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Mother of Pirates Catcher Kidnapped in Venezuela
New York Post ^ | February 8, 2018 | Hannah Withiam

Posted on 02/08/2018 9:58:28 PM PST by nickcarraway

Days before catcher Elias Diaz was to report to spring training with the other Pirates pitchers and catchers, the Venezuelan native learned his mother was kidnapped in their home country.

The incident was first reported by a Venezuelan local news organization, which said Diaz’s mother went missing Thursday afternoon. MLB players who hail from Venezuela, and make up the third-most represented nationality in the league, have grappled with how to handle the danger facing their family members back home, as kidnappings of the relatives of athletes and celebrities have increased amid the political turmoil there.

The Pirates said in a statement Thursday they were pursuing all methods of support for Diaz’s mother and the rest of his family, including providing assistance to the authorities.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: baseball; kidnapping; shole; venezuela
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1 posted on 02/08/2018 9:58:29 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Send him home, why are we importing people to play American baseball. Surely there are plenty of Americans for these few jobs—and talented ones.


2 posted on 02/08/2018 10:01:45 PM PST by Reno89519 (Americans Are Dreamers, Too! No to Amnesty, Yes to Catch-and-Deport, and Yes to E-Verify.)
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To: Reno89519

That is a hateful thing to say. If he is here legally I have no problem with him being here.


3 posted on 02/08/2018 10:07:49 PM PST by the_daug
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To: Reno89519

Yeh talented American athletes like Colin Kapearnick. Maybe he’d like to try baseball. He’s available.


4 posted on 02/08/2018 10:08:21 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: the_daug

My point is WHY is here here apparently legally? He is on a visa that says he has talent an American lacks. Not true. Send him home, one way ticket, to help his family. replace him with an American player, there are plenty waiting in the wings for their chance.


5 posted on 02/08/2018 10:18:10 PM PST by Reno89519 (Americans Are Dreamers, Too! No to Amnesty, Yes to Catch-and-Deport, and Yes to E-Verify.)
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To: the_daug

And WHY is it hateful to want Americans in jobs here in American?! Are you sure you are on the right site?


6 posted on 02/08/2018 10:19:07 PM PST by Reno89519 (Americans Are Dreamers, Too! No to Amnesty, Yes to Catch-and-Deport, and Yes to E-Verify.)
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To: nickcarraway

Ransom in toilet paper and antibiotics?


7 posted on 02/08/2018 10:55:29 PM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.")
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To: Reno89519

“... why are we importing people to play American baseball. “

Because he’s better at his position for the price than anyone else in the world, American, Cuban, Japanese, Mexican.....


8 posted on 02/08/2018 10:59:16 PM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.")
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To: VanShuyten

H1Bs are cheaper than Americans, Mexicans work for less than Americans, shall we import more?! /s


9 posted on 02/08/2018 11:08:14 PM PST by Reno89519 (Americans Are Dreamers, Too! No to Amnesty, Yes to Catch-and-Deport, and Yes to E-Verify.)
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That is the mother of ambiguous headlines.


10 posted on 02/08/2018 11:36:30 PM PST by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: NautiNurse

!


11 posted on 02/08/2018 11:38:41 PM PST by nutmeg (The Schiff has hit the fan!)
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To: Reno89519

In this case, he might be more talented than what they can find when scouting.

Prayers for his mother and all who love her.


12 posted on 02/08/2018 11:48:34 PM PST by skr (May God confound the enemy)
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To: Reno89519

There is a VISA for athletes, if they are signed with a team fairly easy to get. No requirement that the athlete has talent not found in citizens or anything like that.

I don’t agree with it, but it is the law. Foreigners even come here to rodeo. Athletes come from


13 posted on 02/08/2018 11:53:44 PM PST by Tammy8 (Please be a regular supporter of Free Republic !)
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To: Reno89519

If he’s better at his position for the price than anyone else in the world, then yes.

I don’t mind letting the best in the world in. I mind letting the lesser skilled in illegallly with no attempt to vet them.


14 posted on 02/08/2018 11:54:23 PM PST by VanShuyten ("...that all the donkeys were dead. I know nothing as to the fate of the less valuable animals.")
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To: nickcarraway

Sounds like parts of Texas and Arizona along the Mexican border.


15 posted on 02/09/2018 1:08:35 AM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: nickcarraway
This is a continuing problem with Venezuelan ballplayers who have family in Venezuela.

Miguel Cabrera was supposedly being extorted last year by thugs threatening his mother. It was speculated that it led to a disasterous year at the plate for him.

16 posted on 02/09/2018 1:42:13 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (Islam delenda est.)
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To: VanShuyten
Because he’s better at his position for the price than anyone else in the world, American, Cuban, Japanese, Mexican.....

I enjoyed baseball back when it was all local heroes; today, it's the United Nations at play.

17 posted on 02/09/2018 1:44:10 AM PST by Does so (Release the memo...!)
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To: Former Proud Canadian

I’m surprised they haven’t taken their lead from Brazilian soccer stars, who secure their families in compounds while making millions in Europe - for this very reason.


18 posted on 02/09/2018 2:07:13 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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To: kearnyirish2
People don't realize how prevalent kidnapping and extortion is in other parts of the world.

Sergio Marchionne heads Fiat Chrysler. He has a large security detail when he is in Italy. In North America, not so much.

19 posted on 02/09/2018 2:41:54 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (Islam delenda est.)
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To: Former Proud Canadian

I guess they don’t realize it; the situation with Brazilian soccer players isn’t new, so I don’t know why people with loved ones in these places are unaware of it.

Americans are unaware of it because they can be.


20 posted on 02/09/2018 2:46:43 AM PST by kearnyirish2 (Affirmative action is economic warfare against white males (and therefore white families).)
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