Hunter needling Hicks

[Monkeypaws]

Damn, what the Twins lost these last 7 years.

[JB_Iowa]

Derek Wetmore's take on Torii:

 

http://m.1500espn.com/pages/sportswire.php?sID=12851

[D. Hocking]

I think if things are going well or at the very least there is some good momentum and it looks like things are turning around, Torii can be an extra spark to help things go to the next level.  If things are not going well, or if Torii is not happy, I think he can be moody enough where he can bring things down to a lower level.  If I remember correctly, when he was not happy in 2007, he was not exactly a positive to the locker room. 

 

That being said, if things are going down, does it really matter if an unhappy Hunter sinks things a bit lower - and maybe it is worth the gamble that he can help invigorate the club house.  I was not exactly thrilled about bringing him back, and I do think a lot of Torii is about Torii, but after hearing some of his recent interviews, I do think he is sincere about wanting to come back here and I think he would like to have a legacy as being a mentor to the next batch of stars. 

 

I am hoping the media does not go completely overboard on the lovefest though and overanalyze or over praise everything he says.   I do think the media tends to give him a little extra love because he gives them the quotes they want.  The steroid comment/ribbing is one done by any teammate from high school on up when someone on the team has put on some new muscle - if someone else would have said it, I am not sure Reusse would have even paid attention.

 

The season has not started yet, and the deal is done, so I might as well be optimistic that he is going to add some energy to the clubhouse, be a good influence to the youngsters, and have a good bat and some adequate defense.  Nothing will please me more at being wrong at not wanting him back when it was originally being discussed.  Hell - I will buy everyone a round if he is the team MVP.

[nicksaviking]

Short memory is a wonderful thing.

 

Two i Torii who punched a teammate before and was fairly disliked in the clubhouse is called a "good teammate"...

 

Let's see how long this is going to last.  Torii cares about Torii, per past experience.

I assume you're referencing Morneau who has multiple times since said the incident was overblown and he liked Hunter?

 

I'm guessing you're projecting your own feelings when you say he is "fairly disliked in the clubhouse." Certainly no one is liked by all (except Chief) but all evidence indicates he is widely liked by teammates.

[tobi0040]

I assume you're referencing Morneau who has multiple times since said the incident was overblown and he liked Hunter?

 

I'm guessing you're projecting your own feelings when you say he is "fairly disliked in the clubhouse." Certainly no one is liked by all (except Chief) but all evidence indicates he is widely liked by teammates.

 

I am not going to comment on how Justin feels about Torii because I don't know. However we have seen glimpses  where Torii has not kept his cool and been the veteran mentor the media and Twins think he is.    The clubhouse fight is one example.  He snapped and threw a ball at a pitcher.  He totally unnecesarily comments about gay marriage, which is a distaction.  And his actions at his introductory press conference, which was supposed to be a great time for the Twins to unveil their new mentor was at best childish.

 

I think it is fair to call out those gaps and frankly, off base to assume we have any idea how his teammates view him.  When the Fox North crew catch up with Hicks in the locker room and say "how great has it been to have Torii Hunter around?" you are likely going to get a positive answer.

 

Not knowing either of them, the answer will be "it has been really great, I always looked up to Torii.  He has been that veteran in the clubhouse and shows guys like me how to go about things on a daily basis.  He has really helped me with x, y, and z".

[nicksaviking]

I am not going to comment on how Justin feels about Torii because I don't know. However we have seen glimpses  where Torii has not kept his cool and been the veteran mentor the media and Twins think he is.    The clubhouse fight is one example.  He snapped and threw a ball at a pitcher.  He totally unnecesarily comments about gay marriage, which is a distaction.  And his actions at his introductory press conference, which was supposed to be a great time for the Twins to unveil their new mentor was at best childish.

 

I think it is fair to call out those gaps and frankly, off base to assume we have any idea how his teammates view him.  When the Fox North crew catch up with Hicks in the locker room and say "how great has it been to have Torii Hunter around?" you are likely going to get a positive answer.

 

Not knowing either of them, the answer will be "it has been really great, I always looked up to Torii.  He has been that veteran in the clubhouse and shows guys like me how to go about things on a daily basis.  He has really helped me with x, y, and z".

 

I agree, very seldom do players bad mouth each other.  In that vein, I think it's pretty impossible to say he's failry disliked in the clubhouse.  We have heard Hunter's political views, and while the content of of his politcis don't tend to endear themselves to the majority of Minnesotans, we don't know the political leanings of the majority of baseball players who largely hail from the south and Hispanic countries.  As far as I know, we also don't even have any anecdotal evidence that he discusses politics in the club house.

 

We have heard former teammates on the Twins and Angels voice their frustration when their clubs didn't make a stronger attempt to retain him, and he did have a considerable number of suitors despite being a 39-year-old corner outfielder with declining defensive skills, including this team, which seems to be pretty concerned with clubhouse chemistry.  We really can't say that he is truely liked by his teammates, but he has a lot more check marks in his "like" column than he does in his "dislike" column.

 

For what it's worth, I wanted this team to get younger and stay away from aging vets, but if this team thinks his presence will have a positive impact on the young guys, I'm on board seeing as the guys under 28 are really the only players I'm concered with at this time.

[tobi0040]

I agree, very seldom do players bad mouth each other.  In that vein, I think it's pretty impossible to say he's failry disliked in the clubhouse.  We have heard Hunter's political views, and while the content of of his politcis don't tend to endear themselves to the majority of Minnesotans, we don't know the political leanings of the majority of baseball players who largely hail from the south and Hispanic countries.  As far as I know, we also don't even have any anecdotal evidence that he discusses politics in the club house.

 

We have heard former teammates on the Twins and Angels voice their frustration when their clubs didn't make a stronger attempt to retain him, and he did have a considerable number of suitors despite being a 39-year-old corner outfielder with declining defensive skills, including this team, which seems to be pretty concerned with clubhouse chemistry.  We really can't say that he is truely liked by his teammates, but he has a lot more check marks in his "like" column than he does in his "dislike" column.

 

For what it's worth, I wanted this team to get younger and stay away from aging vets, but if this team thinks his presence will have a positive impact on the young guys, I'm on board seeing as the guys under 28 are really the only players I'm concered with at this time.

 

Yeah, that is fair.  We really don't know on either side of the ledger.

[jimmer]

I am not going to comment on how Justin feels about Torii because I don't know. However we have seen glimpses  where Torii has not kept his cool and been the veteran mentor the media and Twins think he is.    The clubhouse fight is one example.  He snapped and threw a ball at a pitcher.  He totally unnecesarily comments about gay marriage, which is a distaction.  And his actions at his introductory press conference, which was supposed to be a great time for the Twins to unveil their new mentor was at best childish.

 

I think it is fair to call out those gaps and frankly, off base to assume we have any idea how his teammates view him.  When the Fox North crew catch up with Hicks in the locker room and say "how great has it been to have Torii Hunter around?" you are likely going to get a positive answer.

 

Not knowing either of them, the answer will be "it has been really great, I always looked up to Torii.  He has been that veteran in the clubhouse and shows guys like me how to go about things on a daily basis.  He has really helped me with x, y, and z".   

and in that same vein, he also said that if  there were homosexuals in the clubhouse he'd be uncomfortable and it would be uncomfortable. I wonder if there are any homosexuals in our clubhouse and how they feel about those comments along with his comments that endorse suppressing their rights.

 

And as far as the press conference went, yeah, the young guys got an example of how NOT to do a press conference.  So, that's a sort of mentoring.

[gunnarthor]

I am not going to comment on how Justin feels about Torii because I don't know. However we have seen glimpses  where Torii has not kept his cool and been the veteran mentor the media and Twins think he is.    The clubhouse fight is one example.  He snapped and threw a ball at a pitcher.  He totally unnecesarily comments about gay marriage, which is a distaction.  And his actions at his introductory press conference, which was supposed to be a great time for the Twins to unveil their new mentor was at best childish.

 

I think it is fair to call out those gaps and frankly, off base to assume we have any idea how his teammates view him.  When the Fox North crew catch up with Hicks in the locker room and say "how great has it been to have Torii Hunter around?" you are likely going to get a positive answer.

 

Not knowing either of them, the answer will be "it has been really great, I always looked up to Torii.  He has been that veteran in the clubhouse and shows guys like me how to go about things on a daily basis.  He has really helped me with x, y, and z".

If players didn't like him, it would leak out.  Players constantly put Jeter on the overrated list while he was playing, for example.  As I said earlier, he had three pretty respected managers - Leyland, Gardy and Sciosia - all sing his praise in the media.  If they were blowing hot-air, it would have been a pretty good way to lose the clubhouse.  

 

And I suspect some of things he brings that you don't seem to care for are probably reasons the Twins want him in the locker room in the first place. 

[tobi0040]

If players didn't like him, it would leak out.  Players constantly put Jeter on the overrated list while he was playing, for example.  As I said earlier, he had three pretty respected managers - Leyland, Gardy and Sciosia - all sing his praise in the media.  If they were blowing hot-air, it would have been a pretty good way to lose the clubhouse.  

 

And I suspect some of things he brings that you don't seem to care for are probably reasons the Twins want him in the locker room in the first place. 

 

Maybe they view calling out a young player as a positive.  I personally think that Hunter was jealous that two young players came up and played better than he did and he was upset about it.

 

The press conference is another story.  The look on Terry's face is enough for me

[D. Hocking]

This has been said on other threads, but it is nice to see people disagree about something without it descending into complete vitriol.  I am not sure this conversation would go as well on some other boards (and in general this board is probably above average in keeping various debates respectful).  

 

Normally, I would say this is probably partially due to the wisdom and maturity of the moderators....

[mikelink45]

To the point hit in a pitch has made, why spend $10M on the mentor?  Especially when he has to hit 1/9th of the time and make up 1/3 of the OF near 40 years old on a team that is defensively challenged?  The league is littered with former players that were once good and would love $300K a year to remain close to the game and work with young guys.

I no longer look at baseball's Monopoly money - it means nothing to me.  Most of the free agent contracts are stupid.  Who says they have to be that large - the agents.  And who is stupid enough to let Boros and others set the bar - the supposedly successful billionaire owners.  So set the 10 spot aside and look at him as a short term consultant who will fill a spot where we do not have anyone else right now.  In one year and on the coaching staff next year and in the meantime - get some of our ball players without type A personalities to light it up and reach their potential.

[Jham]

There is something to be said for known commodities.  I know these tend to be very prospect heavy threads because we invest so much enthusiasm into watching young players develop.  It is tough to look at favorable box scores and metrics for years and years and not get excited about actually seeing them play for the first time.  It's a lot like the most popular person in town being the backup quarterback. If you don't like the product in front of you, it's easy to clamor for what you haven't seen fail, even though the alternative is usually worse.  If Hunter is as bad as his detractors are saying, then e.g. Rosario should have no problem ousting him.  But I remember when the Twins turned down guys like Coco Crisp and Melky Cabrera because they weren't as sexy as a blue-chipper like Elsbury or Cano.  It only cost us Lester or Phil Hughes (sort of) and possibly Ian Kennedy in his prime and maybe even Bucholtz.  Known commodities often have more value than you realize.

To those worried about Hunter getting frustrated if we lose 90 games.   We seem to have an entire team of players that don't care, and don't get upset over mountains of losses.  Not everyone in the clubhouse cares about winning.  For those of you who say Torii is all for himself, no one consistently risked their health and career for the team and for wins more than Torii.  I for one, would be very disappointed if he did not get angry in the midst of another wasted season.  

If it wasn't for Torii, who knows, maybe we never make the push back to relevance in 2001.  Maybe we get contracted and there is no Twinsdaily.  If it were not for Torii Hunter, there would be a lot fewer passionate Twins fans out there.  He deserves respect, if only for what he's done for baseball in Minnesota.

[tobi0040]

There is something to be said for known commodities.  I know these tend to be very prospect heavy threads because we invest so much enthusiasm into watching young players develop.  It is tough to look at favorable box scores and metrics for years and years and not get excited about actually seeing them play for the first time.  It's a lot like the most popular person in town being the backup quarterback. If you don't like the product in front of you, it's easy to clamor for what you haven't seen fail, even though the alternative is usually worse.  If Hunter is as bad as his detractors are saying, then e.g. Rosario should have no problem ousting him.  But I remember when the Twins turned down guys like Coco Crisp and Melky Cabrera because they weren't as sexy as a blue-chipper like Elsbury or Cano.  It only cost us Lester or Phil Hughes (sort of) and possibly Ian Kennedy in his prime and maybe even Bucholtz.  Known commodities often have more value than you realize.

 

To those worried about Hunter getting frustrated if we lose 90 games.   We seem to have an entire team of players that don't care, and don't get upset over mountains of losses.  Not everyone in the clubhouse cares about winning.  For those of you who say Torii is all for himself, no one consistently risked their health and career for the team and for wins more than Torii.  I for one, would be very disappointed if he did not get angry in the midst of another wasted season.  

 

If it wasn't for Torii, who knows, maybe we never make the push back to relevance in 2001.  Maybe we get contracted and there is no Twinsdaily.  If it were not for Torii Hunter, there would be a lot fewer passionate Twins fans out there.  He deserves respect, if only for what he's done for baseball in Minnesota.

 

No doubt Torii plays hard and that is admirable.  I do have to say that I think Torii is here because we paid him the most money by several million dollars. 

 

A friend of a friend worked for the Twins during the Santana trade and stated to me that almost all of the names thrown into the Johan talks were not actually offered, including Lester, Hughes, and Ellsbury.  The Twins FO actually thought that they were confident the Yankees never wanted Johan but were trying to drive up the price Boston would pay.

[jimmer]

I don't think the players on our team have the 'I don't care about losing' attitude.

 

Just cause they don't throw tantrums, fight each other in the dugout , and act all unprofessional because they lose doesn't mean they don't care.  They also get that it's their jobs, it's a long season, some teams are better than others and so on.

 

I think it's unfair to label them as uncaring about losing.

[gunnarthor]

I don't think the players on our team have the 'I don't care about losing' attitude.

 

Just cause they don't throw tantrums, fight each other in the dugout , and act all unprofessional because they lose doesn't mean they don't care.  They also get that it's their jobs, it's a long season, some teams are better than others and so on.

 

I think it's unfair to label them as uncaring about losing.

 

It's probably about as fair as the attacks on Hunter have been in this thread.  Lots of speculating and ignoring what is out there.

 

Reusse did report on the fun bunch, which includes Plouffe, and the tone of comments made by Molitor and others does seem to suggest that the losing hasn't bothered players as much as it should have.  Or, at least, that's what I've taken from a lot of this.  

[jimmer]

It's probably about as fair as the attacks on Hunter have been in this thread.  Lots of speculating and ignoring what is out there.

 

Reusse did report on the fun bunch, which includes Plouffe, and the tone of comments made by Molitor and others does seem to suggest that the losing hasn't bothered players as much as it should have.  Or, at least, that's what I've taken from a lot of this.  

A lot of what's been said about Hunter in this thread we've seen him do and/or heard heard him say. Speculating that the players don't care, where's the actual proof of that?  Are they saying they don't care? These guys got to the top of a very hard profession to get to the top of, are the very cream of the crop, and if they were so lackadaisical about losing and/or not getting better, and if they lacked competitiveness, I doubt they ever reach the majors

[gunnarthor]

A lot of what's been said about Hunter in this thread we've seen him do and/or heard heard him say. Speculating that the players don't care, where's the actual proof of that?  Are they saying they don't care? These guys got to the top of a very hard profession to get to the top of, are the very cream of the crop, and if they were so lackadaisical about losing and/or not getting better, and if they lacked competitiveness, I doubt they ever reach the majors

You literally just said Hunter throws tantrums and acts unprofessional.  I'm honestly not sure how to even follow that up that kind of speculating.

 

As to the other, I told you that there were written reports about the fun bunch, which included Plouffe, not caring.  I think the tenor of a lot of statements made this offseason by Molitor and others suggest that the team thinks the clubhouse needs an upgrade b/c of it.

 

Marty Cordova admitted that while he was in the minors, if he didn't have an at-bat coming up in the 9th, he didn't care if his team won he'd just rather go home sooner.  I don't think every player cares about winning or losing that much (and they all certainly don't care the same).  Some do, some don't.  Some are happy to get a paycheck to support their families.  Others enjoy the lifestyle.  When he was in the minors, Plouffe wrote a blog about his day and he ticked off a lot of fans b/c he spent a lot of time discussing video games.  I believe this was on mlb.com's first site.  Regardless, I do think every player works hard but some work a lot harder than others.  And probably a lot more than you'd care to think are more concerned about individual success than team success.  

 

In any event, it does seem that the Twins are trying to change the clubhouse atmosphere either because they don't like what has been happening or b/c they want some good PR stories for their media friends.

[jimmer]

You literally just said Hunter throws tantrums and acts unprofessional.  I'm honestly not sure how to even follow that up that kind of speculating.

 

 

Actually, I didn't just say HE does that at all. Where did I say that?  I said the idea that people think our players don't care because they don't throw tantrums or act unprofessional doesn't mean they don't care. This was in response to people saying our recent players don't care about losing and me wondering how they got that impression. Wondering what they need to see the players do to think the players DO care.  He wasn't even a part of those teams.  

 

I've said earlier that he's had fights in the dugout, which he has.  I've pointed out earlier that the players shouldn't follow his example of how to do press conference (which as unprofessional), but those are actual instances we know happened and are not, at all, speculation.

[Willihammer]

"See kiddo, this is how you flip a bat."

[gunnarthor]

"See kiddo, this is how you flip a bat."

Hopefully, with the way TF rewards RH power, he'll pull the ball a little bit more than he did last year and we get to see a lot of batflips.  

[tobi0040]

Actually, I didn't just say HE does that at all. Where did I say that?  I said the idea that people think our players don't care because they don't throw tantrums or act unprofessional doesn't mean they don't care. This was in response to people saying our recent players don't care about losing and me wondering how they got that impression. Wondering what they need to see the players do to think the players DO care.  He wasn't even a part of those teams.  

 

I've said earlier that he's had fights in the dugout, which he has.  I've pointed out earlier that the players shouldn't follow his example of how to do press conference, but those are actual instances we know happened and are not, at all, speculation.

 

I said he has acted unprofesssional.  I called out throwing a baseball at a pitcher and his press conference here, where he repeatedly called a reporter a prick.

 

Not menioned were reports that he and Pujols almost came to blows.  When he was suspended for throwing balls onto the field of play, and when he was suspended for getting in an umps face and touching him.

[jimmer]

I said he has acted unprofesssional.  I called out throwing a baseball at a pitcher and his press conference here, where he repeatedly called a reporter a prick.

 

Not menioned were reports that he and Pujols almost came to blows.  When he was suspended for throwing balls onto the field of play, and when he was suspended for getting in an umps face and touching him.

and what you've sited, isn't speculation at all.

[tobi0040]

and what you've sited, isn't speculation at all.

 

Agreed.  Most of these items are fact, not opinion and most people would categorize them as unprofessional.  I don't see the wiggle room on the press conference, throwing balls at pitchers, on the field, etc.

 

Others may say this is an edge we lack or whatever.  That is a different argument.  I stand by citing instance of unprofessionalism.  And I say that even though he was my favorite player here for many years.  It doesn't change multiple instances of him not living up to the reputation some are trying to sell.

[jimmer]

Agreed.  Most of these items are fact, not opinion and most people would categorize them as unprofessional.  I don't see the wiggle room on the press conference, throwing balls at pitchers, on the field, etc.

The Pujols thing isn't speculation either.  Easy to find info on that.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/scott-miller/23286878/broken-angels-tense-atmosphere-nearly-included-pujols-hunter-fight-in-2012

 

One comment from that article: 'So Torri Hunter punches a teammate in the face and restrained again because he is a good teammate?'

[gunnarthor]

The Pujols thing isn't speculation either.  Easy to find info on that.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/scott-miller/23286878/broken-angels-tense-atmosphere-nearly-included-pujols-hunter-fight-in-2012

 

One comment from that article: 'So Torri Hunter punches a teammate in the face and restrained again because he is a good teammate?'

Yep, it was awesome:

 

"During a 10-8 implosion the next night in which starter C.J. Wilson was cuffed for seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, some players grew weary of Wilson's chirping in the dugout – especially when he began giving advice to hitters. Hunter sharply told him to pipe down and the two had words in the dugout.

Immediately following that game, veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins called for a players' only meeting. Word of the Hunter-Wilson altercation had reached the Angels' bullpen by the late innings, and Hawkins, a respected veteran then in his 18th season in the majors and now with the Mets, could identify major problems when he saw them.

In a glimpse into how fractured the Angels had become, they could not even agree on a meeting format. Hawkins called for a players-only meeting. Pujols, insisting that manager Mike Scioscia and the coaches attend, wound up co-opting the meeting.

Pujols called out Weaver for showing up a teammate the night before. Then he turned his attention on Hunter, blaming him for the dugout altercation with Wilson.

What Pujols did not know at the time was that Wilson and Hunter already had made amends, with the pitcher apologizing to the outfielder for overstepping his bounds in the dugout immediately following the game.

“Albert, you'd better get your facts straight,” a seething Hunter told Pujols.

Pujols said something back, and Hunter jumped him for being a bad teammate and pouting all season whenever he failed to get hits in a game, even in games the Angels won … and now he was going to call others out?

“Shut up, Torii,” Pujols snapped.

It was then that Hunter, from across the clubhouse, lost it and charged Pujols. Hawkins and outfielder Vernon Wells had to restrain him.

The meeting proceeded from there, and when it was over, tempers still heated, Hunter had to be physically held back a second time from going after Pujols, who is described as wanting no part of the fight.

The incident was reminiscent of one in Minnesota earlier in Hunter's career, when an exasperated Hunter, in a heated discussion trying to teach Justin Morneau to be a better teammate, punched Morneau in the jaw. The two later bonded after that incident, and Morneau went on to win an AL MVP award and he became a long-tenured and beloved Twin.

Hunter quickly became the spiritual leader of the Angels upon signing as a free agent before the 2008 season and remained so during his five years with the team. Among his peers, Hunter is known as one of the most popular players and best teammates in the league. But he will not hesitate to call out a teammate he thinks isn't living up to standards."

 

I love crap like this.  I know some people will call this unprofessional but I would disagree, I think Hunter's attitude is professional in a clubhouse setting.  Either way, I'm very glad he's back.

[tobi0040]

Yep, it was awesome:

 

"During a 10-8 implosion the next night in which starter C.J. Wilson was cuffed for seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, some players grew weary of Wilson's chirping in the dugout – especially when he began giving advice to hitters. Hunter sharply told him to pipe down and the two had words in the dugout.

Immediately following that game, veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins called for a players' only meeting. Word of the Hunter-Wilson altercation had reached the Angels' bullpen by the late innings, and Hawkins, a respected veteran then in his 18th season in the majors and now with the Mets, could identify major problems when he saw them.

In a glimpse into how fractured the Angels had become, they could not even agree on a meeting format. Hawkins called for a players-only meeting. Pujols, insisting that manager Mike Scioscia and the coaches attend, wound up co-opting the meeting.

Pujols called out Weaver for showing up a teammate the night before. Then he turned his attention on Hunter, blaming him for the dugout altercation with Wilson.

What Pujols did not know at the time was that Wilson and Hunter already had made amends, with the pitcher apologizing to the outfielder for overstepping his bounds in the dugout immediately following the game.

“Albert, you'd better get your facts straight,” a seething Hunter told Pujols.

Pujols said something back, and Hunter jumped him for being a bad teammate and pouting all season whenever he failed to get hits in a game, even in games the Angels won … and now he was going to call others out?

“Shut up, Torii,” Pujols snapped.

It was then that Hunter, from across the clubhouse, lost it and charged Pujols. Hawkins and outfielder Vernon Wells had to restrain him.

The meeting proceeded from there, and when it was over, tempers still heated, Hunter had to be physically held back a second time from going after Pujols, who is described as wanting no part of the fight.

The incident was reminiscent of one in Minnesota earlier in Hunter's career, when an exasperated Hunter, in a heated discussion trying to teach Justin Morneau to be a better teammate, punched Morneau in the jaw. The two later bonded after that incident, and Morneau went on to win an AL MVP award and he became a long-tenured and beloved Twin.

Hunter quickly became the spiritual leader of the Angels upon signing as a free agent before the 2008 season and remained so during his five years with the team. Among his peers, Hunter is known as one of the most popular players and best teammates in the league. But he will not hesitate to call out a teammate he thinks isn't living up to standards."

 

I love crap like this.  I know some people will call this unprofessional but I would disagree, I think Hunter's attitude is professional in a clubhouse setting.  Either way, I'm very glad he's back.

 

The fight is debateable, but do you think the press conference, throwing balls onto the field, and throwing balls at pitchers is professional? speculation?

[nicksaviking]

and in that same vein, he also said that if  there were homosexuals in the clubhouse he'd be uncomfortable and it would be uncomfortable. I wonder if there are any homosexuals in our clubhouse and how they feel about those comments along with his comments that endorse suppressing their rights.

 

Yeah, I really don't like his view on that subject but it's a popular view with southern Christians and Hispanic demographics, which largely makes up the Twins clubhouse.  So there's a pretty good chance that I'd dislike the view of a majority of the players. 

 

I'd prefer Hunter doesn't talk about those things to the other players, and perhaps he doesn't, but odds are, he's already preaching to the choir if he is.  Even so, I don't follow these guys for their voting records, I just want to see them play good baseball.  If we only accepted players who shared our social and political views, we'd severely be cutting down on the pool of players available to us.  This is Twins vs White Sox not The Huffington Post vs Fox News.

[gunnarthor]

It's unprofessional and it's assault, but hey, it's okay because it's baseball and Hollywood tells us it means players care more than those who don't fight/hit other players. They are professionals and adults doing a job.  If someone in my line of work fought me at my work or hit me they'd be fired and be going to jail.

This is steering into a different discussion.  There's a thread in the more baseball section on the unwritten rules of baseball where Levithan makes many of your points.  I tend to disagree completely.  (Also, it's battery, not assault)

[nicksaviking]

Agreed.  Most of these items are fact, not opinion and most people would categorize them as unprofessional.  I don't see the wiggle room on the press conference, throwing balls at pitchers, on the field, etc.

 

Others may say this is an edge we lack or whatever.  That is a different argument.  I stand by citing instance of unprofessionalism.  And I say that even though he was my favorite player here for many years.  It doesn't change multiple instances of him not living up to the reputation some are trying to sell.

 

But whether his actions are professional or not isn't the issue.  Hunter is being tasked with relating to the young guys, not being the clubhouse chaplin (though from his rep, he may do that too).  The belief is that Hunter has a knack for tutoring and getting the best out of young players on the field regardless of any unprofessional behavior.