Greg Halman Is Ambitious

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 27, 2009 4:25 PM PST in Miscellaneous

"Talentwise, I know I am close. I know I can play in the big leagues. Mental wise, I am not as far as thinking, like yesterday, I see Endy Chavez, and I was like, "Damn, he is so smart tagging on the fly ball to center." The way that he plays, without even thinking. I know that talentwise, mentalwise I can compete with them anytime. It is just that they are a little further. I really want to be like Endy. I know that when I have that, I am ready." (Drayer)

Every so often back in high school, I'd turn on the TV and daydream about one day becoming a successful actor. One of the shows I liked was Boston Public. I'd see Michael Rapaport and think "man, I really want to be like Michael Rapaport."

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To be fair

It’s not as if he’s got a lot of Dutch role models staring him in the face (unless he wants to learn how to pitch)

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 27, 2009 4:29 PM PST reply actions

Dennis Bergkamp

by marinerdan on Feb 27, 2009 4:44 PM PST up reply actions

Dennis Bergkamp should be everybody's role model

because then everybody would be able to do this. Bergkamp is probably my favorite athlete of all time.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2009 4:59 PM PST up reply actions

Did he even do that on purpose?

It almost looks like a happy little accident the way the ball flies around the other guy. Even if that were so, he was definitely able to take advantage of it.

by appleshampoo on Feb 27, 2009 5:15 PM PST up reply actions

He got lucky that the ball didn't hit the defender

But he was clearly trying to do exactly that, in my opinion.

by patsfan on Feb 27, 2009 5:29 PM PST up reply actions

Look at his first touch closely

that was no accident.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 27, 2009 9:52 PM PST up reply actions

Favorited that YouTube clip.

Thanks for pointing it out.

You're trying to kidnap what I've rightfully stolen.

by Sentinel on Feb 28, 2009 7:38 AM PST up reply actions

Ovechkin is better

by Graham MacAree on Feb 28, 2009 11:24 AM PST up reply actions

Wouldn't Andruw Jones be a great role model for him?

2008 excluded

by seattlebruin on Feb 27, 2009 5:02 PM PST up reply actions

Andruw wasn't actually from the Netherlands, just an overseas territory.

I was going to go with Sir Eugene Kingsale, but same deal.

by marc w on Feb 27, 2009 5:22 PM PST up reply actions

Represents the Netherlands though

which technically makes him a countryman

by seattlebruin on Feb 27, 2009 5:23 PM PST up reply actions

Talentwise, mentalwise

by lemonverbena on Feb 27, 2009 4:31 PM PST reply actions

Mentalwise I can be like Rappaport

Actingwise, not so much.

by Grady Clapp on Feb 27, 2009 4:41 PM PST reply actions

If he hits like he does right now and plays D like Endy I'll be happy.

by Sec 108 on Feb 27, 2009 4:45 PM PST reply actions

In his defense,

it’s not as if anyone would say “No, I pretty much suck at the game. I honestly can’t believe they invited me to camp, but in an organization that gave 250 plate appearances to Miguel Cairo, I guess I should have seen it coming.”

by Vatinius on Feb 27, 2009 5:03 PM PST reply actions

That's not what I'm getting at

I just think Halman should aim higher.

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 27, 2009 5:45 PM PST up reply actions

In his defense,

I don’t think he’s saying he wants to PLAY like Endy, just to think like Endy. Again, maybe he could aim higher, but I think it’s a fine, typical quote; substitute Mike Sweeney for Endy, and we’ll see a variant of this every day.

by marc w on Feb 27, 2009 5:53 PM PST up reply actions

I'd guess that he's overestimating how good Endy Chavez is

I think he’s striving to be what he thinks Endy Chavez is which is a much, much better player than Endy Chavez

Determined, Jonesing Commentor | Proud proprietor of Wyomingroutes.org & Washingtonhighways.org

by Corco on Feb 27, 2009 5:55 PM PST up reply actions

You're taking the fun out of this

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 27, 2009 5:58 PM PST up reply actions

I'm confused

To me, it appears he’s saying he wants to play center field like Endy Chavez. If I’m not mistaken, doesn’t Endy Chavez play really good center field? I guess he could say Ichiro if Ichiro were there, but it doesn’t seem to me that he’s selling short by saying he wants to learn to react to and track fly balls like Endy Chavez.

by Malcontent1 on Feb 27, 2009 7:44 PM PST up reply actions