Think India is only taking phone jobs?

[Thrasha]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

Really ??

These two guys haven't picked up a baseball until earlier this year. Also, they were on a reality show ($1 mil prize to the winner) and neither came close to winning the show..

And the best part? "When they first came to the United States and began playing catch, the pitchers were mystified by the concept of gloves and had to taught not to try to catch the ball with their bare hands". (from Fox Sports).

I could understand if they took the top two winners - and also like the scouting globally concept. But this has the makings of FAIL written all over it.

I would imagine their is something about the two guys they selected that makes them think they would be more successful then the winner of this reality show.

Kinda like how winning the Heisman in college football doesn't necessarily mean that that player will be the best player in the pros.

Granted I don't have a ton of faith in the Pirates scouting department, it's interesting thing to try I guess. It is a no lose situation.

[nyisles16]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

How is this any different than drafting a random kid out of HS.

At least these guys are topping out near 90.

They are raw... but the Pirates coaches get to mold them however they want.

They have NO bad habits. They have a fresh slate with these guys and they have great arms... I really don't see the downside to this.

There would be no uproar whatsoever if these two kids were from Kentucky or some other state...

It's two MINOR LEAGUE contracts. I'm sure the Pirates won't be losing sleep over the cost.

Cool - I'm awaiting a call from the Pirates, seeing that I haven't played ball since little league...

It's a stunt - pure and simple... If these guys had any sort of baseball background, it would be a different story. I don't care if they came from any part of the world.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

Can you throw 90? Are you only 20?

No bad habits because they've never played.. that strong of an arm, and all that potential to mold.

Well worth it.

[dansaint]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

THEY TOOK 'ER JOBS!!!!


*South Park reference*

[mjb2124]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

How is this any different than drafting a random kid out of HS.

At least these guys are topping out near 90.

They are raw... but the Pirates coaches get to mold them however they want.

They have NO bad habits. They have a fresh slate with these guys and they have great arms... I really don't see the downside to this.

There would be no uproar whatsoever if these two kids were from Kentucky or some other state...

It's two MINOR LEAGUE contracts. I'm sure the Pirates won't be losing sleep over the cost.

It is the Pirates coaches molding them. That's not a good thing.

As for no bad habits. I disagree to an extent. These guys probably have some pretty bad habits similar to an average 20 year old US kid who has played baseball his whole life. Pitching mechanics are hard enough to do consistently by someone who has done it year in and year out...let alone 2 kids who picked up a baseball for the first time 3 months ago. They've got a lot to learn about the position and mentality of a pitcher that is taught at the high school level in the US (ie: working the count, setting up hitters, tell tale signs of what a hitter is thinking etc...)

I also wouldn't call one guy throwing 85 and another hitting 90 on occasion as having very strong arms. That's nothing - most HS pitchers hit 85-90 when I played (I did as well). If they threw 90MPH and had nasty secondary/tertiary pitches, I'd be more impressed.

I also doubt the Pirates are losing any sleep over this. They shouldn't as it's not a big deal in the long run (only spent 40K as a signing bonus on both players - which is nothing, even for the cheap Pirates). They SHOULD lose sleep over their dwindling fanbase that see's moves like this as nothing more than a publicity stunt (same thing when they signed Masumi Kuwata a few years ago - who was a 39 year old former Japanese superstar who had nothing left) and not one that will actually improve the product on the field. If they spent more time trying to sign legit top level prospects, this type of move wouldn't be as scrutinized by the Pirates fanbase.

Here's a picture:

[Stroehms]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

Can you throw 90? Are you only 20?

No bad habits because they've never played.. that strong of an arm, and all that potential to mold.

Well worth it.

Completely agree. Treat them like normal minor leaguers and teach them on the fly.

[CMH]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

I can't believe the anger over a couple of signings.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

I'm with Linty on this one to a degree. It's a no lose situation for some team to sign these two guys, but that team should have a much bigger fanbase and had some success in more recent years. Like mjb said, Pirates attendance is crappy and the fans are up-in-arms over ownership and management. Doing something like this is not going to sit well with their fans here. I know I'd be ticked if the Reds did this. It wouldn't make any sense. The Pirates might get a whole bunch of new fans in India but really what does that do? Increase apparel sales? Now, if the Yankees did it, they really have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

[J0nnD0ugh]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

Whoa. Didn't expect this much reaction on this story. Can't believe this much anger over these 2. The reason why no one does this in the US is because more than likely the ones talented enough to make it have already been scouted & found. India is untapped. Close to a billion people who have never seen baseball played, let alone play the game. There might be someone built for the game who isn't aware the sport exists.

[mjb2124]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

I hope no one thought I was getting angry in my responses. I'm certainly not...just annoyed with what I perceive as another publicity stunt by the Pirates (see Masumi Kuwata and any number of things they've done over the year - dog night at the park?). If you want to hear angry, you guys should hear what's on sports talk radio around here regarding this. I guess after 16 going on 17 straight years of losing, this is what happens to a fanbase. I don't expect anyone to understand that as there isn't another team in professional sports who has had that many consecutive losing seasons (outside of the Phillies and no one on here was alive when that happened).

In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a big deal for the Pirates. However, knowing this will probably be the 2 biggest signings of the offseason, that annoys me. The Pirates ownership isn't in the game to win baseball games. They're in the game to make money.

I get the impression the Pirates ship is rolling along without a captain. They basically throw things off the wall and see what sticks.

[CMH]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

If it's the two biggest signings of the offseason, and the media wants to carry it as such, then yes.

But, it really shouldn't be a big deal to anyone. Teams sign amateur free agents all the time. This is only getting news because it's two guys from a reality show in India.

[nyisles16]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

Not angry - just think it's a joke. That's all..

[mjb2124]

Re: Think India is only taking phone jobs?

If it's the two biggest signings of the offseason, and the media wants to carry it as such, then yes.

Sadly, it probably will be. This is the Pirates afterall.

This is only getting news because it's two guys from a reality show in India.

Agreed.

[Rod_Carew29]

Re: The 'furor' over the Bucs signing two athletes from India

and to look at this thing from another angle...The Pirates were one of the first, if not the first major league team, to EXTENSIVELY scout and sign players from Latin American countries...specifically in the 50's and 60's...when they had their greatest lineups.

So, history has shown that when you think outside the box (scout differently and tap into unknown markets), good things CAN come of it.

I hope no one thought I was getting angry in my responses. I'm certainly not...just annoyed with what I perceive as another publicity stunt by the Pirates (see Masumi Kuwata and any number of things they've done over the year - dog night at the park?). If you want to hear angry, you guys should hear what's on sports talk radio around here regarding this. I guess after 16 going on 17 straight years of losing, this is what happens to a fanbase. I don't expect anyone to understand that as there isn't another team in professional sports who has had that many consecutive losing seasons (outside of the Phillies and no one on here was alive when that happened).

In the grand scheme of things, this isn't a big deal for the Pirates. However, knowing this will probably be the 2 biggest signings of the offseason, that annoys me. The Pirates ownership isn't in the game to win baseball games. They're in the game to make money.

I get the impression the Pirates ship is rolling along without a captain. They basically throw things off the wall and see what sticks.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: The 'furor' over the Bucs signing two athletes from India

and to look at this thing from another angle...The Pirates were one of the first, if not the first major league team, to EXTENSIVELY scout and sign players from Latin American countries...specifically in the 50's and 60's...when they had their greatest lineups.

So, history has shown that when you think outside the box (scout differently and tap into unknown markets), good things CAN come of it.

Well, they nabbed Roberto Clemente from that so, yeah, I guess some good did come from it. Can't argue with you there. Have some doubts about India but who knows.