If you haven't read my story in today's Bulletin about the English classes provided by the Detroit Tigers to their minor leaguers, in particular, those in Connecticut, here's the link:
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/x905703554/Single-A-Baseball-English-lessons-help-Tigers-perform-on-and-off-field
Also, what didn't make it into the story is this bit of info from Major League Baseball, which e-mailed me this morning. The Tigers aren't alone in helping their players:
* The Boston Red Sox have a full-time employee who travels to all of their affiliates responsible for teaching English language and United States life skills.
* The Cleveland Indians conduct a formal education program in the Dominican Republic before players come to the United States, where players are taught English language and cultural skills. In the United States, the Club has implemented a cultural development program and employs a full-time bilingual cultural assimilation coordinator. In addition, the Club’s farm directors and roving coordinators speak Spanish and the Club also teaches English in spring training, instructional league and in-season.
* The Philadelphia Phillies have an assimilation program in Clearwater, Florida, which is run by a full-time employee. The Club teaches English via Rosetta Stone and also hires tutors for players.
Greg asked me about the White Sox and what they do for players considering recent comments made by Ozzie Guillen.
ReplyDeleteWhat I was told is every MLB team has to make English classes/private tutor available to any player who asks for it. In other words, it isn't mandatory nor are players necessarily trying to learn.
I'll give you an example closer to home. Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers was asked if he wanted a tutor and he more or less, as it was told to me, laughed off the suggestion.