Catching up on some minor moves from around baseball…
- The Rangers outrighted Rob Refsnyder off their 40-man roster and assigned him to their alternate training site after the utilityman cleared waivers. Texas designated Refsnyder for assignment earlier this week. Refsnyder signed a minors contract with the Rangers back in November and has appeared in 15 games this season, marking his first Major League action since the 2018 campaign. With only a .200/.265/.233 slash line through 34 PA, however, Refsnyder became expendable. The five-year veteran will remain in the organization as a depth option at first base and both corner outfield slots.
I’m not usually political here, but I would like to say this. If the players feel it’ll help things by choosing not to play. Fine by me. It’s a free country. Do I think it’ll help the situation? It might bring some awareness, but I feel they could do more. Protesting and speaking out is one thing. But one thing I would like to propose to MLB and its players is creating an underprivlidged youth foundation. I had to write a paper about the decrease of youth participation in sports last year during one of my college classes. I personally don’t find it a concidence that there has been a decrease in African American MLB players, and lower incomes among African-American households. Baseball can be expensive. A decent, Easton aluminum bat for a little leaguer can cost anywhere between $50 to $200. That’s also not including a fielding glove, batting gloves, and other miscelaneous equipment. It’s a real shame speaking how much rich African American history there is in this sport. I really think that, not only might it help the situation at hand, but also help the game in general if they started opening baseball camps, little league camps, and fields that are often maintinenced around the United States in areas of lower-income. Aside from a Compton youth program, I couldn’t find much else, and I had to go looking for that one. Not only should they promote that one more, but also open more across the US.
Please don’t delete this, or any comments that don’t mean any harm/wanting to start an argument. I truly want to have an open-minded discussion about this.
Rob Refsnyder
Rob Snyder.
Rob Schneider.
Red Rover, Red Rover, send Rob Refschneider over.
Redynsfer Bor
Red rocket
These players have the financial ability to make a real difference in this world by the means you mentioned as well as educational
Work with leaders work with police actual actions and not just pouting in a corner
These protest only lead to violence
It sounds like you’re talking about a foundation called “the players alliance”, an organization lead by Curtis Granderson!
I wish there were more people like you. Unlike the shouting competition people have because of politics and race (keep them separated people), you would much rather have a civil conversation, and I appreciate that.
I was actually talking to somebody about this same topic earlier. The youth in these poor areas have to grow up with the pain, suffering, and repressiveness of not only being poor, but also not being safe. I am fine with the players going on strike for a game just to bring awareness to the issue. But there has to be more. Speaking up is a great start, but it is just a start. If America just told Japan to stop attacking Pearl Harbor, I doubt that would’ve ended. I am not a professional athlete (though I am training), so I can’t tell people how to spend their money. But I know that a lot could be done if funds were put out to start new youth centers, baseball facilities, and to have good security at both. I proposed earlier that there should be a system that if a lower-class child goes to college, finishes, and pays for it via student loan, he gets every single penny of the loan paid off. If you start, but don’t complete it, you have to find a way to pay for the loan. Incentive to get out will guide your destiny, and incentive to get out will guide your new life.
This isn’t a matter of Republican or Democrat, this is a matter of getting poor youth out of the bad part of town. I prey for the mothers that work 3 jobs, and don’t know if they or their kids will get shot walking outside.
One more thing, people need to stop associating racism and political parties. I you say you want peace, and then echo those statements, you are hurting more than you are helping.
In conclusion, what is happening now is a start, but we need to start helping the families, and especially the youth, get that boost out of the terrible situation they are in.
Thank you mlb1225, and thank you MLBTR for not banning posts right now. If conversations like this happen, change will follow.
I’ve been thinking too about what could be done long term. You have some solid ideas. Canceling games will not be enough to change the world, and changing the world is necessary.
Instead of sitting out/postponing a game in response, why not play the game and then donate that day’s salary to form a coalition to explore real answers?
I’m not going to look for a source, but LaTroy Hawkins has spoken about his efforts in this area as well in Indiana. I like where you are coming from on this topic.
There is so much to be done, but it can start on a small stage.
If the players choose not to play I support that. They owe nothing to me, but I would be happy if the protesting of games leads to even one small idea to help in any of the communities.
So none of the players lost any money by not playing; none of the owners lost any money by having the games postponed. The gesture was as meaningless as a group of Wall Street hedge fund managers taking a day off to protest the elimination of 21 ounce Starbuck’s coffee cups. It trivializes what is a serious national issue.
Both players and owners would have my respect if they donated just one week’s salaries/profits to someone like Granderson or Kapernick. Otherwise, it’s only Broadway. It may be well meaning; no one who watched Dom Smith or Mookie doubts their sincerity. But, as Catholics know, giving up asparagus for Lent (when you hate asparagus) isn’t a sacrifice; it is without meaning.
Martin said and knew that the right of a black man to order a hamburger at the lunch counter means absolutely nothing unless he has the money to buy the burger. We have the obligation to eliminate racial disparity, and not make empty gestures that make us feel comfy.
#KeepSportsMessageFree
#NoPoliticsInSports
#PlayTheDamnGame
I understand people’s desire to see sports not be drowned out by personal messages, but can you blame them? They have a huge platform, and they choose to use it. They peacefully went on strike for a game, without violence, looting, and hysteria. For all I care it was fine, and it gave them a day off.
Think of it this way: Baseball isn’t as popular as basketball or the NFL because they don’t market players. Mike Trout isn’t recognized by the average fan as “the GOAT”, because he isn’t marketed, and for that matter, he doesn’t market himself. Clips of his miraculous plays aren’t seen by most because of the lack of marketing Mlb pushes. They don’t respect his greatness, and use his presence to push the sport forward. Instead they let him do him, and keep quiet. If Lebron gets one three in a game, it’s on sport center immediately And it’s because the NBA markets him…
My point being, that if these players have the real drive to fix what they think is wrong, then they have the first amendment right to take it into their own hands, and protest. It pushes a message forward.
I’m not trying to persuade you, but I ask that you keep an open mind to this. Trust me, I have had to do/learn a lot over these past 5 months too.
I’m currently in a sport-history class for my college major. As much as I don’t like it, sports and politics constantly intersect, and it’s not just in the US. This wouldn’t be the first time an athlete has used sport as a platform to push their message. It’s just something you kind of have to accept that happens. I do appreciate guys like you, Rangers29 on these forums that are willing to have a calm, very civil, and open minded discussion, whether that be about at topic like this, or just anything baseball related. I think that’s what scares a lot of people into talking about sensitive subjects like this because we see so many instances of things getting way out of hand because of people going overboard on topics.
It scares me that people are scared to speak their opinions. I grew up believing that if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say it. Good doesn’t just mean praise, it can mean civil conversations like this too. I’d hope more people would talk (online and in public), not just about race, but maybe an opinion on a certain issue. Though they feel shut down by the people who shout them out, and they shouldn’t… nor should people shout others out to begin with.
If you want to hear something else, I really don’t have to strong of an opinion either way on the racial movement right now. I like people having opinions though. The main reason I posted on here tonight was because somebody wanted to have a civil conversation, and that’s really rare nowadays. So without hanging you out here to dry, I hope I lead by example that you can have a peaceful conversation about a strong/tense issue, without arguing violently. Thank you.
I agree with what you said, as I also don’t really have a strong opinion one way or another. But thank you for being someone on these boards who doesn’t take topics to the point where it feels like people are screaming with their keyboards. I do look forward to see your comments in the future.
I am staying very Rangers centered for the next 4 days until the deadline lol. I manage to slip Lance Lynn’s name into any conversation on this site about any trades at this point. It’s almost in pure irony now, but I find it enjoyable lol.
Hope you guys get a package back for him, and rightfully so. Really underrated starter. Hoping Cherington gets something back for the pieces we have, although I’m not expecting much.
I hope for Andujar and Frazier from the Yanks, but that may not be realistic (not because it’s an outrageous package, but because they are an injury parade). Our FO wants a big haul for him, so maybe Waters and Wilson from Atlanta.
Stop thinking you’re getting both Andujar and Frazier for Lynn. I have zero interest in Lynn. I already offered Stanton for Odor.
I didn’t know Brian Cashman read MLB Trade Rumors.