Did you know that 25% of MLB rosters are Latino or have Latino roots? These players are also some of the best of in the league. These players come from overwhelming poverty with no running water and little electricity. Do you know what the “boatload mentality” of MLB organizations is? This mentality is where you can sign 10 Latino players $3,000 each instead of signing one American player for $3 million. The Athletics acquired Tejada’s talents for $2,000. Tejada’s American teammate, Ben Grieve, signed a contract with $1.2 million guaranteed. The Texas Rangers also acquired Sammy Sosa in 1986 for $3,500. That’s the exact amount the Brooklyn Dodgers paid to sign Jackie Robinson in 1946. These players often get mocked because their poor English skills. Many Latino players are called “moody” or “hot-tempered”. When it comes to Manny Ramirez, it’s just “Manny being Manny”. Yet, for most Japanese baseball players they have interpreter by their side during interviews. Now, most MLB organizations are making players of different ethnicity take English classes before even stepping foot onto the baseball field. I believe that the “boatload mentality is fair practice and that all players from outside the states should be taught English and have to use it. Is the “boatload mentality” exploitation or fair practice. Should all players have interpreters or be taught English?
Could you elaborate on why you think the "boatload mentality" is fair practice? It seems like exploitation to me, especially given that so many international players from other countries (e.g., Japan especially) receive as much or more than native-born U.S. players.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone in class tried to make the boatload mentality a race issue, but it really is not. American high school players (18 year olds) and college players (20-23 year olds) make more money and are offered higher contracts because they are playing at a level of organized baseball much greater than those in the Dominican and of other Latin countries (16 year olds, although some lie to make more money). Miguel Tejada was an unproven, young athlete that had a lot to learn. Ben Grieve was a High School All-American and filled with potential and that he why his contract was 400 times that of Tejada's. Yes, Tejada had a much better career, but if people could predict the future then their would be no such thing as a Ryan Leaf or Tim Couch.
ReplyDeleteI think the practice in itself is risky but fair because the team is taking a gamble spending its money on a blind shot or hope to find a star athlete among all the rest. I agree with Vmeloni about american players are set up to succeed vs Latin country youth because we train our players and students up in a way that prepares them to go out and succeed in our league. Plus scouts can see first hand what players are made of and not have to watch video on players from a different country in maybe a dangerous area.
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