What’s it like to be Latino in MLB today? Prospects, starters and future Hall of Famers share their stories.
From ESPN: Beisbol Experience MLB 50-man interview
“We are not understood. We have to adapt. There are things we are not used to doing in our countries. When you keep doing things wrong, people get tired; I even got tired myself. There should not be so many rules. You just have to do your job and let people have fun, which is what I was doing in 2013. They’ve wanted to change so many things about me that I feel so off. I don’t feel like the player I was in 2013.”
YASIEL PUIG, DODGERS, CUBA
Unused sports venues can represent millions in wasted money, but also in lost moments of joy and sorrow.
Via the Dodgers Dugout email from Houston Mitchell of the LA Times:
Since the All-Star game began in 1933, which Dodgers have pitched the most career innings for the team without ever appearing in the game?
- Doug Rau, 1,250 2/3
- Ismael Valdez, 1,065
- Tom Candiotti, 1,048
- Luke Hamlin, 1,011
- Joe Hatten, 961 1/3
- Pedro Astacio, 886 2/3
- Darren Dreifort, 872 2/3
- Hugh Casey, 867 2/3
- Roger Craig, 814
- Tim Belcher, 806
And which Dodgers batters appeared in the most games without ever making the All-Star team?
- Eric Karros, 1,601
- Wes Parker, 1,288
- Steve Yeager, 1,219
- Willie Crawford, 989
- James Loney, 896
- Dave Hansen, 884
- Billy Cox, 742
- Dave Anderson, 713
- Joe Ferguson, 699
- Alex Cora, 684
It doesn’t startle me that none of those pitchers ever made the All Star Game, but I am surprised that neither Karros nor Parker ever made it. It may be that first base has been a traditionally star-laden position.