On the Mets beat

When are we going to stop with God Bless America during the stretch?
It's a baseball game! What's next,reciting the Pledge between innings?
I'll profess my patriotism my way...let MLB just play baseball!

Why is this even an issue? If I went to anti-war rallies two years ago does that mean I need to go to every subsequent rally to be consistent? If he made his views known why should he be obliged to keep making a public statement, especially considering the manner reporters initially treated dissent. Or, as the situation has evolved why can't his views change as well as all of ours have? Stay out of political discourse, you're embarassing yourself.

Mixing politics and sport is poison. Carlos probably realizes this now. Leave him alone. Let him play baseball and collect his huge salary, that you and I are paying.

"What do you think about Carlos Delgado for abandoning his principles just because the Mets have asked him to?"

That's a pretty loaded comment there Mr. Rieber.

I personally respect Delgado's decision to withdraw from the recitation of God Bless America with the Blue Jays and would have just the same if he continued to do so with the Mets. I would not have liked it, but would have respected it.

I also don't understand how he is "abandoning his principles" by not doing so anymore. When he was traded to us, he said that Mr Wilpon and Omar had approached him about the issue, and as an adult being paid a lot of money to represent a baseball franchise, he made the decision to acquiesce to his new employers wishes.

I see that as respectful, not as abandonment. Maybe Carlos' views have changed a bit, or maybe he has just found different ways to express them.

But irregardless, it is pretty snarky and disingenious of media types like yourself and Mr. Matthews to suggest that Carlos has "abandoned his principles" when it is pretty safe to say that if he continued to practice his protest you would slam him for the opposite.

I have no problem with Delgado. His new employer asked him to stand during the few times they play "God Bless America" and he is obliging them to avoid controversy. You media guys seem to want keep this story going. But sentiments about the war in Iraq have come around to Delgado's point of view. Is there really a reason for him to speak out now? Just look at the President's poll ratings as evidence. The other thing you did not point out is that Delgado was also upset about the bombing range on Viequez which was a major controversy in Puerto Rico. All I see from Carlos Delgado is that he is a thoughtful classy guy. Let the guy play ball.

I did not like it when he was a Blue Jay. But then as now I consider it largely a personal matter. Memorial Day is not a proxy for any current military action. As such, his disappearance into the clubhouse would have affected my opinion of him as a person. In that case he has the right to disrespect the sacrifices made by Vets on our behalf. I have the right to judge him by that opinion. Regarding this: "It’s strange that someone who was willing to make a public statement two years ago is now silent when he’s playing in the media capital of the world, where his views could get wide play and perhaps fuel a debate about one of the most important issues of our time." That's hard to take seriously. Is there a lack of debate? Why would anyone care what the Mets' first baseman thought? Do you really think MLB needs a Dixie Chick moment? I don't see the upside to the cause, team or man.

Delgado's personal agenda doesn't belong on the ball field and disrespects those who have given their lives to defend the very freedom he enjoys. Delgado certainly doesn't mind "standing" in line to collect millions of American dollars to play baseball!

More than Delgado's refusal to stand when he was in Toronto, I was offended by the number of people at last night's game who did not take off their hats during the Star Spangled Banner, and who could not shut their yappers long enough to listen to some of the patriotic songs on Memorial Day.

It certainly did not bother me two years ago when Carlos chose not to stand for the playoing of "God Bless America" and it doesn't bother me now that he chooses to do the opposite. This country is based upon freedom of thought and expression, and as far as I am concerned any person should be free to pay their respects to America in anyway they choose as long as it is done in a unharmful manner.

As far as Carlos "abonding" his principals, I don't agree with that sentinment at all either. The Mets organization had asked Carlos to stand for the playing of "God Bless America" and he chose to respect the wishes of his employer. That is Carlos's decision and his alone to make.

I could go into a long monologue about why the Mets would choose to object to one man peacefully protesting the questionable acts a once respectable nation has chosen to perform for the past five years, but this isn't the proper forum for such a discussion.

This is such a non-issue to me I certainly would not mind to see it brought up anymore. Carlos is a professional baseball players who hits for a lot of power and follows the instructions of employer. I wish him continued success and have no doubt he will lead the Mets to the World Series!

I supported his decision not to stand for the song in protest of the war, and I don't think it's terrible that he hasn't continued his protest in 2006. After all, he's said all along that he won't break team policy and this is a Mets team policy.

Also, with about 70% of the country agreeing that the Iraq war isn't such a great idea, maybe the point has been made enough.

Carlos Delgado, out of respect for America, should have ALWAYS stood for "God Bless America." By retreating to the clubhouse, he was disrespecting the very country where he lives, works and shares the freedom that so many have lost their lives defending. Even though he has been a great player for the Mets over the first two months of 2006, the fact that he made such a public statement by not standing for "God Bless America" has curtailed my enthusiasm for rooting for him. Baseball players should not use the baseball field as their political forum. Carlos, please speak with your bat, otherwise, I do not want to hear from you.

My...

Slow day around the ol' blog desk, eh? This may only be an issue to you and your editor.

It's your basic non-story.

In negotiations during the winter, he and the Mets agreed to an approach they are both comfortable with and are living up to. Nothing else matters. Period. So, there's no story.

How about focusing on baseball?

Here's an assist...

There's the ongoing Trachsel struggles story; the Valentin resurgence story; the team's unbelievable balance story, seen in the trading off of each starter being totally cold and fully on-fire up and down the lineup all season; the possible early overuse of the bullpen story; the "just how is El Duque's 'three-runs-in-five-innings' story different from the Hernandez, Lima or Zambrano 'three-runs-in-five-innings'?" story; the close-up SNY coverage of Byrnes' obscenity-laced tirade after striking out last night story ... to pick just a few tidbits from this ongoing exciting, fun season.

If these storylines bore you, please simply take a day off and kick back, rather than bringing yellow journalism to the sports page.

Thanks!

It is about time that Delgado started showing some respect for the nation that has taken him in and allowed him to make such a vast fortune. The game is not about Carlos Delgado. It is about the fans, the vast majority of whom are patriotic Americans who love their country. Refusing to acknowledge and pay respects during the singing of the national anthem or other patriotic songs would be a slap in the face of every fan, especially here in New York, which paid such a heavy price at the hand's of our enemies on 9/11.

Timely decision from the Supreme court today: http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-473.ZO.html
Justice Kennedy wrote "When public employees make statements pursuant to their official duties, the employees are not speaking as citizens for First Amendment purposes... .and the Constitution does not insulate their communications from employer discipline."
Sounds like the Wilpons have a veto over any speech in the dugout or the clubhouse. Although I think the team and player found common ground before the trade was approved. Run the decision past Newsday's legal crew. Unlike Craig Miles, I am not a lawyer.

It's called doing what your employer says. Blue Jays didn't have a problem with it. Mets did. The boss always wins. I don't care what he does so long as he breaks out of his current slump. No one cares.

I thought this "God Bless America" garbage was put to bed at Delgado's initial press conference. He's abiding by team rules. Get over it and stop trying to stir the pot.

In the early 50's, a young pitching prospect turned down an offer from the powerful Yankees to stay in his own country and fight for freedom. When this young prospect was successful in his fight he then decided that the world needed to be seen through his eyes only. His followers are forced to live the way he has determined.
When did the people of America become so much like Fidel that we need everyone to see things the way we want them to.

It was an even exchange. The Mets sent Anna Benson packing and Carlos now stands for God Bless America. Seems like he got the better end of the deal.

But enough already. It's time for God Bess America to be put to rest. We start the game with the anthem. It's a game, an entertainment event, not a patriotic rally.

And to the airhead who thinks Carlos is disrespected the men in uniform when he didn't stand for a show tune, it's your commander in chief who's done that by putting our men and women in harm's way for a lie. Protesting this tragedy of a war is the most respect we can give those in uniform.

I really enjoy this blog and the comments it gets, however this is just a blatant attempt at stirring the pot for no reason. I'm more concerned with Delgado's average dipping in the .250s.

That said it's his right to stand or not stand. If Newsday was ponying up millions of dollars to you and asked you to stand for God Bless America you might do it to.

Right now I think things like Delgado's hitting and Pedro going all of May without a win (despite still pitching great) are more worth blogspace.

The other issue is mixing patriotism and religion is also poison. Would people have a issue if he did not stand because he did not believe in god? I mean majic.

"God Bless America" is not an anthem and there is no reason to stand while it is being performed. It is a song written for commercial reasons to earn a profit.
Kate Smith must have sung this song more than a thousand times and I do not recall anyone ever standing during her performance. I might add that no one has ever sung this song better than Kate

I'm so tired of sports writers trying to drum up stories where none exist. Give it up...saying he "abandoned his principles" is hideously unfair. You and your buddy Wallace Matthews should be ashamed of yourselves!

Maybe Delgado realizes he's just a Baseball player and wants to keep his personal opinions and politics to himself. We need to stop looking to sports stars and other celebrities for guidance in these matters. They are no different than you or I except that their skills are in higher demand. It doesn't make them smarter, better informed or more enlightened than the rest of us. Give the guy a break and let him guide us toward the pennant!

Oh, and as a response to an above post by "SH" regarding first amendment rights, Carlos Delgado is not a "Public Employee" as such. He is employed by a private company. Public employees are those that work for State, County, City, Village or other municipal entities. I know this because I work for a school district and we had an incident during those Illegal Immigration rallies where a co-worker took a ten- minute break to protest the rally and was written up for a number of things, among them the act of making political statements on company time. This would be a non-issue if he worked in the private sector, unless there was a clause in the employee agreement prohibiting such activity, which seems to be the case with the Mets and Carlos Delgado.

Sorry, the post I was referring to was written by abe shorey, not SH

I stand only for "The Star Spangled Banner" and for no other song, including "God Bless America." Why should ANYone be expected, let alone forced to stand for any song other than OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM? In factm let's get back to "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at the 7th inning stretch... if only to remind us we came and paid to see a sports game, not a political rally.

Here, here. NOBODY is required to stand for God Bless America. It is giving a simple hymn the same status as the National Anthem! Do we also have to stand for "Proud to be an American" when it plays??

I served four years on active duty as an infantry officer in the 25th Infantry Division during the first Gulf War. Having proverbially put my money where my mouth is, I consider myself a bit more patriotic than George Steinbrenner or most of the yahoos up at Yankee Stadium. But a baseball game is a baseball game -- not a political rally or a quasi-religious revival. And I for one don't need remedial training in loyalty, especially when it comes as a heavy-handed dose of schmaltz.

There's only one song that needs playing during the 7th inning stretch (and fans needn't stand if they so choose) and that's "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."