't imagine most of the players wouldn't look at this as anything more than just an exhibition series.

And what happens when the star players sit out because of fatigue or worry of injury. Sure, guys like Jeter and Swisher and Rollins and Stairs would play, and give it there all. But Rodriguez had hip surgery, and Sabathia had thrown a lot of innings and Ruiz had caught a lot of games and Lidge was ineffective. Would those guys play? And if not, who takes their spot? A minor leaguer with a couple of call-ups during the season, or a player deemed not good enough to make the post-season roster? And if the stars aren't playing, hasn't the entire thing lost it's luster?

For the reasons listed above, it has to be done at the conclusion of the two seasons, and not before spring training the next year. There is too much turn over with the rosters during the off-season, and it wouldn't be the same team competing.

I just don't see any reason why this series needs to take place, and why Bud even wants it beyond making more money for the league. That's probably enough reason for Bud, but it won't carry with the fans. If Bud really wants to have an international series, this isn't the answer. Because they already have a good one.

It's called the World Baseball Classic, and the players have an incentive to play. Because it's for their country and national pride. And the fans (outside the United States) like and watch the classic.

Note to Bud: if the best American players in the game can't win an international competition, why do you want international players trying to win glory for an American team?

It doesn't make sense, Bud. Scrap this thing and put your efforts into the WBC, and getting the American team to actually be competitive.

The WBC is working. You just haven't figured it out yet.

Baseball from a different perspective

I tend to look at baseball from the international angle mostly, but I like baseball outside the mainstream. One area I haven't really paid a lot of attention to is the Independent Leagues in the states. Now, obviously living in the UK makes following the independent leagues a little harder, but it's not impossible. Thanks to a great web site:

IndependentBaseball.net

The site covers all things independent. There are tabs on the teams, managers, players, scheduling, standings and statistics, as well as:

Easy-to-find links to specific information on independent baseball team and league websites

Up to date independent baseball news across all leagues and the industry in general

Resources to help those who want to join the industry

Resources for independent baseball alumni (players, managers, staff, executives, announcers, umpires, etc.)

Links to the third-party statistics services which many teams and leagues use (these links are not widely known by most fans)

Ability to quickly and easily listen to independent baseball games

Ability to find archived online broadcasts in case you want to listen to a previous game

Ways to collect unique independent baseball merchandise and memorabilia

Useful content throughout the site which will give you tips and advice on specific content

(upcoming) Exclusive interviews with players, former players, and industry insiders
New features will be added based on your feedback and that of fellow website visitors

I wasn't aware that there are actually 8 independent leagues operating right now, featuring anywhere from 6 - 12 teams. And they pretty well have the country covered, as well as a presence in Canada.


AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
ATLANTIC LEAGUE
CAN-AM LEAGUE
CONTINENTAL LEAGUE
FRONTIER LEAGUE
GOLDEN LEAGUE
NORTHERN LEAGUE
UNITED LEAGUE


The Northern League features the Kansas City T-Bones, a team I have never watched play, but many of my family members and friends have.

I did make the mistake of comparing independent ball to A ball, but I have been corrected on this, and have been told by many people that it is AA level, at a minimum. I'll trust the words of those who have seen, and not just those who write.

There is also a daily blog that needs to be checked out. You can easily spend a couple of hours or more going through the site, finding out where the teams are at, former major leaguers playing, and checking the stats.

It's not major league baseball, but it is baseball. Check it out. It's well worth the time.

Bass 'fishing'

Having played sports in high school (where we didn't have much to celebrate) and in the Army (where we did), I can understand the joy of wanting to celebrate any kind of victory. In the states, we tend to do the dogpile, and as much fun as winning is, being at the bottom of it isn't. In Japan and South Korea, tossing seems to be the cultural equivalent of 15 guys jumping on top of you and trying to bury you somewhere near the pitcher's mound.

But as with any good thing, there is always something bad that can happen:

At the Kyoraku Cup in Okinawa, Japan, last week, Korean women golfers went from heaven to hell in an instant.

They were reveling over winning the Korea-Japan team tournament for the first time in three years, 29-19. While tossing team captain Lee Ji-hee into the air in celebration, players saw the smiles on their faces abruptly disappear.

Lee’s waist hit the edge of the winners’ steel rostrum. Shocked, she began showing symptoms of vomiting and was rushed to a hospital.

To the players’ relief, a medical exam showed that she sustained a simple bruise. The players, however, pledged never to toss anyone after a victory again.

And never let it be said that the media misses any kind of scoop:

The incident also made headlines in Japanese media.

However, lest you think that there will be an uproar over the tradition, I don't think so:

Getting tossed into the air after a victory is the dream of every Korean or Japanese athlete and coach. Those who have been tossed say the feeling is indescribable until experienced.

Kim Kyung-moon, who led the Korean national baseball team to the Olympic gold medal in Beijing last year, was tossed after his squad won the championship game. “I’d still be happy if I fell to the ground and died,” he said.

Shin Chee-yong, whose pro volleyball team Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance won its 10th championship this season, also said, “You simply cannot be happier.”

So I think tossing is here to stay in the two countries. I can't see some 'legislating' it out of practice. It's just too common. The article goes on to talk about the psychological effects of tossing, how it is spreading around the world, and just general information about the event itself.

There is one practice, however, that is a fairly decent innovation, as using the real thing could lead to serious injury:

When the Japanese pro baseball team Hanshin Tigers won the Central League championship in 1985, excited fans tossed a Kentucky Fried Chicken mannequin resembling Randy Bass, who won the league’s batting Triple Crown, into a river.

Which is good. Trying to toss the real Randy Bass into a river. Bad

The International Draft

Just some of my thoughts on the international draft, such as they are.

Craig, over at Circling the Bases is doing a series on the draft, as reported by MLB.com. Go ahead and check it out.


As for me, I'm for the international draft. Mostly because the game has become international. The WBC has shown that, and in my opinion, the fact that the game is out of the Olympics shows that. Baseball has gotten too big globally, and team sports such as soccer and basketball, as well as the traditional staples such as track and field, and swimming, are more than happy that baseball won't be around to steal any of the spotlight. Because baseball is an international sport, and players from all over the world are coming to the states to play, it's only right that there be an international draft.

That being said, the draft needs to be somewhat limited as too which countries are involved. The United States, Canada and Puerto Rico (hey, I don't get it either) are already part of the draft process.

Other countries that should be part of an international draft: Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Dominican Republic, Mexico,

Others that could be: Panama, Columbia, Nicaragua, Venezuela


These are all countries that routinely put players into the majors, and have viable leagues themselves. Additionally, they have high school and college programs that give the players needed experience and exposure for the draft.

Other countries that don't have leagues or school programs should not be subjected to an international draft, as of now. They are still in the club/semi-pro stage, and need more time to develop. It could be considered a coming of age, that when your country becomes part of the draft, then you've arrived as a baseball nation.

Alongside an international draft for MLB, however, is the idea that American players should be allowed to be drafted by other (foreign) leagues. This would seem only fair. It's a little bit of hubris to assume that MLB is the only game in town. Granted, it is for most Americans. Witness the WBC. But that's not true, by a long shot. If we can draft foreign players, why can't they draft ours?

One of the big problems with any type of international draft is the same problem that affects true free agency. The Japanese, South Korean, Taiwanese and Mexican leagues don't want to be taken over by North American and Caribbean players. They want to maintain the hegemony of their own leagues, which is understandable. They don't want to be relegated to minor leagues and training teams for MLB clubs. That's the main reason they limit the amount of foreigners allowed to play each year, and there are gentleman's agreements about the posting system and signing free agents.

There aren't necessarily problems with that. Major League teams aren't going to start raiding the foreign leagues of their players. What it will do, is give the Major League teams a chance to draft some of the better players from those countries to come to the states to play. If they want to. Some of the players might decide to stay home for the first few years, then become free agents. That might provide a better opportunity for them than playing Rookie and A ball, and getting cut.

An international draft, a true one, might give some of the better North American and Caribbean players a chance to go play right away, instead of the taking the same route through the minors. And does anyone really think their will be a mass exodus of players from the US to Japan, Mexico and South Korea. It won't happen. But if we can draft their players, why shouldn't they be allowed to draft ours. Whether or not anyone ever goes.

One of the biggest complaints against the draft is the restraint of free trade. I personally don't get that, because no one has the right to play baseball. They have the right to work, sure, but play baseball. I don't know. But I'm probably not the guy to have long discussions with about that.

But an international draft, a true one, would create an open market and give all the players more of a chance. I'll use Aaron Crow, of the Royals as an example. He was drafted by Washington, but didn't want to sign, or couldn't agree to a contract. So he ended up sitting out a year, and pitching in the independent leagues, which are A ball at the best. Then, after a year, he went back into the draft and was picked by the Royals. There doesn't seem to be as much of an open market there, even though there is. He had a choice.

But why he couldn't he have also been drafted by the Japanese league, or the Mexican league. Both of which are above AAA level, if not major league level. What if he signed a 2-year contract with one of them, and got 2 years of experience pitching against better competition then he was. He would then be treated like any other draft choice. Any where. His contract could be traded, to any team in any league, or he could pitch the duration of it, and become a free agent. That would seem to work, at least to me.

It's not like all of our top-tier prospects are going to run off to other countries, and we're not going to draft enough players from other countries to hurt their leagues. But it moves the game into the international arena, where it belongs, as well as giving players a truly open market.

The only two drawbacks I see are the Players Association being afraid to take a chance, and the other leagues rejecting the idea out of hand. Without them, all that will happen is the kids from Europe, Africa, South America, Oceania and other countries without viable leagues will be subjected to the draft, while players who develop within a more structured system will be left out. And that's not a good idea. Those countries are much better having working relations with individual teams, as happened in the Caribbean for years.

So, to me, the international draft is a good idea. Within reason. And using a little common sense.



Sorry, this was a little quick as I wanted to get it in, and it seems rushed. Because it was. I'm hoping to get back to this every day, and will try to spend a little more time polishing posts in the future.

Ichiro and the Iron Horse

From East Windup Chronicle comes footage of Ichiro as a highschooler. And showing some power!!!

He probably would have won the homerun derby this year. Remember, those were hit in a major league, albeit somewhat smaller, stadium. Anyone remember the story about Lou Gehrig hitting one out of Wrigley as a highschool player? Kind of the same thing here.



Nothing to add, just interesting.

Let them play

Baseball is baseball, and anyone playing it is always a good thing. And as the games grows in stature around the world, it's important that players in different countries get the opportunity to play. South Africa has been playing baseball for a few years now, competing in the first two World Baseball Classics, and having had several prospects sign with minor league teams in the states. It's an emerging program, and the sport is becoming more popular all the time in the country.

But it's being done a little differently in South Africa right now, as they are developing a girls game:

There has been Girls Baseball in South Africa for the last six years. This is done primarily at school level and Youth Divisions.

For the school competitions we have 9 States/Provinces who send 14 participants in each of the Under-13;Under-15; and Under-17 . Giving us a total of 378 girls who represent their state/province.

I'm all for anyone playing baseball who wants to play baseball, and this is a good thing. I've said many times before that it's been proven that kids (from whatever country) who participate in after school sports/programs tend to have better grades and fewer discipline problems. So getting these girls involved is a great idea.

I have to wonder why baseball, however. I'm not knocking it, by any means. They do play softball in South Africa. I'm not going to be so sexist as to assume women should only play softball, and not baseball. But reality is what it is, and at the professional/older levels, men play baseball and women play softball. If the girls want to play baseball, that's great. But I would think eventually they will end up switching to softball at a later date, unless there are plans for a woman's baseball league.

There are some inherent problems, as there always are in poorer countries:

Fewer girls participate in the Youth Divisions because of the cost of travel and accommodations. The reason for this is the closeness of the two championships to each other and the majority of our girls coming from disadvantaged communities.

A donation of equipment by some organization in the states that plays a similar sport and has a few million spare dollars sitting in the bank would be an ideal way to promote the game on an international level.

But when the boss of that organization is a used car salesman, you learn quickly that there are no guarantees.



Thanks to the IBAF for the link.