Guillen Speaks of Latino Disadvantages in Baseball

You could make the assumption that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is just spouting off again. This is a bit different. He's not ranting about his GM Kenny Williams. He's not ranting about his players. I don't think he's ranting at all. He brings up a couple of points that, at the very least, needs to be brought to light.

One issue was the availability of Spanish translators for Latino players. Guillen felt there was a bias toward the Asian players.

"Very bad. I say, why do we have Japanese interpreters and we don't have a Spanish one. I always say that. Why do they have that privilege and we don't?"

There are many reasons this is the case. For the most part, when Asians come to the United States to pursue a baseball career, there's no one on their team that speaks their native language. The majority of Asian players have also already made a splash playing overseas and come to the US with the label that they are "baseball ready". They possess a proven track record. Yes, I, too, consider it a privilege if the team or an outside source is paying for it. If those funds are coming directly out of the pocket of the player, then it is not a privilege.

The same cannot be said for the Latinos and Guillen's point is still beyond valid. Guillen stated that Latino players aren't considered worthy of signing once they're past the age of 16 or 17 while American college players are still considered at the ages of 22 or 23. Imagine being that age (16 or 17) and literally being dropped into a totally different culture with a totally different language. You have no clue about either. Sure, you may view your overall surroundings as being better, but the culture shock alone would make you at least flinch...a lot. It might even provide a sensation of being lost.

Another point to add to this is when these kids are plopped into our US culture, education wasn't first on their personal agendas. It was baseball. They see baseball as a means to deliver their families from probable impoverished conditions. Learning a new language is hard enough and learning English is said to be one of the hardest to learn if it is not your native tongue. Not only are these players trying to learn the nuances of baseball, they are also attempting to learn English.

Guillen's son, Oney, was drafted by the White Sox and is currently playing for their Single-A club. There are 17 Latino players on the roster and the only player that knows both English and Spanish is son Oney. Think about that. Oney Guillen is placed in a position he shouldn't be in. He knows the language but there are many that don't. He's their only voice to the coaches. One person for 16 voices plus his own. Not a good ratio at all and I imagine that can be draining. Meanwhile, the team's one Korean prospect has an interpreter to himself. If what we're hearing from Ozzie is true, there is a definite imbalance.

Ozzie?

"And we had 17 Latinos and you know who the interpreter was? Oney. Why is that? Because we have Latino coaches? Because here he is? Why? I don't have the answer," Guillen said. "We're in the United States, we don't have to bring any coaches that speak Spanish to help anybody. You choose to come to this country and you better speak English."

And this is a hot topic. Very hot. If you're in the US, you better know English. I despise going political. I hope I'm not because I'm by far a genius when politics are concerned. Call me ignorant (most do), but I do have a valid point here. And maybe even an answer for Ozzie.

Anytime you place a call to any customer support line, the first thing you hear is "Press 1 for English. Press 2 for Spanish (in Spanish)." That one recording makes most Americans shutter and cringe. "They should learn our language if they're going to be here," they say. I agree...to a point.

Considering the difficulty of learning English, all of MLB should provide adequate resources for those players that do not know English. Provide the interpreters but also provide for the education for those to learn English. It doesn't have to happen overnight or even a year. Just provide the resources. I'm not saying we even have to place a rock solid mandate on this. One of the hardest things to do is when you merely visit a foreign country and you're not versed in the language. Imagine being surrounded by that 24/7.

I thoroughly realize that with my suggestions that we're almost back to square one, but if these kids aren't presented that opportunity to learn the language, how can they really succeed? And who's to say those that learn English won't be involved in the "program" down the line. The majority of Latin players are more than generous to their native countries. ESPN could do at least one entire season of E:60 based on that alone.

I can hear the detractors now. "If they know there's interpreters, what's the motivation?" and "We shouldn't force these kids to learn English." Extremely valid questions. But I ask of you, "Wouldn't things be easier for these kids if they knew at least the basics of the language before being dropped into unfamiliar surroundings?" The transition would be a little smoother and provide a better all-around environment. If there's no opportunity

I do disagree with some of Ozzie's following statement. He addresses the issue of PEDs in the Latino communities.

"It's somebody behind the scene making money out of those kids and telling them to take something they're not supposed to," Guillen said. "If you tell me, you take this ... you're going to be Vladimir Guerrero, you're going to be Miguel Cabrera, you're going to be this guy ... I'll do it. Because I have seven brothers that sleep in the same room. I have to take care of my mother, my dad. ... Out of this I'm going to make money to make them better...

"I'm the only one to teach the Latinos about not to use," he said. "I'm the only one and Major League Baseball doesn't [care]. All they care about -- how many times I argue with the umpires, what I say to the media. But I'm the only one in baseball to come up to the Latino kids and say not to use this and I don't get any credit for that."

While I emphatically agree with Guillen that someone is out to make a buck at these kids' expense, I disagree that he's the only one preaching about PED dangers. I sincerely hope that Ozzie's not pounding his chest on this. I do applaud Guillen and give him full credit for his willingness to spread the word about PED use. Guillen has the pull to build up an effort and incorporate other Latin American players in this cause. Educating those kids about the dangers of PED use must be the sole priority of that effort.

Since the beginning of 2008, a total of 14 players (major, minor or other leagues) have been suspended due to violations of the MLB drug policy or positive tests. In April of 2008, one player was suspended due to rumors of HGH use. Recently, MLB announced that HGH testing would be done in the minors. Another was eventually cleared. Two of the 14 were playing in Japan, suspended for a year and eventually dropped by their perspective teams.

Alarming stat. Of the 10 remaining cases, 8 were from Spanish speaking countries. I know some will want to read a myriad of generalizations into that statement. Here's my point on that. The education isn't reaching far enough down the line. I refer back to Guillen and other Latino players and the possibility they can help organize a movement. I would be hopeful that MLB could kick in a few bucks and resources there, too.

MLB refutes Guillen's claim that he's the only one on board when it comes to PED use in Latin America and that the league doesn't care. MLB says it has extensive testing in the Dominican and Venezuelan leagues and that it also provides education, too. More education than here in America. You're educating and testing the players. What about the hopefuls? They deserve the knowledge, too. They need to know what will happen if they use PEDs and what results from a failed drug test.

Guillen does have one other prominent point. If anyone else was saying these things, it would be on jumbotrons. Ozzie nailed this one.

Ozzie is being Ozzie and I like Ozzie.

Now, if someone would listen this time and act.