Reusse on Astudillo's Venezuelan Performance

[Seth Stohs]

http://www.startribune.com/willians-astudillo-had-fame-flamboyance-in-venezuelan-league/506034802/

 

Today, Patrick Reusse wrote about Willians Astudillo's winter. Specifically, hhe wrote about The Home Run... and taking a knee and the celebrating... 

 

Stu Cliburn, long-time Twins minor league pitching coach,  was the pitching coach on the other team so his thoughts are in this too.

 

 

 

“Willians had a couple of hits and had driven in two runs,’’ Cliburn said. “Plus, there were some players who weren’t happy about the way he watched the home run, and then the celebration, in the previous game.

“Pedro Rodriguez was our pitcher – a good reliever for us, but he wa steamed. And he stuck a fastball in Willians’ ribs.’’

Allegedly, there was also a fastball thrown at Astudillo’s head. Asked about it when he arrived in Twins’ camp late last week, Astudillo nodded “yes,’’ and made the motion of a pitch going past his head.

“I don’t think so,'' Cliburn said. “Rodriguez just hit him in the side and Willians went to first base.’’

 

[KirbyDome89]

I'm not surprised some people won't like Astudillo watching the HR.

 

I'm not surprised some people will love the "celebration."

 

I'm not sure either side is particularly wrong. 

 

Either way, throwing at him is a b**** move.

 

This same discussion will come up at least a couple more times here this season. 

 

The end.

[mikelink45]

I thought baseball was joining the 21st century and was going to be about fun -players expressing themselves, having joy!  That is Astudillo.  Think of how he won over the fans last fall.  I am all for it. 

[bird]

I'd much prefer The Turtle's antics after clubbing a dinger than He-man Oswaldo Arcia's antics of breaking a bat over his knee after cluelessly whiffing for a third time in the same game, thereby surpassing The Turtle's K total for the entire month.

 

A modicum of extra drama is fun when it's earned. From both teams IMO. Just don't overdo it, Willans.

[Vanimal46]

Pedro Rodriguez and Ian Kinsler should get an apartment together and see what happens. They both can whisper sweet nothings in each other's ears about not showing emotion on the field.

[Nine of twelve]

Context matters. In Latin America the celebration may not be viewed as a big deal. In the Major Leagues it would be viewed as disrespect. It's really quite simple. If a celebration would show up your opponent don't do it. That's not to say you can't be exuberant, just show sportsmanship. Don't direct your exuberance toward your opponent.

And BTW throwing at a player needs to be put in the scrap pile of history. Any intent to injure is just plain wrong.

[AlwaysinModeration]

For some reason, it is extremely easy to visualize Willians demonstrating how the ball went by his head.

[ewen21]

Not exactly dazzled by the "celebration"

 

How about the guy ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING first?

 

Nice fat body and and hair.  Am I supposed to go all in on this cutsie-poo garbage?

[bird]

 

Not exactly dazzled by the "celebration"

 

How about the guy ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING first?

 

Nice fat body and and hair.  Am I supposed to go all in on this cutsie-poo garbage?

 

 

Buzzkill much? C'mon, join the fun, the guy's been a treat.

[ewen21]

I'm joking. But seriously...shouldn't we want Berrios to own him?

[bird]

 

I'm joking. But seriously...shouldn't we want Berrios to own him?

 

 

In live BP on the first day of spring training when The Turtle is fresh off an MVP performance in the VWL and The Machine is getting reacquainted with the Field 5 mound and could care less?

 

Nah. 

[RatherBeGolfing]

 

Not exactly dazzled by the "celebration"

 

How about the guy ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING first?

 

Nice fat body and and hair.  Am I supposed to go all in on this cutsie-poo garbage?

 

Oof

[ewen21]

I'll blame it on the Jamesons.  Sorry folks

[ashbury]

I'll blame it on the Jamesons.  Sorry folks

Enough of that stuff can enforce its own 24-hour time-out, sparing the moderators from that task.

[ewen21]

 

Enough of that stuff can enforce its own 24-hour time-out, sparing the moderators from that task.

A friend of mine finally landed a new job yesterday after months and months of uncertainty.  I don't think I have done shots in a couple of years and I did several + several more last night. A rare ocassion indeed.

 

Ugh

[ewen21]

I like WIllians, by the way.  

[nicksaviking]

 

A friend of mine finally landed a new job yesterday after months and months of uncertainty.  I don't think I have done shots in a couple of years and I did several + several more last night. A rare ocassion indeed.

 

Ugh

 

Jameson and cutsie-poo garbage are typically more appreciated in the game threads, so I hope you saved some of that bottle.

[Doomtints]

Let him celebrate a bit and thumb his nose at his many doubters. If his doubters are right he will be gone soon anyway. Let him have his fun.

 

Plunking him won't keep him off the bases, mind you, so I might suggest a different strategy.

 

By the way, there was another guy who the baseball establishment doubted because of his body structure: Kirby Puckett. I read for a long time that no one expected him to be able to hit in the majors. We all read it at the time. Well, he did hit and he was instantly popular with fans. Fans latched onto him a lot quicker than his bosses!

[ewen21]

 

Jameson and cutsie-poo garbage are typically more appreciated in the game threads, so I hope you saved some of that bottle.

I live in a small village that has a couple of watering holes.  I was able to "social drink" then walk home in the snow.

 

Funny thing is I was in a good mood!  I like Willians, too.....but it almost feels like the guy is being lampooned by the press.

[ewen21]

Is it a coincidence that Astudillo has the word STUD inside of it?

 

I think not

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

Go ahead and celebrate every dinger.  The game is better off if it embraces fun.

[David HK]

 

I'm not surprised some people won't like Astudillo watching the HR.

 

I'm not surprised some people will love the "celebration."

 

I'm not sure either side is particularly wrong. 

 

Either way, throwing at him is a b**** move.

 

This same discussion will come up at least a couple more times here this season. 

 

The end.

Aha! A astounding prognosticator!  

 

Or maybe you've seen these kinds of things before.... 

[ewen21]

 

I'm not surprised some people won't like Astudillo watching the HR.

 

I'm not surprised some people will love the "celebration."

 

I'm not sure either side is particularly wrong. 

 

Either way, throwing at him is a b**** move.

 

This same discussion will come up at least a couple more times here this season. 

 

The end.

Well "b**** move" or not it has been a precedent in baseball since forever.  It won't be changed either.  Years of warnings and fines have not changed it.  It is what it is in major league baseball and he should be wary if he decides to style it to the degree he does.

 

Willians can make this silliness into headlines or he can simply tone it the heck down and play baseball. I like the kid because he has heart and enthusiasm, but there is a fine line between that and showing up your peers and I don't find any of this stuff endearing.  If he gets plunked because of this stuff I won't be one complaining about the pitcher who did it.  A long standing culture has existed in this game forever and that kind of stuff gets dealt with whether you like or not.  He is starting to earn a rep and that is something he can deal with (or not).  Because the other team will deal with it sure as the tides go in and out

[bighat]

Celebrating a home run on a Dominican or Venezuelan winter-league team is pretty much par for the course. Hundreds of Major Leaguers play in these leagues, and they completely change their routines when they are playing in the USA over the summer. Trust me, Astudillo isn't a showboater - if anything he's the opposite. Not sure why anyone would care, so long as he hits.

 

Speaking of hitting, if the guy knocks the cover off the ball in Spring Training, and Garver/Castro stink up the joint...what do the Twins do?