BBTF's Count the Rings™ Discussion :: The weird intersection of sports, politics and baseball

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

The weird intersection of sports, politics and baseball

OK, this is a totally out-of-leftfield rumor, that I suspect there’s roughly a 5% chance of being true, but it could have some interesting ramifications on the baseball world.

Several Web sites of a conservative bent (National Review, Red State) and subsequently the gossip blog Wonkette are tossing out a rumor that former pitching prospect, and current Cuban potentate Fidel Castro is dead. One site surmising that if he were to die, relations with the island baseball factory could be normalized within days.

IF (and its a huge if) Castro is dead and IF (and even bigger if) the trade restrictions with Cuba are lifted, this potentially could be HUGE for MLB… think of it, less than a month to the trade deadline and about six weeks to the postseason roster/waiver deadline and the Yankees could be shopping for Yulieski Gourriel and friends…

Keeping in mind this is probably a complete sham - no media has yet to pick up on it - but money we got, players to trade not so much… this could potentially be a big thing for the Bombers (and other teams too).

Just for giggles, here’s the Cuban stats from the WBC. Ahhh, perchance to dream

Sean McNally Posted: July 11, 2006 at 04:54 PM | 26 comment(s)
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1. Sean McNally Posted: July 11, 2006 at 05:01 PM (#2095717)

Now, please understand, I am not subscribing to the theory that A) Castro is dead nor B) The U.S. and Cuba can smooth over their 50-year-old p*ssing contest over a long jerk pork lunch and cigars... just saying its an interesting thing to gossip about idly on All-Star Tuesday.

2. The Jerry Royster Experience Posted: July 11, 2006 at 05:05 PM (#2095720)

It should be noted, however, that Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.

3. AROM Posted: July 11, 2006 at 05:07 PM (#2095724)

That title alone should be good for 20,000 or so posts.

Imagine how little we'll have to talk about tomorrow, the saddest day of the sports world.

4. Sean McNally Posted: July 11, 2006 at 05:09 PM (#2095727)

Amen Rallymonkey... honestly, Thursday morning of All-Star week is the saddest for me: it is the only day between late February and October with no box scores.

5. Furious George Posted: July 11, 2006 at 05:12 PM (#2095729)

The rumor started today on Wall Street. Apparently, it's gained enough steam that the State Department is trying to confirm.

6. Guapo Posted: July 11, 2006 at 05:14 PM (#2095732)

island baseball factory

Is this different from the baseball think factory?

One thought with regard to this rumor: Basayev was not dissimilar in appearance to Castro. I wonder if somebody got them confused.

This is what I'm talking about

As a consolation prize, maybe Basayev's death will open up a wellspring of Chechen baseball talent to the west.

7. Ace the Bat-Hound, not a bumblebee Posted: July 11, 2006 at 05:56 PM (#2095767)

One thought with regard to this rumor: Basayev was not dissimilar in appearance to Castro.

And Syd Barrett was not dissimilar in craziness.

Is you serious with this? I dunno how we're supposed to discuss whether Castro is dead or not.

8. Misirlou don't work cause vandals took the handle Posted: July 11, 2006 at 06:36 PM (#2095793)

Shine on you crazy diamond.

9. pkb33 Posted: July 11, 2006 at 07:08 PM (#2095819)

What MLB should have in place is a plan for this. For example, they could have had discussions with the union along the line of "hey, we know you guys don't like drafts but the money going to these newly-available guys (not current union members) won't be going to your current membership. So what do you think about a one-time Cuban entry draft?"

But what'll actually happen is the rich teams will buy all the good players. Or, even worse, MLB will say they can't play until 2007 and some player will sue MLB and create chaos.

10. Mike Emeigh Posted: July 11, 2006 at 07:12 PM (#2095822)

Thursday morning of All-Star week is the saddest for me: it is the only day between late February and October with no box scores.

Well, there's the AAA All-Star game, the EL All-Star game, and the SL, TL, Class A leagues, SS leagues, rookie leagues...there are plenty of box scores out there. You just have to know where to look.

-- MWE

11. LathamJoe Posted: July 12, 2006 at 04:56 PM (#2097068)

....And pleez, Senorita Tinker Belle, send me from Cuba:

a starting pitcher, maybe left handed, who can go at least 7 innings and hold the oppostion to 3 runs or less

a slugging right fielder who has a ZR of at least 5 and has normal long ball potential.

a slick fielding 1st basemen with reasonable hitting potential.

a set up man, (throws either side) who can bridge the gap to the Great Mariano Rivera!

Sincerely<

General George and "Clueless Joe"

12. Pastor Toastman (PH) Posted: July 12, 2006 at 05:02 PM (#2097074)

a starting pitcher, maybe left handed, who can go at least 7 innings and hold the oppostion to 3 runs or less

They already sent you one of those.

13. villainx Posted: July 22, 2006 at 10:40 AM (#2107452)

a long jerk pork lunch

I don't think I ever had this before, is this a common Latin American dish? Or is it just called something else. I live in New York with a huge populations of Latin Americans, but the pork I tried have all shaded on the dry side.

14. Fountains of Wayne Gomes Posted: July 26, 2006 at 11:23 AM (#2112950)

The weird intersection of sports, politics and baseball

What a bizarre title. Isn't the intersection of baseball and sports the entirety of baseball?

15. Joey B. Posted: July 26, 2006 at 11:29 AM (#2112959)

This is impossible; everyone know that Fidel Castro is going to live forever.

Seriously, I've seen this rumor spread around the Net a bunch of times in the last few years. But the great thing about a rumor like this is that sooner or later it'll actually turn out to be true. I just hope that after he's gone that the people of Cuba don't get stuck with another fifty-year dictator.

16. JC in DC Posted: July 26, 2006 at 11:47 AM (#2112988)

What? Dead?

17. Darren Posted: August 02, 2006 at 05:46 PM (#2123688)

Hello (hello.... hello...)
Echo (echo... echo... echo...)

18. Sometimes it Rains (sj) Posted: August 02, 2006 at 06:22 PM (#2123746)

Well, welll, well, look who is trolling CTR now that the sox have one more win than the Yankees

19. Darren Posted: August 02, 2006 at 06:33 PM (#2123756)

SJ,

When are we going to get that beer?

20. Darren Posted: August 02, 2006 at 06:33 PM (#2123757)

This intro makes me think McNally's a rightwing nut. He's not, is he?

21. Sean McNally Posted: August 02, 2006 at 11:08 PM (#2124564)

No he's not... he's a liberal who likes to see what the enemy has to say.

22. Darren Posted: August 02, 2006 at 11:16 PM (#2124569)

Phew.

23. Sean McNally Posted: August 02, 2006 at 11:17 PM (#2124571)

Darren, did you see what I did just for you ;-)

24. Aspiring One-Armed Economist (6 - 4 - 3) Posted: August 02, 2006 at 11:19 PM (#2124572)

I just hope that after he's gone that the people of Cuba don't get stuck with another fifty-year dictator.

Well that's the nice thing about having his 75 year-old brother as the heir apparent.

25. kevin Posted: August 02, 2006 at 11:19 PM (#2124573)

You know, I think he is dead.

Castro, that is. Not McNally. McNally is only comatose from witnessing another Carmona meltdown.

26. Sean McNally Posted: August 02, 2006 at 11:20 PM (#2124574)

Castro, that is. Not McNally. McNally is only comatose from witnessing another Carmona meltdown.

I think you misspelled drunk with glee over watching another Wang gem.

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The weird intersection of sports, politics and baseball

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