ESPN’s Béisbol Experience is Amazing
Today, ESPN published something pretty remarkable; an in-depth look at what it is like for Latinos in the Major Leagues. They are calling this project the Béisbol Experience.
They interviewed over 50 players for the story, breaking down their comments into various categories, giving us a better look at who these people are as people. Given the language barriers that often exist between these players and many of their fans, this is a look into areas those of us who don’t speak Spanish often don’t see and regularly don’t understand.
A few of my favorite quotes from the series.
“I went almost two years without seeing my family. Sometimes I talked to [them] and they cried. You have to fight twice as hard — fight to succeed for you, for your family and fight mentally because you miss your family and you want them close. Sometimes it takes you out of the game.” — ADEINY HECHAVARRÍA
“I went down to a gas station to buy a phone card for calling my family. I didn’t know how to say ‘phone card.’ The lady asked me, ‘How can I help you?’ and I didn’t know what to say. It was so hard. I went to the gas station alone because I didn’t want anyone laughing at me. I waited until no one was left but myself and the cashier.” — JEURYS FAMILIA
“I remember once we were in the elevator at the All-Star Game and a woman was talking to Vladimir Guerrero in English. She said, ‘Hey, you don’t speak much English,’ and Vlad said to her, ‘I speak English with my bat.'” — ALBERT PUJOLS
“Respect [your opponents] so that they respect you. But passion should not be confused with a lack of respect.” — MIGUEL MONTERO
Really, the entire thing is worth your time. Go read it.
Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.
Many people can speak other languages, but prefer not to because they’re comfortable in only one.
Also, those of us who don’t speak Spanish and yet work full-time covering baseball, what are you thinking? And what are your editors thinking? Really ought to be pretty much expected as a minimum qualification.
Or at least an area of personal interest? I’d think that a reporter who spends some time at least trying to improve would have an easier time establishing rapport with players.
Yeah, reporters have it backward. Players do not need reporters to further their careers or sign big contracts, they just need to play. In contrast, reporters rely on the player to give them interviews….yet, reporters expect the players to cater their their needs.
Yes, you should make efforts to learn the language of the place you work, it makes your life easier and makes you more effective at your job…just like if you are a coach or manager in MLB today you should make an effort to learn Spanish to communicate more effectively with your players.
It’s a two-way street.
Reporters have ruined more than a career or two and they have advanced many a career. How about that kid at Oregon State just a few weeks ago? Unfortunately, some times the media does have a major role in a player’s career.
That kid ruined his own career.
Sports reporters have a massively over inflated sense of importance. They really don’t affect anything anymore…maybe they used to influence public perception, but you’d be hard pressed to find a career they actually helped or hurt…it isn’t even clear that they shape public opinion since often the only opinions expressed by the “public” are their own.
Who knew “writers should know things” would be such an unpopular position around here?
The film Sugar touches on this (and really should be a must-see for any baseball fan). I have the DVD and among the extended features is documentary and “making of” footage that makes even clearer the alienation of latin players in heartland America minor league towns, marooned in an Anglo sea with little support.
I read a bunch of the quotes in ESPN the Magazine. I normally toss the mag (I only get it as part of my ESPN Insider subscription, and it was CHEAPER to get it with the mag than to only have the online portion). But this time, I happened to read the story about Latinos, and as Dave mentions, there a lot of great quotes.
One of the deceiving things about a piece like this is that it treats Latin American culture as a single thing when in reality there can be big differences btwn growing up in Venezuela, DR, PR, Cuba, Mexico or any other Latin American country. The people and culture can be quite different across these many nations.
Did you read the ESPN piece? I thought it did a fine job of highlighting the distinct cultures of the respective countries.
I loved the comments on the food. CarGo eating at Denny’s because they had pictures on the menu, learning to say “Same thing” as a teammate that just ordered, the difference in diets from Latin American countries to the US.
I wonder if teams aren’t missing an opportunity, though. Give these guys some Spanish speaking support in day-to-day items, both on & off the field, English training, dietary help, etc. If it helps 1 guy get more comfortable & make it..or helps in getting an organizational goodwill/reputation when procuring players. With the cost of finding young talent, it seems like giving some support when they 1st come over would be a low cost way to get better results.
A lot of the players interviewed are older players. Teams make huge efforts on the education and socialization fronts these days compared to even 5 years ago. Most teams now offer classes (not sure if they are mandatory or not) in English and living in the US, and even offer other classes if players want to pursue an education (as many of these guys are signed at 16 and essentially they were studying baseball.
Good to know. Seems like a pretty obvious low cost step to maximize the development of Latino players that are thrown into uncomfortable surroundings in a foreign country.
Marly Rivera interviews have become must-reads for me.