Saturday, August 3, 2013

Pressure mounts to boycott Sochi and the M's manager gets confused

From where I sit it looks like there's more calls for a boycott of the Sochi Olympics.

via change.org

Not only do I understand the outrage, but I fully agree with it. For the Russian government to drop this bomb on the world in the months leading up to an Olympiad is a dangerous precedent. However, there's two things to keep in mind. Firstly, the summer games were held in China and everyone showed up. Last I looked the list of social injustices in China is a mile long. Secondly, what does a boycott really accomplish? Some people have acted out against Florida for the Trayvon Martin verdict. This isn't hurting the state, just innocent others who happen to live there. Apparently, it's guilt by association. A boycott usually leads to little or no change. Want to make a difference? Stand up to the bully. Go to Sochi and be yourself. No matter who you are. After all, if you can play, you can play.

On a lighter note, acting Mariners manager Robby Thompson needs a reminder how to remember left vs right.

via forthewin.com

At the same time, is this really a rule? He called for the wrong pitcher. Evidently he can't go, 'Wait a minute I want the other guy.' Sure, the Red Sox made a great rally. They may have won anyway. But, shouldn't the manager be able to put in the pitcher he wants? If Thompson had gotten back to the dugout and changed his mind, tough luck. He used the wrong hand. Oliver Perez hadn't even left the bullpen. But it was too late. The umpire saw Thompson's left hand and that was it. I really hope it's not in the books. It seems more like something left over from the ancient days of baseball, when any trick was in play. He used the wrong hand. It wasn't an attempted deception, it was an inexperienced manager screwing up. On the other hand, we might have missed a fantastic comeback if he hadn't.

At least that's how I see it...and I sit in the cheap seats.

Has your team made a terrible decision that cost them the game? Let's hear it...

1 comment:

  1. I agree that the Games should go on regardless!

    ReplyDelete