Look Rox, the premise of your argument has shifted. If you are saying, "the RBI organization is great and the Astros should do more," that is a different discussion. But that was not the premise of this thread. The premise was, "the Astros are racist," and that is a stupid, stupid, unfounded, dumbass thing to say. Just look at Buck's list above. And, choosing not to funnel money to charitable organizations when one has the means to do so may be stinginess but it is *not* racism. If the Astros were sending money to the little leagues in Spring Branch/Memorial and not sending money to RBI, you'd have an argument there. I really hope you can see the difference. So, appealing to the Astros to invest in their community is a noble thing, but don't make it about race when it plainly is not. No, Dr. King was right. The problem is people turning over every stone in a society that is still sensitive and hurting over our sordid past. When the race card is played on situations like this, you are ripping an open wound open unnecessarily. Dr. King, I am confident, would call a lot of people "moron" over some of the ridiculous allegations being thrown around today. Again, real racism is so ugly--but if you throw the race card around on non-issues then the American people get desensitized and sluggish to respond on something that really matters. Covert racism is the second biggest threat in our society as far as racism goes. And I'll agree that it is a threat. But the biggest threat is people getting turned off and apathetic to the whole thing due to being oversaturated by stupid bullcrap like what you've said here. Look at Buck's list. Look at the Astros' history. Who was it that hired Bob Watson? Yeah, but the Astros are "racist".
I was very confused by this thread. At first I thought,the thread had been created because of the exile of señor willie;but then some of you guys posted on the lack of African-american players in the Astros.The problem with this thread is simple,people are combining two different cultures. T The lack of African-american players is a problem,but it is a problem all through out Beisbol.Mainly because the passion for the sport isn't there,not when there is football and basketball to compete with.I don't know about you, but I have a difficult time watching 9 innings of Beisbol without switching over to Univision =). As for the lack of Latin Americans in the astros.......My people will not work for cheap!And it has only been recently that Dreyton has emptied out his pockets and cleared himself from bagwell's never ending contract. The loss of Taveras is an outrage;because I loved the way he played,never did I think it was racially motivated. My people will love carlos lee,a fellow central american, who loves his Motherland and its community. =)
Maybe I don't know, but they have had several black hispanics....but who's counting? From that can we say that the Stros are anti-American? Nope don't think so. I think the Astros are Pro-baseball, Pro-Winning and anti-Losing.
Gosh guys cmon im a minority myself but yet i never look at these situations in a negative way. Baseball is a business so they are going to put the best players out there no matter their skin color. Whats ironic is that as minorties we look at "whites" being racist when in reality were more racist to evryone else. Just enjoy the game, watch the astros win, and stop worrying about stuff that really isn't happening.
I am sick of hearing about the Astros being racist all the time. What do they have to do ? I mean there have been plenty of non white players on the team,yet people expect them to go out of their way just to get an African American player. Take last year for instance; Wilson was cut because he sucked!!! Luke Scott his replacement on the other hand did really well. So they got rid of a guy that did nothing here but strike out a whole bunch of times who just happened to be black. That does not make them racist!!!!! I don't expect the Astros to add non white players just for the sole purpose of adding a non white player. If the best team on the field has to have all white players so be it!!!! P.S. I am not white but I am sick of hearing this "Astros are racist" crap
I only pay attention to baseball during the World Series but what I have noticed is that most of the teams that win have more latino and black people than the Astros do. Maybe just a coincidence?
It means nothing. If that were the case, then how did the Astros even make it to the WS in 2005? You could turn your argument around and say "Gee the Astros made it to the WS with less Latino and Black players than the other teams - maybe just a coincidence?"
No, I don't think so. Most of their players are still white, just like the Astros, but they do have more of mix. Some of their best players are black/latino like Derek Jeter, Ivan Rodriquez, Manny Ramirez, Jermaine Dye, Albert Pujols, etc.
1. Jackie Robinson made it a big deal. I would like to see the fruits of his labor represented on my team. Period. 2. What exactly is the "Astros type player" that Drayton and Tim so frequently reference. It's kinda clear more goes into selecting players than his ability on the field...can we all at least agree on that? 3. I have no doubt that the organization considers all players when trying to build a contender. However, I still think they lack the testicular fortitude in bringing in and sticking to players that are not the prototypical "Astros type player". Once we can define what that is exactly (ATP) then everything, to me at least, will be clearer.
If what you are saying is true why is it everytime the astro get a black american an he has a bad year he's shipped off but the white player have a bad year it's ok so maybe we should just possibly drop the Pro-Winning.
adam everett ,jason lane,ensberg,lidge and ausmus also SUCKED but there all white so i guess that makes it alright. There is a difference in how the Astros judge there players. I wouldn't think anybody on this broad would wasnt the team to add a non white player just for show .But don't get rid of a non white player just because he has a bad year.
Good teammate, good character, hard worker, plays the game the right way. Not sure where you're going with that, but they used that phrase to describe Preston Wilson when they got him, while he was here, and after he left.
Oh, it goes beyond the roster on the field. A wildly large majority of the hires in UPPER MANAGEMENT by the Astros have been minorities. Thanks for your efforts, Jackie. "Period."
That's great, and totally understandable. That's a far cry from insinuating (or outright accusing) racism/prejudice though.
You do realize that all the players you named were KEY contributors on the 2005 World Series team - correct? You do realize that in addition to Preston Wilson, they cut Eric Munson in the middle of the year and replaced him with - gasp - a Latino?
Everett: did *not* suck (defense v. offense is a whole other argument) Lane: cheaper than PW, couldn't land a P in trade like Willy Ensberg: cheaper than PW, couldn't land a P in trade like Willy Lidge: cheap, being shopped *hard* in a trade (and he's white, what gives???) Ausmus: did *not* suck defensively, no trade value, Astros looking for other options (even though he's white???) I just shot down all your lame-assed examples. Also, you're conveniently leaving out that PW was released because the Astros royally screwed up their roster mgmt last year and admitted it--the choice was a $$ one (they were going to have to give up an OF, and Lane was several millions cheaper in '07). Oh yeah, almost forgot: "Period."
