Guest Anglesault Report post Posted June 23, 2004 I'm surprised no one has mentioned this yet. No matter how you feel about the Yankees or Jose himself, this is wonderful news. BALTIMORE -- In his time with the New York Yankees, Jose Contreras has been an enigma. Since defecting from Cuba in October 2002, Contreras has been a lonely man -- never seeing his wife and two children. On Tuesday, Contreras got the news he had long awaited. He could again see his family. Contreras, who received the news in a call from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, flew from Baltimore to Miami to be reunited with his family. Contreras married Miriam Murillo-Flores in 1988, and the couple has two daughters, Naylan, 11, and Naylenis, 3. The family was part of a group of about two dozen that fled Cuba a few days ago before they landed in the Florida Keys on Tuesday morning. Contreras was told of their arrival about 2 p.m. Contreras is not scheduled to pitch again until Saturday when the Yankees play the Mets, and manager Joe Torre was delighted that his puzzling right-hander, who signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the team shortly after his defection, will be whole again. "It's spectacular news," Torre said. "We all have so much support in this game, and a lot of it comes from people outside the park, and he really goes home to four walls." Torre said that Contreras, who speaks little English, is extremely withdrawn, and while he has refused to use missing his family as an excuse for his inconsistent performance, it could be a factor, the manager believes. "When things aren't going well, you sit there and think about it, and it becomes worse and worse, the more you think about it. The fact he's going to see his wife and children is a huge relief and a great deal more support than he's gotten," Torre said. In the month since Contreras has returned from the minor leagues, Torre has noticed improvement in his performance. "We're going in the right direction, but I think it's a slow process. He's going to have a big worry off his shoulders that's going to help us go forward," he said. Contreras is 4-3 with a 6.18 ERA in 11 starts this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 That is awesome news Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Indeed, great to see Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Oh ya, there's nothing better than more illegal immigrants flowing in to take jobs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Oh ya, there's nothing better than more illegal immigrants flowing in to take jobs. With the 8 million dollar man as daddy, they probably won't go out of their way to find jobs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Is Contreras going to be paying for the homes and living conditions of the other 21 or so people that accompanied his relatives? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Is Contreras going to be paying for the homes and living conditions of the other 21 or so people that accompanied his relatives? Don't be shocked (but by that same token, don't expect) if George tries to take care of them. There are light rumors swirling around that he might have had more of a hand in all of this than you might think, and he has this strange habit of going in humanitarian binges occasionally, like someone might go on a cleaning binge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Steinbrenner isn't going to be willing to take care of the living conditions of 21 random Cuban refugees. Even if he did they would probably get essentials, which would cause somebody in the household to go take a job so they could get better material goods. Funny thing about the Cuban refugee system. When they're fleeing and still in the area considered international waters the US Coast Guard is encouraged to detain them and send them back to Cuba or if nessecary shoot them in the water. Once they reach American waters though we have to welcome them with open arms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Funny thing about the Cuban refugee system. When they're fleeing and still in the area considered international waters the US Coast Guard is encouraged to detain them and send them back to Cuba or if nessecary shoot them in the water. Once they reach American waters though we have to welcome them with open arms. I believe that's part of some agreement we made. Steinbrenner isn't going to be willing to take care of the living conditions of 21 random Cuban refugees. Depends on his mood and the degree of involvement he had with the whole thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Oh ya, there's nothing better than more illegal immigrants flowing in to take jobs. So what is it like being ignorant? This is nothing but terrific news for Contreras. Regardless of how he pitches, what is important in his life has come back to him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nl5xsk1 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Sorry this is going to sound so callous but ... If seeing his family meant so much to him, he should have stayed in Cuba. It's pretty selfish to defect to the US but leave his wife and kids behind. Regardless of the oppression that I was living under, if escaping meant that I'd have to leave my loved ones behind to potentially suffer, then it wouldn't be worth it. I'm happy for Contreras, but really think that he should have thought this through before making his great escape. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Sorry this is going to sound so callous but ... If seeing his family meant so much to him, he should have stayed in Cuba. It's pretty selfish to defect to the US but leave his wife and kids behind. Regardless of the oppression that I was living under, if escaping meant that I'd have to leave my loved ones behind to potentially suffer, then it wouldn't be worth it. I'm happy for Contreras, but really think that he should have thought this through before making his great escape. I agree. Apparently he thought they'd be here within a reasonable amount of time, like El Duque. Still a stupid move. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Oh ya, there's nothing better than more illegal immigrants flowing in to take jobs. So what is it like being ignorant? Did you bother read the rest of what I had to say? 21 other illegal immigrants here to take jobs. Ya al, woohoo...this is great Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Did you bother read the rest of what I had to say? 21 other illegal immigrants here to take jobs. Ya al, woohoo...this is great Yes, 21 immigrants from Cuba is a real strain on our economy. I just heard one of them is taking away my retail job here in Pennsylvania. Grow up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 23, 2004 My not wanting illegal immigrants to come into the country and steal jobs from American born citizens is immature? Well then by all means send them to your city in Penn and see if it doesn't change your tune. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 Depends on his mood and the degree of involvement he had with the whole thing. George would do almost anything to keep his players happy, unless he really hates them. There is a good chance he might do more to help, and he already did things to get this done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 23, 2004 I'm insulted that you took an AngleSault post and quoted it with my user name Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brett Favre 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 I'm insulted that you took an AngleSault post and quoted it with my user name whoops, lol, i got the wrong quote, and just replaced it with hims. This never happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted June 23, 2004 My not wanting illegal immigrants to come into the country and steal jobs from American born citizens is immature? Well then by all means send them to your city in Penn and see if it doesn't change your tune. First off, the government accepts Cuban refugees who make our shores. Thus, they are not illegal immigrants. They are here legally. Someone more knowledgeable may quibble on the exact specifics, but there's a difference between Cuban refugees and say Mexicans crossing the Southern boarder. Second, the jobs immigrants tend to "steal" are low level, minimum wage jobs. The type of jobs we lose to immigrants tends to be jobs such as cleaning overnights at Wal-Mart. I'm not losing sleep over that. I must say, it takes quite a mindset to see a man's family fleeing a Communist nation to re-unite with him in the Land of Opportunity, and spin it as a negative. And yet you have. Good work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 24, 2004 First off, the government accepts Cuban refugees who make our shores. Thus, they are not illegal immigrants. They are here legally. Someone more knowledgeable may quibble on the exact specifics, but there's a difference between Cuban refugees and say Mexicans crossing the Southern boarder. and again Funny thing about the Cuban refugee system. When they're fleeing and still in the area considered international waters the US Coast Guard is encouraged to detain them and send them back to Cuba or if nessecary shoot them in the water. Once they reach American waters though we have to welcome them with open arms. Also, unless they come in through correct means and sign all the paperwork riding a raft or an empty oil drum over to enter is just the same as hopping the boarder in the long run to me. Second, the jobs immigrants tend to "steal" are low level, minimum wage jobs. The type of jobs we lose to immigrants tends to be jobs such as cleaning overnights at Wal-Mart. I'm not losing sleep over that. Maybe that's because you have a job, but some American born citizen that needs that job to make ends meet will lose it to somebody who can't even speak the National language and hasn't been here a month because they're cheaper to hire. Absolute bullshit in my eyes. I must say, it takes quite a mindset to see a man's family fleeing a Communist nation to re-unite with him in the Land of Opportunity, and spin it as a negative. And yet you have. Good work. That's because I live in reality and not in Magical Happy Land on Gum Drop Lane. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted June 24, 2004 Good for Contreras. I'm shocked someone is bitching about 21 cubans rather than the 57094 Mexicans who live in California illegally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 24, 2004 I'm not pleased with all the Mexicans illegally being up here either. Infact, any person here illegaly and being paid to work or getting government benefits somehow disgusts me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2004 By that measure, I could be disgusted with a lot of people here legally. What's the difference really? If you come and can make a contribution to our society, by all means welcome. We all emigrated here at some point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 24, 2004 Yes, but our ancestors did so by legal means. At least I know mine did. Fill out the paperwork and go through the proper channels. For Cubans...go to the Dominican Republic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2004 Well, legal if you don't mind overrunning the indians and forcing them onto reservations. But that's neither here or there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 24, 2004 I'm a quarter Native American. I still win Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted June 24, 2004 <-----1/128th Cherokee Indian Seriously, why are we discussing imigration about people that the US goverment welcomes legally? And YES, I read through the whole thread, I'm just still amazed it's starting such an argument. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DangerousDamon 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2004 my ancestors really worked hard and cotributed to our nation after they came to this country... well they really didin't have a say in the matter though Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted June 24, 2004 Seriously, why are we discussing imigration about people that the US goverment welcomes legally? Again they aren't really welcomed. If anything I'm upset at the US Coast Guard for not seeing whatever device they used to float over on, gather them up, put them on the closest Naval ship and then send them packing right back to Cuba. Call it heartless if you wish(keep in mind, my username isn't "HappyGoLuckySoul") but our economy is pretty hard pressed right now without having more people here. I'd rather the jobs that are open go to US Citizens rather than diplomatic refugees(there, I said illegal immigrant in a nice way for you). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2004 I'd rather the jobs that are open go to US Citizens rather than diplomatic refugees(there, I said illegal immigrant in a nice way for you). Again, what jobs are they taking? I don't see it. Most immigrants have minimum wage, manual labor jobs. Last I checked, I don't see anyone having a problem finding manual labor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
