Why A "Hot Stove" Burns
Quick note to you readers before I start this post: I'm about to mix sports and politics in the same entry. I know, right off the bat (pun unintended), a lot of you out there are feeling the same way that I do that these are two arenas that should never really go together in the first place. However, since I have a dog in the fight of the political aspect side, I do feel the need to expose the sheer ignorance and hatred that went into that portion of it.
But first, the reason you are all here, and that is BASEBALL!
A reluctant congratulations go out to the Kansas City Royals on their World Series victory. I know Astros country joins me in having a bit of a sour taste in our mouths after that disappointing ALDS with the now World Champions. Nevertheless, that team gave it everything they had and became the victors. So to them, as the saying goes, go the spoils. Even if it means a character like Jonny Gomes, whom wasn't even on their post season roster, spat his mouth out about Dallas Keuchel and Carlos Correa. I detected a bit of jealousy in him, as it was pretty disrespectful, even if not his intent, to talk smack about a team they defeated in the first round back nearly a month prior to the final victory that won them the trophy. But I digress, I'll concede only this once since they are now champions. Even still, some people just don't know when to shut their mouths.
Which leads me to the next point: The off season
It is now officially underway, with the 2015 World Series in the books. And while speculation, rumors, and the like will be the pinpoint of many a discussion over the next 3 months, one such insinuation by some fans have gotten me just a bit steamed lately. Turning me into a metaphorical "hot stove" if you will. And that relates to, what else, but the future of your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis.
He will be arbitration eligible for the first time in his major league career. For those that may not be aware of what that means, simply put, he has reached a point in his team control of years where he will be allowed to, and pursue in, commanding more money and no longer make the league minimum salary. And why shouldn't he? After all, he did lead the Astros club in home runs, RBI, triples, was second in total hits and extra base hits, and third overall on the team in total runs scored.
It was the sort of power and offense that Jeff Lunhow himself had been salivating over ever since Evan made his debut with Atlanta in 2013, and why Lunhow then, in turn, gave up so much of the farm to the Braves in order to get him. So, at that point, common sense dictates that he should be back with the Astros next season, right? Well, unfortunately, in spite of everything that I have outlined in this post and my previous letter to Jeff Lunhow, there are still way too many media critics and folks in the fan base alike that are calling for Evan to be non-tendered or even, dare I say it, traded again.
Two points on this:
First, it is ALWAYS a terrible idea to get rid of Evan from your team for any reason. (Atlanta Braves, I'm looking in your direction on this one!) Not only does he always give you the production at well over 100% of everything he has in him, but creates a good presence in the club house among his teammates & coaches, and even out of the club house to the fans and folks in the media alike. Some that, even as I'm writing this, would be quick with the critical jabs that are both nonconstructive and absolutely abhorrent and unnecessary. He is a genuine article and a sheer player of both professional and personal value to any team, be it real, fantasy or otherwise.
Secondly, and most importantly, Evan does NOT need to be put through the same pressure and awkwardness that comes with trying to prove himself to yet another different team. He doesn't deserve that. Rather, he needs a more permanent, stable home in the MLB, and the Houston Astros are the organization that can, and should, be just that. Especially, when folks make the effort to take into consideration that he himself wants to stay here, as stated in his own quotes from a Houston Chronicle article on him making a signing at a Baytown Whataburger that, once again, broke Astros signing records with over 400 people awaiting in attendance.
If media critics and folks in the fan base, especially those that hide behind the guise of a computer screen, would recognize these facts the way they are, then the tones might be changed. If some out there weren't so quick to judge Evan because of his on-base percentage, overall average and plate discipline (which even I can agree can use some improvement), the bear bullying might then come to some sort of a stopping point.
Which leads me to the next side of my post: The political rant. (Brace yourselves, readers!)
I'm still thoroughly disappointed in the city of Houston for allowing the Equal Rights Ordinance (or HERO as it was locally called) to be voted down all because Republican propagandists labeled it a "bathroom ordinance." The voters allowed these culprits of hatred, bigotry and ignorance to play into the non-existent fears that people never really had that were orchestrated by these misguided fools. Instead of reading the ordinance for themselves and educating their minds so they have a clear view that this was meant as a means of protection against discrimination of the LGBT community in all public areas, which would have led to this sort of vote down being avoided, they allowed too many to influence them of a fear of something that was never true to begin with.
With an upholding of the HERO ordinance, Houston could have remained a safe haven in the Lone Star State for the LGBT community to be able to flourish and be accepted with the human dignity and respect already afforded to the straight people that abuse the privilege on a daily basis. What happened instead? Well, enter former Astros slugger, Lance Berkman, playing into the propagandists hands and conveying their message over a radio ad that reads like so:
“Vote no on Proposition One. No men in women’s bathrooms. No boys in girls’ showers or locker rooms. I’m Lance Berkman. I played professional baseball for 15 years, but my family is more important. My wife and I have four daughters. Proposition One, the ‘bathroom ordinance,’ would allow troubled men to enter women’s public bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. This would violate their privacy and put them in harm’s way. That’s just wrong. We must prevent this potential danger by closing women’s restrooms to men rather than waiting for a crime to happen. Under Proposition One, if restaurants, businesses and sports facilities don’t allow a man into a woman’s restroom, they would be subject to penalties and fines. This proposed ordinance says that it will stop discrimination, but in reality, it discriminates against people who believe, like me, that members of the opposite sex should not be forced to share restrooms or locker rooms. Join me to stop the violation of women’s privacy and discrimination against women. Vote no on Proposition One – no men in women’s bathrooms, no boys in girls’ showers or locker rooms.”
Not a single solitary word of this is true, per the actual ordinance itself. I know none of you really want to read the whole 36 pages of it, but to sum, there is not a single mention of restrooms anywhere. The campaign to strike it down was nothing short of a smear and fear tactic to, once again, continue to demonize and alienate a group of people (LGBT, more specifically) that still too many people in this country don't take the time to get to know on any level. Immediately, the labels have to ensue. Nothing else. People can still get denied basic services, or even get fired for their jobs, simply for being outed or living up to who they really are. This is another form of bullying that, for some ungodly reason, is allowed to continue in this country. It is disheartening, hurtful, insulting, and like a hot stove, burns with no remorse.
Those that know me well enough know that I am a proud gay man that makes ABSOLUTELY NO APOLOGIES of who I am, and that I ended my gay rights blog 2 months ago. But this particular issue needed to be addressed here since a former Astro was a big linchpin in this. I've lost any respect I may have had for Lance Berkman. Like a lot of the voters in Houston, he failed to educate himself. And instead, he let his blind faith do the talking. Talking which, quite frankly, should not have existed in the first place. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, not everyone deserves to make it public, mixing the political arena with others including, most especially, sports.
I will still always support the Houston Astros team, since it wasn't their fault that this thing passed. And I can go on forever about this particular topic, but I will not continue to take up your time, readers. But like what folks want to happen to Evan Gattis as it relates to his future with the Houston Astros, so too does this HERO ordinance being struck seems to be what too many in America want to still happen to me and others like me in the LGBT community. One hot stove that I pray goes way soon enough.
In the meantime, let's revel in the fact that Evan got engaged to his long time girlfriend, and now fiance and smashing fellow writer I might add, Kim Waters! You can see a good capture of the proposal here!
#FirstCoupleofBaseball!!!!
But first, the reason you are all here, and that is BASEBALL!
A reluctant congratulations go out to the Kansas City Royals on their World Series victory. I know Astros country joins me in having a bit of a sour taste in our mouths after that disappointing ALDS with the now World Champions. Nevertheless, that team gave it everything they had and became the victors. So to them, as the saying goes, go the spoils. Even if it means a character like Jonny Gomes, whom wasn't even on their post season roster, spat his mouth out about Dallas Keuchel and Carlos Correa. I detected a bit of jealousy in him, as it was pretty disrespectful, even if not his intent, to talk smack about a team they defeated in the first round back nearly a month prior to the final victory that won them the trophy. But I digress, I'll concede only this once since they are now champions. Even still, some people just don't know when to shut their mouths.
Which leads me to the next point: The off season
It is now officially underway, with the 2015 World Series in the books. And while speculation, rumors, and the like will be the pinpoint of many a discussion over the next 3 months, one such insinuation by some fans have gotten me just a bit steamed lately. Turning me into a metaphorical "hot stove" if you will. And that relates to, what else, but the future of your people's champion and mine, Evan Gattis.
He will be arbitration eligible for the first time in his major league career. For those that may not be aware of what that means, simply put, he has reached a point in his team control of years where he will be allowed to, and pursue in, commanding more money and no longer make the league minimum salary. And why shouldn't he? After all, he did lead the Astros club in home runs, RBI, triples, was second in total hits and extra base hits, and third overall on the team in total runs scored.
It was the sort of power and offense that Jeff Lunhow himself had been salivating over ever since Evan made his debut with Atlanta in 2013, and why Lunhow then, in turn, gave up so much of the farm to the Braves in order to get him. So, at that point, common sense dictates that he should be back with the Astros next season, right? Well, unfortunately, in spite of everything that I have outlined in this post and my previous letter to Jeff Lunhow, there are still way too many media critics and folks in the fan base alike that are calling for Evan to be non-tendered or even, dare I say it, traded again.
Two points on this:
First, it is ALWAYS a terrible idea to get rid of Evan from your team for any reason. (Atlanta Braves, I'm looking in your direction on this one!) Not only does he always give you the production at well over 100% of everything he has in him, but creates a good presence in the club house among his teammates & coaches, and even out of the club house to the fans and folks in the media alike. Some that, even as I'm writing this, would be quick with the critical jabs that are both nonconstructive and absolutely abhorrent and unnecessary. He is a genuine article and a sheer player of both professional and personal value to any team, be it real, fantasy or otherwise.
Secondly, and most importantly, Evan does NOT need to be put through the same pressure and awkwardness that comes with trying to prove himself to yet another different team. He doesn't deserve that. Rather, he needs a more permanent, stable home in the MLB, and the Houston Astros are the organization that can, and should, be just that. Especially, when folks make the effort to take into consideration that he himself wants to stay here, as stated in his own quotes from a Houston Chronicle article on him making a signing at a Baytown Whataburger that, once again, broke Astros signing records with over 400 people awaiting in attendance.
If media critics and folks in the fan base, especially those that hide behind the guise of a computer screen, would recognize these facts the way they are, then the tones might be changed. If some out there weren't so quick to judge Evan because of his on-base percentage, overall average and plate discipline (which even I can agree can use some improvement), the bear bullying might then come to some sort of a stopping point.
Which leads me to the next side of my post: The political rant. (Brace yourselves, readers!)
I'm still thoroughly disappointed in the city of Houston for allowing the Equal Rights Ordinance (or HERO as it was locally called) to be voted down all because Republican propagandists labeled it a "bathroom ordinance." The voters allowed these culprits of hatred, bigotry and ignorance to play into the non-existent fears that people never really had that were orchestrated by these misguided fools. Instead of reading the ordinance for themselves and educating their minds so they have a clear view that this was meant as a means of protection against discrimination of the LGBT community in all public areas, which would have led to this sort of vote down being avoided, they allowed too many to influence them of a fear of something that was never true to begin with.
With an upholding of the HERO ordinance, Houston could have remained a safe haven in the Lone Star State for the LGBT community to be able to flourish and be accepted with the human dignity and respect already afforded to the straight people that abuse the privilege on a daily basis. What happened instead? Well, enter former Astros slugger, Lance Berkman, playing into the propagandists hands and conveying their message over a radio ad that reads like so:
“Vote no on Proposition One. No men in women’s bathrooms. No boys in girls’ showers or locker rooms. I’m Lance Berkman. I played professional baseball for 15 years, but my family is more important. My wife and I have four daughters. Proposition One, the ‘bathroom ordinance,’ would allow troubled men to enter women’s public bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. This would violate their privacy and put them in harm’s way. That’s just wrong. We must prevent this potential danger by closing women’s restrooms to men rather than waiting for a crime to happen. Under Proposition One, if restaurants, businesses and sports facilities don’t allow a man into a woman’s restroom, they would be subject to penalties and fines. This proposed ordinance says that it will stop discrimination, but in reality, it discriminates against people who believe, like me, that members of the opposite sex should not be forced to share restrooms or locker rooms. Join me to stop the violation of women’s privacy and discrimination against women. Vote no on Proposition One – no men in women’s bathrooms, no boys in girls’ showers or locker rooms.”
Not a single solitary word of this is true, per the actual ordinance itself. I know none of you really want to read the whole 36 pages of it, but to sum, there is not a single mention of restrooms anywhere. The campaign to strike it down was nothing short of a smear and fear tactic to, once again, continue to demonize and alienate a group of people (LGBT, more specifically) that still too many people in this country don't take the time to get to know on any level. Immediately, the labels have to ensue. Nothing else. People can still get denied basic services, or even get fired for their jobs, simply for being outed or living up to who they really are. This is another form of bullying that, for some ungodly reason, is allowed to continue in this country. It is disheartening, hurtful, insulting, and like a hot stove, burns with no remorse.
Those that know me well enough know that I am a proud gay man that makes ABSOLUTELY NO APOLOGIES of who I am, and that I ended my gay rights blog 2 months ago. But this particular issue needed to be addressed here since a former Astro was a big linchpin in this. I've lost any respect I may have had for Lance Berkman. Like a lot of the voters in Houston, he failed to educate himself. And instead, he let his blind faith do the talking. Talking which, quite frankly, should not have existed in the first place. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, not everyone deserves to make it public, mixing the political arena with others including, most especially, sports.
I will still always support the Houston Astros team, since it wasn't their fault that this thing passed. And I can go on forever about this particular topic, but I will not continue to take up your time, readers. But like what folks want to happen to Evan Gattis as it relates to his future with the Houston Astros, so too does this HERO ordinance being struck seems to be what too many in America want to still happen to me and others like me in the LGBT community. One hot stove that I pray goes way soon enough.
In the meantime, let's revel in the fact that Evan got engaged to his long time girlfriend, and now fiance and smashing fellow writer I might add, Kim Waters! You can see a good capture of the proposal here!
#FirstCoupleofBaseball!!!!
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