Miguel Cabrera

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I hope this doesn't come off as politically incorrect, but I think something inevitably is lost when the player isn't really fluent in the language. And there is a fair amount of that with such a high percentage of Latinx (did I use that right?) players in this era.

PS It's never comfortable to see great players hang on where they aren't even good any more. Without looking to start a steroid discussion, as a Red Sox fan, I was glad to see Ortiz exit while still very productive.

You and Stephen A Smith. I'll take it at face value though and not rake you through the coals. I certainly thought Tony La Russa said worse earlier this year about his player swinging on 3-0. My dad taught me to "kick em when their down" during competition. But that's also because we were Seahawks fans, and they always found ways to lose in the 1990s.

But I think there is certainly smoke and fire about the statement. Although, Ichiro comes to mind as a player that everyone loves even though he had built a wall. He is still adored in Seattle. His autograph is working its way up to the top of my buy list.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Snapolit1]

Derek Jerer speaks perfect English, is idolized by millions, and never said anything remotely interesting in his entire career. Go figure.

Originally Posted by todeen

You and Stephen A Smith. I'll take it at face value


though and not rake you through the coals. I certainly thought Tony La Russa said worse earlier this year about his player swinging on 3-0. My dad taught me to "kick em when their down" during competition. But that's also because we were Seahawks fans, and they always found ways to lose in the 1990s.

But I think there is certainly smoke and fire about the statement. Although, Ichiro comes to mind as a player that everyone loves even though he had built a wall. He is still adored in Seattle. His autograph is working its way up to the top of my buy list.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Derek Jerer speaks perfect English, is idolized by millions, and never said anything remotely interesting in his entire career. Go figure.

Yeah, dudes boring. Not boring, Yasiel Puig & Joey Votto

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Snapolit1]

It’s bizarre that this issue comes up time and again with Hispanic players where there were scores of guys who became iconic in all of the major sports who really had zero or minimal presence with the press. No one ever said “gee Ted Williams and Larry Bird really sabotaged their careers by not engaging more with the media”.

[packs]

I don’t think speaking English has anything to do with perception. When it comes to baseball, I can’t think of anyone who says anything interesting to the press. Personalities develop from play on the field. Jeter wasn’t popular because he spoke English. He was popular for the way he played. You wouldn’t even have to hear Paul O’Neill speak to know what kind of guy he was. All you had to do was watch him play. He’s not called The Warrior for what he said in postgame. The same is true for Votto, who frequently interacts with fans during games. These players don’t have to say anything. Adrien Beltre was hugely popular and I’ve never seen an interview with him. I know him as the guy who didn’t want you to touch his head.

Not to mention how prevalent Spanish is in this country.

[Snapolit1]

I agree. Cespedes was electric and owned NY for a while. Don’t recall him speaking.
If I was an agent I’d really encourage my young guys to learn English. Certainly makes them more marketable to more groups. But to say that someone is not a national phenomena because they don’t speak English seems like a real stretch. Combination of where they played, how they played, what big moments they had on a National stage.

[D. Bergin]

Some guys talk too much. A-Rod never reached anywhere near the popularity in New York that Jeter did, because he always acted like he was trying to talk himself out of a parking ticket.

It wasn't just the PEDS either. He WANTED you to love him so bad, he always came across as needy and desperate. Even the times he carried the Yankees on his back......Yankees fans never really warmed up to him.

You always got the feeling he dated so many movie stars and pop stars, not because he was a bad-ass Lothario.....but because he was a clout chaser with low self-esteem.

I'm a huge Yankees fan, but I love when David Ortiz gives A-rod the business during their studio commentating jobs.

[Seven]

On the subject of popularity, I would agree, it's a lot of right place, right time sort of scenario's. Jeter was popular because he was apparently humble, carried himself with a certain sort of air, while playing for the Yankees. He gave a lot of cookie cutter answers whenever he was interviewed, played hard and dated beautiful celebrities in the limelight of New York. People viewed him through the lens of a player from years past. He was emotional when it called for it, but carried himself with grace most of the time.

I compare Jeter to DiMaggio in a few ways. Humble beginnings, thrust into the spotlight of NY, and lived up to every single one of the expectations people gave them. Neither were the best players of their respective generation, but their presence overshadowed the guys who were better than them. Jeter is a bit nicer than Joe D apparently was though.

Cabrera was a great ballplayer. He never played in a big market, was never the face of a World Series winning team, and while he connected with the people of Detroit, I don't think he's really done much with other fan bases. I don't think there's anything wrong with that though. Baseball fans appreciate what he brought to the dish, not every player needs to be world renowned.