I appreciate your filling me in on Jose’s background and no - I can’t imagine what it must be like for a baby like he is to carry the hopes and dreams of his family on this back (maybe the hopes and dreams of his whole town). I didn’t consider how big of a deal it is for him as a Latino because I don’t judge people on their race or ethnicity; therefore, I never considered treating Jose any differently than I would anyone else. If Phil had done what he did, I would have been very disappointed. However, knowing what I know now, I have to say that it sure appears that I jumped the gun on him without knowing the pressures that are burdening his young shoulders. I hope he’s going to be ok and I hope the Yankees understand what the kid is going through. Jose also needs to understand that slumps happen and he’s going to be ok, but then - I can understand why he’d be afraid that he might not be. When you’re mired in a terrible slump and you are not a veteran with a proven track record, it’s easy to think that this is all there is - that you just can’t hack it at the highest levels. Then, the fear comes, the fear of your dream dying.

If Jose is really a decent kid, I’ll be rooting hard for him.

first off Betsy I didn’t mean to offend your opinion, second Tabata didn’t show anyone on the field up (he went into the lockerroom when he smashed his bat), I know it doesn’t impress you about him actually being real and that wasn’t the problem. I took offense to the spoiled brat comment you made. That is something Jose sure as hell isn’t. When Kevin Brown punched the wall it was w/ his pitching hand (w/ a 20 MIL dollar fallback), it showed stupidity, Paul O’neill is loved for the temper tantrums he threw, Tabata actually had a whole different experience, in AA he was struggling at 19 yrs. old, if he doesn’t make it he doesn’t have anything to fall back on here in the U.S., this kid is from Venezuela it’s either make it here in baseball or become a never was, spoiled brat is a seperation w/ him, I take offense because I’m part latino I know what these guys go through I’ve seen the ABCD camps in the Dominican Republic I’ve seen 15 yr. olds pluck from thier family because a scout wants to rob talent for the cheapest price they can get. I think you’d see it different if you saw what they go through or from where they came from to get it going.

Tabata takes this game serious, he works out day to day but no one ever reports his good work ethics, you always have to ask a Patrick Teale in the know or a field director to know that he actually isn’t lazy. That’s the part that upsets me, he then shows he’s human, that baseball actually matters to him and then people want to label him w/o knowing the whole story. You know how much this kid signed for a 16 ? $500,000 chump change, because I bet most if not all of that money went towards his family, getting his mom a house, buying a little bit of land the rest, daily expenses. That’s why it gets to me when we call players likr him spoiled.

Kevin Brown punched a wall in frustration once - is that supposed to impress me? He went on to miss months of playing time - yeah, that really helped the team. Phil is only 21 - when he’s struggled, did you ever see him throw his glove down on the ground and storm out of the clubhouse? How about Ian? Sorry - I’m not buying what you’re selling. I’m also not going to get into a pissing match with you. Wake me up when Jose shows that he wants to be a professional.

at this rate, I can’t see any major teams picking up the past-declined Giambi.