Venezuelan Academy Questions

[LonghornCDR]

Things have been dicey with Chavez for a while, but recent events really highlight how loony this guy is.  The whole situation brings some questions to my mind:

- Has anyone heard about concern within the Astro organization about maintaining the Academy down there?  

- Do the Astros have similar setups or ties to other countries in Latin America?  

- Is there a contingency plan if Chavez decides he hates the U.S. enough to shut down the MLB academies?

- With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

[Taras Bulba]

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Things have been dicey with Chavez for a while, but recent events really highlight how loony this guy is.  The whole situation brings some questions to my mind:

- Has anyone heard about concern within the Astro organization about maintaining the Academy down there?  

- Do the Astros have similar setups or ties to other countries in Latin America?  

- Is there a contingency plan if Chavez decides he hates the U.S. enough to shut down the MLB academies?

- With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

We're okay.  Drayton and Noam Chomsky are drinking buddies.

[Bench]

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Things have been dicey with Chavez for a while, but recent events really highlight how loony this guy is.  The whole situation brings some questions to my mind:

- Has anyone heard about concern within the Astro organization about maintaining the Academy down there?  

- Do the Astros have similar setups or ties to other countries in Latin America?  

- Is there a contingency plan if Chavez decides he hates the U.S. enough to shut down the MLB academies?

- With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

We're okay.  Drayton and Noam Chomsky are drinking buddies.

In fact, Drayton was a pall bearer at Chomsky's funeral.

[pravata]

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Things have been dicey with Chavez for a while, but recent events really highlight how loony this guy is.  The whole situation brings some questions to my mind:

- Has anyone heard about concern within the Astro organization about maintaining the Academy down there?  

- Do the Astros have similar setups or ties to other countries in Latin America?  

- Is there a contingency plan if Chavez decides he hates the U.S. enough to shut down the MLB academies?

- With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

Tampa Bay is opening an academy in Venezuela, The Link It's unlikely that the Astros, or the Dodgers, are going to have any problems.  There are way too many Venezuelans in MLB.  Also, Mclane's shipping company is the major distributor for 7-Eleven, so the sign may come down.  But, even if it doesn't, is anyone so clueless as to be confused about where Mclane's loyalty lies?

[Greg D]

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With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

So let me get this straight, if you do business in a country then you're supporting the government of that country?

Damn, I didn't know Bush had so many supporters around the world.

[Bench]

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With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

So let me get this straight, if you do business in a country then you're supporting the government of that country?

Damn, I didn't know Bush had so many supporters around the world.

You're either with us or against us.

[Greg D]

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Do the Astros have similar setups or ties to other countries in Latin America?

They have a Dominican Academy as well. Shit, I guess someone better run and find out just how left wing the DR government is to find out whether it's okay for the Astros to be looking for talent in that country.

Un-fucking-believable.

[LonghornCDR]

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With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

So let me get this straight, if you do business in a country then you're supporting the government of that country?

Damn, I didn't know Bush had so many supporters around the world.

 CITGO isn't just a business that "does business in a country."  It is a fully owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.  Doing business with CITGO puts money directly into Chavez' pocket.

So in this case, doing business with this company, in this country, directly supports that government.

You'd do well to dig into  info on Chavez  beyond his anti-Bush remarks.  Not really a guy you want to toss your support towards, even if you did enjoy what he said about Bush.

Honestly, I only raised the question to see if anyone had heard rumblings about how the Astro organization will handle the Venezuela issue, not to squawk political.

[Bench]

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With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

So let me get this straight, if you do business in a country then you're supporting the government of that country?

Damn, I didn't know Bush had so many supporters around the world.

 CITGO isn't just a business that "does business in a country."  It is a fully owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.  Doing business with CITGO puts money directly into Chavez' pocket.

So in this case, doing business with this company, in this country, directly supports that government.

You'd do well to dig into  info on Chavez  beyond his anti-Bush remarks.  Not really a guy you want to toss your support towards, even if you did enjoy what he said about Bush.

Honestly, I only raised the question to see if anyone had heard rumblings about how the Astro organization will handle the Venezuela issue, not to squawk political.

I just don't think there is, as far as the Astros are concerned, a "Venezuala issue" at all. Nor is one likely to arise.

[LonghornCDR]

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Do the Astros have similar setups or ties to other countries in Latin America?

They have a Dominican Academy as well. Shit, I guess someone better run and find out just how left wing the DR government is to find out whether it's okay for the Astros to be looking for talent in that country.

Un-fucking-believable.

Look dude... I asked that to see if the Astros would have another way to tap into the vast talent pool of Latin America, not to implement Baseball McCarthyism.  I don't want the Astros to shut down the Venezuelan Academy.  I was asking what they would do if it was shut down for them.

Chill.

[LonghornCDR]

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I just don't think there is, as far as the Astros are concerned, a "Venezuala issue" at all. Nor is one likely to arise.

Fair enough.  If the political blustering doesn't affect the Astros' operations down there, that's great news.  I hope that is actually the case, and that it stays that way.

This is just some stuff that crossed my mind seeing the news over the past couple of weeks, hearing the political back and forth, and seeing the big CITGO sign at MMPUS.

[Greg D]

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With the Venezuelan academy and the giant CITGO sign at MMPUS, do the Astros risk looking like Chavez sympathizers?

So let me get this straight, if you do business in a country then you're supporting the government of that country?

Damn, I didn't know Bush had so many supporters around the world.

 CITGO isn't just a business that "does business in a country."  It is a fully owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.  Doing business with CITGO puts money directly into Chavez' pocket.

So in this case, doing business with this company, in this country, directly supports that government.

You'd do well to dig into  info on Chavez  beyond his anti-Bush remarks.  Not really a guy you want to toss your support towards, even if you did enjoy what he said about Bush.

Honestly, I only raised the question to see if anyone had heard rumblings about how the Astro organization will handle the Venezuela issue, not to squawk political.

Bullshit! Just be fuckin' man enough to admit you do have a political agenda.

The remark about doing business in a country was directed towards the Astros' Venezuelan Academy. Since you claim that's the thrust of your post, I ask again: does the Astros operating the Academy support the Chavez regime?

Having worked in the oil industry for many, many years, I'm well aware of what the fuck Pedevesa (look it up) is and how much of a moron Chavez is. But state-owned oil companies exist in most countries in which there are significant oil reserves. And a number of those countries have chilly (at best) relations with the U.S. government.

And whether an oil-company is state-owned or not is all really beside the point. Oil companies (foreign and local) fork over a shit-load of money to the government coffers in terms of royalties (since natural resources in most countries are owned by the state, that's who gets the royalties), taxes and other levies. Simply by operating there you're "supporting" the local regime.

If the United States were to forbid companies from going overseas if they oppose a certain government or governments, all you ending up doing is fucking the companies and the shareholders involved.

Jeezus, just stop lecturing people as if you're the only one who knows what's going on.

[MusicMan]

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If the United States were to forbid companies from going overseas if they oppose a certain government or governments, all you ending up doing is fucking the companies and the shareholders involved.

Nonsense.  These are exactly the types of measures guaranteed to bring about regime change.

Sincerely,
50 years of Castro in Cuba

[LonghornCDR]

I have no political agenda in this instance other than asking how current politics might affect my favorite baseball team.  

Obviously you know that 7-11 dropped CITGO as a supplier, and you probably know about the Boston city councilor that is pushing to get the giant CITGO sign (visible from Fenway) removed.  I doubt a similar situation will arise in Houston due to CITGO's close ties in the city, but it's not out of the question.  

My point is that its not a stretch to imagine that Pat Robertson (or some other legitimate politician) could start calling for the CITGO signs at MLB ballparks to be removed and for MLB to sever ties with CITGO and Venezuela.  

How would that affect the Astros?  That's my question.

[pravata]

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I have no political agenda in this instance other than asking how current politics might affect my favorite baseball team.  

Obviously you know that 7-11 dropped CITGO as a supplier, and you probably know about the Boston city councilor that is pushing to get the giant CITGO sign (visible from Fenway) removed.  I doubt a similar situation will arise in Houston due to CITGO's close ties in the city, but it's not out of the question.  

My point is that its not a stretch to imagine that Pat Robertson (or some other legitimate politician) could start calling for the CITGO signs at MLB ballparks to be removed and for MLB to sever ties with CITGO and Venezuela.  

How would that affect the Astros?  That's my question.

Zero.  Tampa Bay just started setting up their own academy in Venezuela last month. Why would the Astros or Dodgers have a problem?  If you knew your politics you'd know that Venezuela has no intention of cutting off the supply of Venezuelans for MLB.  Whether the CITGO sign comes down is another issue and irrelevant. Pam Gardner is going to find another gewgaw to stick up there.

[Lefty]

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Pam Gardner is going to find another gewgaw to stick up there.

Aramco

[Craig]

Maybe we could trade the CITGO sign to Baltimore for a Boog Powell barbecue stand.

We might have to throw in Morgan Ensberg though. In fact, I insist on it.

[homer]

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Maybe we could trade the CITGO sign to Baltimore for a Boog Powell barbecue stand.

We might have to throw in Morgan Ensberg though. In fact, I insist on it.

That is a deal even Mr. Haney would be proud of.

[pravata]

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Maybe we could trade the CITGO sign to Baltimore for a Boog Powell barbecue stand.

We might have to throw in Morgan Ensberg though. In fact, I insist on it.

That is a deal even Mr. Haney would be proud of.

Good bye city life!

[Gizzmonic]

Wait, did you just call Pat Robertson a "legitimate politician"?  Maybe Chavez is in the way of his gold mines...

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I have no political agenda in this instance other than asking how current politics might affect my favorite baseball team.  

Obviously you know that 7-11 dropped CITGO as a supplier, and you probably know about the Boston city councilor that is pushing to get the giant CITGO sign (visible from Fenway) removed.  I doubt a similar situation will arise in Houston due to CITGO's close ties in the city, but it's not out of the question.  

My point is that its not a stretch to imagine that Pat Robertson (or some other legitimate politician) could start calling for the CITGO signs at MLB ballparks to be removed and for MLB to sever ties with CITGO and Venezuela.  

How would that affect the Astros?  That's my question.

[otterj]

 Regardless of Robertson as a politician, the man is STRONG. All-time olympic athlete type stong.

[LonghornCDR]

No.  I should have italicized or otherwise emphasized the word legitimate.

[Limey]

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CITGO isn't just a business that "does business in a country."  It is a fully owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.  Doing business with CITGO puts money directly into Chavez' pocket.

So in this case, doing business with this company, in this country, directly supports that government.

You'd do well to dig into  info on Chavez  beyond his anti-Bush remarks.  Not really a guy you want to toss your support towards, even if you did enjoy what he said about Bush.

Honestly, I only raised the question to see if anyone had heard rumblings about how the Astro organization will handle the Venezuela issue, not to squawk political.

My company used to handle the insurances for PDVSA.  We got fired last year because we're an American company and Chavez won't do bidness with Americans.  Not sure where this leaves the likes of the Astros' academy.

[VirtualBob]

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Regardless of Robertson as a politician, the man is STRONG. All-time olympic athlete type stong.

Plus, he once won 15 games!

[Limey]

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Regardless of Robertson as a politician, the man is STRONG. All-time olympic athlete type stong.

Plus, he once won 15 games!

We need a PPV "crazy-off" between Chavez and Robertson.  Chavez might lead off with his "sulphur smell" smack, and Robertson can counter with his prayers for the death of at least one more Supreme Court Justice.  where it goes from there would be a magical mystery tour through insanity.

[Jacksonian]

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CITGO isn't just a business that "does business in a country."  It is a fully owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.  Doing business with CITGO puts money directly into Chavez' pocket.

So in this case, doing business with this company, in this country, directly supports that government.

You'd do well to dig into  info on Chavez  beyond his anti-Bush remarks.  Not really a guy you want to toss your support towards, even if you did enjoy what he said about Bush.

Honestly, I only raised the question to see if anyone had heard rumblings about how the Astro organization will handle the Venezuela issue, not to squawk political.

My company used to handle the insurances for PDVSA.  We got fired last year because we're an American company and Chavez won't do bidness with Americans.  Not sure where this leaves the likes of the Astros' academy.

Baseball is life down there.  I'm sure they see the academies in a very different way.  No way is he going to dilute or in some way compromise the talent in the Venezuelan Summer and Winter Leagues.

[Arky Vaughan]

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My company used to handle the insurances for PDVSA.  We got fired last year because we're an American company and Chavez won't do bidness with Americans.  Not sure where this leaves the likes of the Astros' academy.

Correction. Chavez isn't keen on American companies profiting from the exploration, development and production of Venezuela's oil and gas resources, but he is perfectly willing to do business selling oil and gas to Americans.

The academies of some American professional baseball clubs don't have near the economic or political impact that the oil and gas industry does in Venezuela.

[UpTooLate]

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Regardless of Robertson as a politician, the man is STRONG. All-time olympic athlete type stong.

Plus, he once won 15 games!

We need a PPV "crazy-off" between Chavez and Robertson.  Chavez might lead off with his "sulphur smell" smack, and Robertson can counter with his prayers for the death of at least one more Supreme Court Justice.  where it goes from there would be a magical mystery tour through insanity.

The smack off has already started.  Link. Personally, I think they should get Anna Nichole Smith to walk thru the ring in a bikini between rounds holding up the sign showing what round it is.  That would be the perfect "crazy-off".

[pravata]

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CITGO isn't just a business that "does business in a country."  It is a fully owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company.  Doing business with CITGO puts money directly into Chavez' pocket.

So in this case, doing business with this company, in this country, directly supports that government.

You'd do well to dig into  info on Chavez  beyond his anti-Bush remarks.  Not really a guy you want to toss your support towards, even if you did enjoy what he said about Bush.

Honestly, I only raised the question to see if anyone had heard rumblings about how the Astro organization will handle the Venezuela issue, not to squawk political.

My company used to handle the insurances for PDVSA.  We got fired last year because we're an American company and Chavez won't do bidness with Americans.  Not sure where this leaves the likes of the Astros' academy.

Tampa Bay is building a new academy in Venezuela.  They announced it a couple months ago.  Venezuela is not only keeping the existing acadamies, they're want more.  Chavez used to play baseball.  He loves baseball.  Venezuela closing the academies, (run by MLB not USA and do much more than provide baseball instruction) would be like the US closing cheerleading academies for prep schools.

[Limey]

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Correction. Chavez isn't keen on American companies profiting from the exploration, development and production of Venezuela's oil and gas resources, but he is perfectly willing to do business selling oil and gas to Americans.

The academies of some American professional baseball clubs don't have near the economic or political impact that the oil and gas industry does in Venezuela.

My company had handled PDVSA's insurances for over a decade, and we were summarily dismissed last year because we're American.  That was the specific reason given and no other explanation was offered or sought.  The contract was awarded to a local Venezuelan insurer.

This is not a topic for debate.

[Limey]

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The smack off has already started.  Link. Personally, I think they should get Anna Nichole Smith to walk thru the ring in a bikini between rounds holding up the sign showing what round it is.  That would be the perfect "crazy-off".

You know how I know he's crazy?

"I know this is painful for the ladies to hear, but if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband. Christ is the head of the household and the husband is the head of the wife, and that's the way it is, period."

He said "head" and "wife" in the same sentence.

[Arky Vaughan]

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Correction. Chavez isn't keen on American companies profiting from the exploration, development and production of Venezuela's oil and gas resources, but he is perfectly willing to do business selling oil and gas to Americans.

The academies of some American professional baseball clubs don't have near the economic or political impact that the oil and gas industry does in Venezuela.

My company had handled PDVSA's insurances for over a decade, and we were summarily dismissed last year because we're American.  That was the specific reason given and no other explanation was offered or sought.  The contract was awarded to a local Venezuelan insurer.

This is not a topic for debate.

Right. As I said, "Chavez isn't keen on American companies profiting from the exploration, development and production of Venezuela's oil and gas resources."

Selling insurance to the state oil company profits off Venezuela's oil and gas industry, so your company was replaced, presumably with another insurer without ties to the United States.

The correction was the part about Chavez still being more than happy to sell oil and gas to the United States. Do you dispute that this remains the case?

[Limey]

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Right. As I said, "Chavez isn't keen on American companies profiting from the exploration, development and production of Venezuela's oil and gas resources."

Selling insurance to the state oil company profits off Venezuela's oil and gas industry, so your company was replaced, presumably with another insurer without ties to the United States.

The correction was the part about Chavez still being more than happy to sell oil and gas to the United States. Do you dispute that this remains the case?

Sorry, I thought you were disputing the fact that we got fired because we're American.  Yes, he still does bidness in the US (and sells discounted heating fuel in the winter just to yank Bush's chain), but my anecdote was intended to show that anyone involved with the VZ Gov't remains so at Chavez' whim.

[Arky Vaughan]

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Sorry, I thought you were disputing the fact that we got fired because we're American.  Yes, he still does bidness in the US (and sells discounted heating fuel in the winter just to yank Bush's chain), but my anecdote was intended to show that anyone involved with the VZ Gov't remains so at Chavez' whim.

Absolutely agree. Hey, I wouldn't argue with you unless I actually disagreed with you!

[S.P. Rodriguez]

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The smack off has already started.  Link. Personally, I think they should get Anna Nichole Smith to walk thru the ring in a bikini between rounds holding up the sign showing what round it is.  That would be the perfect "crazy-off".

You know how I know he's crazy?

"I know this is painful for the ladies to hear, but if you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband. Christ is the head of the household and the husband is the head of the wife, and that's the way it is, period."

He said "head" and "wife" in the same sentence.

I'm not proud of this but one of my church deacons actually said the very same thing to my wife and I, as part of a required baptismal education class (I baptized my newborn recently).  I'll refrain from adding my commentary on that viewpoint only to add that's not how I interpreted it nor was it the way it was communicated to me during my catholic education etc...  I'll also add that my church recently welcomed a new Pastor who regularly offers a sermon how some members of the community insist on communicating their view of catholicism and exert their influence over the "opinions" of the parish.  

My point being, don't mock the crazies.  There's a darn good chance one of their kind live next door or sit next to you at sunday service!  Last thing anyone should do is agitate the loonies.

[pravata]

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Right. As I said, "Chavez isn't keen on American companies profiting from the exploration, development and production of Venezuela's oil and gas resources."

Selling insurance to the state oil company profits off Venezuela's oil and gas industry, so your company was replaced, presumably with another insurer without ties to the United States.

The correction was the part about Chavez still being more than happy to sell oil and gas to the United States. Do you dispute that this remains the case?

Sorry, I thought you were disputing the fact that we got fired because we're American.  Yes, he still does bidness in the US (and sells discounted heating fuel in the winter just to yank Bush's chain), but my anecdote was intended to show that anyone involved with the VZ Gov't remains so at Chavez' whim.

More chain yanking,
(3/10/06) Chavez said yesterday that the election is "a battle for the revolution and against conspiracies and outside interference" in Venezuela. Chavez said that the election is "a fight against the imperialists and the manipulation of polls to destabilize the country."

He also explained how he became a revolutionary. He asked to play baseball in the military but they turned him down. He argued his case with a superior officer. So he disobeyed the order, got caught, and was given 48 hours of detention time. He singled out that moment as his point of rebellion.

He also said he would carry Miguel Cabrera's baseball bat with him for the rest of the campaign, comparing it to Bolivar's sword, Zamora's horse and Maisanta's machete. The Link

"Bolivar's sword,"...K.