Brian Anderson and winter ball again...

[Kalapse]

Im sorry my generalization didnt prove true in the 5 RBI chances he has had.

7

[RockRaines]

7

Sorry again.

[rafacosta]

Coming back to BA. Isn't strange that he doesnt want to play winter league because he got a stomach virus down there in Venezuela? How many US players go to play there and don't have any problem? I think he should know better before criticizing the manager's home country. From what I see is that Ozzie does not want him to play because he went to Venezuela and acted like a star and pussy.

[witesoxfan]

Coming back to BA. Isn't strange that he doesnt want to play winter league because he got a stomach virus down there in Venezuela? How many US players go to play there and don't have any problem? I think he should know better before criticizing the manager's home country. From what I see is that Ozzie does not want him to play because he went to Venezuela and acted like a star and pussy.

 

I don't know if you can say he acted like a star and a pussy. Anderson got sick and lost 20 pounds due to his illness; I'd imagine the last thing on his mind at that point in time was baseball and showing up everyone in the country. How he got sick is an entirely different story, but he was sick nonetheless.

 

Regardless, that's something I really hadn't considered. Ozzie definitely seems to be a very proud Venezuelan, and Anderson refusing to play there - even if because of his health - is an insult to Ozzie. I imagine I'd be insulted too, but it still doesn't give him the right to not play him, because quite frankly it's two different arguments, and they should come to some sort of compromise.

 

Perhaps if he were to go play in Venezuela, and he stayed healthy, he'd be out of Ozzie's doghouse. I don't know if that would be something Ozzie would keep a bias against a player for or not.

[South Side Fireworks Man]

That whole Sox winter ball in Venezuela episode was a fiasco last winter. Razor Shines was fired, the rest of the Sox players walked off the team and Anderson along with I think at least one other player got seriously ill. The Sox should stay away from playing down there anyway.

 

Don't they have winter ball in Puerto Rico or Mexico?

[rafacosta]

I don't know if you can say he acted like a star and a pussy. Anderson got sick and lost 20 pounds due to his illness; I'd imagine the last thing on his mind at that point in time was baseball and showing up everyone in the country. How he got sick is an entirely different story, but he was sick nonetheless.

 

Regardless, that's something I really hadn't considered. Ozzie definitely seems to be a very proud Venezuelan, and Anderson refusing to play there - even if because of his health - is an insult to Ozzie. I imagine I'd be insulted too, but it still doesn't give him the right to not play him, because quite frankly it's two different arguments, and they should come to some sort of compromise.

 

Perhaps if he were to go play in Venezuela, and he stayed healthy, he'd be out of Ozzie's doghouse. I don't know if that would be something Ozzie would keep a bias against a player for or not.

 

Well, when I meant that he acted like a star was not adapting to the country and missing the american cuisine, culture, etc and not willing to interact with the local culture.

 

I strongly feel that Ozzie is mainly upset with him because of all this Venezuela stuff. I am pretty sure that BA was saying some bad stuff about the country behind Ozzie and Ozzie got to know that. Of course BA will not criticize in front of the media otherwise he would be in bad shape.

[witesoxfan]

That whole Sox winter ball in Venezuela episode was a fiasco last winter. Razor Shines was fired, the rest of the Sox players walked off the team and Anderson along with I think at least one other player got seriously ill. The Sox should stay away from playing down there anyway.

 

Don't they have winter ball in Puerto Rico or Mexico?

 

Yeah, but the White Sox have nothing to gain by playing in Puerto Rico or Mexico. The good young talent in Latin America is almost exclusively coming in from the Dominican and Venezuela, with your occasional exception coming in from Panama (Caballo) or Colombia (Renteria). Ozzie is Venezuelan, so they were trying to capitalize on that opportunity and attract young players to the White Sox organization. It doesn't appear as though it's worked out quite yet, but they'll continue trying and hopefully something can be worked out.

 

Well, when I meant that he acted like a star was not adapting to the country and missing the american cuisine, culture, etc and not willing to interact with the local culture.

 

I strongly feel that Ozzie is mainly upset with him because of all this Venezuela stuff. I am pretty sure that BA was saying some bad stuff about the country behind Ozzie and Ozzie got to know that. Of course BA will not criticize in front of the media otherwise he would be in bad shape.

 

See, that makes a ton of sense in the world to me, and it just would not surprise me that Ozzie would make this his political agenda. Because he does not like Anderson, because Anderson likely said some unfavorable and outright wrong things to say about a country, he won't play him. It may have to do with work ethic as well, but I can see this as being the main reason, I really can.

 

I don't have any insight into this situation, so what I'm saying is complete conjecture, but it makes sense to me, and if true, and if Anderson won't play winterball in Venezuela next year, I see him gone in a heartbeat, whether right or wrong (and I actually think it's right, because he's is going against his employer's orders for him and he is disrespecting the organization. It sucks for Anderson right now, but it's about following customs and eating properly. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if he knows exactly why he got sick).

[Gregory Pratt]

I prefer the storyline where Ozzie Guillen just hates young players, white players and has a baseless vendetta against Brian Anderson BECAUSE HE'S A COMMUNIST I GUESS, WOT ELSE WOULD IT BE?

[witesoxfan]

I prefer the storyline where Ozzie Guillen just hates young players, white players and has a baseless vendetta against Brian Anderson BECAUSE HE'S A COMMUNIST I GUESS, WOT ELSE WOULD IT BE?

 

that's just part of it dude, settle down

[southsideirish71]

Well, when I meant that he acted like a star was not adapting to the country and missing the american cuisine, culture, etc and not willing to interact with the local culture.

 

I strongly feel that Ozzie is mainly upset with him because of all this Venezuela stuff. I am pretty sure that BA was saying some bad stuff about the country behind Ozzie and Ozzie got to know that. Of course BA will not criticize in front of the media otherwise he would be in bad shape.

 

I suggest you go through the travelers diarrhea or a protozoa infestation drinking some of the water in a latin american, or far east country before you judge someone. Let me help you out, imagine sharp pains in your stomach for a few weeks. And then sit on the toilet and pretty much open up the water works. After all this fun, go out in the heat and play some baseball. As a person who has traveled, and who has dealt with some of this fun. I can tell you, its easier to dismiss it then to go through it.

[Gregory Pratt]

that's just part of it dude, settle down

 

I'm just saying. If it turns out that Ozzie's not a racist, old-man-loving jerk, I'll be disappointed.

 

Maybe Brian called the Venezuelan girls "nappy-headed hoes." Or something?

[Dick Allen]

Well, when I meant that he acted like a star was not adapting to the country and missing the american cuisine, culture, etc and not willing to interact with the local culture.

 

I strongly feel that Ozzie is mainly upset with him because of all this Venezuela stuff. I am pretty sure that BA was saying some bad stuff about the country behind Ozzie and Ozzie got to know that. Of course BA will not criticize in front of the media otherwise he would be in bad shape.

If Ozzie is upset with Anderson about Venezuelan "stuff" he should really be pissed off at KW, who has said the White Sox won't be sending anyone down there to play anymore.

[SoxFan1]

I'm just saying. If it turns out that Ozzie's not a racist, old-man-loving jerk, I'll be disappointed.

 

Maybe Brian called the Venezuelan girls "nappy-headed hoes." Or something?

I'm going to go ahead and say BA doesn't even play 100 games this year. We could really use him for defensive replacements...but not in Ozzie's mind. It's really getting old.

[southsider2k5]

Remind me who had the only hit in yesterday's 9th inning.

Is it Thome's fault he doesn't get anything to hit in the late inning especially with a base open?

If you were a pitcher in a close game and a hitter like Thome came to bat, would you give him anything close to hit? Didn't think so.

 

Other major leaguers seem to be able to handle it, especially with guys who put up over 40 homers hitting behind them.

 

Coming back to BA. Isn't strange that he doesnt want to play winter league because he got a stomach virus down there in Venezuela? How many US players go to play there and don't have any problem? I think he should know better before criticizing the manager's home country. From what I see is that Ozzie does not want him to play because he went to Venezuela and acted like a star and pussy.

 

 

Well, when I meant that he acted like a star was not adapting to the country and missing the american cuisine, culture, etc and not willing to interact with the local culture.

 

I strongly feel that Ozzie is mainly upset with him because of all this Venezuela stuff. I am pretty sure that BA was saying some bad stuff about the country behind Ozzie and Ozzie got to know that. Of course BA will not criticize in front of the media otherwise he would be in bad shape.

 

Well if that is the way people treated him down there, I can imagine why he wouldn't want to go back. At the sametime, its stuff like that, which seems very consistant with the stories leaking out of the clubhouse about Brian Anderson. He really is sounding more and more like another DAngelo Jimenez with all of the potential in the world, an ego to match, and a questionable work ethic. It is hard to reward guys like that.

[caulfield12]

Other major leaguers seem to be able to handle it, especially with guys who put up over 40 homers hitting behind them.

Well if that is the way people treated him down there, I can imagine why he wouldn't want to go back. At the sametime, its stuff like that, which seems very consistant with the stories leaking out of the clubhouse about Brian Anderson. He really is sounding more and more like another DAngelo Jimenez with all of the potential in the world, an ego to match, and a questionable work ethic. It is hard to reward guys like that.

 

I lived in Colombia and taught there all last year, it's a lot more dangerous than Venezuela. I also didn't get sick once, which always happens to me in Mexico with the water, even drinking carbonated soft drinks down there that are bottled in Mexico.

 

There's nothing worse than being in a foreign country and being sick, but ballplayers are worshipped down there...unless they're not contributing to having a winning team on the field, which is THE most important thing in all of the Winter Leagues, not development. Remember when Borchard was released from the Mexican team?

 

I think KW should step back and realize that these owners are going to put winning and NOT developing future White Sox players at the forefront. I don't see why the White Sox simply cannot buy a team in Venezuelan League and run it however they wish. Heck, let Cora, Contreras or Ozzie's kids manage it, as long as White Sox administration and training staff are personally involved.

 

We keep speculating about getting a player like Cabrera to come to Chicago as a Free Agent, but Ozzie hasn't helped us (that we know) directly in that area as of yet.

 

I also think the political climate (anti-gringo, anti-Bush, ant-American, look what happened to that ex-pat accused of murder in Nicaragua without any evidence) has something to do with it. A lot of the South American countries are becoming socialistic, mixed with "market economy" reforms, like Chile, Bolivia (run by a former cocaine farmer), Venezuela...then you have Cuba, etc. Plus, there have been many threats about "nationalizing" US corporations (especially oil companies and banks), so it doesn't make as much sense to invest there at the present time, except for the fact that Ozzie is "hot" and a national hero right now.

 

In Colombia, you have to be in Cartagena, Barranquilla or Santa Marta...Renteria and Orlando Cabrera are both from this region. The coast is the only place to be for baseball. And it's HOT down there...imagine Augusta, Georgia with 95% humidity in the middle of August. They have the ocean breeze and still, most people don't work between 10 am and 3 pm.

 

I would think Anderson would love Latin America, except for being sick. Beautiful women, the culture is all about dancing, festivals, parties, soccer...you make friends wherever you go. You can never be late, time doesn't exist...Americans can pretty much have any woman they want, especially those like BA that are tall with blond hair and blue eyes, lol.

Edited April 17, 2007 by caulfield12

[Gregory Pratt]

I think the women were put off by BA's BA.

:lol

[caulfield12]

I think the women were put off by BA's BA.

:lol

 

Or BA's BO?