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.

MLB Fans and the Commissioner Disappoint as Competition Becomes Stale

Amidst the steroid controversies, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has maintained that the integrity of the Game remains intact because of competitive parody. This take on the modern era of baseball is as ridiculous as the notion of Selig actually lifting the life-long ban of Pete Rose.

Peter Gammons of ESPN’s analysis of the recent trade of former CY Young Award Winner Cliff Lee to make a critical point regarding the current state of this sport: while the names of the elite teams have changed (the Phillies instead of the Braves is the best example), the number of teams that can be competitive year-to-year remains the same.

In his article, “Indians forced to look for next ‘window’,” Gammons acknowledges that the Indians have lost an estimated 6,000 fans per game since 1997, when they nearly won the World Series. Twelve years later the same can be seen of the Tampa Bay Rays. Their World Series appearance and remarkable performance overall has only translated into roughly an additional 1,000 fans per game with all talks of building a modern-day stadium cast aside. It’s also worth mentioning the curious case of the Oakland Athletics, where Billy Beane’s famous Money Ball comments have resulted in a team currently occupying last place with a record of 43 and 57…17 games out of first place.

Gammons suggest that teams similar to the Indians and Rays must look for windows of opportunities to succeed; the gatekeepers to the doors of success remain in the hands of the Red Sox and Yankees. It is so very tempting to suggest that ownership is responsible for this lack of competitive parody; after all the reported reason the Indians are moving two of their best players (Lee and assumingly Viktor Martinez) solely as cost-cutting moves. The reality is far simpler but few fans will want to hear it.

The blame for this…the degradation of America’s pastime, rests with them. With the exception of the Chicago Cubs fan-base, which for whatever reason has accepted the idea of rooting for “loveable losers,” fans are no longer loyal. I am proud to say that I am an Indians fan. Since I was old enough to fully understand the game, I’ve followed my team, often into oblivion.

I’ve watched in disgust as Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, and CC Sabathia have walked away from the team that helped make them superstars and the fans that made them worth $17 million a year (referencing Sabathia’s contract). The fans that stood by these players deserve better than this.

So, it remains a question whether it’s greed that has motivated these superstars to abandon real loyalty in favor if the all-mighty dollar or the fact that there are too few fans willing to stand by their team. To all those player-haters out there, I’m not so sorry to say that it’s your fault that such competitive parody has fallen by the wayside.

There are solutions to this issue; however they don’t exactly involve the fans. Selig should understand the need for a salary cap, provide monetary incentives for teams that put on promotions to increase fan attendance, and continuing to push for greater racial diversity in baseball in an effort to generate a new and enthusiastic fan base. The concept of diversity in baseball was an issue but that was before Selig became the inept and completely ineffective Steroid Czar.

Baseball needs and overhaul and the fair-weather fans need a kick in the backside. Sorry, Mr. Selig, but competitive parody in baseball is an illusion and your record as Commissioner will show just that.

For just once, think outside the box and take the steps necessary to make these competitive windows into giant archways; make Baseball worth watching and cheering for instead of jeering.  And to all baseball fans still sitting on your hands, get up and go see a game already!

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.

Mistakes, Missteps, and Continued Incompetance: An Evaluation of the First Half of the MLB 2009 Season

There is a problem with this sport.

As the half-way mark in the 2009 Major League Baseball season is here. As expected by many sports writers, the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Angles, Dodgers, and even Texas are holding steady as first place teams. Three of the teams mentioned here have the highest payrolls in the game; with the exception of the Phillies and the Cardinals, and Tigers, none of the middle-market teams are making much of an impact. It has to be noted that the middle market teams mentioned are leading the three least competitive and underachieving divisions in their respective leagues. So much for competitive parody in baseball—sorry Bud but yet again you failed.

For all the talk regarding records, Baseball’s steroid policy has become a joke. Manny Ramirez, one of the greatest right-handed hitters the Game has ever seen, was suspended for having a record of purchasing a feminine fertility drug…it wasn’t even in his system when he was tested. Rather, MLB suspended Ramirez after unjustifiably obtaining his medical files. There have been numerous other suspensions, many of them being relievers, but no one is really paying attention. The only evidence one needs is to watch Manny’s return to Dodger Stadium July 16^th.

The simple fact is that fans don’t go out to sporting events to feel down; they will overlook player faults because they want to be entertained and suspend their realities for a few hours. One would hope that players would be honorable and respect the traditions of the game…less we forget that many of our best players were drunks (Babe Ruth) or cheaters and liars (Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds). It is up to individuals to save this game, not the MLB brass.

Oh, and one can’t forget Baseball’s newest launch pad, aka Yankee Stadium. With $1.5 billion put into it, it’s hard to believe that the architects failed to envision a simple wind tunnel going out to left center field…Alex Rodriguez’s power lane as one might expect. So yet again the Yankees are undermining all that is genuine and respectable in the game today. This is no surprise.

Unfortunately nothing written here is a surprise. At best these examples illustrate a fundamental problem with this sport that no suspensions or fines can fix.

Recommendations:

1)      Bud Selig needs to step down as Commissioner

2)      A salary cap must be put into place for all teams

3)      Baseball’s steroid policy must become fairer and less partial…a good start would be to stop the banning of amphetamines, something that no other sport considers a steroid.   And for God’s sake, stop making the highest profile players targets for investigation!

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 7^th overall in the American League, with a batting average of .267. Cleveland also ranks 7^th in Fielding Percentage, which stands at .985. And while they rank 13^th in Pitching, over the past month, they have improved to 10^th 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 17^th, 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.

As Respect in Baseball Diminishes, Tom Glavine Pays the Price

Since the 1995 playoffs where I watched Tom Glavine mow through the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, I vowed never to support any Atlanta player (with the exception of David Justice, who helped lead my Indians into the 1997 World Series). That changed today when ESPN reported that the Braves General Manager Frank Wren released Glavine after he rehabbed from a shoulder injury—and quite successfully if his AAA starts were any indication. At the age of 43, all Tom Glavine wanted was to finish his career where he started.

The Braves were quick on jumping at Glavine’s discounted offer ($3.5 million for 1 year) but apparently soured on the idea of actually allowing Glavine to pitch for the major league club. I’ll spare the readers a recap of Glavine’s brilliant career as a Brave and Met, but there were three reasons the Atlanta Braves earned the distinction of being the best team of the 1990s: Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, and Tom Glavine. The Braves executives were not o dense that they could not see this. Rather, it is more likely that they saw a chance to temporarily boost fan morale by allowing Glavine back into the organization…there was never a guarantee that he would be able to pitch for the Braves at Turner Field. With that in mind, Wren has offered no apologies for this move, neither to Glavine or the Braves fans.

This is simply not the same Atlanta Braves organization that prided itself on being consummate professionals through most of the 1990s. While Wren has insisted that Glavine’s release was performance related, the case is flat and any baseball fan can see that. No, Glavine was released because he was MORE successful than the Braves brass thought he’d be. They knew that if they allocated a rotation spot for Glavine they would owe him a $1 bonus and additional monetary incentives depending upon the number of games he pitched. As a middle-market team, the Braves decided to penny-pinch with a man whom they owed so much respect.

Tom Glavine’s release is abhorrent and groundless. It was a business decision based on all that is wrong with this sport. Money has taken the place of respect for the game and its players. The Braves front office apparently has some illusion that they can overtake the Mets and the Phillies in the NL East standings. Even if that were to happen, that does not excuse the unapologetic behavior of Wren and the Braves.

While Glavine, understandably shell-shocked by this decision, has not officially decided to continue pitching, his former teammate John Smoltz as well as Glavine’s agent gave strong indications that he would. My sincerest hope is that Tom Glavine does sign on with another National League team. What’s more, I hope the Braves and Tom Glavine reach the playoffs and that Glavine has the chance to defeat the team who shunned him on their home turf. Then he would be able to end his career where he wanted to. And what’s more, Glavine would do so while on a team that had the sense to respect his talents, career, and overall leadership…all the things the Braves were so eager to ignore.

The link to the ESPN story is here for your perusal:  http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4228623

Volunteering Amongst Economic Collapse: Some Troubling Observations

The news, whether it be broadcast or print media have focused so much on the failing of banks, the auto industry, and the general distress of the stock market, that one simple fact has escaped their notice. While nearly 9% of the population are unemployed and looking for work, there is a population actively searching for any type of work, most notably volunteerism. Ironically this is one of President Obama’s pledges to America—that volunteering is one of the greatest things an American citizen can do for his/her country. With that in mind, why is it so hard to find a volunteer position that caters to those people who continue to look for work…say programs requiring 3 months of service?

Volunteerism is great but you can’t make a living off it; it has to be one component of a person’s life, a companion to everything else in order to really matter.

I’ve been searching for a volunteer position for nearly 6 months. I have a BA in Social Work and a MS in Journalism plus a resume that should count for something. Instead I am brushed aside. The most notable case involved a veterans’ care center in central Connecticut. I had contacted them, sent them my resume and was greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm. Of course that was back in January and despite numerous attempts to reach the organization, my efforts have failed. And for those of you unfamiliar with the current situation with returning soldiers, the need for volunteers is only growing. One notion here that was handed down to me was that these types of clinics prefer ex-veterans, regardless of qualifications. of course that is their perogative and I impose no judgment on them.

I have a very logical theory as to why my situation is really anything but unique. It’s not meant as an indictment on non-profit organizations, but it should serve as a wakeup call.

With so many individuals out of work some non-profits may feel as if they are being used as a stepping stone, a way for people to bolster their resumes as they search for full-time work. Another theory is that some agencies are afraid that by bringing someone on as a volunteer may result in the expectation that it should turn into a permanent job. Unfortunately in both these scenarios it is the people in need that suffer. Individual care should always take priority.

Another thing I’ve noticed while searching the internet for potential volunteer opportunities is that they often stipulate that any volunteer must commit to at least 1 year of service. In another economy I would whole-heartedly endorse this idea: it is a way to make sure volunteers are committed and sincere in regards to their desire to make a meaningful contribution to that particular organization. However, as I pointed out earlier in this piece, the very notion of volunteering has changed. In the wake of losing one’s job a person may seek contentment in helping others and in the process feeling less helpless and isolated. But these men and women are still looking for work so non-profits would benefit by being more flexible in their requirements for bringing on volunteers.

In addition to being a constructive critique of the volunteer system, this article should present another, very distinct message, perhaps lost in my discussion. By limiting the types of people who can volunteer, say as a Big Brother or Sister, non-profits may be doing a disservice to both parties involved.

Social Work and all forms of social service are based on the notion that the community and welfare of others is paramount to all else.

It’s time for all community organizations to recognize that times have changed and to accept their responsibilities as stewards of the greater good. If they act fast enough, perhaps fewer children will be left alone, elderly men and women will be more properly cared for, and society can begin to really re-balance itself. I know I would be very grateful to be part of it and others would too.

A Decision Comprised of Indecision

Less than an hour ago the California Supreme Court rejected that Same-Sex marriages are considered equal under constitutional law, however sanctioned the marriages that have already taken place. This decision not only restricts the rights of homosexuals, it undermines the very notion of the Rule of Law.

This decision creates two classes of homosexuals, those who are privileged to have obtained marriages and those who cannot. In essence, the California Supreme Court is rewarding gay couples who got married inside a legal window of time, validating the rights afforded to conventional married men and women, and restricting the rights of everyone else.

In the midst of debating the constitution, it is a modern day marvel that the constitution ceased to be upheld. However when one considers the populace stance on same-sex marriage, this court decision makes more sense. There are two basic premises involved here: 1) that a large segment of the population is afraid of either losing the rights they have already obtained or of being denied those rights entirely and 2) There is an equally large population pushing a religious argument against same-sex marriage. Instead of basing their argument on legal rights, these men and women chose to construct a religious-based offensive, putting individual rights one step below that of religious dogma.

The Court’s decision reflects the contradictions posed in these premises. On one hand, this ruling respects the legality of same-sex marriage but at the same time prevents any further marriages and deems that some homosexuals have fewer rights than the rest of the men and women in this country. The Rule of Law is clear: no man or women can be excused from the law, regardless of their sex, race, political standing, etc.

At best this decision is one based upon fear and popular demand. The ruling is sure to be debated and deconstructed.

But when all the smoke clears from this battle for rights, it must be determined that law cannot be made on a casual basis in order to pacify people for the moment. The welfare of all the people must be taken into account when interpreting the constitution and when creating law.