Neal: Deduno firmly in mix for rotation spot

[Badsmerf]

And people wonder why the image of "The Ugly American" still regins supreme around the globe. Not too condescending, are we?

Really? The hate against Americans has to do with belittling a baseball tournament in which the top players for each country don't even play? This isn't the FIFA World Cup. This tournament is in it's infancy and will hopefully keep growing. The USA vs. USSR Semifinal was much more of a global and significant event. They are incomparable in their magnitude on history, denying this is naive.

 

I'm sure the people of the Dominicana are extremely proud of it, and they should be. It was a great tournament and a testament to their success in baseball. Lets not take anything away from them by not putting this tournament on the same level.

 

Hopefully this tournament gains popularity globally and can be put in the same sentence. Right now, as evidence by participating teams and results, the Americas and Japan dominate baseball. The Netherlands, Italy, and Korea have all had positive presence in the WBC so far. Hopefully this leads to more interest in baseball from other countries. Europe has been slow to embrace baseball. Partially, I'm glad the USA isn't winning this tournament consistently (or ever lol). To me, it provides more motivation to other countries to get involved.

[3up3down]

spiritofvodka, I dont think I contradicted myself, my opinion of Hendriks hasnt changed..with Deduno if he is in the rotation or pen doesnt matter to me , I just believe he offers something to the team & I honestly think Hendriks offers nothing..

[ThePuck]

And people wonder why the image of "The Ugly American" still regins supreme around the globe. Not too condescending, are we?

 

I read the post you quoted 5 times and I still don't see how you say that in response to his post. And this is coming from a guy who has been all over the world and had to break down that stereotype.

[jokin]

Really? The hate against Americans has to do with belittling a baseball tournament in which the top players for each country don't even play? This isn't the FIFA World Cup. This tournament is in it's infancy and will hopefully keep growing. The USA vs. USSR Semifinal was much more of a global and significant event. They are incomparable in their magnitude on history, denying this is naive.

 

I'm sure the people of the Dominicana are extremely proud of it, and they should be. It was a great tournament and a testament to their success in baseball. Lets not take anything away from them by not putting this tournament on the same level.

 

Hopefully this tournament gains popularity globally and can be put in the same sentence. Right now, as evidence by participating teams and results, the Americas and Japan dominate baseball. The Netherlands, Italy, and Korea have all had positive presence in the WBC so far. Hopefully this leads to more interest in baseball from other countries. Europe has been slow to embrace baseball. Partially, I'm glad the USA isn't winning this tournament consistently (or ever lol). To me, it provides more motivation to other countries to get involved.

 

Smerf, I never said that the Olympic win wasn't important to the US. I've never "denied" anything of the sort. I did say that it most certainly wasn't particularly important whatsover to the citizens of the DR. There's a reason that most of the geographical world was/is called "Third" or Non-Aligned- they generally didn't care who happened to win a Winter Olympic event. And in a country like the DR, with such a tortured relationship with the US, it's likely the few average citizens that did care would support anyone, except the US.

 

You can put any tournament, in any sport, at any level you want and ascribe it the "importance" you deem obvious to us in the First World, and it won't make a bit of difference to the Dominicans, who just might be presumptuos enough to ascribe their own sense of importance to the things that they actually value. The country is baseball-centric and baseball-crazy. "Ice" is truly an alien concept in a country that has average high temps in the 80s all year round and average lows in the low 70s and high 60s.

 

This thread derailment has obscured my initial point and dovetails nicely with your post, Smerf. I merely said that the Twins are in a good position to garner some goodwill in the Dominican victorious afterglow, after accomplishing something unprecedented and important to them in their history- just not our history. Maybe it won't be a fond memory to them in 30 years, but that was hardly the point.

[jokin]

I read the post you quoted 5 times and I still don't see how you say that in response to his post. And this is coming from a guy who has been all over the world and had to break down that stereotype.

 

Because he dealt with the subject matter entirely from the US point of view and verbally patted the Domincans on the head? This is a tiny, impoverished country and we are telling them how they should feel about the victory they committed to for the last 4 years after their WBC humiliation in 2009? The tone taken is much akin to the imperialistic tone taken towards the country in the 20th Century.

[kab21]

A lot of this Deduno talk was also said about Blackburn in 2009 at the all-star break. He had a 3.00 ERA and possessed this magical ability to induce weak contact. Of course he didn't have the ability to actually miss bats. He had also shut down a few teams at 'clutch' times and was regarded by some as a big game pitcher. He will get his chance this season because the other options suck also and I think he makes a great story but I have no expectations of success from him.

[Guest USAFChief]

Also to be honest, DeDuno and Hendriks are both going to get plenty of chances this year...

Yup. Settle down people. These things have a way of working themselves out. Truth be told, I'm not real optimistic that either will be a long term asset to the rotation, but both will have the opportunity to prove me wrong over the course of the coming season.

[ThePuck]

Because he dealt with the subject matter entirely from the US point of view and verbally patted the Domincans on the head?

 

Yeah, I didn't get that vibe from the part he wrote and you quoted.

[PopRiveter]

Deduno is a lot of fun to watch. For that reason, I want him to make the rotation.

 

Hendriks has moved fast through the org and has shown an ability to figure out how to succeed at each level along the way. At age 23, he's certainly not struggled long enough for me to give up hope that he'll figure out how to succeed in the majors. For that reason, I want to watch him pitch this year and am confident he will. Even he gets the ball rolling at AAA and comes up to replace DeCorrewaltfrey. Or maybe even Deduno.

 

There seems to be a lot of arguing one vs. the other in this thread. These are two very different pieces. We're trying to compare an apple with a taco salad.

[Mr. Brooks]

Um, just to be clear I wasnt claiming that the Miracle on Ice would be more remembered in the DR than this WBC win. Obviously that wouldnt be the case.

I was saying the MOI is more remembered HERE, than this WBC win will be remembered there, 30+ years from now.

 

And yeah, I'm sure the reason the world hates America is because I dont think this win will be remembered as universally to them, as the MOI is to us. What an evil person I am, for having that opinion.

[fairweather]

You want Hendriks to get better? Try letting someone besides Mauer catch for him.

[ThePuck]

You want Hendriks to get better? Try letting someone besides Mauer catch for him.

 

yeah, let's see. With Mauer catching Hendricks his ERA was 3.86. With Doumit it was 7.94 and with Butera it 6.59.

[Nick Nelson]

Sounds like Gardy took the words right out of my mouth:

[LaBombo]

yeah, let's see. With Mauer catching Hendricks his ERA was 3.86. With Doumit it was 7.94 and with Butera it 6.59.

 

Forget it, he's on a roll...

 

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