# MLB: March/April 2012 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 28, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055 "2012-03-28T16:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/161 "2012-04-10T14:58:02Z")
I’m pretty sure Ozzie can manage to say a stupid thing that will offend one large group or another at least once a week. If they avoid in-game interviews, he might be able to manage a game once in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/162 "2012-04-10T14:58:46Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > You don’t just shit all over your biggest market like that and expect no sort of sanction. Because you should be sanctioned by your employer based on your political beliefs. That’s what living in a free society is all about. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/163 "2012-04-10T15:02:13Z")
It was a very stupid thing to say, but Guillen also apologized profusely and, as far as I can tell, sincerely. (And I think he’s an asshole.) It has nothing to do with baseball and it’s a little grating to see the organization suspend him just as a marketing ploy and a sop to Cuban exiles in the area. I am not sure a five-game suspension will satisfy anybody anyway. There are already groups saying he needs to be fired. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/164 "2012-04-10T15:08:16Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Because you should be sanctioned by your employer based on your political beliefs. That’s what living in a free society is all about. Not true in this case though. The Marlins need to appeal to the large baseball loving Cuban-American pop near the new stadium and the #1 face & voice of the Marlins just lovingly praised their Satan on earth. A manager takes on a responsibilty to the team that is more then managing and Ozzie could not have said much more to alienate the fanbase the Marlins want. A mere singer of “God Bless America” will never sing at Yankee Stadium again for some much lesser insulting statements about Jewish people. Unless Ozzie can get the forgiveness of the local Cuban community he will be fired and I would guess for cause. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/165 "2012-04-10T15:16:03Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > A mere singer of “God Bless America” will never sing at Yankee Stadium again for some much lesser insulting statements about Jewish people. And that one actually _was_ bullshit: he made an innocent joke in private conversation about someone else’s bigotry, and someone took it to the press. But it’s true the manager is the face of the team in the community, and Guillen was very clearly hired for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/166 "2012-04-10T15:57:26Z")
> [@Mr.Greenjeans](#): > > Because you should be sanctioned by your employer based on your political beliefs. That’s what living in a free society is all about. First, he’s not being sanctioned for his political beliefs. His comments weren’t about politics at all - they were about how he was impressed that Castro survived as long as he did while being targeted. Second, his job has as one of its responsibilities being a liaison to the Hispanic (in Miami read: Cuban) community. Praising Castro, even in a limited manner, is not doing his job. His best bet is to apologize profuse and sincerely, accept the suspension with humility, and hope it fades away. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/167 "2012-04-10T16:01:28Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > His comments weren’t about politics at all - they were about how he was impressed that Castro survived as long as he did while being targeted. Right. And Castro actually did do that (of course, he did it by oppressing people), which sort of makes you wonder why Guillen isn’t allowed to say “I respect Fidel Castro … A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still here.” > [@](#): > > His best bet is to apologize profuse and sincerely He did that before he was suspended. In fact I think he was coming back to Miami to apologize in person even though he’s supposed to be managing the team. > [@](#): > > accept the suspension with humility …Humility? We were talking about Ozzie Guillen, right? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/168 "2012-04-10T16:54:47Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Right. And Castro actually did do that (of course, he did it by oppressing people), which sort of makes you wonder why Guillen isn’t allowed to say “I respect Fidel Castro … A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still here.” I think he would have been fine without the “respect” and “love” verbiage. And your point in the paranthesis is key - many of the people Castro oppressed in order to “still be here” (or the relatives thereof) are now potential fans of the Miami Marlins. That’s bad PR to the Nth degree. And really is surviving as a dictator worthy of respect? Anybody without a conscience and with a military can do it - Kim, Pol Pot, Saddam. None really worthy of respect in my book. As long as you have an intelligence service and the willingness to torture and imprison your citizens it’s not really _that_ hard. > [@](#): > > …Humility? We were talking about Ozzie Guillen, right? Yeah, that part could be tough for him. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/169 "2012-04-10T17:12:37Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > And your point in the paranthesis is key - many of the people Castro oppressed in order to “still be here” (or the relatives thereof) are now potential fans of the Miami Marlins. That’s the part that’s making me a little less annoyed about the response he’s getting. > [@](#): > > And really is surviving as a dictator worthy of respect? I don’t think so, but I also don’t care if Ozzie Guillen feels differently. I will say that it’s kind of ridiculous that nothing happened to Ozzie when he not only praised Hugo Chavez in 2005, but appeared on Chavez’s radio show. Since Ozzie’s too dumb to stop talking about dictators - does he feel a kinship? I have to ask - maybe the is not to offend groups who are organized enough to earn special treatment. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/170 "2012-04-10T17:26:39Z")
Not to mention that MLB didn’t see fit to take any action five years back when Guillen was calling journalists fags. This is stupid. I think Guillen is a dick, for all sorts of reasons, but this suspension is bullshit. ETA: Oops, i was wrong. Ozzie got fined for the “fag” thing. But no suspension. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/171 "2012-04-10T17:29:39Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I have to ask - maybe the is not to offend groups who are organized enough to earn special treatment. Of course that’s the key. In particular, not to offend groups that are organized and are the majority of your fan base. Compare the response to his comments slurring gays to the response someone doing the same gets in Hollywood. It’s called “knowing your audience” and is the key to any high-profile job. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/172 "2012-04-10T17:48:45Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Not to mention that MLB didn’t see fit to take any action five years back when Guillen was calling journalists fags. > > This is stupid. I think Guillen is a dick, for all sorts of reasons, but this suspension is bullshit. > ETA: Oops, i was wrong. Ozzie got fined for the “fag” thing. But no suspension. Isn’t it the team that’s suspending Guillen, not MLB? That would seem to be an important distinction. I’d agree with you that MLB shouldn’t do anything to Guillen, given their inaction over his Chavez comments, cited by Marley, or their paltry punishment over his “fag” comments. His team, OTOH, should be free to drop the hammer on him, if they so choose, and if it doesn’t conflict with Guillen’s employment contract. How much money did Miami and Dade County give the Marlins to build that new stadium? Something like $2B in incentives over the next 40 years? And their new manager turns around on his first regular season week on the job and starts insulting one of the significant minorities in the area? I’m surprised the suspension isn’t for longer. In other MLB news, how weird is it that the Astros are 3-1? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/173 "2012-04-10T17:53:28Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > How much money did Miami and Dade County give the Marlins to build that new stadium? Something like $2B in incentives over the next 40 years? Actually, that’s sort of why i can’t get too worked up about this. The shafting that the taxpayers took for that stadium is far more offensive than anything Guillen could say about Fidel Castro. When you’ve bent over and taken it that hard, it’s a bit late to complain that your ass-rapist isn’t using quite enough lube. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/174 "2012-04-10T17:57:55Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > How much money did Miami and Dade County give the Marlins to build that new stadium? Something like $2B in incentives over the next 40 years? And their new manager turns around on his first regular season week on the job and starts insulting one of the significant minorities in the area? Right, “give.” This is still less insulting than what team president said about the people who are being forced to pay for his stadium. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/175 "2012-04-10T18:06:00Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > …The shafting that the taxpayers took for that stadium is far more offensive than anything Guillen could say about Fidel Castro… Oh, I completely agree with you both. Were it up to me, MLB—hell, all sports leagues— would be obligated to adopt a [Pac Bell Park model](http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/oct/22/privately_built_pacific/) for stadium funding. It infuriates me that sports teams are allowed to plunder the public treasury as if it were their own piggy bank. We are still paying off the bonds that were issued to renovate the Astrodome to try and keep the Oilers in Houston. Just disgusting. For crying out loud though, didn’t you do any due diligence on Ozzie Guillen when you offered him the job? Did you think he wouldn’t say anything controversial? All will be forgiven if the Marlins run away with the East. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/176 "2012-04-10T19:04:01Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Why is it bullshit? You don’t think the Yankees would suspend their manager if he said he “loved” Osama Bin Laden? You don’t just shit all over your biggest market like that and expect no sort of sanction. Are we talking about the same guy who referred to Fidel Castro, in the same statement, as a “son of a bitch”? It was a statement of grudging admiration for his staying power, not an endorsement of his politics. I realize some people in Miami are still so butthurt about the long-ago revolution in Cuba that they shit their pants anytime anyone says anything about Cuba that is not a prepared text from the Association of Cuban-Americans That Did Well Under the Batista Regime, but there comes a time when you have to tell people that you can’t pussyfoot around their misinterpretations. A thousand bucks says the people who claim they’re going to boycott the team weren’t gonna buy tickets anyway. > [@](#): > > And even there the place wasn’t full for Game 2 of the season! I know the Cubs are gonna suck, but still… The second game of the season, if it is a weekday, is always the most poorly attended day of the season. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/177 "2012-04-10T19:06:46Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > Cy Zito with the complete game shutout. Giants scoring more than 5 runs per game. Lincecum, Cain, Bumgarner all struggling. Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria! They obviously took a wrong turn on the bus back from Scottsdale, and wound up in Bizarro-land. What’s with the schedule this week? They played a game in Denver Monday, then have an off-day Tuesday, then play two more Wednesday and Thursday before flying back to SF for the home opener on Friday. Why not play M-T-W and have an off-day for travel on Thursday? ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/178 "2012-04-10T23:05:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Are we talking about the same guy who referred to Fidel Castro, in the same statement, as a “son of a bitch”? It was a statement of grudging admiration for his staying power, not an endorsement of his politics. Yeah, that’s a fair point. But, on the other hand, dealing with anti-Castro Cubans sort of goes with the territory in Miami, no? > [@](#): > > The second game of the season, if it is a weekday, is always the most poorly attended day of the season. This was a day game on a Saturday when it was in the 60s and sunny. And yet Wrigley wasn’t full and I was able to get good seats at about half face value. I can sort of understand GAB being two-thirds empty on a Monday night. But it doesn’t speak very well of the Reds drawing power that they can’t do a bit better after their big splash for Votto. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/179 "2012-04-11T02:53:59Z")
The home opener in LA was a little more low-key than I would have anticipated, in terms of pre-game stuff. Of course, it sucked a little bit of enthusiasm out of the air that Magic Johnson couldn’t/didn’t come, and that Vin Scully was out sick (I overheard someone saying it was the first home opener he’d missed since 1977). Still, a great time at the ballpark, a solid pitching performance from Kershaw, and the bullpen did it’s job. Despite the lack of offense, we’ll take the W. Getting out the parking lot today sucked, though. The more things change, the more they stay the same. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055/180 "2012-04-11T04:00:17Z")
Mariners lost again to the Rangers, but managed to hold them to only 1 run. Apparently, this was only the tenth 1-0 game in the history of the Ballpark at Arlington. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-march-april-2012/617055.md?page=10)