Re Phil Rogers’ Aug. 24 “analysis:” If it is so “insulting and dangerous” to ask whether Astros pitcher Jose Lima would purposefully serve up a couple of home run pitches to Sammy Sosa because the two share a non-United States nationality, why ask the question? Why not balance the “analysis” with a look at the nationalities of those who have been pitching to Mark McGwire this season? If Rogers had, perhaps he would have recognized the absurdity of the whole column.
He pointed out how few major-league players are from countries other than the United States. Well, if most players are from McGwire’s home country, should we assume that they are rooting for McGwire and, consequently, have thrown a few meatballs his way? Let’s just assume that everybody is biased and determine who is the true home run leader on that basis.
First, we’ll tally up all the home runs Sosa has hit off of Dominican pitchers and then all the ones McGwire has hit off of those from the most favored nation. Next, we’ll subtract the respective number from each player’s home run total. Who do you think would be the leader?
Of course, we shouldn’t just pick on the home run hitters. Everybody should be treated the same in this “analysis,” so let’s dissect every pitch, hit, RBI, error, strikeout. Or why not go regional: Texan Kerry Wood whiffs 20 batters from where? You name it; it’s all suspect now.
Pretty soon we might decide just to bag major-league baseball because the fix is already in. As Phil Rogers might say, “Let’s hope not.”
