Piniella quote

by kidk on Apr 9, 2007 3:49 PM CDT

Speaking on Soriano's lack of hitting so far

"He's getting his hits, but he hasn't gotten hot yet," Piniella said of the Cubs leadoff hitter. "You've got to remember, he's from the Dominican Republic, where it's warm. A lot of the Latin kids, they start swinging a little better when it warms up a little bit."

Not as bad as this Harry Caray quote (as told by Bob Costas, paraphrased):
"After Jose Vizcaino dropped a pop-up, losing it in the sun, Harry said 'How is it that a kid from Mexico can lose that in the sun?'"

First of all, Vizcaino is from the DR. And second, well, it's a remark only Harry could get away with. Anyone else says that and they would have been sent to sensitivity training or fired.

I couldn't find a source on this. I only remember it from an interview Costas had with Letterman a while ago. Could have been ten years ago. Anyone else know about this?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

correction

I believe Harry originally said that about Jorge Orta back when Harry was the White Sox broadcaster, though he might have repeated it with Vizcaino. And the quote was, "Aw, how could he lose it in the sun? He's from Mexico!" (Orta was from Mexico, by the way)

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Apr 9, 2007 3:52 PM CDT reply actions

I recall Harry

saying something similar to that a couple times myself.

I was thinking I heard him say, "How can a kid from the Dominican Republic lose a ball in the sun?"

I don't see how that statement would get anyone in trouble. There's no race involved, just where a guy's from. U could say the same thing about a guy from Southern Cal for the same effect.

Same w/ Piniella's quote. Stating that a guy from a warm climate likes to play in warm weather more than cold is certainly not going over the line.

All this pc b.s. is killing me.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on Apr 9, 2007 4:16 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed

It's getting really over the top.

I really don't see why anyone would get upset when hearing that Piniella quote.

Some people are just, plain, silly

LOUD NOISES!!!

by NittanyCub on Apr 9, 2007 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Well it is a pretty stupid thing to say....

Robinson Cano, A-Rod, and Jose Reyes are from the Dominican Republic and all have played games in under 45 degree weather in the past week and did just fine.

Go Cubs!

by Neifi Puppy on Apr 9, 2007 8:18 PM CDT reply actions

So,

if Lou had said that ALL players from warm climates instead of "a lot" of them, then I guess he would be dead wrong.

C'mon people, why are you going around scouring off-hand comments looking for a reason to pissed off at someone??

BTW, have u ever noticed how a lot of those Hoosier kids like to play basketball, a lot of those Boston kids have a funny accent, and a lot of those Denver kids like to ski?

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on Apr 10, 2007 6:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually, I'm not "pissed off"

at anyone, or...anything for that matter. There are very few things that anyone could say which would bother me, I'm about as laid back as they come.

I just thought Lou's remark was stupid. But your're right, and I am wrong. His lack of production must be attributed to how he is from the Dominican Republic and doesn't play well in cold weather.

Go Cubs!

by Neifi Puppy on Apr 10, 2007 8:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not trying to sell

that anyone is hitting or not hitting b/c of the weather. (There are a million reasons for any particular player to slump or go hot.)

I'm just saying Lou's comments are NOT offensive, and if someone takes them as such, they're being a bit over-sensitive.

And for the record, I believe it is way, way, WAY too early to start worrying about anyone's hitting.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on Apr 10, 2007 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions

Well that is exactly what

Lou is trying to sell. That Fonz's hitting IS b/c of the weather. Hence, why I thought....oh, never mind.

Go Cubs!

by Neifi Puppy on Apr 10, 2007 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I think maybe u

didn't take it the way the diary poster did. You just thought Lou was wrong. The diary says that Harry's comment would be cause for sensitivity training or even firing - which implies that Lou's comment was offensive, which is just silly.

It's the "pc" crap that annoys me, not whether or not Lou thinks Fonzy's not hitting cuz it's too damn cold.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on Apr 10, 2007 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Is it

a stupid remark that a white guy would say that? How about if an Hispanic says it about other Hispanics?

Perhaps you ought to tell Lou how stupid he is.

Or, you could grow up and stop defining right and wrong for other people. Now that's stupid.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Apr 9, 2007 8:36 PM CDT reply actions

Um....no....

its stupid for anyone to make a statement like that, regardles of their own heritage. The facts are that Soriano just didn't play like an all-star....yet. It really has nothing to do with where he is from.

I don't think Lou is stupid, only that he made a stupid comment. I don't think I will ever have the opportunity to tell him that.

Go Cubs!

by Neifi Puppy on Apr 9, 2007 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions

It still comes down to

a players ability to adjust to weather they're not used to dealing with. The guys from Latin America and the Caribbean are used to warmer temperatures. It's really that simple. Same as the Bears love to play warm weather teams late in the season at home. There's nothing racial about the comments. It's just the way it is.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Apr 11, 2007 3:27 AM CDT up reply actions