Thread: Guillen: Asian Players Treated Better Than Latinos

Aug 1, 3:03 PM EDT

Guillen: Asian players treated better than Latinos

CHICAGO (AP) -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen says Asian players are given privileges in the United States that Latinos are not afforded.

In his latest rant, the outspoken Guillen also says he's the "only one" in baseball teaching young players from Latin America not to use performance-enhancing drugs and that Major League Baseball doesn't care about that.

He says MLB only cares about how often he argues with umpires and what he says to the media.

Guillen says it's unfair that Japanese players are assigned translators when they come to the U.S. to play pro ball, but Latinos are not.

He says players from Latin America are considered too old to sign if they're past 16 or 17, yet college prospects from the U.S. are often signed at age 22 or 23.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/ ... TE=DEFAULT

Poor latinos they always cry about how they are so abused. When in reality it's always a ploy to get more benefits or privileges.

He's the type that demands more for latino players only, the rest can go to hell. Sucks to be you Oscar. Quit your whining, put on your big boys undies and DEAL!

Why in hell are we recruiting latino players anyway? Why in hell are we recruiting players from outside the US? We have enough players right here in the US.

I believe it started when MLB owners wanted cheaper players, so they started recruiting players in the Dominican Republic. They ain't so cheap anymore, I guess.

Now looks like Asian players cost less and are being courted? Looks like hispanic players are being kicked to the curb now, just like American players were.

What a bunch of whiners. Grow up Latinos, you're already being treated better than Americans born here, what else do you want? Jeez! Man up!

Then they should go play for the Florida Marlins as you cannot get a job with the team if you don't speak Spanish.

CHICAGO -- White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen thinks Asian players are given privileges in the United States that Latinos are not afforded.

In his latest rant, the outspoken Guillen also said he's the "only one" in baseball teaching young players from Latin America to stay away from performance-enhancing drugs and that Major League Baseball doesn't care about that.

He said MLB only cares about how often he argues with umpires and what he says to the media.

Guillen said it's unfair that Japanese players are assigned translators when they come to the U.S. to play pro ball, but Latinos are not.

"Very bad. I say, why do we have Japanese interpreters and we don't have a Spanish one. I always say that. Why do they have that privilege and we don't?" Guillen said Sunday before Chicago played the Oakland Athletics. "Don't take this wrong, but they take advantage of us. We bring a Japanese player and they are very good and they bring all these privileges to them. We bring a Dominican kid ... go to the minor leagues, good luck. Good luck. And it's always going to be like that. It's never going to change. But that's the way it is."

Guillen, who is from Venezuela, said when he went to see his son, Oney, in Class-A, the team had a translator for a Korean prospect who "made more money than the players."

"And we had 17 Latinos and you know who the interpreter was? Oney. Why is that? Because we have Latino coaches? Because here he is? Why? I don't have the answer," Guillen said. "We're in the United States, we don't have to bring any coaches that speak Spanish to help anybody. You choose to come to this country and you better speak English.

"It's just not the White Sox, it's baseball," he added. "We have a pitching coach that is Latino, but the pitching coach can't talk about hitting with a Latino guy and that's the way it is and we have to overcome all those [obstacles]. You know why? Because we're hungry, we grow up the right way, we come here to compete."

Guillen said young prospects in Latin America are being influenced to use performance-enhancing drugs.

"It's somebody behind the scene making money out of those kids and telling them to take something they're not supposed to," Guillen said. "If you tell me, you take this ... you're going to be Vladimir Guerrero, you're going to be Miguel Cabrera, you're going to be this guy ... I'll do it. Because I have seven brothers that sleep in the same room. I have to take care of my mother, my dad. ... Out of this I'm going to make money to make them better.".

Guillen said he's trying to educate players from Latin America about steroids and other banned drugs.

"I'm the only one to teach the Latinos about not to use," he said. "I'm the only one and Major League Baseball doesn't [care]. All they care about -- how many times I argue with the umpires, what I say to the media. But I'm the only one in baseball to come up to the Latino kids and say not to use this and I don't get any credit for that.

"They look at you and they say, 'Good for you Ozzie,' " he said. "Ozzie said it, don't worry about it. If somebody else said it they would be playing that [stuff] every day on the jumbotron. ... I'm the only one that came up with that idea. I did it for the Latino kids. ... I want to help those kids."

Major League Baseball spokesman Rich Levin disagreed with Guillen's assertion.

"We spend more time and effort educating our Latin players about PED use than we do our domestic players in the United States. We test extensively in the Dominican and Venezuelan leagues, and we've increased the testing every year," Levin told The Associated Press. "We also have Sandy Alderson down in the Dominican Republic on a full-time basis and he's dealing with a lot of these issues as well."


Guillen also said players from Latin America are considered too old to sign if they're past 16 or 17, yet college prospects from the U.S. are often signed at age 22 or 23.


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press


http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/n ... id=5428431

Why are they even bringing players in on visas? We have plenty of American kids who play baseball and are good players. This is just taking away from Americans. I coached boys baseball through the Police Athletic League where I work. The sad part is if you are non latino they don't bother with you no matter how good you are. I had a Haitian boy who pitched a perfect game and not only that but got one home run a game and seldom struck out. When we no longer offered baseball we had coaches from other teams try to pick up some of former players. Sadly enough they only wanted the latinos.

Quote:
"Major League Baseball spokesman Rich Levin disagreed with Guillen's assertion.

"We spend more time and effort educating our Latin players about PED use than we do our domestic players in the United States. We test extensively in the Dominican and Venezuelan leagues, and we've increased the testing every year," Levin told The Associated Press. "We also have Sandy Alderson down in the Dominican Republic on a full-time basis and he's dealing with a lot of these issues as well."


Reply:
Here is an article from the July 26 edition of TIME about MLB, the former so-called "baseball puppy mill" status of players in the Domincan Republic, and what is being done to correct it.

Struck Out by Beisbol in the Domincan Republic
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 99,00.html

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/08/03/ozzi ... l-comments

Ozzie Guillen Doesn't Back Down From Controversial Comments

8/03/2010 1:22 PM ET By Joe Lapointe

Joe Lapointe
Writer/Columnist

DETROIT -- For the record, Ozzie Guillen said he likes sushi. It's one of his favorite foods. And he likes Japanese baseball players, too, and enjoys talking to the Japanese news media.

Guillen, the Chicago White Sox manager who is from Venezuela, took more than 30 minutes before Tuesday's day-night doubleheader with the Tigers to explain his recent controversial comments regarding different treatment for Asian and Latin American baseball players.

On Monday, an off day, Guillen said he heard reaction from team owner Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Ken Williams. Later in the day, the White Sox issued a statement that seemed to contradict Guillen's opinons.

Guillen softened his comments, a little, on Tuesday at Comerica Park in his clubhouse office and expanded on what he meant in context. But Guillen also said he would not take back his words.

"I never said Major League Baseball doesn't care about Latino players," Guillen said. "I don't disrespect Major League Baseball at all. Maybe the message was right and the messenger was the wrong one. They might think I was incorrect; I know I wasn't incorrect. I don't feel guilty. I don't owe anyone an apology."

Guillen has said similar things before about players and has expanded about larger issues. Earlier this season, when Arizona passed its controversial immigration law that is still being contested in court, Guillen was outspoken in support of Latin-American immigrants.

His comments this week came in a discussion about rookie infielder Dayan Viciedo, from Cuba, and how difficult it was for him to adjust to a new language and culture.

"Why do we have Japanese interpreters and we don't have a Spanish one?" Guillen said. "Why do they have that privilege and we don't? Don't take this wrong, but they take advantage of us."

Guillen also said Tuesday that shortstop Alexei Ramirez, from Cuba, sometimes calls Guillen late at night in the team hotel for help in ordering food from room service.

Japanese players in the U.S. majors often travel with interpreters who act as aides and help with such things. But when pressed Tuesday on the issue of interpreters, Guillen said it was not necessary for Spanish-speaking players to have them.

The White Sox' statement on Monday said: "This is an issue Ozzie Guillen obviously feels very passionately about," and added that Guillen was "entitled to his opinions."

But the statement also went on to say "his views are incorrect." Guillen said Tuesday that the White Sox have recorded all his words for the last two seasons during his press briefings.

"They might think I was incorrect; I know I wasn't incorrect. I don't feel guilty. I don't owe anyone an apology."
- Ozzie Guillen A White Sox spokesman said Tuesday that such recordings are made as a matter of routine to help with coverage on the team website and they are not specifically to monitor Guillen's opinions.

Guillen's comments have generated a favorable response among many major league players from Spanish-speaking countries.

Freddy Garcia, a White Sox pitcher from Venezuela, said interpreters would be helpful for Spanish-speaking players.

"Why not?" Garcia said. "If they do it for Japanese players, why not for other players? The Latin guys don't have translators."

But Garcia also seemed to minimize the controversy.

"I don't really care," he said. "I don't talk too much. I don't really need a translator to say 'I got my butt kicked.' "

When asked about his mastery of English, Garcia smiled and said, "I'm still learning, man."

Two New York Mets players, Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez, supported Guillen in interviews with The New York Times.

Beltran said it was harder when he was younger. "You couldn't always communicate with the manager or the trainer and a lot of things slipped through," Beltran said.

Rodriguez said: "What Ozzie said is not a secret."

Although Garcia, Beltran and Rodriguez said interpreters would help Latin American players, Guillen stopped short of demanding it.

"On this ballclub, we don't need one," Guillen said. "I'm not saying Major League Baseball has to do anything."

Bobby Valentine, the former manager who has worked in both the U.S. and Japan, said on ESPN Monday that Guillen might have a valid point.

"Ozzie's right when he says there are many situations that should be different for the Latin players," Valentine said. "That's Ozzie being Ozzie. I would take it as a message that things need to be better."