RBI: U.S. Soccer Update, Big Papi Sucks

Today’s RBI features the two sports most closely associated with Latinos: beisbol and futbol. Not intentional, just the way things worked out…although we did kind of need a break from basketball (that being said, look for a Carmelo Anthony blog tomorrow). With b-ball on a one-day hold, I scoured the Internet and – after hitting up SiTV.COM for the best in Latino, fashion, music and celebrity (shameless plug!!!) – found two interesting stories (which just happened to be about soccer and baseball respectively). The first one deals with some less than ideal conditions for the U.S. World Cup team, while the second involves the value (or lack of value) of one of Major League Baseball’s most high-profile Latino stars. Let’s get it on!

Americans Hate Costa Rican Grass (the Artificial Kind at Least)
As the 2010 World Cup approaches (an event that’s almost as amazing as reading the headline “Salma Hayek Dumps Hubby, Looking to Date Latino Sports Blogger), the U.S. Soccer team continues to travel South America and the Caribbean for Cup qualifying games against fellow CONCACAF teams. The United States’ next stop takes them to Costa Rica and the boys from the Estados Unidos ain’t happy. Why? Because San Jose’s Estadio Richardo Saprissa Ayma uses artificial surface and the U.S. team prefers natural turf.

“I think for the most part, the players will tell you that the game is not the same on artificial turf,” said Head Coach Bob Bradley.

Far enough, you like to go Naturelle Riviera (remember Rosario Dawson’s character in The 25th Hour – good flick) over the plastic stuff. Normally, I say FIFA goes across the board and makes all playing surfaces the same. Either grass or plastic, like how the MLB only uses wooden bats. A move to unify the make-up of the pitch eliminates “We Don’t Like Playing Here” issues. I said “normally,” but in the case of stadiums/arenas, I love the intricacies and quirks that create real home field advantage. Veterans Stadium rocked (ask any true Eagles fan and they miss the place) because opposing teams hated playing on the outdated and borderline dangerous turf. Having a place the opposition despises, and has trouble finding success at, makes for a genuine home field.  

By the way, Team USA’s record in Costa Rica: 0-6.

Big Papi, Little Value
Oh how the price for David Ortiz has fallen. According to the number crunching, stat-egghead website FanGraphs (they break down everything from win probability to plate discipline), Big Papi’s current free agent value is…-$5.2 million. Yes that’s a negative sign, as in you’re losing a boatload of money (floating on a sea of Ortiz-endorsed Vitamin Water, of course) if you sign the former World Series hero. Just to give you an idea, D.O. ranks last among designated hitters and sits in the bottom three for all active players in the Major Leagues (that includes pitchers).

What can you say? Two years ago, people considered David Ortiz to be the best clutch hitter in baseball. Now, if he drops any further in the Red Sox lineup, he’ll be serving Fenway Franks to people in the Monster Seats.  

Sports can be brutal…