Things I Learned Watching A Few Hours Of The Venezuelan Winter League

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 27, 2009 10:19 PM PDT in The More You Know Comment 70 comments

The whole reason I tuned in in the first place was to watch Michael Saunders. Venezuela makes the third country in which Mike doesn't know when to take the bat off his shoulders.

Road team uniforms in the VWL are equipped with external brassieres, presumably in an effort to shame the wearer.

Venezuelan tools and American tools are a lot alike.

Watching a game in the VWL is completely unlike watching a game in the Majors for me, and not just because I don't care about the results. While Major League Baseball remains in large part unpredictable, I know a lot about it. I know a lot about how it works and I know a lot about the players, so if I'm watching a game, then in any given situation I can't help but call on my knowledge in thinking about all the most likely outcomes. If Willie Ballgame goes up against Mariano Rivera, I know Willie's probably not going to get on base, and he's almost certainly not going to go deep. If the Orioles play the Yankees, I know the Yankees are probably going to clobber them to death. If Miguel Batista is pitching to anyone, I know it's probably going to be annoying. I'm just constantly and instinctively thinking about everything I know such that games lose a bit of that magic I used to feel when I was a kid.

When I'm watching the VWL, though, I don't know shit about what's going on, I don't know shit about most of the players, and even if there's a guy with whom I'm somewhat familiar, I generally don't know shit about when he's in. I don't even know who the Cardenales de Lara were playing. It's just...baseball, competitive, high-level baseball as unblemished by understanding as any baseball I'm ever gonna be able to watch. I kind of knew when Saunders was hitting, and I kind of knew when Luis Valbuena was hitting, but outside of that, between the nameless uniforms and the dearth of graphics and the Spanish-language broadcast, it was just an onslaught of Game, a game about which I never once remarked "well of course he missed that" or "he should've thrown the changeup."

It's easy to say that learning so much about the numbers has enhanced my enjoyment of the sport, but the sport itself is fun enough as it is, and I can't fault anyone for not wanting to jeopardize the love they already feel by going off in pursuit of a better understanding. For many, the basics are sufficient.

I know that teams in the VWL will bring in a handful of American imports, but when you're navigating a Spanish-language website about a team in Venezuela, there are certain things you don't expect to see on the front page. This is one of them.

The phrase "sabor Venezolano" came up during the broadcast at least eight or nine times. I don't know enough Spanish to know if the announcers were referring to a particular style of baseball or if they were trying to sell me something delicious.

There were a lot of PA sound effects during certain parts of the game, such as that string sample from Psycho, suggesting that Lara's adversary has the same production budget as the Rangers.

Luis Ugueto plays for Lara. Remember Luis Ugueto? Hasn't been in a Major League organization for two years. Spent 2008 playing in Italy of all places before signing on with an independent team in Laredo. He is one of ten players on that team with a size that isn't listed as 0'0, 0 lbs. One of his teammates is named Robert Moron.

Sometimes the stadium PA would chime in with the notes to the Ole! chant, only instead of being the familiar sort, their version was played in a minor key that made it 1000% more unsettling.

The crowd wasn't huge, but it was spirited. I don't want to say that Americans are worse baseball fans (or sports fans in general), because truth be told it's just a difference in culture, but every time I watch a sporting event overseas I wish that fans here would make half as much noise. It's a difference in culture, but that part of our culture sucks.

Venezuelans believe in Santa, and their Santa puts his trust in Banco Federal.

0 recs | Comment 70 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

One time when a Lara game was rained out, one of their players started Neo-Lara

...and now I'm here

by CapSea on Oct 27, 2009 10:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Unaffiliated Semi-Professional baseball! CATCH THE FEVER

by acblue on Oct 27, 2009 10:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We need more players with names like 'El Monkey'

by Gihyou on Oct 27, 2009 10:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

With so many Spanish players on the roster you'd think they'd give him a Spanish nickname

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 27, 2009 10:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

El Mono

BTW, the third image result on Google for ‘El Monkey’ is very NSFW and unexpected.

by Gihyou on Oct 27, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I'm sorry for not writing out by the way, that's inexcusable and I don't know what came over me

by Gihyou on Oct 27, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like Yuniesky

by Nick S on Oct 28, 2009 1:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Jeff

Very well put. I found myself just getting lost in the atmosphere more than anything. It is different when you have no idea of the outcome.

by sliderinside on Oct 27, 2009 10:36 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

My one memory of Luis Ugueto is him oversliding second base and getting tagged out to end a game after the batter at home walked.

by BrianL on Oct 27, 2009 10:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The guy spent an entire year being called "theRule5kid".

I wonder if he ever met his Chicago Cubs cousin, “theRule5kid”?

by msb on Oct 28, 2009 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My memory of Luis Ugueto was him playing in Tacoma as his father or grandfather watched

and would talk to him throughout the game. At first I thought it was sort of heart-warming, that his dad and wife had followed him to the US to watch him play, but it got a little weird as the old guy was there every day, yelling or just pointedly discussing strategy through the net. It was like one of those crazy little league dads – and you got the sense that this had been going on for 10-15 years. Poor Luis. Wonder if he still got tons and tons of free ‘advice’ in Italy?

by marc w on Oct 28, 2009 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't that a CEDENO! on the scale?

Or is that just Poop?

50!

by joof on Oct 28, 2009 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dislike all forms of an 'ole!' chant.

by Matthew on Oct 27, 2009 10:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I am curious how the American non spanish speaking players

are able to communicate with their fellow players and the coaches. I also wonder what the father and son were going on about in the McDonald’s commercial. Otherwise I enjoyed the whole thing.

The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com

by 44FAN on Oct 27, 2009 10:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure all the pitchers bitch when their catcher speaks a different language than they do

by Gihyou on Oct 27, 2009 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It seems visits to the mound would be awkward.

The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com

by 44FAN on Oct 27, 2009 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's only a matter of time before someone gets thrown under the smog-spewing, over-crowded bus.

by acblue on Oct 27, 2009 10:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I imagine that once you get into the pros you have at least a basic understanding of Spanish

if only for baseball topics

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 27, 2009 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It must be like if you work in a restaurant with Latino busboys, you learn busboy Spanish.

If you play baseball in Latin America you learn Baseball Spanish.

The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com

by 44FAN on Oct 27, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My dad spent some time growing up in New Mexico

and said he learned playground Spanish while in elementary school.

[DELETED ZOMG NO POLITICS]

by bluemax on Oct 28, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Luis Sojo is the manager of Lara

and probably knows a little english.

by Docmilo on Oct 28, 2009 7:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some of them [coughMikeSweeneycough] actually make an effort to learn the language.

by msb on Oct 28, 2009 7:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I must be one of those quiet fans that you hate.

I only ever make much noise if something really exciting happens. The rest of the time I mostly keep score and/or chat with my dad.

by Vatinius on Oct 28, 2009 12:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I do the same at M's games - maybe keep score, maybe chat with a friend. However, I yell a lot at Sounders games.

I’m not really sure why, but there it is.

by marc w on Oct 28, 2009 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am also very quiet as it is very important to me that I never offend anyone.

by Sec 108 on Oct 28, 2009 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yes, I could tell that about you straight away.

You look almost apologetic when you give your little golf clap at M’s home runs.

by marc w on Oct 28, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Because baseball games are so quiet that nobody wants to be that guy who tries to start a chant

Safeco (and all other American venues) needs a catalyst

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 28, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The scoreboard tells me when to cheer!

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 28, 2009 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think because 99% of the time, when someone wants to start some kind of coordinated cheering

it’s the wave.

We have tons and tons of catalysts, it’s just people really don’t want to do ‘crowd hijinx’ together.

by marc w on Oct 28, 2009 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm about as new as it gets here...

…but the comment about being patently and utterly aware of every little nuance (and how annoying that can be given the lack of talent in alot of national PBP and color guys) was kinda cool. And yes, fuck American sports fans, we really do suck. Thirty games in the bleachers at the Safe only served to convince me more that I loathe everyone sitting below nosebleeds in foul territory.

by THolt on Oct 28, 2009 12:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Couple of things

The “Sabor Venezolano” thing is just a slogan for the beer company who sponsors all 8 teams and the league itself, so they obviously get a lot of publicity, annoying as fuck.

On the “Ole” chants I think you’re most likely talking about the “Leo” chants, they use the same tune but it’s “Leo” because of “Leones”

To be honest with you I don’t know half of the players either, mostly the american imports who change every season, and same with the numbers enhacing my baseball experience I’d kill to have something like Fangraphs for the VWL or hell a blog like this.

Also If you want to see a crazy crowd tune in a Caracas – Magallanes if you can, they play tonight!

Oh yeah I’m Venezuelan , so feel free to ask.

by Clemenx00 on Oct 28, 2009 7:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Leones!

THAT’S who they were playing!

Thanks a ton

by Jeff Sullivan on Oct 28, 2009 8:08 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just thought they love John Olerud.

because, who doesn’t?

by msb on Oct 28, 2009 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coach Owens hates the guy

by Matthew on Oct 28, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

John Olerud sucks.

Fans are typically idiots.

by The Typical Idiot Fan on Oct 28, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why you would say that, John Olerud was a really good player for quite a long time.

by Matthew on Oct 28, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe he is referring to him as a human being

by Poochie on Oct 28, 2009 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Indeed....

My wife’s cousin’s sister’s boyfriend recently saw him in a Bellevue Japanese restaurant eating Zaru-Soba, so I can darn near directly confirm indeed that John Olerud sucks…

SHOW FiFi THE MONEY!!!!

by PositivePaul on Oct 28, 2009 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How in the Eff did the founder of L43 lose that little detail????

SHOW FiFi THE MONEY!!!!

by PositivePaul on Oct 28, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I learned that in Venezuela games are played with all the players playing "statues" for 30 seconds and then they all move really rapidly for another 30...

by msb on Oct 28, 2009 8:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Red Light, Green Light?

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 28, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You may be right

by msb on Oct 28, 2009 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about all American sports fans.

I know some friends who are pretty big soccer fans and they rave about the crowds we draw for Sounders games and how they wish their MLS team of choice had a group that passionate.

The visiting teams from Europe seemed pretty impressed too.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 28, 2009 10:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Even at Sounders games there are a couple of quiet sections.

A customer of mine was given free club seats to last Saturday’s game and she was turned into security for cheering too loudly and standing too much.

That being the case, the majority of the stadium is into the games where at Safeco it is a huge minority.

by Sec 108 on Oct 28, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can one be "into" baseball in the same way as soccer?

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 28, 2009 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not at Safeco

but yes, it is definitely possible.

Nice Guys Finish Third - My semantics are a waste of time.

by pdb on Oct 28, 2009 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Without question yes.

by Sec 108 on Oct 28, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, I realized I was wrong immediately after posting

I’ve definitely seen it in international competition a lot more than in the U.S. though, and as pdb pointed out, it’s just not possible at Safeco.

"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/

by JY on Oct 28, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ridiculous.

I hope they chewed the crap out of security for that pestering.

by Matthew on Oct 28, 2009 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like she said, now she knows where not to sit.

by Sec 108 on Oct 28, 2009 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shouldn't be sitting, anywhere.

But I can tolerate it in the 200s.

God, why must we fight this every home game? I saw people in the 300s not standing while defense was on the field last Hawks game.

by Matthew on Oct 28, 2009 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like the Sounders are going to try and move a lot of people next year

Specifically, they’re moving a lot of the people who’ve complained about the ECS from GA to the north stand. That’s a really good solution.

What bothers me more than the fact that some people want to sit (make some random section in the 200s a sitting section), is that they complain to the Sounders. If you sit in GA and are angry, screw you. If you’re the only person in my section not standing, the problem may not be with the hundred people around you.

by marc w on Oct 28, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs