ESPN Radio host Colin Cowherd said some less than flattering things about Dominican baseball players on his show Thursday, and Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista is none too pleased.
Speaking on his weekday show “The Herd,” Cowherd commented on the criticism that the Miami Marlins have received for hiring general manager Dan Jennings, a guy with zero prior managerial experience, as their skipper after firing Mike Redmond in May.
“I mean the Marlins put a general manager in their dugout. People freaked out,” said Cowherd. “Oh, it’s baseball! You don’t think a general manager can manage? Like, it’s impossible? The game is too complex? Like, I’ve never bought into that ‘Baseball is just too complex.’ Really? A third of the sport is from the Dominican Republic.”
Sheesh, Colin.
Here is a video capturing Cowherd’s subsequent, half-hearted attempt to clarify his comments after lobbing his initial rhetorical grenade.
The Dominican Republic has not been known in my lifetime as having world class academic abilities. A lot of those kids come from rough backgrounds and have not had opportunities academically that other kids from other countries have. Baseball is like any sport. It’s mostly instincts. A sportswriter who covers baseball could go up to Tony La Russa and make an argument and Tony would listen and it would seem reasonable.
Whether or not there was any intent, the implication behind Cowherd’s incendiary words was more than enough to ruffle a few feathers.
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, who hails from the Dominican Republic, was quick to call out Cowherd on Twitter.
Dear Mr. @ESPN_Colin before i rip you a new one i would like for you to explain what u meant to say about baseball and dominicans, please
— Jose Bautista (@JoeyBats19) July 23, 2015
Bautista definitely has a right to be heated as it is hard to defend what Cowherd said on any front. Baseball is one of the most intellectual, sabermetric-heavy sports we have. To justify arguing the inverse by singling out the sport’s Dominican community as somehow inferior is incredibly insulting and absolutely uncalled for.
Cowherd has been known to stick his foot in his mouth on many occasions from his views on John Wall to his comments on David Ortiz. But this sorry episode is not only in bad taste, but in bad timing with Cowherd recently announcing his departure from ESPN to join Fox Sports.
Joey Bats and the rest of the Dominican baseball populace will be awaiting your clarification and/or apology, Mr. Cowherd.
H/T HardballTalk
