January 27, 2006
Going Dutch
Three True Outcomes wonders why Danny Haren is on the roster of the Netherlands.
I'd qualify for the Italian roster, since my dad was born in Italy. I also might qualify for the Dutch roster, since my grandpa Boerum's family settled in New Amsterdam in 1649 (the original van Boerums are buried in Brooklyn in a church on Boerum Place). Haren, however, appears to have no Dutch ancestry at all.
Posted by David Pinto at
12:53 PM
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If they ever plan on making the WBC a serious event, they need to get garbage like this taken care of.
Play for the country you were born in, or have citizenship in, a la the Olympics. End of story.
It would take more than elimination of this to give the WBC credibility, but yes, it would be a start.
You can probably make Dan Haren Dutch by some 6 degrees of separation thing.
Something like -
Dan Haren debuted in 2003 on the St. Louis Cardinals and played with Scott Rolen, whose first full season was in 1997 with the Phillies, which was also Darren Daulton's last year with the team (and last year in baseball). Darren's nickname? Dutch.
I think the intent is to make the WBC more than just a North & South American plus Japan tournament. thus the looser rules so Italy & the Netherlands can join in. If the WBC succeeds, and baseball expands to the point that quality players from european contries (and elsewhere) are the norm, then tighten up the restrictions. Either that or put me on the Dutch team (grandma came from there), even though I can't hit, field, or throw. I can run a bit.
rbj: I have no problem with Piazza and his Italian eligibility, but it's ridiculous when someone with NO TIES to the Netherlands pops up on that team's roster. It makes absolutely no sense.
I have to toot my own horn on this one... on the latest episode of the baseballgeeks podcast, my comment on Dan Haren was this:
Dan Haren was born in Monterey Park, CA. Based on my experience with Monterey Park, I think there is a mischaracterization here. If there is any place Dan should be playing, it should be for Korea or China.
[place your favorite comedic rim shot here]
I don't mind seeing as many major leaguers as possible in this exhibition...oops I mean tournament. I have no problem with Haren, Piazza, and others who would not make the US team playing for another country regardless of connection. Who else would pitch for the Dutch team? Its not fair but not really a big deal for a Spring Training exhi...tournament.
I agree Benjamin. I was more addressing Mike A's position of citizenship/being born in.
Yeah, I don't really have a problem with the current eligibility rules as long as they don't go back too many generations. I mean, large swaths of the U.S. population can claim some sort of Irish or English heritage, yet we don't see them filling up a roster for Ireland or the UK.
Hey, I live in Monterey Park. Definitely Chinese. For Korean, you'd want to go to Koreatown or Rowland Heights.
The Danny Haren thing just seems to be a straight-up error. I don't think it necessarily reflects poorly on the rules, just the research of whoever thought Haren was Dutch.