The Bucs and Reality TV...

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 25, 2008 8:56 AM CST Comment 32 comments

So I am sure I am not the first person to see this but what the HELL are they thinking? Apparently the Pirates, as desperate and lame as ever, decided to sign two young arms from India! India is not what is so shocking though.

These two guys were contestants on a reality TV show called "The Million Dollar Arm". The requirements: throw strikes at 85 mph and up. No experience necessary, just bring the heat. Oddly enough, neither of them WON the competition...the Pirates just liked what they saw...I think.

Can you see the job listing now? Hey, maybe that is next...classifieds I don't know, seems horribly desperate to me. All I can say is I would be so pissed if I were a Pirates fan. Then again, I would probably be used to it by now.

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.

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Someone posted...

…. this FanShot about that contest a couple of weeks ago.

I’m glad you updated this — did not know they had actually been signed. Frankly, if these two have the physical talent, and it appears they do, the rest can be taught. Maybe Pittsburgh has caught lightning in a bottle. In any case, it’s hardly likely they spent a lot of $ on these two, so I’d hardly be “pissed” if I were a Pirates fan.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 25, 2008 9:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Pirates GM on XM this morning

Talking about these guys briefly and said that the Pirates are excited about opening up a potential market of 1 million previously untapped athletes. Based it on the heavy influence of Cricket in the culture and commented that it’s based on throwing, running and hitting, so they thought it was worth a try. The last thing I remember him saying is that both have come remarkably far in the past 6 months.

by ScottT on Nov 25, 2008 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you ever been to a game at PNC?

You feel like you’re on the ride “Pirates of the Carribean.” Lame videos on the jumbotron, goofy pirates walking around the yard. Yech.

To think, this is a storied franchise—and they have to act campy to draw a crowd.

"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08

by Bildo1805 on Nov 25, 2008 9:07 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

They did win actually

Link

Both have been reported to reach a velocity in the low 90s and have impressive accuracy considering their lack of structured training until this year.

Singh and Patel are the first Indian-born players to sign a professional sports contract outside of their home country.

Id be excited if I were a Pirates fan as theyre the first team to tap this market, which could be massive

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Nov 25, 2008 9:08 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

that second sentence was part of the quote too.

Both have been reported to reach a velocity in the low 90s and have impressive accuracy considering their lack of structured training until this year.

Singh and Patel are the first Indian-born players to sign a professional sports contract outside of their home country.

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Nov 25, 2008 9:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That sentence

Singh and Patel are the first Indian-born players to sign a professional sports contract outside of their home country.

… as someone commented on the linked blog, is not true. Cricket is a professional sport, and the Indians are among the best. I wonder if these guys were bowlers.

My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.

by JohnM on Nov 25, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe that sentence IS true.

Are there any Indian-BORN cricketers who play outside India? There are plenty of Indian DESCENT who play in Britain, for example — but are any of those Indian-BORN?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 25, 2008 9:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There have been plenty

The first I can remember seeing was Bishen Bedi back in the seventies. There were plenty of Indian-born players playing professionally in English county cricket back then. Fewer more recently. Although the great Sachin Tendulkar himself played for Yorkshire in 1992.

So the statement is most definitely not true.

by simonuk on Nov 25, 2008 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Point taken.

Again proving that mainstream reporters ought to do some research and get their facts right.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 25, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I assumed so

but then, my knowledge of the sport is very limited and so I’m just guessing based on the blog comment and on the fact that there are so many Indian-BORN people living in Britain in all walks of life—and therefore I assumed, in competitive cricket. Also thought there was professional cricket in Australia, where Indian born players could have been signed.

I see a couple of other potentially faulty assumptions on my part, though*, so I’ll just rescind my comment for now.

[1. Not sure if “pro” cricket is even that developed; international cricket seems to be the highest level, but county club cricket—which has included Indian-born players—and which feeds the international squads, is amatuer, I think. 2. Some casual reading on the sport suggests bowlers aren;t even a specialized entity — any fielder may be called upon to bowl]

My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.

by JohnM on Nov 25, 2008 10:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If I remember right,

they just started a Pro Cricket League in India this past summer. I believe it’s the Indian Premier League. They play a Twenty20 format, which is a much quicker form of the traditional game.

So there are some ‘pro’ leagues sprouting up – they have them in Australia and Britain as well, though I know in Australia they are provincial/state teams that play.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Nov 25, 2008 10:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, International cricket is the highest level. But county cricket in England is fully professional. As well as locals, there are players from all over the world, including India.

With the exception of the new Indian Premier League, other domestic competitions round the world are not fully professional, but Australia at least have a history of hiring star players from elsewhere to boost their state teams.

And bowling is indeed a specialised art.

by simonuk on Nov 25, 2008 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for clearing all those things up

Sounds like India might be somewhere that an MLB team should consider setting up an academy, like they do in Latin America. Unlike the UK or Australia, there may be economic incentives for the best local athletes to switch to the foreign sport of baseball.

My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.

by JohnM on Nov 25, 2008 10:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Actually the article said they didn't win...

it wasn’t just to hit 90mph to win. I am fairly certain they did not win. i could be wrong though.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 25, 2008 4:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Here is what confused me...

While neither pitcher threw hard enough to earn the $1 million prize, Singh made $100,000 from the contest and Patel made $2,500, plus his trip to the United States.

I am still not sure whether they won or not but I suppose it doesn’t really matter.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 25, 2008 8:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I actually kinda admire the Bucs out-of-the-box thinking here.

I mean, yeah, signing a couple of utterly inexperienced guys from a country largely unfamilar with baseball is a bit crazy. Then again, who knows? You teach them from the ground up and they may catch on better than someone who has already spent a lifetime being coached by a multitude of people.

I mean, seriously, think of all the different “teachers” that most baseball players have had by the time they reach even the minor leagues. Parents and other relatives, little league coaches, high school coaches, college coaches. These two guys are blank pages. It’ll actually make for an interesting story to keep an eye on. And, as Al mentions above, all the Pirates really have to lose here is a little bit of money.

By the way, for a Pirate fan perspective, check out the Bucs Dugout. The latest post there reveals that Patel and Singh have a blog via the television show in question. I’m actually kinda rootin’ for these guys.

"I see I'm not the only one around here who can't hold his water." - Last words of the leaky pipe in the visiting team dugout, Dodger Stadium, October 4, 2008.

by dat cubfan daver on Nov 25, 2008 9:28 AM CST reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Nov 25, 2008 9:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Aww, thanks you guys.

And I bet you didn’t even know my birthday is tomorrow.

"I see I'm not the only one around here who can't hold his water." - Last words of the leaky pipe in the visiting team dugout, Dodger Stadium, October 4, 2008.

by dat cubfan daver on Nov 25, 2008 10:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I completely agree

What’s the difference between signing these guys or signing a 14-16 year old Latin American kid who can throw the ball through a brick wall? If anything, I would consider this to be more ethical than what I just mentioned.

So what if they were on a reality show? If they have talent, they have talent, doesn’t matter how they were discovered. And, last I heard, there isn’t exactly a plethora of MLB scouts in India.

Another thing this could do is bring baseball to a billion people in India. That’s a pretty big market. Plus, if baseball does take off in India, the Pirates could be seen as the organization that made that happen, automatically propelling them into the minds of a lot of people.

I am also rooting for them.

Oh, Happy Birthday! (I wrote that before you posted)

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Nov 25, 2008 10:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Whoa, psychic. Thanks!

"I see I'm not the only one around here who can't hold his water." - Last words of the leaky pipe in the visiting team dugout, Dodger Stadium, October 4, 2008.

by dat cubfan daver on Nov 25, 2008 10:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

lol

no problem.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Nov 25, 2008 10:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Great points DCD

I hope for their sake, the Bucs get someone very good to show teach them. Don’t know much about the Pirates pitching coach but since you are correct, and they are really a blank slate, better to have the first imprint be one with a great deal of experience and success.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 25, 2008 8:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed 100%

What part of this story isn’t awesome???

by Wreckard on Nov 26, 2008 1:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The entire Pirates ballclub...

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Nov 26, 2008 1:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"All I can say is I would be so pissed if I were a Pirates fan. "

There’s Pirate fans?

by ak123 on Nov 25, 2008 10:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

what does it hurt?

you give ‘em a tryout, and see what they can do. It’s about ability, not pedigree.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Nov 25, 2008 10:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Seems like a low-risk, high-reward move

India is an untapped market, as Huntington said this morning on the Dan Patrick Show. Plus, with their cricket background, it’s not much different than going into Australia and finding a fast-bowler and trying to teach him how to pitch, too.

If these fellas ever make it to Indianapolis (Pirates AAA), I’ll let you know how they look.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Trey2317 on Nov 25, 2008 10:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs