Lance Berkman Controversy

[Mr. Baseball]

ST. LOUIS -- Lance Berkman's honesty is one of his best-known traits, and it usually serves him quite well. On Thursday, it created a little bit of a headache for the veteran star.

Berkman reportedly told a Houston radio station that part of why he joined the Cardinals rather than the Rangers was that he didn't have a great deal of faith in Texas' prospects for 2011. He also voiced some skepticism over Texas' signing of third baseman Adrian Beltre. Neither view sat well with Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson, who reportedly responded on a Dallas radio station.

According to ESPNDallas.com, Berkman told AM 1560 in Houston:

"I felt like if they didn't re-sign Cliff Lee that they were going to be an average team, and I feel that's probably what's going to end up happening. It's all about your pitching. I feel like last year was one of those special years where you kind of catch lightning in a bottle and they got hot and they had some guys that I felt like were pitching better than their talent level, and consequently, they had a great year."

Berkman told reporters recently in St. Louis that he instructed his agent to pursue opportunities with five teams: St. Louis, Houston, Texas, Colorado and Atlanta. Of those, he said, the Cardinals were the most aggressive. He signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Redbirds in December.

At the Cards' annual Winter Warm-Up fan festival, he talked up St. Louis as the favorite in the National League.

"If there's a better team in the National League, I don't know who they are," he said. "On paper, you can talk about the Phillies, and obviously they have a great pitching staff. But we can pitch with anybody and we can hit with anybody. We have a great team. Everybody ought to be excited, because if people stay healthy, and if guys perform like they have in the past and like they're capable of, we have as good a team as there is, not just in the National League but in baseball. I feel like this is a legitimate World Series contender."

In response to Berkman's comments about the Rangers, Wilson reportedly told 103.3 FM in Dallas:

"I think it's funny. He was contemplating retirement, so I'm not going to take anything too seriously. I'm not going to get offended by anything he says. If that's a representative idea of what people around the league think, that's better for us because they're going to do the same thing and they're going to not take us seriously. If we end up stomping through the playoffs again, everyone will be like, 'Wow, what a bummer.'"

Berkman also, according to the site, told the radio station that Beltre's Texas contract -- worth a guaranteed $80 million over five years -- is "pretty much of a reach for him."

Unsurprisingly, Wilson spoke up for his new teammate.

"Adrian Beltre is the best defensive third baseman in baseball, and he's a pretty good hitter as well," Wilson reportedly told the Dallas radio station. "I don't know if anyone knows he hit .340 last year, which is definitely better than .220. I'm pretty stoked about having him on my team."

Some people really need to learn not to take criticism to heart. I love it when players are actually honest about their feelings, and not always saying what the media wants to hear. During interviews, most players refuse to say anything negative about the abilities of another team. I remember last year Braun told reporters "The Pirates are a tough team". Really? A little honestly wouldn't hurt...(Sorry Buccos ;))

Thoughts?

[astrosfanatic]

i think CJ Wilson should keep his mouth shut. Berkman has played for years and earned his right to give his opinion. If wilson feels that people are slighting the Rangers, then fine, go out and do what you did last year again. The facts support what Berkman said. Wilson and Lewis pitched above their career norms, and they lost their best pitcher in Cliff Lee. They have an average pitching staff at best. The Rangers have the advantage of playing in a weaker division this year (on paper), but the Cardinals have the better players...i dont know how it will turn out, but you don't want to get into a war of words with Lance Berkman. He will win that battle every day.

[JoshRedcay]

and not always saying what the media wants to hear.

This is exactly what I was thinking as I read this. I really get sick of the cliche interviews where it seems that the player isn't even saying what he really means. Everyone has an opinion and it should be expressed.

[Mudge]

I couldn't agree more about the trite sports interviews.

But honesty is not always the best policy, either. Remember the trouble several players (including Jonathan Papelbon I believe) got into when they said that they didn't see baseball as their #1 priority.

As for this particular situation, I would say they both (Berkman and Wilson) have the right to express their honest feelings: one about the truth of the teams as he sees it and the other in loyal support of his team as he sees it.

[Jake]

As for this particular situation, I would say they both (Berkman and Wilson) have the right to express their honest feelings: one about the truth of the teams as he sees it and the other in loyal support of his team as he sees it.

I agree. Berkman doesn't get any special rights because he's a veteran (besides, if he thinks the Cardinals are the best team in the NL.. well, c'mon) - Wilson has every right to defend his team. If you want players to be honest, you get the whole enchilada, not just the players that you think deserve to be honest in interviews.

[Mex86]

This is exactly what I was thinking as I read this. I really get sick of the cliche interviews where it seems that the player isn't even saying what he really means. Everyone has an opinion and it should be expressed.

Agreed. But just to be clear - it's not the media who wants to hear the endless cliches. They don't. They'd much rather hear guys with refreshing or candid perspectives on things. Unfortunately, the majority of players are wary and suspicious of media (not without merit) and are trained to speak in dull platitudes. They know the writers have a job to do and stories to file, and most players don't want to offend or are afraid of getting quoted out of context, so instead they spout the safest, most disposable quotes they can think of. As Mudge said, each player is entitled to express his opinion. Wish there were more guys with the courage to speak their mind.

[Mr. Baseball]

Ryan Braun in 2009 would be a great example of this. He told the media that Brewers management needed to address the starting pitching concerns the club was facing, and that he hated the fact that they needed to put up 6-7 runs daily to win ballgames. He directed his comments right at Doug Melvin and the pitching staff causing a lot controversy and commotion in Milwaukee. Players may be afraid to speak their mind for this very reason.

[Mudge]

Ryan Braun in 2009 would be a great example of this. He told the media that Brewers management needed to address the starting pitching concerns the club was facing, and that he hated the fact that they needed to put up 6-7 runs daily to win ballgames. He directed his comments right at Doug Melvin and the pitching staff causing a lot controversy and commotion in Milwaukee. Players may be afraid to speak their mind for this very reason.
I remember this controversy, but I don't know the details.

The only distinction I might make here is that if you are speaking of your own organization, make sure I think it is important for both credibility and civility that you have laid the groundwork for your comments. In addition to speaking to the media openly and honestly (which I applaud), you should have done that within the organization as well. It comes off much better in an interview if you say something like "As I have said to the manager and the GM, we need to do this, that, and the other." And it works both ways. "As I've told player X, he needs to do this, that, or the other."