Thread: Berardino: JO Berrios has some swagger

I thought this was an interesting take on Berrios from new Pi Press beat reporter Mike Berardino. And I love the sports analogy that Terry Ryan uses.

Some might say Berrios carries himself with a bit of swagger, but Ryan doesn't see it that way.


"It's under control," he said. "He didn't have that type of swagger over here. He's very reserved, doesn't speak English. It's not like this guy is out over his skis on any of this. He's a good kid. I think he knows what this is all about. He's fitting right in, wants to do well and certainly wants to do well in front of us. He knows people are watching him."

It would be nice to see a Twins pitcher who had the ability to have a little swagger....

Twins prospects Eddie Rosario, J.O. Berrios lead Puerto Rico over Twins (w/ video) - TwinCities.com

Please god don't make them over-react to this. None of us want buttholes on the team, but nothing wrong with confidence.

"Some might say..." ? Who says that and why? I'd like to know the context of Berrios' supposed swagger.

The best players generally have a good level of swagger about them. definitely not a bad thing... but the ski analogy is great. I like that. Just not getting too far ahead of himself.

The kid looks like he'a about 15 years old. I didn't realize he couldn't speak any English, but did have him autograph a ball for me, as did a few others. He was smiling and very cordial. Can't help but pull for the kid.

Edit to add: The most swagger I've seen down here was from The Real Deal and Valencia. Good thing they don't ski.

I am super optimistic about these two being able to move multiple levels in 2013. We will see.

Who gets dropped from 40 man roster for him JO?

Jose speaks English. He's a little shy and reserved about speaking English. He doesn't like making mistakes either on the mound or when he's using his second language.

If Gardy hangs on, he'll knock that swagger off him, whether he needs it or not.

Originally Posted by John Bonnes

I thought this was an interesting take on Berrios from new Pi Press beat reporter Mike Berardino. And I love the sports analogy that Terry Ryan uses.

It would be nice to see a Twins pitcher who had the ability to have a little swagger....

Twins prospects Eddie Rosario, J.O. Berrios lead Puerto Rico over Twins (w/ video) - TwinCities.com

If you get over your skis with swagger, you could tumble into the gulley of false expectations and land on a tuckus of embarrassment. Pretty soon you'll be limping around with hang-dog case of mopies and get shipped off to Boston, which isn't a metaphor - ask Danny Valencia.

On the other hand, if Berrios is a good pitcher, what's he supposed to do, apologize?

Originally Posted by John Bonnes

It would be nice to see a Twins pitcher who had the ability to have a little swagger....

Here's hoping his "swagger" level is of a different variety than Garza's, Lohse's, Young's and Valencia's as the powers that be have already determined that abundant "swagger" does not mesh with the preferred Minnesota conservative demeanor.

Swagger itself is not to be discouraged- you just have to understand your game and be able to back it up. Guys like Valencia couldn't quite handle that

Berrios in 2015 is not out of the question.

"It's under control," he said. "He didn't have that type of swagger over here.

1)He's very reserved, doesn't speak English.

2)It's not like this guy is out over his skis on any of this.

He's a good kid. I think he knows what this is all about. He's fitting right in, wants to do well and certainly wants to do well in front of us. He knows people are watching him."

This is how communication breaks down.

Holy Clash of Cultures! Ryan might want some tips on analogy-references with Carribean prospects or they won't have a clue what he's trying to impart to them.

What was it he said about Sano, and how he was fitting in? "That Miguel, he's sure one cool customer at the plate, and for that matter, despite his size, he never looks like a football player over at Third Base."

It might also explain why Casilla could never quite fit in and get over the hump, he never could translate TR's American metaphorical descriptions for him properly. Given the Latin-American culture and their demonstrated hangups on homosexuality, during Casilla's developing years as a prospect, Ryan might have said something like, " We really like him a lot, especially being a switch hitter, in the middle infield I can see him going both ways...."

Originally Posted by jimbo92107

If you get over your skis with swagger, you could tumble into the gulley of false expectations and land on a tuckus of embarrassment.

Awesome.

Originally Posted by jokin

This is how communication breaks down.

Holy Clash of Cultures! Ryan might want some tips on analogy-references with Carribean prospects or they won't have a clue what he's trying to impart to them.

What was it he said about Sano, and how he was fitting in? "That Miguel, he's sure one cool customer at the plate, and for that matter, despite his size, he never looks like a football player over at Third Base."

It might also explain why Casilla could never quite fit in and get over the hump, he never could translate TR's American metaphorical descriptions for him properly. Given the Latin-American culture and their demonstrated hangups on homosexuality, during Casilla's developing years as a prospect, Ryan might have said something like, " We really like him a lot, especially being a switch hitter, in the middle infield I can see him going both ways...."

At the risk of being inflamatory, is this satire/sarcasim, or just plain bad taste? If your serious, then I completely understand...as a North Dakotan, we don't understand half of the Minnesota dialect. That's probably why not many of us have made it to the bigs yet. I probably should ask Andy Leer. As they say in football....Come on, man.

Swagger lives in two neighbourhoods, the arrogance neighbourhood and the confidence neighbourhood. I think all top athletes possess swagger, they know they're good. Guys like Willingham, Perkins, Morneau, they have swagger, they have a quiet, I'm going to kick your ass vibe about them, they're not demonstrative about it, they live in the confidence neighbourhood and fans love them. The Danny Valencia, Matt Garza and Alex Rodriguez types usually display their swagger in a self-centered, look how good I am fashion (not that Valencia had much to swag about), they live in the arrogance neighbourhood and didn't get enough attention from their fathers,fans tpically loathe them.

It's ok to have swagger, let's hope Berrios just displays his the way most of us appreciate.

Originally Posted by jokin

This is how communication breaks down.

Holy Clash of Cultures! Ryan might want some tips on analogy-references with Carribean prospects or they won't have a clue what he's trying to impart to them.

What was it he said about Sano, and how he was fitting in? "That Miguel, he's sure one cool customer at the plate, and for that matter, despite his size, he never looks like a football player over at Third Base."

It might also explain why Casilla could never quite fit in and get over the hump, he never could translate TR's American metaphorical descriptions for him properly. Given the Latin-American culture and their demonstrated hangups on homosexuality, during Casilla's developing years as a prospect, Ryan might have said something like, " We really like him a lot, especially being a switch hitter, in the middle infield I can see him going both ways...."

You're being sarcastic, right?

God, I hope you're being sarcastic.

These guys aren't starring in Oscar Wilde productions. They're playing baseball. I'm sure that at some point, they pick up on the "buzzwords" of American baseball.

Originally Posted by Brock Beauchamp

You're being sarcastic, right?

God, I hope you're being sarcastic.

These guys aren't starring in Oscar Wilde productions. They're playing baseball. I'm sure that at some point, they pick up on the "buzzwords" of American baseball.

Ha, I'm not sure that "out over his skis" has ever been used to discribe a baseball player. Perhaps Berrios will assume he's talking about being pulled behind a speed boat.

Originally Posted by nicksaviking

Ha, I'm not sure that "out over his skis" has ever been used to discribe a baseball player. Perhaps Berrios will assume he's talking about being pulled behind a speed boat.

Either way, I'm sure someone along the way will explain to young JO that "over the skis" is not an American euphemism for "meet me in the bath house at eight o'clock", which apparently happend to Casilla, warping his mind for all eternity.