Just how important is Dontrelle Willis? (Race Bomb)

[imb]

Looking at the MLB leaders in ERA, how many in the top 40 are american born black athletes? One. How many in the top 80? Two.

 

Why aren't there more black pitchers? Is it because, like with QB's in football, many are pushed to other positions at a young age? Is it because, this is a little un-PC, but is it because they are more athletic than their white counterparts, and pitching is a position where athleticism isn't as necessary?

 

Whatever the reason, Dontrelle Willis could become something of a Mike Vick of Baseball. When Vick exploded onto the scene at Virginia Tech, it seemingly gave more black high school players the opportunity to play QB in college, and actually pass the ball.

 

I really wish MLB would give Dontrelle more exposure, not only because of his incredible year, but because of the good it would do to the overall health of the sport.

[goonys evil twin]

I really wish MLB would give Dontrelle more exposure, not only because of his incredible year, but because of the good it would do to the overall health of the sport.

 

I think, much like Vick, he's already overexposed.

[UK1679666180]

How many black catchers are there?

 

I think they become stereotyped early on into a role based on the fact they are assumed to be athletic and will end up becoming a position player.

 

I can remember my HS basketball coach telling us this team we're facing is quick and atlethic b/c the majority of them were black and if we were playing an all white team, he would tell us that we can outrun them and we're equal athletically.

 

It happened to be the opposite the two times he mentioned this.

[Careless]

I really wish MLB would give Dontrelle more exposure, not only because of his incredible year, but because of the good it would do to the overall health of the sport.

I'd be shocked if they don't promote him like crazy. MLB has been bemoaning the death of the black US baseball player (and fan)for years. There's every reason to believe that they'll want to use him to boost the popularity of the sport.

 

I was just looking around and saw this "A Seattle Times analysis of active rosters, including players on disabled lists, showed that 8.9 percent (79 of 888 players) were African-American."

[Careless]

How many black catchers are there?

none since johnson got cut this season

[UK1679666180]

How many black catchers are there?

none since johnson got cut this season

 

Exactly, 1 in how many years?

[CuseCubFan69]

How many black catchers are there?

none since johnson got cut this season

 

Exactly, 1 in how many years?

 

The old school thought for catchers was to put the least athletic kid there. I like to put kids there that are the most athletic.

[rawaction]

Good point IMB. Willis is very important to the game of baseball, because of the reasons you mentioned. And to be honest, there just aren't many black kids playing baseball. None of my black friends even follow baseball. Every single one of my white friends grew up playing it.

 

But I don't agree that Vick is the standard bearer for the black QB. I think Randall Cunningham has to get the credit. Culpepper, McNabb, and the immortal, Kordell Stewart were all Pro-Bowl QBs before Vick ever started an NFL game. McNair and Aaron Brooks were among the league leaders in passing. And you also had Charlie Batch as a starting QB for some reason.

 

Vick is important because he took the athletic QB to a new level. But Cunningham planted the seed, and changed the game.

[imb]

That's true, but you can't argue that Black QB exposure went up as soon as Vick started at Virginia Tech.

 

Cunningham planted the seed, but no one watered it until this current group of QB's showed up, in my opinion anyway.

[reggiemiller rules]

I dont think it is just starting pitchers, there is a lack of US black born players in all of baseball. Im not sure why this is but there seems to be a lot less today.

[rawaction]

That's true, but you can't argue that Black QB exposure went up as soon as Vick started at Virginia Tech.

 

Cunningham planted the seed, but no one watered it until this current group of QB's showed up, in my opinion anyway.

 

Agreed. Vick's emergence is keeping a lot of kids from being college WRs, but I give Cunningham the credit for giving guys like Vick (and the current crop) a chance to stay at QB.

[rawaction]

I dont think it is just starting pitchers, there is a lack of US black born players in all of baseball. Im not sure why this is but there seems to be a lot less today.

 

Let's face it, it's because baseball is boring. All of us here are diehards and love the game, but most young people aren't entertained by standing in the field for 15 minutes without getting a ball hit in your direction. In baseball and football, everyone on the field/court is doing something every single play.

[reggiemiller rules]

I dont think it is just starting pitchers, there is a lack of US black born players in all of baseball. Im not sure why this is but there seems to be a lot less today.

 

Let's face it, it's because baseball is boring. All of us here are diehards and love the game, but most young people aren't entertained by standing in the field for 15 minutes without getting a ball hit in your direction. In baseball and football, everyone on the field/court is doing something every single play.

 

I think some of it is also the amount of time you spend in the minors before you get up. Most rookies in baseball dont make it until around age 23 unless they are really special players. While in football and basketball you can get to the pros by age 19 to 21 ir 22.

[Gunned]

Let's face it, it's because baseball is boring. All of us here are diehards and love the game, but most young people aren't entertained by standing in the field for 15 minutes without getting a ball hit in your direction. In baseball and football, everyone on the field/court is doing something every single play.

 

What does that have to do with black athletes?

[jaydee]

Looking at the MLB leaders in ERA, how many in the top 40 are american born black athletes? One. How many in the top 80? Two.

 

Why aren't there more black pitchers? Is it because, like with QB's in football, many are pushed to other positions at a young age? Is it because, this is a little un-PC, but is it because they are more athletic than their white counterparts, and pitching is a position where athleticism isn't as necessary?

 

Whatever the reason, Dontrelle Willis could become something of a Mike Vick of Baseball. When Vick exploded onto the scene at Virginia Tech, it seemingly gave more black high school players the opportunity to play QB in college, and actually pass the ball.

 

I really wish MLB would give Dontrelle more exposure, not only because of his incredible year, but because of the good it would do to the overall health of the sport.

 

he is already has a lot of exposure

[CuseCubFan69]

If I am a talented black kid and was a great athlete and could play any sport I'd look at the NFL, NBA and MLB. What is the best chance to get a scholarship? Which would be the best Pro sport? NBA, NFL, then MLB

 

Now, I'm a talented white kid with the same qualities. What do you do?

 

MLB, NFL, NBA

 

I have heard recruiters for NIKE camps and AAU actually tell both white and black kids to look at the pro sports and decide which sport you want to do.

 

A couple more things. I had one of the best LL kids ever to play for me. He was a 5 tool kid. He was bored out of his mind playing baseball even though he led the team in HR's...by far. He loved soccer and there he went. A lot of very good athletes go this direction around here unless there dad is really into baseball.

 

The city schools around here are mostly black. Yet, very very few are on the High School baseball teams. Why, I don't know and these teams struggle to even put a full roster out there.

 

Now, Aaron, Bonds, and Mays were all black and during these kids fathers or their time. These are the most prolific home run hitters of our time. Nothing is hotter to kids than a home run hitter....nothing in baseball. It hasn't translated to young black kids playing baseball so I don't see Willis really making that any better other than to throw kids mechanics off.

[Derwood]

I think baseball programs in primarily black neighborhoods have all but dried up. It's a more expensive game to play than basketball (one ball and one hoop vs. a bat, ball, bases, gloves, etc.) Plus basketball is a "sexier" sport, meaning the individual is given much more attention and can make a greater impact on their team (see how much the Cavs improved with LeBron, for example).

 

Overall, if black kids aren't being steered towards baseball at an early age, they will never get into it. Plain and simple.

[rocket]

That's true, but you can't argue that Black QB exposure went up as soon as Vick started at Virginia Tech.

 

Cunningham planted the seed, but no one watered it until this current group of QB's showed up, in my opinion anyway.

 

Agreed. Vick's emergence is keeping a lot of kids from being college WRs, but I give Cunningham the credit for giving guys like Vick (and the current crop) a chance to stay at QB.

 

was warren moon before cunningham?

 

warren moon was my favorite nfl player growing up!

[Derwood]

That's true, but you can't argue that Black QB exposure went up as soon as Vick started at Virginia Tech.

 

Cunningham planted the seed, but no one watered it until this current group of QB's showed up, in my opinion anyway.

 

Agreed. Vick's emergence is keeping a lot of kids from being college WRs, but I give Cunningham the credit for giving guys like Vick (and the current crop) a chance to stay at QB.

 

was warren moon before cunningham?

 

warren moon was my favorite nfl player growing up!

 

Yes, yes he was.

 

It's strange that in our "modern times" how segregated the position players in the NFL are:

 

Primarily white:

 

QB

FB

OL

TE

K

P

 

Primarily black:

 

TB

WR

DB

DL

 

Even mix:

 

LB

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It's strange that in our "modern times" how segregated the position players in the NFL are:

 

Primarily white:

 

QB

FB

OL

TE

K

P

 

Primarily black:

 

TB

WR

DB

DL

 

Even mix:

 

LB

 

I'd say that both offensive and defensive lines are pretty close to even mix, especially OL. Funny that FB is mostly a position with primarily white players, yet the first two that popped into my head were Jameel(sp?) Cook and Mack Strong.

[biittner77]

Eligibility is also more of a factor for Baseball than football or basketball. It seems like football players get cut a lot of slack since it's the beginning of the new school year. Basketball players only have to make it to Christmas. But baseball players have to keep their grades up through the spring and that's beyond what a lot of them are willing to do. This applies to all races. I've had plenty of white kids that told me how they would be the next Barry Bonds in Sept. that weren't eligible by spring.

 

Speaking only from the experiences at our school, there are very few Black kids that try out for baseball. There's a perception that the baseball coach doesn't want black players which is absurd but it doesn't matter because it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. When no black kids go out for baseball then people say "see, he must not want black kids there aren't any on the team."

[katway]

That's true, but you can't argue that Black QB exposure went up as soon as Vick started at Virginia Tech.

 

Cunningham planted the seed, but no one watered it until this current group of QB's showed up, in my opinion anyway.

 

Agreed. Vick's emergence is keeping a lot of kids from being college WRs, but I give Cunningham the credit for giving guys like Vick (and the current crop) a chance to stay at QB.

 

was warren moon before cunningham?

 

warren moon was my favorite nfl player growing up!

 

Let's not forget Doug Williams. He was the Super Bowl MVP in 1988 and continues to make significant contributions at Grambling.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I'd say that both offensive and defensive lines are pretty close to even mix, especially OL. Funny that FB is mostly a position with primarily white players, yet the first two that popped into my head were Jameel(sp?) Cook and Mack Strong.

 

First one in my head was Mike Alstott.

 

IMO, Michael Vick is a talented halfback with an arm, and nothing more.

 

Dontrelle got a TON of exposure when he first hit it big. I remember the whole world was talking about that leg kick and side-cocked hat. But it didn't take. After a while the hype kind of faded away.

[XZero771679666304]

That's true, but you can't argue that Black QB exposure went up as soon as Vick started at Virginia Tech.

 

Cunningham planted the seed, but no one watered it until this current group of QB's showed up, in my opinion anyway.

 

Agreed. Vick's emergence is keeping a lot of kids from being college WRs, but I give Cunningham the credit for giving guys like Vick (and the current crop) a chance to stay at QB.

 

was warren moon before cunningham?

 

warren moon was my favorite nfl player growing up!

 

Warren Moon was awesome in that run and shoot in Houston. He was my favorite QB in the late 80's-early 90's.

[Derwood]

I'd say that both offensive and defensive lines are pretty close to even mix, especially OL. Funny that FB is mostly a position with primarily white players, yet the first two that popped into my head were Jameel(sp?) Cook and Mack Strong.

 

First one in my head was Mike Alstott.

 

IMO, Michael Vick is a talented halfback with an arm, and nothing more.

 

Dontrelle got a TON of exposure when he first hit it big. I remember the whole world was talking about that leg kick and side-cocked hat. But it didn't take. After a while the hype kind of faded away.

 

All the focus was on just what you listed, not that he was black.

 

In fact, I bet many "casual-to-non-baseball" fans don't even realize that guys like Ortiz, Sosa, Pedro and Tejada aren't black. Yes, the names SHOULD give it away, but many people see TV commercials for games or half pay attention to Sportscenter and don't realize how few actual African American players are in the league (as opposed to dark skinned Latino players)

 

I'm not convinced the Selig really cares much. The Latin market is where the money is, and with the huge number of All Stars from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, etc., that's where the focus is (at both the scouting and marketing levels). The World Cup will only push this further.