Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination has allowed us once again to consider the Court's role in deciding affirmative action cases, and in rescuing oppressed white men from the chains that have enslaved them lo these two decades.
But while the robed ones worry about promotions and quotas and hiring practices, who's gonna step up and save the latest oppressed group: baseball players whose fathers are semi-anonymous carpet salesmen from Dubuque named Ron Farbschneider.
See, their sons are losing out to the sons of famous men, who proved extremely popular during this week's draft. Like, if your dad played in the major leagues, there's a 50-50 chance you were drafted, even if you're a fry cook at Denny's, a toddler, a 390-pound crane operator, a a double-amputee, or a blind dachshund.
The Nationals drafted Oakland's RHP Shane McCatty, the son of pitching coach Steve McCatty, in the 24th round. In an amazing coincidence, he got his break when his dad was promoted to the big leagues.
"Shane tagged along and began throwing with the pitching staff because he was having some issues with his mechanics." MASN's Pete McElroy reported. "The team liked what they saw and decided to draft him."
The White Sox apparently offered a "one-free-familial-draft-pick" promotion for all employees, then went ahead and selected the sons of GM Ken Williams, first-base coach Harold Baines, adviser Larry Monroe and advance scout Bryan Little. The Khan Dynasty would have blushed at such nepotism.
The Red Sox drafted 18-year old OF Michael Yastrzemski, who coincidentally turns out to be the grandson of Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl, in the 36th round.
"I went to a tournament in Lynn and I saw a kid have two or three good at-bats in a row," a Sox scout told the Boston Globe. "I didn't know who he was. I didn't know Yaz had a grandson. And I got a roster and I said, 'Whoa, Yastrzemski.'
(Look here, this is an equal opportunity biz. If you wouldn't say "Whoa, Farbschneider!," you shouldn't be saying "Whoa, Yastrzemski!")
It goes on, a list more damning than the line for sun-tan lotion at a firefighers' convention. The Rockies drafted manager Jim Tracy's son in the 49th round, with the skipper absurdly saying "we didn't ask for any favors." The Diamondbacks took the son of bullpen coach Glen Sherlock, and the son of special assistant to the GM Matt Williams. The Royals took the son of first-base coach Rusty Kuntz.
The Rangers drafted Ruben Sierra Jr., the son of team legend Ruben Sierra Sr. The Blue Jays drafted Jonathan Fernandez, son of ex-shortstop Tony. The Reds drafted Lance Durham, son of ex-first baseman Leon. The A's, Tigers and Reds all drafted the brothers of current players from their organization, in this case Bobby Crosby, Rick Porcello, Chris Valaika. The Orioles drafted both the son of team legend Al Bumbry, and the brother of Ravens superstar Joe Flacco, though possibly committed a faux pas by neglecting to draft any relatives of Baltimore Blast goalkeepers coach Karim Moumban.
Was this a massive coincidence? Harmless fun? Or clear and offensive bias against the sons of roofers and taxi drivers and espresso-machine manufacturers and carpet salesmen named Ron Farbschneider? Supreme Court, your call.
(Oh, and even the sons of random famous people, people like Mohammed Ali and pro wrestler Stan "The Lariat" Hansen were drafted. Seriously, Ron Farbschneiders of the world, this is your time. Rush and Newt and O'Reilly are will have your back.)
[Bloodlines Run Deep During Draft - MLB.com]
For more of Dan Steinberg, visit his blog with The Washington Post, D.C. Sports Bog.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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Dumb article. How many kids got drafted this year? Close to 2000? Who cares if the 35th player just happens to be related to somebody within the organization. In the late rounds, you’re just taking kids you like, its not like they have a draft board 3000 kids deep.
by Impossible86 on Jun 12, 2009 11:07 AM EDT reply actions
Very dumb article. I don’t even know where to start but I’ll try.
If you can play baseball, scouts will find you. If you happen to have a parent or grandparent it will obviously help, but it won’t help you make it. The draft is a crap-shoot anyway, why not take a flyer on the spawn of somebody you know can play the game?
Besides you said it yourself, Shane McCatty got his break going to work with his dad and working on mechanics. The man knows he has an issue, and wanted to work it out. Shows great attitude, and obviously his stuff was good enough for them to take him.
by valtieri on Jun 12, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions
Nepotism is everywhere Steinberg, but if you are truly good at what you do you can overcome it. Quit your whining and excuse making, throw away your soggy tissues, and get started writing an article worth reading. I want the last five minutes of my life back.
by McGuff50 on Jun 12, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions
This article ignores a key fact: the MLB draft does not comprise a fixed number of rounds. Each team can keep drafting until it decides to pass. So nepotism does not exclude players from being drafted.
Second point: pretty incoherent writing. The crack about enslaved white people was negated by charges of nepotistic favoritism shown toward relatives of Ken Williams, Harold Baines, Ruben Sierra, Tony Fernandez, Al Bumbry, Leon Durham, etc. And what do Sotomayor, Limbaugh, Gingrich, and O’Reilly have to do with this topic? Their inclusion says more about the author than about them.
by bveo12 on Jun 12, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions
I agree with those above—a very poor attempt at an expose.
While the White Sox "1 free draft pick" does seem misguided, the system is fine for 2 reasons.
1.) Like bveo12 said, the draft continues until all teams stop making picks. Thus, in order to draft relatives of employees, they aren’t actually losing any players (not that this would even be a big deal considering how many players are drafted).
2.) Take a look at the current MLB rosters. They are littered with guys with famous fathers. It’s a legitimate argument that these players have better chances because of their learned work ethic and in-home instruction.
by CFM2 on Jun 12, 2009 1:03 PM EDT reply actions
Steinberg, where do I sign up for your job? I’ve got a high-school education, that should be enough, right?
Impossible86 hit the nail on the head: in a draft of thousands, pointing out even 20 "questionable" picks means that… 1% of the draft is rigged! The humanity!
by cjbassett on Jun 12, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions
Wow, did people really read this like an actual expose? It was just a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the relatives of folks drafted by MLB teams. People, take a deep breath. It’s Friday.
by littmann.tsn on Jun 12, 2009 2:14 PM EDT reply actions
Complete waste of a minute. I don’t care if it’s Friday, if I were to do some off the cuff crap like this at my job I would be fired. Stick to writing something that makes sense and can do us all a bit of good by reading it. This guy will not get anymore reads from me. PERIOD.
by bizkit71 on Jun 12, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions
The one thing you can do is have your father befriend a long-time baseball man… that’s what worked with Mike Piazza. His dad was cozy with Tommy LaSorda and viola… he was the Dodgers’ 62nd round pick.
by msgg139 on Jun 12, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions
I am incredibly angry now. How DARE you make me look up the word "nepotism"??
Really people, lighten up. It was clearly intended as a humourous piece. Actually, it might have been so well written that it convinced people it was serious. Well done!!
by WisMolson on Jun 12, 2009 5:56 PM EDT reply actions
Rusty Kuntz are the worst kind of Kuntz.
by jmlamb on Jun 12, 2009 6:07 PM EDT reply actions
Wait, a well written joke is one that gets taken seriously? I don’t understand your logic.
by McGuff50 on Jun 13, 2009 1:55 PM EDT reply actions
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