Few ballplayers earn a nickname from their new team's fans before they even touch down in the city, but the Blue Jays' newest starting pitcher, Miguel Batista, is already firmly entrenched in the local lexicon as "El Artista." I forget who came up with the rhyming moniker -- step forward, forgotten Bauxite! -- but it's as good a description of his passion for poetry, literature and "a great chat" as it is of his crackling fastball and excellent strike-zone command. Thanks to Jason Robar for catching this profile of Batista in the latest Star. "Not everyone in Toronto will like me," predicts Batista -- personally, I can't understand why he won't become one of this city's most popular and sought-after athletes in short order. Bienvenido, Miguel!
Well, some of the sportswriters sure are going to hate him.
It was the one and only "Soapy One" -- Jabonoso -- that bestowed Senor Batista with the "El Artista" handle.
Once again, Dudek wins the "Battle of the Slavic Surnames."
Larry Millson has a similiar piece in the Globe
"I'm going to become a lawyer one day, some how, some way. I always loved the law. I always try to see the good part of the law. One of the teachers that I had when I was going to college said the lawyer is the one that loves justice. And justice is a very different thing to a lot of people. A real lawyer will know what cases to take and what ones to avoid. ..... Some guys are money hungry and will take whatever comes because it is money."
I'm going to get this guy to write an opinion piece for my lawyers' magazine. Miguel, you are moving up fast on my list of People I Like.
I'm going to get this guy to write an opinion piece for my lawyers' magazine. Miguel, you are moving up fast on my list of People I Like.
Anyone know if his book is for sale in Canada? I'd be interested to read it, although I'd definitely need a Spanish-English dictionary to be included with the book.
Jaboso named him in the thread titled "Miguel Batista, Blue Jay", which seems to have vanished from the archives along with everything else from Decmber 11th through 13th.
Jaboso named him in the thread titled "Miguel Batista, Blue Jay", which seems to have vanished from the archives along with everything else from Decmber 11th through 13th.
Anyone know if his book is for sale in Canada?
I read in one of the pieces about Batista that they used to sell it in the store at Bank One Ballpark.
Maybe they'll have it in the Skydome shop next season.
I read in one of the pieces about Batista that they used to sell it in the store at Bank One Ballpark.
Maybe they'll have it in the Skydome shop next season.
A poet who reads Gandhi and wants to become a lawyer. Somehow I suspect choosing Toronto was not simply an economic decision for Miguel. He should get along famously with Carlos Delgado who reads Hesse and takes bold political stands in his homeland.
Sign me up for the Artista fan club.
Sign me up for the Artista fan club.
Batista seems to be a very interesting, well-educated, and well-rounded person, and one who will enjoy living in Toronto, with all the city has to offer.
In a baseball standpoint, I am impressed that he is a gamer and a battler on the mound, as shown by the incident against St. Louis.
The best possible scenario will be that Batista will emerge as a leader, of sorts, among the pitchers. At the very least, he will be a source of many interesting quotes and philosophies.
How many weeks is it until Spring Training???
In a baseball standpoint, I am impressed that he is a gamer and a battler on the mound, as shown by the incident against St. Louis.
The best possible scenario will be that Batista will emerge as a leader, of sorts, among the pitchers. At the very least, he will be a source of many interesting quotes and philosophies.
How many weeks is it until Spring Training???
Hazel Mae of Sportsnet just interviewed Batista. He seems to be very well-spoken. (well, duh!)
She asked whether having previously played in Canada had any effect on his decision to sign with the Jays. He said that it didn't, though he appreciates the differences between Americans and Canadians (us Canucks are more laid back, it appears).
Mae also asked about his poetry, which he said was simply a way to expresss one's emotions, feelings or thoughts at a given point in time; writing is the method he chooses to express himself.
Queried about JPs overhaul of the Jays rotation, he said that JP had mentioned he liked Miguel's ability to work on short rest (or long rest), and his availability to pitch anytime, in any situation. He found this a compelling argument in favour of Toronto. (I've paraphrased, I don't recall the exact quote.)
He also stated that working with the budget constraints JP has faced, JP has done a good job.
She asked whether having previously played in Canada had any effect on his decision to sign with the Jays. He said that it didn't, though he appreciates the differences between Americans and Canadians (us Canucks are more laid back, it appears).
Mae also asked about his poetry, which he said was simply a way to expresss one's emotions, feelings or thoughts at a given point in time; writing is the method he chooses to express himself.
Queried about JPs overhaul of the Jays rotation, he said that JP had mentioned he liked Miguel's ability to work on short rest (or long rest), and his availability to pitch anytime, in any situation. He found this a compelling argument in favour of Toronto. (I've paraphrased, I don't recall the exact quote.)
He also stated that working with the budget constraints JP has faced, JP has done a good job.
I've really enjoyed everything read from and aboutMiguel.
i want to comment first on previous bauxite comments:
-from a latino perspective Canada and USA have huge differences, one is agressive, and has a long history of intervening in our affaires the other looks alike but it won't take long to show you that it has a whole different way to see the world, to be in the world and treats you differently in accordance. Ergo it is easy to love Canada, it is impossible to love your neighbours, you may say you do but is not more than money or necessity if at all.
Miguel or Carlos wont say it to the press ( which is a part of Canada taken by some of the worst or say "less Canadian" of the whole )
-You cannot read poetry with a dictionary, it does not make sense, Miguel may try to translate parts of it if he finds an interested audience.
-Cristian wrote about poetry in motion, which tells us that more and more sports writers are blog lurkers looking for inspiration.
Now i want to comment the day i met Miguel, it was on the final and decisive game between a dominican team and a mexican team for the caribe series title. In the pregame press conference that i attended without being a press guy( just like Coach up there ), dominican manager said he was sure they were going to win because of his pitcher ( it was in mexico and our team was playing very well, the mex pitcher was Dessens who was pretty decent at that time, and Dominicana came fron behind in the series and their heavy artillery was not hitting at all, with the other batista at third, that AL MVP at short Ortiz at first Beltran CF , full of stars ) well that pitcher that the manager talked as his precious jewel, his discovery during that winter was el Artista, a 29 year old pitcher, that had some ML expierence but nothing special so far, nobody understood what or why this guy bragging was about. Miguel was very special and Dominicana took the series.
Looking forward to hear from Miguel, baseball, law, literature or his parrot.
i want to comment first on previous bauxite comments:
-from a latino perspective Canada and USA have huge differences, one is agressive, and has a long history of intervening in our affaires the other looks alike but it won't take long to show you that it has a whole different way to see the world, to be in the world and treats you differently in accordance. Ergo it is easy to love Canada, it is impossible to love your neighbours, you may say you do but is not more than money or necessity if at all.
Miguel or Carlos wont say it to the press ( which is a part of Canada taken by some of the worst or say "less Canadian" of the whole )
-You cannot read poetry with a dictionary, it does not make sense, Miguel may try to translate parts of it if he finds an interested audience.
-Cristian wrote about poetry in motion, which tells us that more and more sports writers are blog lurkers looking for inspiration.
Now i want to comment the day i met Miguel, it was on the final and decisive game between a dominican team and a mexican team for the caribe series title. In the pregame press conference that i attended without being a press guy( just like Coach up there ), dominican manager said he was sure they were going to win because of his pitcher ( it was in mexico and our team was playing very well, the mex pitcher was Dessens who was pretty decent at that time, and Dominicana came fron behind in the series and their heavy artillery was not hitting at all, with the other batista at third, that AL MVP at short Ortiz at first Beltran CF , full of stars ) well that pitcher that the manager talked as his precious jewel, his discovery during that winter was el Artista, a 29 year old pitcher, that had some ML expierence but nothing special so far, nobody understood what or why this guy bragging was about. Miguel was very special and Dominicana took the series.
Looking forward to hear from Miguel, baseball, law, literature or his parrot.
From my experience, translating poetry into another language is just about the hardest thing you can imagine. One of my professors said that a person not only needs to have a flawless grasp of both languages, but needs to be a poet him/herself.
Jabonoso, thank you for Miguel's nickname and that great post. You must be the happiest of any of us to see Batista come to Toronto.
At the end of his report at MLB.com, Spencer Fordin quotes El Artista:
"I like to teach the kids that imagination has no limit. Desire and imagination are the most important characteristics."
I saw the TV clip where Batista stressed his versatility and eagerness to pitch whenever he's asked. A good guy who puts his team first and throws strikes. Wonderful.
At the end of his report at MLB.com, Spencer Fordin quotes El Artista:
"I like to teach the kids that imagination has no limit. Desire and imagination are the most important characteristics."
I saw the TV clip where Batista stressed his versatility and eagerness to pitch whenever he's asked. A good guy who puts his team first and throws strikes. Wonderful.
Something that just occurred to me today - before Batista, when was the last time the Jays signed any free agent to a multi-year contract?
The last one I can remember is Randy Myers (and we know how well that turned out). Can anybody think of any signee more recent than that? (Catalanotto, Berg and Myers have signed for one-year contracts and then re-upped, but the initial commitment was only for one year.)
The last one I can remember is Randy Myers (and we know how well that turned out). Can anybody think of any signee more recent than that? (Catalanotto, Berg and Myers have signed for one-year contracts and then re-upped, but the initial commitment was only for one year.)
I've seen clips of El Artista all over the tv last night and have read stuff about him via the Box. I have to say that he's a well spoken man who definately has more than sports on his mind. I'd love to see him being a focus of a one-on-one interview where all kinds of subjects can be put out on the table and not just about pitching and the Blue Jays but rather his philosophies and his ideas concerning the world and such.
Too bad there isn't really a very good media outlet in Toronto for that kind of thing. The only person who I think can pull off that kind of interview is Allan Gregg but all his interviews are for books with social context. Ah well.
Too bad there isn't really a very good media outlet in Toronto for that kind of thing. The only person who I think can pull off that kind of interview is Allan Gregg but all his interviews are for books with social context. Ah well.
I think Allan Gregg would be perfect; we should lobby TVO to do it. Steven Paikin occasionally does a panel discussion on sports, and I could see him doing a one-on-one interview with El Artista too.
Cristian wrote about poetry in motion, which tells us that more and more sports writers are blog lurkers looking for inspiration.
I actually wrote about poetry in motion insinuating that it would be too easy to use this cliche to describe Batista. It wouldn't be fair to accuse anyone at the Star of blog lurking---lazy and unoriginal journalism is another matter.
from a latino perspective Canada and USA have huge differences, one is agressive, and has a long history of intervening in our affaires the other looks alike but it won't take long to show you that it has a whole different way to see the world
The last time I was in Chile I had a discussion with a family member who found it insulting that people in the U.S. referred to themselves as Americans. In my uncle's opinion, everyone in this hemisphere deserves to be called American. I argued with him that Americans aren't intentially using 'America' as an exclusionary term referring only to U.S. citizens. It is just shorthand because the country itself is named the United States of America. I then asked him how Americans should refer to themselves. He replied 'North Americans'. I then asked him how I should refer to myself. I live in Canada and am a North American but not a U.S. citizen. He didn't respond. He never considered Canada in his argument.
Most people with whom I talked didn't have much of an opinion about Canada at all. It's not that they dislike us or seek to ignore us; it's just that Canada doesn't play a role in their day to day lives. To them, we are not peacekeepers, laidback, or even hockey playing lumberjacks. The U.S. is omnipresent in almost all parts of their lives, Canada is just a place on the map. To paraphrase Homer Simpson, "It's easy to miss Canada, small and tucked away down there."
My longwinded point is that there is no Latino perspective. I often read in baseball articles "such and such Latin ballplayer will get along well with the other Latin ballplayers." Culturally, Latin America is different from the Mexican border to Tierra del Fuego and all points in between. I especially find it amusing when we Canadians, whose identity seems to involve continous attempts to differentiate ourselves from the US, lump other non-homogenous people into groups. I know that Jabonoso didn't intentionally mean to lump all of Latin America together so I apologize to him if I appear to be nitpicking an unimportant point. In baseball, a Cuban may play besides a Venezuelan and share nothing except a common language.
P.S. It's just as well there are no Chilean ballplayers as apparently we get too bogged down in semantics.
I actually wrote about poetry in motion insinuating that it would be too easy to use this cliche to describe Batista. It wouldn't be fair to accuse anyone at the Star of blog lurking---lazy and unoriginal journalism is another matter.
from a latino perspective Canada and USA have huge differences, one is agressive, and has a long history of intervening in our affaires the other looks alike but it won't take long to show you that it has a whole different way to see the world
The last time I was in Chile I had a discussion with a family member who found it insulting that people in the U.S. referred to themselves as Americans. In my uncle's opinion, everyone in this hemisphere deserves to be called American. I argued with him that Americans aren't intentially using 'America' as an exclusionary term referring only to U.S. citizens. It is just shorthand because the country itself is named the United States of America. I then asked him how Americans should refer to themselves. He replied 'North Americans'. I then asked him how I should refer to myself. I live in Canada and am a North American but not a U.S. citizen. He didn't respond. He never considered Canada in his argument.
Most people with whom I talked didn't have much of an opinion about Canada at all. It's not that they dislike us or seek to ignore us; it's just that Canada doesn't play a role in their day to day lives. To them, we are not peacekeepers, laidback, or even hockey playing lumberjacks. The U.S. is omnipresent in almost all parts of their lives, Canada is just a place on the map. To paraphrase Homer Simpson, "It's easy to miss Canada, small and tucked away down there."
My longwinded point is that there is no Latino perspective. I often read in baseball articles "such and such Latin ballplayer will get along well with the other Latin ballplayers." Culturally, Latin America is different from the Mexican border to Tierra del Fuego and all points in between. I especially find it amusing when we Canadians, whose identity seems to involve continous attempts to differentiate ourselves from the US, lump other non-homogenous people into groups. I know that Jabonoso didn't intentionally mean to lump all of Latin America together so I apologize to him if I appear to be nitpicking an unimportant point. In baseball, a Cuban may play besides a Venezuelan and share nothing except a common language.
P.S. It's just as well there are no Chilean ballplayers as apparently we get too bogged down in semantics.
I hope I like the way Batista pitches. One must wonder, how brilliant can one be who consistently portrays himself as such? I much prefer the unassuming brilliance of a Roy Halladay or Delgado. I don't hear any of them introducing themselves as: 'Make way, I've got a biography in hand!' True brilliance disguises itself, it takes a firm intellect to recognize it in others.
I'm going to get this guy to write an opinion piece for my lawyers' magazine. Miguel, you are moving up fast on my list of People I Like.
I'll hold on making absolute judgement on his jurisprudence but that somes like some *scary* unconditional love of the law...I wonder if that means he's a big believer in natural law. I hope this isn't another way of saying that he reasons with government imposed restrictions on civil liberties as it sees fit.
I'll hold on making absolute judgement on his jurisprudence but that somes like some *scary* unconditional love of the law...I wonder if that means he's a big believer in natural law. I hope this isn't another way of saying that he reasons with government imposed restrictions on civil liberties as it sees fit.
Thanks, Jabonoso, for your outstanding 12/18 2:24 posting. It reminded me of when St. Catherines had a Jays farm club in the New York-Penn League. In the book, "Ballpark Figures", author Larry Millson stated that the latins loved playing in St. Catherines because it was so unlike many U.S. cities. Former Blue Jays minor league player, coach, and manager Eddie Dennis said that the citizens of the city went out of their way to make the latin ballplayers and coaches feel at home. As a frequent attendee of Baby Jays/Stompers games, I can attest to this goodwill!
Too bad that the city lost its franchise. But, alas, expectations and requirements for minor league ballparks increased to the point that Community Park could no no fit under Minor League rules. We all lost when St. Catherines lost its franchise.
Despite what Batista said, I am sure that the possibility of living in an outstanding city like Toronto played, at least, a small role, in him coming here.
Too bad that the city lost its franchise. But, alas, expectations and requirements for minor league ballparks increased to the point that Community Park could no no fit under Minor League rules. We all lost when St. Catherines lost its franchise.
Despite what Batista said, I am sure that the possibility of living in an outstanding city like Toronto played, at least, a small role, in him coming here.
I'll hold on making absolute judgement on his jurisprudence but that somes like some *scary* unconditional love of the law...I wonder if that means he's a big believer in natural law. I hope this isn't another way of saying that he reasons with government imposed restrictions on civil liberties as it sees fit.
I sure don't want to speak for El Artista, but it could be that he sees the law as a bedrock foundation for justice and peace, which of course it is. The rule of law actually means the complete opposite of government-imposed restrictions on civil liberties. Without the law, "civil liberties" is a meaningless term.
Canadians and Americans tend to look upon the law as entertainment: Law & Order, Court TV, the OJ trial, etc. We root for one side or another like it's a version of Survivor -- I've overheard conversations about the Kobe Bryant charges by people interested in neither basketball nor the law. The other role that law generally plays in our society is political: it's something else for politicans and commentators to throw around in the House of Commons and on Sunday morning TV -- judicial activism this, soft on crime that, etc. And generally speaking, if your community has time for politics, it has few concerns.
But once you get outside the US and Canada -- the world's luxury penthouse suite -- when you go to places where unfairness has no redress and violence is currency, then you start to appreciate the law a little more. If you did a survey of countries and cultures around the world, you'd probably find that only in Canada, the US and to an extent Great Britain are lawyers and judges held in low esteem. Where the rule of law means something -- or where its absence means terrible things -- then people speak of it the same way Batista does. I wish we would come to respect and appreciate the law more than we do -- and I include lawyers and judges in that "we."
I sure don't want to speak for El Artista, but it could be that he sees the law as a bedrock foundation for justice and peace, which of course it is. The rule of law actually means the complete opposite of government-imposed restrictions on civil liberties. Without the law, "civil liberties" is a meaningless term.
Canadians and Americans tend to look upon the law as entertainment: Law & Order, Court TV, the OJ trial, etc. We root for one side or another like it's a version of Survivor -- I've overheard conversations about the Kobe Bryant charges by people interested in neither basketball nor the law. The other role that law generally plays in our society is political: it's something else for politicans and commentators to throw around in the House of Commons and on Sunday morning TV -- judicial activism this, soft on crime that, etc. And generally speaking, if your community has time for politics, it has few concerns.
But once you get outside the US and Canada -- the world's luxury penthouse suite -- when you go to places where unfairness has no redress and violence is currency, then you start to appreciate the law a little more. If you did a survey of countries and cultures around the world, you'd probably find that only in Canada, the US and to an extent Great Britain are lawyers and judges held in low esteem. Where the rule of law means something -- or where its absence means terrible things -- then people speak of it the same way Batista does. I wish we would come to respect and appreciate the law more than we do -- and I include lawyers and judges in that "we."
I hate to be the cynic here, but if El Artista turns out to be another Cory Lidle -- high expectations, little results -- then there will be a few people who won't be happy.
That being said, best of luck to our new No. 2 starter, and we hope you can make our rotation respectable.
That being said, best of luck to our new No. 2 starter, and we hope you can make our rotation respectable.
Coach:
I am very happy about Batista being a Jay, but my feelings are mixed since Escobar had to leave. I just wish we could have a 10% additional budget and have a rotation of Roy-Kelvim-Miguel-Ted-Pat. OK stop dreaming...
Cristian is there a saying in English like " piensa mal y acertaras "
I know i over extended the "latino" term but to correct a part of your answer, there is a subculture in the baseball playing areas, which is part of Mexico ( borders and coast ) most of central america and the caribean. this people talks very similar and share a lot of passions to help getting together. Just like Chileans and most of south America and the rest of central america and mexico that share the futbol crazy.
By the way in mexico there is much more awareness about canada, Trudeau is well regarded and every single issue in which Canada departs from US it is highlighted...
What i am always concerned is about the additional difficulty of a young latino player to adapt in a foreign land, you know how difficult is for a family to depart from a young kid ( they are kids even in their 20's )and to learn a new language and a so different way of living. As an anecdote, mexican best baseball player ever Hector Espino ( a sort of Pujols ) went to spring training with the cardinals with big chances of sticking without a minors assigment, well without anybody noticing he was back home in less than two weeks. His answer to the press " I am happier living here "
and finally i know very well that there are large communities ( cubans in florida, puertoricans in new york and many in our home land that admire us democracy and maybe even Bush and his wolf pack )
I am very happy about Batista being a Jay, but my feelings are mixed since Escobar had to leave. I just wish we could have a 10% additional budget and have a rotation of Roy-Kelvim-Miguel-Ted-Pat. OK stop dreaming...
Cristian is there a saying in English like " piensa mal y acertaras "
I know i over extended the "latino" term but to correct a part of your answer, there is a subculture in the baseball playing areas, which is part of Mexico ( borders and coast ) most of central america and the caribean. this people talks very similar and share a lot of passions to help getting together. Just like Chileans and most of south America and the rest of central america and mexico that share the futbol crazy.
By the way in mexico there is much more awareness about canada, Trudeau is well regarded and every single issue in which Canada departs from US it is highlighted...
What i am always concerned is about the additional difficulty of a young latino player to adapt in a foreign land, you know how difficult is for a family to depart from a young kid ( they are kids even in their 20's )and to learn a new language and a so different way of living. As an anecdote, mexican best baseball player ever Hector Espino ( a sort of Pujols ) went to spring training with the cardinals with big chances of sticking without a minors assigment, well without anybody noticing he was back home in less than two weeks. His answer to the press " I am happier living here "
and finally i know very well that there are large communities ( cubans in florida, puertoricans in new york and many in our home land that admire us democracy and maybe even Bush and his wolf pack )
Something that just occurred to me today - before Batista, when was the last time the Jays signed any free agent to a multi-year contract?
The last one I can remember is Randy Myers (and we know how well that turned out). Can anybody think of any signee more recent than that?
I could only come up with one since then: Dan Plesac signing a two-year deal in 2001. Looking at the team's roster since 1998, I think he's the only multi-year guy.
The last one I can remember is Randy Myers (and we know how well that turned out). Can anybody think of any signee more recent than that?
I could only come up with one since then: Dan Plesac signing a two-year deal in 2001. Looking at the team's roster since 1998, I think he's the only multi-year guy.
Dave Berg also signed a two-year deal after the 2002 season, though I'm not sure if he was techinically a "free agent". Anyway, that was a re-signing.
Dave Berg also signed a two-year deal after the 2002 season, though I'm not sure if he was techinically a "free agent". Anyway, that was a re-signing.
Anybody else catch the blurb in ESPN's Blue Jays clubhouse about the book El Artista is writing? It says he has 400 pages written now and that it's about an underrage serial killer. It is still on the 'front page' of their clubhouse.