Yeah, I'm American. Born and bred in Boston.
You hear me speak, you hear the "pahk tha cah in Hahvahd
Yahd" accent. I live and die with the Sox, Pats, Celts
and Bruins. I still love my "chowdah" (don't even THINK
of putting tomato juice in mine…you CAN get killed back
home for that; that is a typical NY insult to us). You'll
find me at The Trop when the Sox are in town; I'll be
in Section 141 in LF. You may also spot me at the St.
Pete Times Forum when the Bruins are in town. Yeah, I
openly flaunt my Boston upbringing. The Pats tattoo on
my arm. I always wear a Boston team cap in public.
Like most Americans, I have roots elsewhere.
My grandparents on my mother's side were from pre 1917
Russia and the Ukraine. My father was from Holland. My
Dutch side is pretty strong…I have dual-citizenship; although
I've never been there. When the World Cup of Soccer comes
around, I'll be decked out in orange (assuming Holland
qualifies, 9 times out of 10 they do and they have qualified
for Germany 2006).
But there's one other thing us Dutch are
pretty good at. Baseball. Yeah, we know about stars of
Dutch ancestry like Jim Kaat and Ernie Vandermeer. And
of course, Rikaalbert "Bert" Blyleven, the best Dutch
born player to play in the bigs. I'm still angry that
he has yet to be elected to Cooperstown. Win Remmerswaal
… a native Dutchman who played for my Red Sox in 1979-80.
Over the years, Dutch baseball has evolved
onto a world power; certainly the best in Europe. And
having players from the Antilles (Aruba and Curacao) hasn't
hurt…think of having players from Puerto Rico playing
for a US team…Ivan Rodriguez and Javier Vazquez for example.
When they announced the 60 man provisional
rosters for the WBC, I quickly scanned the Dutch roster.
As expected, Andruw Jones from the Braves was there, as
was Sidney Ponson. Wlademir Balentien of the Mariners.
Other familiar names (ok, familiar to Yours Truly) like
Chairon Isenia of the Rays organization, Rob Cordemans,
Evert Jan t'Hoen, Dirk Van t'Klooster, Mark and Michael
Duursma, Sidney De Jong, former Dunedin Blue Jay Sharnol
Adriana, ex-Daytona Cub Ferenc Jongjan, former major leaguers
Cal Maduro, Randall Simon, Ivanon Coffie and Eugene Kingsale.
A 19 year old kid named Alexander Smit, whom the Twins
are very high on. All guys who have played for Holland
in past international competitions.
But some other names that leaped out at
me and I started to swell with pride. Mark Mulder of the
Cardinals. Danny Haren of the A's (who incidentally was
traded for Mulder). Haren's A's teammate Kirk Saarloos.
Shea Hillenbrand, who used to play 3rd for the Red Sox.
David Aardsma of the Cubs. Andy Van Hekken of the Marlins,
who had a cup of coffee with the Tigers.
All are Americans. But they were selected
to play for their ancestral homeland…The Netherlands.
MY ancestral homeland. They will be playing for
a flag that is red, white and blue, it's true. But they
will be wearing the orange instead of the red white and
blue on their uniforms. So will top prospects Justin Huisman
of the Royals, Adam Boeve of the Pirates, Jonathan Rouwenhorst
of the Angels and Joe Woerman of the Mariners. And had
things been very different 25 years or so ago (and assuming
they had the WBC back then), there might have been a C-1B-OFer
from Massachusetts jumping at the chance to play (yeah,
I'm entitled to dream, aren't I?). And yeah, I'm not ashamed
to admit. A tear or two of joy did well up in my eyes
when I saw the names. More like tears of pride.
It's kind of funny. Had he chosen to, Mulder
would have been a lock to make the USA 60 man provisional
roster. Who would turn down a Cy Young winner? Saarloos
has played in Holland before; as a member of the USA squad
that won gold at The Haarlem Baseball Week tournament.
This time, Saarloos will be on the "other side" and I
don't mind one bit.
As a kid, I remember getting Blyleven's
autograph; my dad with me, talking in Dutch to the man.
Even then feeling proud that a fellow Dutchman was playing
baseball. My dad passed away the year before Remmerswaal
made it to the Sox, but we saw him play for the PawSox.
Seeing current Dutch manager Robert Eenhoorn playing for
the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees in '92…being torn between booing
anybody connected with the Yankees but not bringing myself
to razzing a fellow Dutchman. I played it safe and just
kept quiet. I remember telling Eenhoorn about that later
that season and he got a laugh about it.
The Dutch will be training at the Braves
complex at Disney's Wide World Of Sports complex with
a exhibition game against the Braves on March 6. I plan
to be there either as a fan or as a member of the press.
If I'm in the stands, you can bet I'll be decked out in
orange cheering like crazy. If I'm in the press box, I'll
adhere to the unwritten rule of "no cheering in the press
box." But you can bet a smile or two will be on my lips
during the game….
