Scott Brown and the Tragedy of the Massachusetts Electorate
The Massachusetts electorate showed the country a terrifying side of itself the day they elected Scott Brown to the United States Senate. I know why they did it. And I am not just talking about Republicans and Independents here; many democrats were in fact just as uninspired regarding Martha Coakley and her pathetically heartless campaign. But this is not what has me concerned. In fact, contrary to what many might think, I believe that Brown has the potential to be an effective United States senator. That said, the election of Brown show that even the most progressive state in the country can act as selfishly as the Automotive Giants, who almost exclusively vote not for what is best for the country but for what is best for their companies.
Hold on, wait one moment. In all my years in academia I have been taught that the elected officials from States are supposed to vote in a manner which supports the general view of their electorate. The simple truth here is that the Massachusetts citizenry were not voting for a senator; they were voting against the healthcare proposal currently in front of the House, which will have to make its way through the Senate in order to reach the President’s desk and Obama’s ornate signature.
Massachusetts does not want this legislation passed because it would override their current universal healthcare system, which is far more progressive. What voters failed to comprehend is that a vote for Brown was a vote against the millions of Americans without health insurance in this Nation. And make no mistake, Brown made it inescapably clear that he is against the healthcare legislation. He is also pro-life, for the death penalty, and for tax breaks for the wealthy. In other words, he personifies all that the Republican Party has to offer America. And it is something Massachusetts citizens were all too willing to overlook in order to preserve their own healthcare system. It makes me feel sick to the stomach to see how easily people were willing to discard their beliefs and values for a single issue.
But in all fairness I should say that Scott Brown did run a superb campaign. He is no slouch, having earned law degrees and successfully navigating the private and public sectors for years. He is charismatic and a fresh face for a stale political party.
I have been receiving emails which are already advocating Brown as a “rock star” who will lead the Republican Party against President Obama in the next election. Part of me wants to argue that Brown has truly accomplished nothing to help the average citizen. Then again he hasn’t been given much of a chance on the national level. Time will tell whether or not Brown will be a successful senator. But for now, Brown has everything to prove, yet strangely very little to lose since he was elected on a single issue.
Scott Brown might well be a rock star but I am afraid he is closer to Whitesnake then the Beatles (for those who are unfamiliar, Whitesnake is 1980s band known as one of the many one-hit wonders of the time). Some claim that Brown will help Massachusetts bounce back from this recession, create new jobs and industry, and preserve all that the late Senator Kennedy fought so hard to achieve. And in the long run, Brown might prove a wise choice for Senate and certainly better than Martha Coakley, who never convinced me that she was worthy of a United States senate seat. However, Brown is no presidential candidate. He is no champion for anyone but himself. And he might well cause over 30 million people to continue to go without health insurance. If you listen very closely, you can hear the insurance companies cheering just below the celebration of the Massachusetts people who are currently blinded by their ignorance and short-sightedness.
The travesty here is not that a republican took Ted Kennedy’s seat. It isn’t even all about healthcare, though it is a topic close to my heart. This is about one state’s eagerness to preserve the status quo at the expense of Americans that are truly in need.
My thoughts on the signing of 3B Adrian Beltre…
This is an interesting move by the Boston Red Sox. I would have expected Lowell to be treated better. After all he is a productive player, even at 37, plus he is a fan favorite—something the Boston newspapers have been quick to discuss. Surely his defense is at best average and maybe even is a little bellow the expected standard, but his leadership qualities more than make up for a slow glove.
I can see Theo Epstein’s logic here, however. He wants to build a younger, more defensively-focused team. In essence he is trying to rebuild and contend at the same time, though I wish he would give Casey Kotchman a chance to play and allow Jed Lowrie to progress. Of course anyone who has been following the Sox knows of Epstein’s struggle with ownership’s desire to win at the expense of the future and Epstein’s long-term strategy. Still, the addition of Mike Cameron and Beltre are only temporary (2-3 year contracts) and should result in at least one World Series birth. Meanwhile, the acquisition of John Lackey is the perfect balance between John Henry and Theo Epstein’s strategies and that should be applauded on every level.
So the Sox want to get younger, hit better, and play better defensive baseball. Who can argue with that? If the Sox do decide to get rid of Mike Lowell, I will be disappointed because any player deserves the respect of not having his replacement being signed while he is still part of the team. To that end, I want to suggest a radical idea: Trade Big Papi and use Lowell at DH. Ortiz’s post-steroid numbers will only decline and he has one year left on his contract, just like Lowell. Meanwhile, all indicators are that Lowell’s bat speed and solid approach at the plate are going to remain steady, at least for one last season.
In the end it comes down to losing a popular player in Boston. I simply am suggesting that Theo and Co. make the right move and relieve themselves of some very heavy (and I also mean that literally) baggage by moving Ortiz and maximizing their offensive potential. I still believe the Red Sox will contend and possibly win the World Series this year and it would’ve been great to see that happen with Lowell on the roster. All indications though are that he will be traded…but hopefully to a team the Red Sox won’t have to contend with.
The next week in Red Sox Nation should be an interesting one to say the least…
The Reemergence of Real Leadership
Tuesday evening at 8pm President Obama took a great step in his evolution toward becoming one of the greatest leaders our country has ever seen. Like many presidents before him, Obama argued his case for war, this time against against Al Qaeda. Unlike others however, he did so standing in front of West Point students—many of whom will see deployment in Afghanistan and may indeed lose their lives.
In his address to the American people, the President carefully outlined a point by point strategy for attacking the al Qaeda insurgents in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He made it crystal clear that victory would happen with the support of NATO forces, with the United States acting as a beacon of hope and liberty. This was what many people, myself included, hoped to hear former President Bush say after 9/11, but that unity was squandered amongst endless vendettas against Iraq and Saddam Hussein specifically. In his speech, President Obama pledged to finally unite the world under the flag of liberty and security.
The additional 30,000 United States troops will not stand on the front lines alone, that the President made abundantly clear. Obama meant two things through that promise. First, the troops will be standing side by side with our allies, in particular Pakistani soldiers who have seldom cooperated with United States peace efforts. Secondly, and most importantly the President made a plea to the American people to support the troops and this effort to preserve peace and democracy.
Some people watched this address with immediate skepticism. Some said that Obama made a critical error by setting a firm deadline for troop withdrawal from the area (2011). For those interested in that argument, tune into C-Span or CNN and listen to Senator McCain argue against the preservation of liberty and safety of America. The majority of Republicans support Obama on this issue however.
Democrats are now the ones rushing to oppose military action. To these Senators and Congressmen, all I can say is that the damage has already been done. Obama is simply willing and able to stop the bloodshed in a very volatile and dangerous area of the world. Is the United States responsible for much of the current turmoil? Yes. But Obama opposed every single measure which led us to this point. Make no mistake, the President’s actions in this situation is that of a Commander and Chief and not of a timid little man who somehow weaseled his way out of serving in Vietnam in order to become this Nation’s worst president of the modern era.
President Obama has acted decisively and prudently. He is arguing for peace, standing up for the rights of all Afghans and even those Taliban forces that are willing to accept that freedom is the correct course for the Afghan people.
Numerous times I have stated that the President is arguing for something. This implies that he somehow needs to persuade the American public as well as the legislative branch to support his effort; all the while our troops look westward and see nothing but political squabbling and citizen unrest. This is unacceptable.
The truth is simple: President Obama is doing exactly what he was elected to do. Our Commander and Chief is bringing an end to open-ended war, unifying the world’s countries, and in the process repairing America’s image abroad. He is also fulfilling a greater promise to the American people, which is that he will do what is necessary to preserve our safety even against popular opposition. This is what America has lacked for eight long years; real leadership in the face of adversity.
The Cleveland Indians will make the Playoffs…well sort of.
With what has become a tiresome trend for many Tribe fans occurred again this year as the Indian brass traded away All Stars LHP Cliff Lee and Catcher Victor Martinez. I won’t insult these moves, as I am pretty excited to watch the young crop of talent the Indians acquired in those trades become just as great as Martinez and Lee (though I honestly think Lee is a fluke and would bet against him whenever he were to face say Boston’s Josh Beckett).
But since the Indians are officially going to be a sub-.500 team this year, something Manager Eric Wedge has seen his share of with the Tribe (and yes I think he needs to be fired upon the season’s end), it might be fun to sit back and realize just how well-represented the Indians are in this year’s playoffs. I mean, just because the major league ballclub can’t get it together doesn’t invalidate the accomplishments of the farm system.
Now bear in mind that this list is only preliminary because the playoffs are still a month or so away, but Tribe fans should be honored at the proceeding list of players:
Victor Martinez, Boston Red Sox
Cliff Lee, Philadelphia Phillies
CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
Carl Pavano, Twins (doubtful)
I’m stopping the list right there, not because I can’t find any more Indians players going to the playoffs, but because this is enough. Three All Stars, two of which grew up from nothing in the Indians farm system. Before his trade Victor Martinez even said he wanted to be an Indian for life. A pity the Dolans didn’t listen.
Given the quality of the teams represented here along with the players’ overall ability, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if we saw a game 1 and game 7 where the pitching matchups read, “CC Sabathia vs. Cliff Lee.” Now let’s assume that doesn’t happen and that the Red Sox pull off the wildcard, wouldn’t it be something if Victor Martinez won MVP honors?
The point being made here is that teams are mere monikers for the players who once wore and are wearing the uniform. By this account all former Montreal Expos fans should be especially proud, but so can Indians fans.
The season was a blowout and while we won’t get to see the toothy grin of Chief Wahoo on FOX or ESPN this fall, our players are there. And despite their uniform, I will root for them, probably at the same time as yelling for Wedge’s firing, but still. Now I won’t sit here and say that Larry Dolan and his team of idiots in the front office aren’t the Darth Vader and Storm Troopers of the organization bent on destroying it, but if you look at it this other way, the Indians really aren’t that bad.
First Half Review: the Indians Need an Immediate Overhaul
For a team that is considered the third worst in baseball, there is a lot to say about the Cleveland Indians and where they go from here…
There is no question that injuries have hampered the Cleveland Indians’ season. Within the first two months of the season, they lost their starting center fielder (Grady Sizemore), second baseman (Asdrubal Cabrera), and Designated Hitter (Travis Haftner). Soon after those injuries, the pitching staff became decimated when Fausto Carmona lost the ability to throw strikes and was demoted to Rookie Ball, Aaron Laffey being sidelined by an abdominal strain, and their eight inning setup man, Rafael Betencourt placed on the DL with arm soreness.
But these injuries, while legitimate, are not the cause for Cleveland being in last place in one of the worst division in Baseball. The season began with numerous experiments in place: 1) moving Catcher Viktor Martinez to first base 2) making Kelly Shoppach the everyday catcher 3) keeping David Dellucci on the active roster with the intent of using him as the DH) deciding on using the rotating-door policy in left field and 6) perpetually moving Johnny Peralta between short stop and third base with the hope of making him more versatile.
Most of these experiments have failed.
While Viktor Martinez has made an easy transition to first base, Kelly Shoppach continues to bat around .200, showing awful plate discipline, averaging at least one strikeout a game and failing to control the running game. Shoppach has also shown difficulty with communicating with some of the Hispanic pitchers on the Tribe’s roster, which is evident by the number of times the pitchers shake off or miss-read his signs. The reason behind this move was to preserve Viktor Martinez’s body and maximize his offensive capability. But it doesn’t matter if Martinez hits .360 when the starting catcher gives up bases seemingly at will, perpetually strikes out, and can pretty much only be counted on to bunt or hit an occasional home run–both things he seldom does.Viktor needs to return as the every day catcher and Shoppach either needs to be traded or kept as a backup, depending upon his trade value. As for the hole at first base, Ryan Garko, with his potential power and .261 average, deserves a shot at the starting role.
The issue with David Dellucci and his ineffectiveness has resolved itself, as the Indians wisely chose to release him; unfortunatly they are still responsible for the bulk of his salary. Mark Derosa was used in his place and produced admirably but with the Indians out of contention, Derosa was more valuble as trading bait. With Travis Haftner returned from the DL, hopefully the Indians can count on a dramatic increase in offensive production.
Left field remained a question mark for the Indians. For the moment it is occupied mostly by Ben Fransisco, who remains a work in progress. It had previously been occupied by Derosa and Ryan Garko. Depending upon the development of Matt LaPorta, Fransisco’s stay in left field may be limited. However every club can benefit from having some flexibility at one position.
The Indians ave seen the error in their ways in terms of moving Peralta around the infield and have decided to keep Peralta at third base. The problem is that he continues to not produce, posting a .237 average entering last night’s slugfest. It also doesn’t help that Eric Wedge has openly stated his disappointment with Peralta, something he tends to do each month.
*As an aside, The Indians currently rank third in the American League in overall offense*
While unstable as Cleveland’s lineup has been, pitching remains its greatest weakness. It’s rotation, which began as Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Carl Pavano, Aaron Laffey, and Scott Lewis is all but a memory. The new totation: Lee, Pavano, David Huff, and Jeramy Sowers (notice how no 5th starter was named. that is because Cleveland doesn’t have a reliable enough starter to mert the designation). While Lee has maintained his CY- Young status and Pavano has regained much of his 1998 form, Huff seldom gets through the 5th inning (though his past few starts have been encouraging), and Sowers has the same issue with getting past the 5th inning and also averages far too many walks, especially given the poor defense at Cather the Indians have been displaying. As for not having a 5th starter, Jake Westbrook is expected to return from Tommy-John surgery by late July, which should provide some stability; the same goes for the return of Aaron Laffey. Scott Lewis’s rehab remains the slowest among the Indians on the DL so it’s unlikely the Indians can expect much from him, especially since he only recently had made the move up from Triple A.
Then comes the bullpen, which is almost too awful to discuss. Players who were productive last season such as Rafael Perez, Jenson Lewis, and newly-acquired Kerry Wood have all performed horribly, blowing over 15 saves with each player’s ERA over 6.0. As for the other members of Cleveland’s bullpen, one would have to look at the Media Guide daily to see who may be exiting the pen at any given time. The Indians have added relievers from the Cardinals (via the trade of Derosa) and from the Rays (picked up after designated for assignment). These acquisitions are at best only potentially rewarding. It is the organization’s hope to curb the number of walks allowed by the bullpen which ranks worst in baseball and the number of runs the bullpen gives up in the 8th inning (a staggering figure that is more than double the runs the team has scored in the same inning). It is realistic to think that this is just an awful year for many of thee reliever and that hey might bounce back next year, so there is hope for the future. However, the situation as it stands nowt is quite simple: no team can reach the playoffs with this caliber bullpen.
Due primarily to the club’s incredible underachievement, it’s on-field management needs to come into question. It would be easy to blame the bullpen coaches on the staff for the relievers’ failures but greater focus should be placed on Pitching Coach Carl Willis. Under Willis’s tenure, Cleveland has seen two Cy-Young caliber pitchers develop conditioning, release-point, and general pitching motion issues, forcing their demotion to the Minors. It was also under Willis’s direction that Luis Isaacs, the former Indians bullpen coach for over a decade was fired after last season. That decision must be called into question.
Manager Eric Wedge is the man who should be held accountable for this team’s performance more than anyone else. Willis was his personal choice to be pitching coach, as was the final decision to fire Isaacs. Only twice in his nine year tenure has Cleveland finished with a winning record. Maybe that is because he lacks the ability or confidence to stick with a lineup for more than a game at a time; he has used more lineups than any other manager in the big leagues this season. Wedges confrontations with Peralta don’t help matters since the Indians have committed a substantial sum of money to him over the next few years. There is however one definite thing that can be said about Wedge: he is consistent in terms of not taking risks. He is a players manager but an ineffective one; Joe Torre has been called a players manager as well but has somehow managed to maintain a sense of authority, discipline, and respect with the players he has managed (and he’s managed Manny Ramirez so what does that say?). Based upon media coverage and general statements made regarding the club, Viktor Martinez more closely resembles a manager. This can’t continue. Despite GM Mark Shapiro’s confidence in the man, time has run out; Eric Wedge needs to be fired. Willis probably deserves the same fate, but a greater evaluation of internal candidates for that position would have to be done.
Despite their record, the Indians have a tramendous amount of potential, especially with the addition of Luis Valbuena as second base, who provides excellent range and defense as his offensive numbers continue to develop.
The following is the lineup the Indians should use the second half of the season: SS Asdrubal Cabrera, CF Grady Sizemore, C Viktor Martinez, RF Shin Shoo Choo, DH Travis Haftner, 3B Johnny Peralta, 1B Ryan Garko, 2B Luis Valbuena, and LF TBD….This lineup was used in last night’s game and produced 15 runs. Maybe it’s a good idea to stick with it.
The rotation will hopefully shake out to be as follows: Lee, Pavano, Carmona, Westbrook, and Aaron Laffey. (David Huff should be moved to the bullpen and Jeramy Sowers sent back to Triple A. However if Carmona remains in the minors, Sowers could keep the fifth spot warm for a bit)
*Another suggestion is that the Indians pursue more ground ball pitchers to maximize their strongest defensive positions (minus Sizemore who is exceptional in Center.)*
Time will tell whether the Indians choose to take any of these suggestions; it is likely that many of them are being discussed between Shapiro and the Dolans. But what every Indians fan deserves is something to cheer for and for the franchise’s sake hopefully that will happen sooner than later.
Cultural Insensitivity in Baseball Coverage: ESPN Trips up on Steroid Reporting
Today I read an ESPN feature by Howard Bryant. In it he claims that the numerous baseball stars who have been caught using performance-enhancing drugs are using superior talent as well as their countries of origin to justify their actions. Not only does this argument border on ethnic stereotyping, but it is also simply factually wrong.
The above-mentioned article singles out Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds (who happens to have been born in America and has no direct connection to any outside nation).
Now let’s be clear: I dislike Alex Rodriguez. I find him to be a narcissist with as much respect for the game of baseball as the seagull that got hit by Shin So Choo’s line drive at Progressive Field last week. However aside from saying he received and used the PEDs in the Dominican Republic, he never blamed the culture for the supposed vitamin supplements being tainted. In a unique gesture of mild humility, he admitted to cracking under pressure and being “a stupid kid.” A-Rod did lie, there is no denying that fact. But at worst it simply conforms some pretty awful personality defects that have nothing to do with the Dominican Republic.
Another Dominican implicated by Bryant is of course Sammy Sosa, ESPN’s newest victim of the same old stale story. Ozzie Guillen, manager for the Chicago White Sox, referred to Sosa as being “guilty.” aside from lying to congress (an unethical, illegal, yet common act nowadays), he is not guilty of anything baseball-related. Sosa tested positive for PEDs in 2003, when there was no penalty for steroid use. And while it is too early to predict how Sosa will respond publicly, he has not blamed his native country. In truth if Bryant chose to research his facts, he would see that Sosa has devoted a great deal of time and money in an effort to improve the quality of life for Dominicans. It doesn’t exactly mesh with the notion that this man would be willing to throw the country that he loves under the bus for his own personal defense, especially that he is longer even playing in the Big Leagues.
And at last it comes to Manny; there is no longer a need to wrrite his last name. It’s been written here that Manny is guilty of nothing more than trying to improve his sex life, a subject hardly worth discussing. It does however show how Major League Baseball’s grug policy goes too far and violates personal liberties (under no condition should MLB officials be allowed to access his medical records without permission). These arguments aside, at no point has Manny blamed his Dominican heritage (he was born in NY city) for this positive test of elevated estrogen levels.
It seems that Howard Bryant is taking the circumstantial facts these three players have ties to the same country and posses incredible talents and building a case off that.
It is a poor argument for at least two undeniable reasons: 1) The Major and Minor Leagues are dominated by Latin players, many of whom have ties to the Dominican. The pervasive nature of steroids in Central America is a problem and that is what Bryant should be talking about. And 2) Steroids increase a player’s strength; steroids do not improve a player’s insights into the game, his eye sight, or his ability to recognize pitches. Yes, steroids increase bat speed but that in itself is useless if Mariano Rivera chooses to throw a curve ball instead of his trademark cutter and a player can’t tell the difference.
The only thing worse than writing this inaccurate and culturally-belligerant article is the fact that ESPN felt compelled to publicize it as the featured article on their website.
The facts simply do not add up here.
Despite the dishonest acts done by these men, they have all blammed themselves, their desperation, or general ignorance for using steroids. That may be the most commendable acts done by these men; Howard Bryant can’t say the same.
When Standings are Secondary to Pride: Don’t Discount the Indians
In 1993 the Cleveland Indians were the laughing stock of baseball. Their resurgence from 1995 to 2000 did a good job of erasing that losing stigma, despite the franchise’s failure to secure a world championship. This respect has diminished, evaporated as the Indians took on the daunting task of rebuilding (numerous times, it’s worth noting) during an era where big dollars dominate the Major League landscape. But make no mistake, after collapsing last season as a result of injuries and a rough time this half of the season, Cleveland is looking like the team that defeated the Yankees and nearly swept the Red Sox in the 2007 playoffs.
These new Indians, still suffering from a surplus of injuries (most notably All Star Grady Sizemore and second Baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, who was hitting .319 at the time of his wrist injury) have had to adjust in significant ways. Its starting rotation has been in shambles, with All Star Fausto Carmona being sent to the Tribe’s Rookie Ballclub in an effort to completely retool his pitching and the loss of Anthony Rayes to elbow surgery.
It was of course widely assumed that Carmona would anchor this staff with the departure of CC Sabathia. The resurgence of Carl Pavano, however has cushioned this loss. And while last year’s Cy-Young Winner Cliff Lee struggled early on, posting an ERA around 9.0, he has since brought that down to earth and is looking like the star Cleveland needs. The other rotation spots are being filled by Jeremy Sowers, David Huff (both of whom have shown markedly improved composure on the mound and the results are there…it is necessary however for Sowers to improve his efficiency, avoiding falling behind in counts, as to be able to go more than 5 innings per start.). An effective fifth starter continues to elude the Tribe, but that should be a need of the past once Jack Westbrook and Aaron Laffey return from the disabled list.
If Cleveland is smart, upon Wesbrook’s return, which should occur by mid-June (he has thus far thrown seven scoreless innings on his rehab assignment), they will move Aaron Laffey to the bullpen which is need of further stability. That is not to say that the bullpen is too shaky t be effective. Rather, Rafael Perez has shown. Aquino and Matt Herges are proving to be great assets. The jury is still out on Joe Smith, o really hasn’t had much of a shot to prove himself in the American League due to injuries. His reputation is solid however, which should give Indians fans more confidence. Then there is Closer Kerry Wood, who despite his inflated ERA, is a power arm who can always rise to the occasion when he must. Still, Cleveland’s bullpen will be further stabilized by the return of Rafael Betencourt, also on the disabled list.
Cleveland’s offense has also been a source of criticism, some of which is quite valid.
Backup catcher Kelly Shoppach has not shown any of the skills he displayed last season when he took over for injured Victor Martinez. It is possible that Shoppach cannot concentrate knowing that Martinez is still considered Cleveland’s staring catcher. If that’s the case, Cleveland should consider a trade. Grooming a younger catcher may make more sense than hoping Shoppach will return to the form he had not previously during his career. Going into last night’s game, he was batting an embarrassing .202. Aside from his relationship with Cliff Lee, Lee is a professional and can succeed with any catcher. Cleveland simply cannot afford to keep a player who is consistently failing offensively and defensively.
The temporary loss of Cabrera at the leadoff spot and Sizemore batting second has also been a source of concern, further solidifying columnists claims that cannot compete. Such arguments are as thin as a playing card, as are the naysayers criticizing Travis Haftner for his shoulder injury. Since returning from the disabled list, Haftner has hit the ball with authority and posted an above average OBP, granted mostly through walks. Still that provides Indian hitters a chance to score more runs.
It’s also worth noting that Johnny Peralta’s shift to third base has been a successful one and allowed for the emergence of Luis Valbuena at Shortstop. It may be too early to tell if Francisco Rodriguez can be an impact player batting leadoff in Cabrera’s absence, but Cleveland’s 5-2 record over the past 7 games is a decent indication to inspire optimism. Shin-Soo Choo is blossoming as a cleanup hitter and Mark Derosa’s professionalism along with his versatility cannot be underestimated or under-praised.
It has been said many times that this Cleveland Indians team is unlike teams of the past, where a homerun could always be counted on to bring a game to a close. This, along with the other factors highlighted in this piece, are likely why Cleveland has consistently ranked as 24 to 27 in ESPN’s Power Rankings. But baseball is not a game of numbers. It is a game of gritty competitiveness, grounded in team spirit and confidence.
The steroid era is over. Every team will not have a player who will hit 50 homeruns. Baseball is slowly becoming a game of strategy, defense, and speed—the way it used to be and should be again.
Statistics show that teams can win with this new strategy. The Tribe is a good example. But somehow these numbers escape many sport writers’ articles. For example, Cleveland’s offense ranks 7th overall in the American League, with a batting average of .267. Cleveland also ranks 7th in Fielding Percentage, which stands at .985. And while they rank 13th in Pitching, over the past month, they have improved to 10th in the American League…hardly an impressive mark but it shows a steady improvement.
Baseball strategists seem to gravitate toward more complex numerical analyses. That is a mistake. The broader evaluation of a team is far more valuable, given that no team can blame single players for their troubles. The Indians play as if they understand this and are stressing the fundamentals of the game. Their performance is hardly flashy, but in many ways represents many of the best qualities of the Game.
Win or Lose, Cleveland is worth watching for that reason alone. Now that they are on the rise, perhaps more people will begin to recognize their passion and embrace the Game of baseball the way it is meant to be.
Enslaved Journalists, Nuclear Proliferation: The Fight Betwean Values in the Conflict With North Korea
Several intriguing and disturbing events have been reported on over the past twenty-hour hours, each raising questions regarding the United States willingness to uphold human rights of its citizens and its overall commitment to promoting just acts world-wide.
Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two journalists and citizens of the United States were sentenced to twelve years in a North Korean labor camp by the North Korean High Court. The basis for this decision is that these two women committed crimes against the North Korean state simply be being close to its borders; Officials also claim that they entered North Korean territory illegally (a questionable charge at the very least).
Being held prisoner since March 17th, the United States government has done surprisingly little to secure the freedom of their citizens, except to say that their capture and subsequent sentencing is against human rights standards. As reported by the New York Times, Ian C. Kelly, a state department representative, the United States government has all but acknowledged this sentencing as a political move meant to provide the North Korean government leverage in negotiations and hostilities with the United States.
This understanding is accompanied with the knowledge of the harsh conditions of the labor camps and that horrible things could (and with all likelihood will) happen to these journalists.
In an era where terrorism is the talk of the day, no one seems to consider the unjust and terrible torture being conducted by North Korea an act of terrorism, even if it is against one of its enemies. Such an oversight is wrong. The imprisonment of Ms. Ling and Ms. Lee is an act of terrorism and cannot be tolerated any more than nuclear proliferation.
Of course, in the midst of this humanitarian travesty, the United States continues to lobby the United Nations Security Council to sanction an embargo on all North Korean exports, claiming that they are in the business of promoting terrorism and possibly enticing a massive arms race in Northern Asia through nuclear proliferation.
The United States has sought support from China in an effort to curb North Korean aggression. According to Chinese Law, military intervention against North Korea would be acceptable. However with North Korea already promising to conduct additional weapons tests of short, medium, and long-range missiles, the results of such a threat could be devastating to South Korea and even go as far as to provoke Japan into beginning its own weapons projects. Such an action would destabilize the region and spark a war that’s far less containable than what the United States has already begun in the Middle East.
President Obama should be applauded for his hard-line stance against North Korea, pledging that the United States was through “rewarding provocation.” At the same time, the President has expressed a willingness to re-open the six-party talks with North Korea in an attempt to come to a peaceful resolution to this nuclear threat.
There is however legitimate reasons to be concerned about the United States motivations in this conflict. The United States seems willing to sacrifice the safety of its own citizens trapped unjustly in North Korean prison camps in favor of military posturing. Also President Obama is treating this conflict as if he is dealing with a rationale government. All indications show that the North Korean government would rather engage in war than acquiesce to Western compromises.
Scholars of United States foreign policy should also be concerned that through its requests to intercept North Korean ships in transit via the sea is a clear violation of international law and could very well be considered a legitimate act of war. While President Kennedy got away with this act when he blockaded Cuba in the 1960s, it should be hoped that the United States could act with greater prudence in regards to this matter.
President Obama is a fair and just man who undoubtedly is acting in a manner consistent with his predecessors (even though Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s involvement may prove problematic given her husband’s former military stance). The threats against South Korea and Japan are important and very real. But so is the atrocity of North Korea’s desire to harm United States citizens.
Neither nuclear development, continental threat, or the imprisonment and torture of United States citizens can be condoned here; steps must be taken to stop these dangers. The political process is ideal but the right thing to do, the just thing to do, is for President Obama to consider all options in these scenarios.
It is difficult to stomach any mistreatment or pain being inflicted on others, but having faith in one’s government is important even if it’s sometimes difficult. In the mean time all Americans should hope for quick and decisive action to preserve the well-being of every individual affected by these atrocities and not give in to hate, fear, or political propaganda.
leave a comment