JACL asks Major League Baseball to address alleged anti-Asian sentiments

ASAM NEWS

The Japanese American Citizens League is demanding that Major League Baseball address anti-Asian sentiment and weed out bias and discrimination from the playing field to the executive offices, reports Rafu Shimpo.
The statement comes just days after an August 22 appearance by San Francisco Giants pitcher Derek Holland and team massage therapist Haro Ogawa on the MLB Network’s Intentional Talk.

Holland mocked an Asian accent during the interview while Ogawa silently stood by his side smiling, in what JACL called ” a pathetic reinvention of the worn-out trope of the stupid minority sidekick.”

JACL pointed out that Ogawa is an immigrant who “may have perceived this differently from an Asian American who has experienced discrimination on the basis of the caricatures portrayed in the skit.” The skit ended with the two bowing.

JACL has spoken with representative of Major League Baseball about its concerns and called on Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred to make good on his promise to address these issues. Manfred’s pledge came after last season’s World Series incident when Houston Astros Yuli Gurriel made a racist mocking gesture directed at Dod

The incident also comes less than a year after the Giants minor league team, the San Jose Giants, tweeted out a racist gif to promote a Japanese Night promotion.

Just this past week, on Bruce Lee night, the SF Giants used the chopstick font on the scoreboard to introduce each of its players. The font is considered offensive and even racist to many Asian Americans. It is used as a shortcut to represent Asianess.

“In initial conversations with Major League Baseball representatives over the weekend, we are hopeful that Major League Baseball will address this more proactively and as the broader problem that it represents in the organization,” JACL said in a statement.

“We look forward to working with the commissioner’s office to increase awareness of anti-Asian discrimination in Major League Baseball and work towards eliminating all forms of bias and discrimination in the offices, clubhouses, playing fields, and the stadiums of baseball.”
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Tim Lincecum training ... for a comeback?

TIM LINCECUM is planning a comeback. 

The last time we saw Lincecum he was attempting a comeback after a couple of disastrous seasons with the Giants.

This time around, he was in a Padre's uniform pitching against the Oakland A's.

Unfortunately, the comeback didn't work out. He couldn't reach 90 mph on his fastball. Halfway through the season, the Padres let him go. 

Since then, he has been MIA. The Giants didn't know where he was.

A Bay Area newspaper sent a reporter up to Seattle to see if he could be found. No such luck.

Occasionally, he'd be spotted in one of San Francisco's pizza joints. Rumors on the sports talk shows said that he was spotted in Hawaii where his Filipina/American mother's family still lives. Fans said he was taking part in the Women's March in San Francisco.

Well, maybe after his Hawaiian vacation ... A short drive from his Seattle digs, Lincecum turns up with Kyle Brody who tweeted the above photo and message. Brody owns Driveline Baseball, a training analysis that teaches pitchers how to throw harder.

When Lincecum's career appeared to end in the 2016 season, the velocity on his  fastball couldn't reach 87 mph. Just a few years ago, during his years as the best pitcher in baseball, the two-time Cy Young winner could throw up to 95 mph. 

Once that fastball was established, he could keep hitters off balance with his change-up and curveball.

Lincecum never officially retired. He just disappeared off the face of the earth.

He was 5'10" but in his prime, he was unhittable and fans loved him. “It was a little guy taking on the world,” recalled broadcaster Duane Kuiper. “Everybody likes that.”

In the photo he looks like he's buffed up and at age 33, training for comeback. Driveline says that in the near future he'll throw teams in a showcase.

The odds may be against his return, but I, for one, would love to see him come back. even if it's not as a Giant. It would be a heckuva story.
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South Korean is the newest SF Giants hero

SCREEN CAPTURE

Mark Kim, left, translates for Jae-gyun Hwang, center, as the South Korean ball players was interviewed after his American debut with the San Francisco Giants.

THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS season has not had a lot to cheer about in this disappointing season. For help to put some pop in its lackluster offense, they turned to South Korea.

This winter they signed third baseman Jae-gyun Hwang , a perennial all-star with the Lotte Giants in the South Korean professional baseball league.

Wednesday (June 28) he started at third base at AT&T Park becoming the first South Korean to play for the San Francisco franchise. For Hwang, it was a dream come true. His first hit in the big leagues was a no-doubt home run that proved to be the winning run over the Colorado Rockies.

“I’ve given up a lot back home, whether that’s money, being away from family, my career, everything, just to be here,” Hwang told the media through Korean interpreter Mark Kim. “The only reason I did that was because I wanted to realize my childhood dream of playing a game in the big leagues. This opportunity came almost unexpectedly and so suddenly. I’m really hoping to carry this excitement over to the field and capitalize on this opportunity.”

Following a strong Spring Training – where he batted .333 with five home runs to earn the Barney Nugent Award for the most impressive first-timer in camp – Hwang carried his success into Triple-A Sacramento where he hit seven homers and acquainted himself with the American strike zone, which is lower and sometimes wider than he he's used to in 10 years as a Korean professional.

After the game, Hwang's teammates gave him a beer shower, something he's never experienced. He's also added a spark to the team, something that's been missing this year. “They were so excited for him and happy for him,” said Giant's manager Bruce Bochy. “They all know what he’s been through. He’s given up baseball in Korea to play here and he reaches his dream and hits a homer. It’s a special moment. These are moments you love.”

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