Is Good and Feels Good: a Bautista Take and Martin en Francais
Nothing more can really be said on the Jose Bautista situation, as it currently stands, that hasn't already been said. I haven't written about it because I just don't have that much to say. Look elsewhere for extensive worries about future deals, cost benefit analysis and hot takes on Bautista's personality.
The first thing was on Monday, the first day of camp. Bautista addressed the media. (Quote courtesy of Arden Zwelling via Twitter)
And then Tuesday came all sorts of nonsense that the demand was "150/5". And now today, it is more years, more money or just generally more. More insanity, more yelling, more "How dare he?"
People who are treating the 5/150 as absolute fact should calm down. People freaking out and considering the idea that it's more should calm down.
People, in general, should just calm down.
Stop taking everything tweeted out by various media talking heads as gospel truth. Stop calling Bautista out for this number, calling him arrogant and delusional. Just stop.
I called someone out on Twitter, and this was what they said back.
@HumandChuck joanna plz. these are all reports straight from sources who would know. — MLB Daily Dish (@mlbdailydish) February 24, 2016
Yeah.
Everyone has an agenda. Everyone has a boss that wants hits on their sites, to discuss the various rumours circling around. They are in the business of discussion. Various things are in play here.
What does Bautista have to say today?
I have two thoughts.
One: I wish, for once, we'd be able to hold on to a great player, to create new team history with a player and be able to celebrate it. It often feels like this team holds on too long to the past (the distant past) and seems ignorant on how to create a new history. There is also often a feeling that this team is somehow a feeder organization. A feeling that the stars that happen to develop or blossom here have to wait it out and then get to move on to the big time. It's annoying.
Two: is that if this is truly the last call for Jose Bautista, could we all, as a baseball community, not bog it down with speculation and bitterness? Could we stop with the "well, screw him" nonsense? Could we stop posting the pictures of him in a Red Sox uniform? Could we stop dismissing him as big-mouthed and arrogant when most of this fan base praised those exact aspects of his personality not five months ago?
I want the joy of the bat flips, the quips and the beards without the sourness. And I want to appreciate a player that is as smart and ballsy as Bautista is. He is a genuine supernova.
But @MLB, if you don't run with this promo I just spent the last 3 minutes making, there'll be hell to pay. pic.twitter.com/NTfmk9U3Qh — Scott Johnson (@_scottjohnson) February 24, 2016
This. Always this.
To paraphrase Stacey May Fowles via Twitter yesterday: Let's just enjoy ball.
I have French translations for you.
(As always, the translations are general. It's not word for word, but you will get the general idea. The feeling of it, if you will.)
Two stories out of Spring Training you might not have heard of because they are from Quebec Media. Le Journal de Montreal, to be specific.
The first one, entitled, Ivan Naccarata: dans l’ombre de Russell Martin (Ivan Naccarata: In Russell Martin's Shade- it doesn't really translate- it's more like "in the shadows" but that has a certain connotation. Let's say "behind the scenes".) It's about Russell Martin's friend named Ivan Naccarata. They went to the same secondary school in Montreal, Édouard- Montpetit (it's not like a high school here, it's a Cégep, for those who know about Quebec education). They were both a part of the study/sports program there.
Naccarat, who spent some time in the Mets system, spends part of his time as Martin's personal assistant and publicity/PR person.
«Mon mandat, c’est de faire en sorte que Russell puisse se concentrer, le plus possible, sur le baseball», a dit Naccarata.
"Mon rôle, c’est que Russell soit bien et qu’il se sente bien», a résumé Naccarata.
"Prochainement, on devrait voir la face de Russ sur des caisses de bières au Québec, mais il fallait voir avec lui s’il était à l’aise avec ça parce que c’est son image», a-t-il ajouté, à titre d’exemple."
My job is to allow Russell the ability to be concentrate as much as possible on baseball. I make sure Russell is good and feels good. For example, soon we will see Russell's face on beer cases in Quebec. But I had to make sure I consulted him and he approved of it because it's his image."(picture, face, brand. etc)
Naccarat's tasks include paying bills and running errands also sometimes acts as a go-between for Martin and his agent, Matt Colleran, when Colleran needs a question answered.
Naccarata spends the rest of his working time with Baseball Empire, his training facility and performance academy in Montreal that he runs with Alex Agostino. (According to his Facebook pictures, Martin spends there in the winter.)
«Mon but principal, que ce soit avec Russell ou avec Baseball Empire, c’est d’aider le baseball au Québec»
"My principal goal, whether with Russell or with Baseball Empire, it's to help baseball in Quebec."
You can follow Baseball Empire on Twitter @baseballempire
The second article is entitled:
Russell Martin: un gérant en devenir (Russell Martin: A Manager to Be.)
The article posits that while Martin has a few years to think about it, it would surprise no one that he'd one day manage. They asked Martin for his thoughts:
«Je ne peux pas dire non, mais je ne suis pas rendu là encore», a répondu l’athlète de 33 ans en riant lorsque la question lui a été posée par l’Agence QMI au camp d’entraînement des Blue Jays de Toronto, à Dunedin.
«Je vais essayer de jouer le plus longtemps que je peux, a poursuivi le receveur. Va falloir qu’on m’arrache le jersey de sur mon dos et une fois que ce sera fait, on va voir. Pour l’instant, j’apprécie juste l’opportunité de pouvoir jouer, mettre un uniforme et faire partie d’une équipe.»
"I can't say no, but I'm not there yet," the 33 year old athlete responded while laughing. "I want to try to play for as long as possible, to be a catcher. They will have to tear the jersey off my back and after that happens, we'll see. Right now, I just appreciate the opportunity to play, to put on the uniform and be a part of a team."
Martin also talked about playing in Montreal last year and about looking forward to doing it again.
«C’est sûr que je voulais frapper quelques coups sûrs à Montréal et je n’ai pas réussi, mais cette année, je pense que je vais juste avoir du plaisir avec ça, a-t-il indiqué. Je veux apprécier le moment un petit peu plus. L’année passée, c’était un peu fou pour moi.»
"Of course I wanted to hit a few hard in Montreal and I didn't do it, but this year, I think I'm just going to take pleasure in the whole thing. I want to appreciate the moment a bit more. Last year, for me, it was a bit crazy."
«L’année passée, c’était vraiment spécial, c’était quasiment un rêve qui devenait réalité, a-t-il rappelé. Je m’étais peut-être mis un peu trop de pression. Je voulais bien performer.»
Pour 2016, son rêve, c’est de frapper un circuit à Montréal.
«Au moins un coup sûr», a-t-il souhaité.
"Last year was really special. It was a dream that became a reality. I maybe put too much pressure on myself. I want to perform well."
For 2016, his dream is to hit a homer in Montreal.
"At least a sure hit."
He looks all baseball delicious here, except one thing. Which is also apparent in the other picture of him above.
I need to yell for a second. What is that bulge in your lip, young man? You had better not be dipping or I am going to have to come down to Florida, force you to spit it out and kick your ass.
Why would you spend so much time eating well and working out in the gym, to sculpt your body like Michelangelo, if you are just going to give yourself mouth cancer? Stupid, stupid boy.
You are far too pretty to have that shit in your mouth. Go ask Gibby for some Nicorette. Immédiatement. Ostie d’crisse de tabarnak.
I hate it when they do that.