thxfrthmmrs Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (reiks12 @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 10:35 AM) Not to turn this political or anything but someone needs to educate the young Latin players on being safe. I know its hard to expect maturity out of early twenty year olds but this is getting ridiculous. How? No idea but I am tired and sad of hearing about these young kids getting killed because of drugs and recklessness. I don't blame these guys since they probably came from nothing and have the world by the balls now. I did some really stupid stuff when I was in my early twenties. Still, how many more deaths will happen before solutions will be discussed? I never liked Ventura but this is depressing. My Royals friends are besides themselves right now You have to understand that these people grew up in LatAm and were in their country during the time of the crash. From what my friends have told me, DUI is nowhere as heavily regulated as is in America. I even have a friend from Puerto Rico who told me that he had crashed into a light post while DUI when he was living in PR and the police came and just drove him home without giving him a ticket. There are many, many DUI cases in LatAm, unfortunately these people just happened to be baseball players. Their countries needs to heighten the regulation for DUI if they want to keep the roads safe for everyone. There is not much MLB can do about this. Hopefully the LatAm players take these accidents to heart and think again before they DUI back in LatAm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 11:27 AM) I think your idea to educate guys on the risks is fine, but after that I don't see how MLB should have any involvement. Yah I don't know what they are supposed to do. He was close friends with Oscar Taveras. If that isn't going to move the needle, what would? There really isn't much you can do to . When you are 25 and have the world by the balls, you don't think anything like that would happen to you. It is tragic, but to tell you the truth, I am surprised it doesn't happen more often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggins Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Worth also noting that the DR is really unsafe for driving: https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/oscar...aseball-players Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Wow, RIP to both young men. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowand44 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Education is obviously never a bad thing but to be honest I'm not sure how much it would actually help. When you're young and drunk you're just not thinking about this stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Driving in the dominican is crazy. I got dominican friends and theyve told me stories. Even worse when your intoxicated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavum Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (JoshPR @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:00 PM) Driving in the dominican is crazy. I got dominican friends and theyve told me stories. Even worse when your intoxicated. There are youtube videos devoted to driving in the DR. Crazy stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 11:17 AM) What do you mean support the players? Young people do reckless s***, whether they're baseball players or not. MLB will never be able to change that and quite frankly it's not their responsibly to do so. What are the numbers of DUI deaths in other sports? And it's not their responsibility based on what other than your opinion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 11:40 AM) Education is obviously never a bad thing but to be honest I'm not sure how much it would actually help. When you're young and drunk you're just not thinking about this stuff. So doing nothing will yield the same results as doing something. Interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg775 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 I would think this is being addressed by more than the Cardinals. Terrible tragedy. http://m.mlb.com/news/article/110287978/ca...ng-and-driving/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 (edited) QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:15 PM) What are the numbers of DUI deaths in other sports? And it's not their responsibility based on what other than your opinion? What employers are responsible for their employees' reckless behavior outside of the workplace? Why do you think baseball players deserve special treatment? Maybe the countries with the highest auto-based mortality rates should take some accountability here. This issue goes well beyond the world of baseball. And you still didn't answer what kind of support MLB should provide to help curb this issue. Edited January 22, 2017 by Chicago White Sox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thxfrthmmrs Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:15 PM) What are the numbers of DUI deaths in other sports? And it's not their responsibility based on what other than your opinion? Other sports do not have a high number of LatAm players like baseball. As others mentioned, driving in DR is completely different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flavum Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 (edited) Baseball is a social institution. They say it time and time again. They take these teenagers out of poverty, and some of them come to this country without a lot of education or common sense. So MLB does have an opportunity to use Oscar Taveras, Jose Fernandez and Yordano Ventura as examples of what can happen. Not sure how this can be disputed. Sure, at the end of the day (or night), you have to be personally responsible, but the business of baseball is a little different than the run of the mill American employer. Edited January 22, 2017 by flavum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Allen Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:39 PM) What employers are responsible for their employees' reckless behavior outside of the workplace? Why do you think baseball players deserve special treatment? Maybe the countries with the highest auto-based mortality rates should take some accountability here. This issue goes well beyond the world of baseball. And you still didn't answer what kind of support MLB should provide to help curb this issue. They should tell them not to drive fast, and don't drink and drive. It will stop immediately. I am with you, what can be said? They have examples and it continues. I am sure they get some sort of counseling anyway, but nothing competes with the naitivity and indestructible feeling of youth. When I was 15 one of my best friends hopped in a car to go home after school with a guy who just got his license . The driver drove like an idiot, hit a light pole,and my buddy is severely brain damaged for life. Even after that, when I got my license, I drove like an idiot, drove drunk several times, and got lucky nothing happened. Now I won't drive if I have 1 beer. But most of us are in the same boat. when you are that age, bad s*** isn't going to happen to you. Even if it is happening all around you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Kind of off topic but related to my other post. Anybody else notice that after an accident like this or a shooting that it seems like every other country besides the US has no issue showing dead bodies on their local news channels or social media sites? Why do you think that is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Sacamano Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:52 PM) They should tell them not to drive fast, and don't drink and drive. It will stop immediately. I am with you, what can be said? They have examples and it continues. I am sure they get some sort of counseling anyway, but nothing competes with the naitivity and indestructible feeling of youth. When I was 15 one of my best friends hopped in a car to go home after school with a guy who just got his license . The driver drove like an idiot, hit a light pole,and my buddy is severely brain damaged for life. Even after that, when I got my license, I drove like an idiot, drove drunk several times, and got lucky nothing happened. Now I won't drive if I have 1 beer. But most of us are in the same boat. when you are that age, bad s*** isn't going to happen to you. Even if it is happening all around you. Man same here. I look back on it and thank god I never harmed myself or others or got stopped by police ruining my life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:52 PM) They should tell them not to drive fast, and don't drink and drive. It will stop immediately. I am with you, what can be said? They have examples and it continues. I am sure they get some sort of counseling anyway, but nothing competes with the naitivity and indestructible feeling of youth. When I was 15 one of my best friends hopped in a car to go home after school with a guy who just got his license . The driver drove like an idiot, hit a light pole,and my buddy is severely brain damaged for life. Even after that, when I got my license, I drove like an idiot, drove drunk several times, and got lucky nothing happened. Now I won't drive if I have 1 beer. But most of us are in the same boat. when you are that age, bad s*** isn't going to happen to you. Even if it is happening all around you. 100% agree. Young people do stupid s*** and nothing MLB can do will stop that. And it does sound like MLB educates these guys already about various offseason dangers based on an article posted in this thread. There isn't really much else they can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:39 PM) What employers are responsible for their employees' reckless behavior outside of the workplace? Why do you think baseball players deserve special treatment? Maybe the countries with the highest auto-based mortality rates should take some accountability here. This issue goes well beyond the world of baseball. And you still didn't answer what kind of support MLB should provide to help curb this issue. Baseball should do it because it's the right thing to do. But they'll ultimately do it because it's the right PR move and, ultimately, they're protecting their assets. And how many workplace's employees are worth hundreds upon hundreds of millions in revenue? Certainly not you or me, so it's silly to compare MLB with the average workplace. As to your "question," the minute MLB pays me, I'll come up with a comprehensive alcohol and drug education/prevention program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (2005thxfrthmmrs @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 12:45 PM) Other sports do not have a high number of LatAm players like baseball. As others mentioned, driving in DR is completely different. Exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicago White Sox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (SleepyWhiteSox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 01:02 PM) Baseball should do it because it's the right thing to do. But they'll ultimately do it because it's the right PR move and, ultimately, they're protecting their assets. And how many workplace's employees are worth hundreds upon hundreds of millions in revenue? Certainly not you or me, so it's silly to compare MLB with the average workplace. As to your "question," the minute MLB pays me, I'll come up with a comprehensive alcohol and drug education/prevention program. Do what exactly? Hire babysitters to watch these guys? Force them to take cabs everywhere? Seriously, what is MLB "ultimately going to do" that makes any difference. Don't hide behind this "the minute MLB pays me" nonsense, use some common sense and try to come up with some ideas that could help. You'll quickly find that there isn't much of anything MLB could do that would result in material change. Again, this isn't a baseball issue, it's something much broader that's impacting numerous people in countries like the Dominican Repulbic & Venezuela. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleepyWhiteSox Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 01:13 PM) Do what exactly? Hire babysitters to watch these guys? Force them to take cabs everywhere? Seriously, what is MLB "ultimately going to do" that makes any difference. Don't hide behind this "the minute MLB pays me" nonsense, use some common sense and try to come up with some ideas that could help. You'll quickly find that there isn't much of anything MLB could do that would result in material change. Again, this isn't a baseball issue, it's something much broader that's impacting numerous people in countries like the Dominican Repulbic & Venezuela. They can throw their money at the issue so that every year there aren't a couple of Latin American assets losing their lives in this manner. Whether it be more life skills education in the minors and Latin American academies in their language or clauses in their contracts, I don't know. They have the money to do the research and do something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshPR Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Even more crazy and in a twist of fate is that andy marte' last gme in the majors was in 2014 against the royals started by Yordano Ventura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmags Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 The MLB wouldn't have to throw money at educating their own players, they could spend it on lobbying for stricter drunk driving laws or enforcement in DR. They could also just donate money to create more hospitals with helicopters for air evacuations to cut down deaths from injuries. If MLB believes deaths like these are hurting their product, no different than lobbying by insurance industries and alcohol industries in US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panerista Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 22, 2017 -> 02:15 PM) The MLB wouldn't have to throw money at educating their own players, they could spend it on lobbying for stricter drunk driving laws or enforcement in DR. They could also just donate money to create more hospitals with helicopters for air evacuations to cut down deaths from injuries. If MLB believes deaths like these are hurting their product, no different than lobbying by insurance industries and alcohol industries in US. It's crazy, especially on a board where we talk about team money like it's pennies, but you nailed it on the head. The MLB has so much money, this would be an admirable charity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulfield12 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 (edited) Alcohol has always been a part of the culture of baseball, look no further than Guillen and LaRussa. I suppose they could put something in all their contracts, but wouldn't you have to do that for all players, not just the Latin American ones? There's a fine line between safety and taking away individual freedoms. It's not like MLB is going to pay a subsidy for additional police checkpoints in all those countries, or have private security contractors/designated drivers stay with their players 24/7. I guess I'll believe it when I see it, like dealing with steroids, or the gun and domestic violence culture in the NFL. http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-colum...e128092259.html Edited January 22, 2017 by caulfield12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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