FanGraphs Audio: Bradley Woodrum on Cespedes
Episode 139
With normal Monday guest managing editor Dave Cameron on assignment, Bradley Woodrum plays the part of baseballing analyst for this edition of FanGraphs Audio. The topics covered? Just one, really: Yoenis Cespedes’ four-year, $36 million contract with the Oakland A’s. Also: how Oakland outfielder Collin Cowgill might be a four-win player.
Don’t hesitate to direct pod-related correspondence to @cistulli on Twitter.
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Audio after the jump. (Approximately 35 min. play time.)
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Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
You’re driving me crazy every time you say “Cespédes”. The accent means his name is pronounced “Céspedes”. When you then said Cespeedees I almost spit out milk on the computer screen.
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Which is to say: I wish we — Congo Hammer and myself — had talked before I went on the podcast.
How professional broadcasters mispronounce Hispanic names has long been a pet peeve of mine! Most noteworthy these days is the butchering of Miami SP Sanchez, called “Anna-Ball” (or immediately after his no-hitter as “Anna-Bell”). Does it really take effort to learn “ah-NEE-buhl”? Broadcasters’ failing to learn proper pronunciations is arrogant disregard of the contributions of Latin American players troughout the decades.
As a Chinese speaker, I get upset when people — more than likely such as yourself — say “Bei-zhhhing” instead of Beijing, like Bay jingle bells. Or Shaynghai instead of Shanghai like shung-hi.
What can you do? Alas, vengeful killing sprees have been outlawed. 🙁
I did not write this to be critical of this segment…it was only 4 or 5 days ago that I first saw the accent associated with Cespedes name on ESPN, altering its pronunciation, and absolving blame from this audio. But we’ve had years to learn Anibal. Last season I heard a “Viz-KWELL” and nearly fell into a 1960s time warp!
Agoraphobia is the fear of leaving one’s house, or fear of being in places where escape would prove to be embarrassing or difficult. What I believe you suffer from, Bradley, is being a completely normal and reasonable human being.
Aw shucks, :).
Agoraphobia (from Greek ?????, “marketplace”; and ?????/?????, -phobia) is an anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety in situations where it is perceived to be difficult or embarrassing to escape. These situations can include, but are not limited to, wide-open spaces, crowds, and uncontrollable social situations such as may be met in shopping malls, airports, and on bridges.
How I pronounce Beijing has nothing to do with this subject. Professional baseball broadcasters have had decades to learn Hispanic name inflections, and have not done so.
Oh, I get you. My comment was meant to be more of a, “I feel your pain,” than a, “Quit whining, b—-.”
This tirade is not against you, Bradley; it is meant to expose baseball broadcasters who don’t do their homework. Chill.