Humberto Quintero Makes Slanted Eyes Gesture
Poor Taste
Kansas City Royals pitcher Bruce Chen found himself on the wrong end of a crude and racist gesture on Saturday night as teammate and catcher Humberto Quintero approached him during an interview and made the “slanted eyes” action behind his back.
Chen, a native Panamanian of Chinese descent, was just starting to chat with Fox’s Kenny Albert and Tom Verducci in the bottom of the fourth inning in Pittsburgh when Quintero, a native of Venezuela, approached from behind and made the gesture.
Chen told the Kansas City Star on Sunday that he was not offended by Quintero’s move:
Ozzie Guillen Apologizes For Fidel Castro Comment
Tape Victim
Miami Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen apologized for telling a magazine that he loves Fidel Castro, a comment that prompted to team to issue a statement denouncing the Cuban dictator.
Guillen told Time magazine that he loves Castro and respects him for staying in power so long. When Guillen read his comments, he said he felt sick because he knew how people would react.
Guillen called the team’s beat writers for a closed-door meeting before a game against the Cincinnati Reds and apologized.
“I will apologize if I hurt somebody’s feelings, or I hurt somebody’s thought,” Guillen told the writers. “I want them to know I’m against everything 100 percent – I repeat it again – the way this man (been) treating people for the last 60 years.”
In response to the magazine story, the Marlins released a statement saying, “There is nothing to respect about Fidel Castro.
“He is a brutal dictator who has caused unthinkable pain for more than 50 years. We live in a community filled with victims of this dictatorship, and the people in Cuba continue to suffer today.”
It’s not the first time Guillen, from Venezuela, has made a strong comment about a controversial leader. During his first news conference as Marlins manager in September, he bristled at a suggestion he supports Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
“Don’t tell my wife that, because she hates that man. She hates him to death,” Guillen said. “I supported Chavez? If I was supporting Chavez, do you think I would be manager of the Marlins? I never supported Chavez.”
Guillen said he has never spoken to Chavez, but in fact he appeared on the Venezuelan leader’s national radio show twice in October 2005, when Guillen led the Chicago White Sox to the World Series title.
At the time, Guillen said: “Not too many people like the president. I do. My mom will kill me, but it’s an honor to talk to the president.”
Yorbit Torrealba Suspended 66 Games For Shoving Umpire
Texas Rangers catcher Yorbit Torrealba, suspended Monday for 66 games by the Venezuelan winter league for pushing an umpire in the face during a game, has issued an apology for the incident. The Rangers have said they are looking into the incident that happened while Torrealba was playing for his hometown Caracas Lions.
“I wanted to express my sincere apologies to all parties for my actions during the Venezuelan Winter League game on Friday. I have extended an apology to the Rangers organization as well. I am embarrassed for my conduct, and personally relayed that feeling to the umpire after that night’s game. On the field, I strive to be an example for children, especially those in my native Venezuela, and I regret my actions. I understand the reactions to the incident and will make every effort to set a positive example in the future.”
The 66-game suspension covers the rest of this winter league season and all of next winter league season in Venezuela.
Wilson Ramos Kidnapped In Venezuela
Have You Seen Me
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, a catcher seen as one of the young building blocks for the team was abducted by gunmen Wednesday from his home in his native Venezuela. Ramos, a 24-year-old who just finished his rookie season, was taken away in an SUV by four armed men in Santa Ines in central Carabobo state, the spokeswoman for his Venezuelan League team, the Aragua Tigers, said on her official Twitter account.
“This is sad, worrisome and true that Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped,” Katherine Vilera wrote.
She said Ramos was taken at 6:45 p.m. at his home in the region 95 miles west of Caracas.
“As of this hour, there has been no contact” between the kidnappers and Ramos’ family, the person said.
Drew Storen, a relief pitcher for the Nationals, tweeted his concerns: “Extremely upsetting news about Ramo. Thoughts and prayers with him. Scary situation.”
Ramos is considered one of the Nationals’ key young players as they try to become a contender in the National League East. As a rookie in 2011, he hit .267 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 113 games. He also threw out 19 of 67 runners attempting to steal a base, a 28 percent success rate that ranked third among qualifying catchers in the National League. Washington acquired Ramos from the Minnesota Twins in a trade for All-Star relief pitcher Matt Capps in July 2010.
The abduction appeared to be the first case involving a Major League Baseball player. But in Venezuela, which is home to dozens of major league players, the families of wealthy athletes have been periodically targeted by kidnappers in hopes of a hefty ransom.
Ozzie Guillen Questioned About Relationship With Hugo Chavez
Pulled The Tape
Minutes into Ozzie Guillen’s first media session as manager of the Florida Marlins, the subject turned to politics and specifically fellow countryman Hugo Chavez. Guillen shrugged off the suggestion he was a fan of the Venezuelan president Chavez.
“Don’t tell my wife that, because she hates that man. She hates him to death,” Guillen said. “I supported Chavez? If I was supporting Chavez, do you think I would be manager of the Marlins? I never supported Chavez.”
The topic arose because Chavez is unpopular with many Venezuelans living in Miami. Guillen said he has never spoken to Chavez, but in fact he appeared on the Venezuelan leader’s national radio show twice in October 2005, when Guillen led the Chicago White Sox to the World Series title.
At the time Guillen said: “Not too many people like the president. I do. My mom will kill me, but it’s an honor to talk to the president.”
Eliezer Alfonzo Suspended 100 Games
Three Strikes Your Out
Colorado Rockies catcher Eliezer Alfonzo become the first player suspended twice for performance-enhancing drugs under the Major League Baseball testing program when the commissioner’s office announced a 100-game penalty. Alfonzo, a 32-year-old backup in his sixth big league season, was suspended for 50 games in April 2008 while a member of the San Francisco Giants.
“I am surprised by this positive test,” he said in a statement released by the Major League Baseball Players Association. “I learned my lesson in 2008 and have not taken any prohibited substances since then. With the union’s help, I intend to fight this suspension and look forward to appearing before the arbitrator in the near future.”
Alfonzo used a similar statement three years ago when he said he never took steroids but did take medicine for bronchitis while home in Venezuela. He is hitting .267 this season with one homer and nine RBIs in 75 at-bats. He has a .240 career average with 17 homers during a career than also included stints with San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.
Baseball began testing with penalties in 2004. Under the current rules, a third violation would carry a lifetime ban. There have been 60 suspensions this year under the tighter minor league testing program. Three other 50-game penalties were announced Rockies right-hander Randol Rogers (Boldenone), Cincinnati Reds right-hander Cole Green (Methylhexaneamine) and Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rhyne Hughes (an amphetamine) also learned of their suspension which they will serve at the start of next season.
Renaldo Balkman Head Butts Greivis Vasquez At FIBA Americas
The NBA is the middle of their lockout but there is legit meaningful games going down in Argentina right now, where the FIBA Tournament of the Americas games are being played. That’s also where New York Knicks Renaldo Balkman thought Memphis Grizzlies Greivis Vasquez needed to get an up and close meeting with his forehead with 5:37 remaining and Puerto Rico leading, 85-62.
Female Pitcher Earns Scholarship To Play College Baseball
You Go Girl
Marti Sementelli is a senior pitcher at Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa, California is about to become only the third female to have played college baseball. Sementelli received a partial academic/athletic scholarship to attend Montreat College in North Carolina. She has pitched on two Team USA squads where she has earned bronze medals both times back in in Japan at age 15 and Venezuela last summer. She currently holds a 2-1 record in 22 innings allowing nine earned runs while striking out 14 and walking just six against stiffer competition.
She throws a two-seam fastball, changeup, slider, cut fastball and palm ball and says her slider and palm ball are her “out” pitches.
“It’s really good to know where I’m going,” Sementelli said. “A lot of stress is off. I kind of expected to play on a team, but was not expecting a scholarship. It feels good that a coach would be willing to have me on his team. I’ve heard negative things that I was not going to do anything after college.”
Nobody is happier about Sementelli’s scholarship than Justine Siegal, founder of Baseball For All.
“It’s a really big deal for all girls who dream of playing college baseball,” Siegal said. “Marti has proven that girls can go after baseball scholarships. I think she will do very well. Her specialty is mixing them up. As long as you keep batters off balance, you can be successful.”
The other only two other females to play in college on a baseball scholarship is Ila Borders (Southern California College from 1994-96 and Whittier College in 1997) and Molly McKesson (Christian Brothers University from 2004-08).
Detriot Tigers Armando Galarraga Receives Award At Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear
Forever Linked
Yesterday at the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert “Rally To Restore Sanity and/or Fear”, Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was awarded a “Medal of Reasonableness” for the way he handled umpire Jim Joyce blowing his perfect game. The rally featured The Roots, John Legend, Cat Stevens, Ozzy Osbourne and Kid Rock, just to name a few of the performers and thousands in attendance as the event was a parody of some of the political-oriented rallies that were held in Washington D.C. earlier in the year.
As part of the event Stewart handed out “Medal of Reasonableness” awards for individuals who demonstrated rationality. Galarraga appeared at the rally via satellite from Venezuela, accepting the award that serves as more recognition of how well he handled the whole situation and keeping his cool about the whole thing.
