He is owning up to what he has done and I think making fun of him because you disagree with his spiritual beliefs is not the right thing to do. If he believes that god is testing him by making him have no command of his curve ball, then that is fine. Most major leaguers believe god has something to do with the game, he is not alone. As long as he doesn't believe he doesn't have to do anything to fix it, then he is fine. "faith without works is dead"

 

The "testing" can be an issue. God isn't going to be upset with him because he tweaked his delivery. He's going to be upset because of something he is doing in life. So God "tests" him either for a. no reason or b. because he is going against his will. IF God exists and, judging by his creations and not "his" word, is logical, then Bell did something wrong (maybe he is wearing clothing of more than one fabric). So God tests him by making him suck or by making the hitters see his pitches perfectly. So now we get to where religion is detrimental to progression. Bell needs to do something related to his game to fix his issues, but his religion may point him to his actions off the field. So Bell may decide to say a few more prayers or something, or stop taking the lords name in vain. Who knows, but it has nothing to do with baseball. This can only prolong his slump. If he takes action at bettering his game instead of placing blame on Santa Claus for adults, then the chances of him coming out of this slump are > 0.

This is coming from a non-religious person who loves you, but this post is all over the place and represents an interpretation of God with which many, many Judeo-Christians would not agree.

It's not just his curveball that's the problem. He's lost a bit on his fastball and is having trouble locating that too.

Guillen says Cishek won't be available until Tuesday at least (threw 3 innings on Friday & 5 innings in 3 days) and is leaning towards using Webb/Choate in the closing role for the next 2 games.

Under the circumstances I think it's an error (and backwards thinking) to think someone needs to be "assigned" the closer's role while Bell is hoping to get his sh*t together. He should just play the match-ups and see whose arm is fresh.

squall, on May 6, 2012 - 03:33 PM, said:The "testing" can be an issue. God isn't going to be upset with him because he tweaked his delivery. He's going to be upset because of something he is doing in life. So God "tests" him either for a. no reason or b. because he is going against his will. IF God exists and, judging by his creations and not "his" word, is logical, then Bell did something wrong (maybe he is wearing clothing of more than one fabric). So God tests him by making him suck or by making the hitters see his pitches perfectly. So now we get to where religion is detrimental to progression. Bell needs to do something related to his game to fix his issues, but his religion may point him to his actions off the field. So Bell may decide to say a few more prayers or something, or stop taking the lords name in vain. Who knows, but it has nothing to do with baseball. This can only prolong his slump. If he takes action at bettering his game instead of placing blame on Santa Claus for adults, then the chances of him coming out of this slump are > 0.

This is coming from a non-religious person who loves you, but this post is all over the place and represents an interpretation of God with which many, many Judeo-Christians would not agree.Explain please.

I'm referring to the first half of the post. The most common explanation given is that humans can't understand why/how God works. There's no standard human logic to be applied; therefore, the connections you make are not only not necessary, but potentially completely unfounded.

 

As for the 2nd part, I also don't want a focus on religious, off-the-field stuff to take away from time spent working at on-the-field issues; but, he should have sufficient time for both, and it's also possible that the religious stuff helps the mental side of his game.

He is owning up to what he has done and I think making fun of him because you disagree with his spiritual beliefs is not the right thing to do. If he believes that god is testing him by making him have no command of his curve ball, then that is fine. Most major leaguers believe god has something to do with the game, he is not alone. As long as he doesn't believe he doesn't have to do anything to fix it, then he is fine. "faith without works is dead"

 

The "testing" can be an issue. God isn't going to be upset with him because he tweaked his delivery. He's going to be upset because of something he is doing in life. So God "tests" him either for a. no reason or b. because he is going against his will. IF God exists and, judging by his creations and not "his" word, is logical, then Bell did something wrong (maybe he is wearing clothing of more than one fabric). So God tests him by making him suck or by making the hitters see his pitches perfectly. So now we get to where religion is detrimental to progression. Bell needs to do something related to his game to fix his issues, but his religion may point him to his actions off the field. So Bell may decide to say a few more prayers or something, or stop taking the lords name in vain. Who knows, but it has nothing to do with baseball. This can only prolong his slump. If he takes action at bettering his game instead of placing blame on Santa Claus for adults, then the chances of him coming out of this slump are > 0.

 

He is owning up to what he has done and I think making fun of him because you disagree with his spiritual beliefs is not the right thing to do. If he believes that god is testing him by making him have no command of his curve ball, then that is fine. Most major leaguers believe god has something to do with the game, he is not alone. As long as he doesn't believe he doesn't have to do anything to fix it, then he is fine. "faith without works is dead"

 

The "testing" can be an issue. God isn't going to be upset with him because he tweaked his delivery. He's going to be upset because of something he is doing in life. So God "tests" him either for a. no reason or b. because he is going against his will. IF God exists and, judging by his creations and not "his" word, is logical, then Bell did something wrong (maybe he is wearing clothing of more than one fabric). So God tests him by making him suck or by making the hitters see his pitches perfectly. So now we get to where religion is detrimental to progression. Bell needs to do something related to his game to fix his issues, but his religion may point him to his actions off the field. So Bell may decide to say a few more prayers or something, or stop taking the lords name in vain. Who knows, but it has nothing to do with baseball. This can only prolong his slump. If he takes action at bettering his game instead of placing blame on Santa Claus for adults, then the chances of him coming out of this slump are > 0.

 

I understand what you are saying and I agree with you to a point, but I think there is some misunderstanding on your part. A good understanding of the judeo-christian faiths which does not include archaic principles that have nothing to do with character from the old testament, dictates that everyone sins everyday and that because hardship is the only way you grow, this is the medium he uses to allow you to grow. Perhaps he draws a conclusion that his work ethic is in question or that he is being too prideful, idk, that doesn't matter. Honestly, I don't know why I am even talking about this, but i think I just didn't like how people were misinterpretating his statements. As I said, I do not believe a professional baseball player is going to not going to try his hardest to correct what is wrong with his delivery just because he said he thinks god is testing him.

Does saying "God is testing me" also have to imply that he is not working to fix whatever is wrong with his play so far?

Does saying "God is testing me" also have to imply that he is not working to fix whatever is wrong with his play so far?

 

I don't see anyone suggesting that.

Then why is anyone criticizing this at all?

FWIW I'm not criticizing anything.

So why not take it the other way? Why has no one bashed Cishek for believing that the Bible verse he had laminated, carries in his back pocket,and reads before he goes out there, while fully believing it has something to do with his success?

 

If you are going to bash someone's religious beliefs, bash them all. Not just the ones that are slumping. Bell has a history of showing he does not suck. He's just got to get it together again. He will. The stats most put so much emphasis on say so. Or are some ignoring the stats that don't fit their arguments again?

So why not take it the other way? Why has no one bashed Cishek for believing that the Bible verse he had laminated, carries in his back pocket,and reads before he goes out there, while fully believing it has something to do with his success?

 

If you are going to bash someone's religious beliefs, bash them all. Not just the ones that are slumping. Bell has a history of showing he does not suck. He's just got to get it together again. He will. The stats most put so much emphasis on say so. Or are some ignoring the stats that don't fit their arguments again?

 

No one is bashing religion. He is getting "bashed" for sucking and then appears to pass the blame to god. Instead, he should start doing something different because god isn't making him suck and staying the same is only going to produce the same results.

Also, the stats are indeed troubling, and it's been well-documented on ESPN, Fangraphs, and other places -- not just here. He has a great career record, but his strikeouts took an extreme dip last year. There are other things to be concerned with, as well, but that's the most glaring concern, and it has continued into this year. There's no distortion there; I don't know why you insist on creating a straw man, broncobob.

Under the circumstances I think it's an error (and backwards thinking) to think someone needs to be "assigned" the closer's role while Bell is hoping to get his sh*t together. He should just play the match-ups and see whose arm is fresh.

 

 

Seriously, I hate this thinking that the last 3 outs of the game are more important than the 22,23,24th out.

I still say that Bell's solution is to embrace Pastafarianism. The Flying Spaghetti Monster does not punish his followers with the inability to throw strikes. May you be touched by his noodly appendages, and may he restore your talents. Rahmen.

Under the circumstances I think it's an error (and backwards thinking) to think someone needs to be "assigned" the closer's role while Bell is hoping to get his sh*t together. He should just play the match-ups and see whose arm is fresh.

 

 

Seriously, I hate this thinking that the last 3 outs of the game are more important than the 22,23,24th out.

 

Well in 1-run situations the last outs are higher pressure situations mentally. I mean, we've seen guys come in here as relievers and fail as closers. It's not as simple as a group of computers who will register the same statistics at any given point in time.

 

With that being said, what penguino said is still pretty right imo.

I've been willing to cut Bell some slack, in the sense that I'm not willing to hate him just because he's going through a (very) rough patch, but he's not making it easy with this type of thing:

 

 

“I’ve got to keep believing in myself and keep going. God’s testing me right now, I know that. I just got to keep staying positive.

 

“If I could get a lucky rabbit’s foot or something and start getting the job done, look how much better we’re going to be.

 

“I’ve got the confidence I’ve got the ability. I don’t know why the lord is testing me right now. He’s breaking me right now. Maybe he’s molding me into a better man or a better person.�

 

 

Now I know being a ball player doesn't necessarily mean you're a smart guy, but this type of logic is just idiotic. Is God (assuming he even exists for the moment) really making the ball stay up in the zone or connect with the fat part of the bat just to "test" Bell? How does he know that those hits in the 9th weren't a reward for something the Padres' batters have done? And does God want to punish the entire Marlins organization, and their fans, along with Bell, or did God arrange it so that in the last two games Bell suffered just enough to throw the game away, but allowed the Marlins to win anyway, meaning that when Ozzie didn't pull Bell in the 9th last night, he had to help Bell get out of the inning without allowing more runs?

 

As for the "molding" to make him a "better person" -- this is baseball Heath, not the Book of Job. You've got a big fat $27 million coming your way, even if you don't throw another pitch in your life -- not exactly high in the suffering stakes. Try keeping some perspective will ya?

 

There is nothing wrong with him having faith, he is basically saying God is testing him to see if he will remain close to God even when he has really hard trials, such as not being able to pitch well.

 

I'm not happy with how he's pitched but as a person I appreciate him and his faith. He knows there is more important things in life obviously as well which is good to see.

So why not take it the other way? Why has no one bashed Cishek for believing that the Bible verse he had laminated, carries in his back pocket,and reads before he goes out there, while fully believing it has something to do with his success?

 

If you are going to bash someone's religious beliefs, bash them all. Not just the ones that are slumping. Bell has a history of showing he does not suck. He's just got to get it together again. He will. The stats most put so much emphasis on say so. Or are some ignoring the stats that don't fit their arguments again?

 

No one is bashing religion. He is getting "bashed" for sucking and then appears to pass the blame to god. Instead, he should start doing something different because god isn't making him suck and staying the same is only going to produce the same results.

Where is he blaming God? He's not blaming God, he's saying God is testing him, two very different things.

I've been willing to cut Bell some slack, in the sense that I'm not willing to hate him just because he's going through a (very) rough patch, but he's not making it easy with this type of thing:

 

 

“I’ve got to keep believing in myself and keep going. God’s testing me right now, I know that. I just got to keep staying positive.

 

“If I could get a lucky rabbit’s foot or something and start getting the job done, look how much better we’re going to be.

 

“I’ve got the confidence I’ve got the ability. I don’t know why the lord is testing me right now. He’s breaking me right now. Maybe he’s molding me into a better man or a better person.�

 

 

Now I know being a ball player doesn't necessarily mean you're a smart guy, but this type of logic is just idiotic. Is God (assuming he even exists for the moment) really making the ball stay up in the zone or connect with the fat part of the bat just to "test" Bell? How does he know that those hits in the 9th weren't a reward for something the Padres' batters have done? And does God want to punish the entire Marlins organization, and their fans, along with Bell, or did God arrange it so that in the last two games Bell suffered just enough to throw the game away, but allowed the Marlins to win anyway, meaning that when Ozzie didn't pull Bell in the 9th last night, he had to help Bell get out of the inning without allowing more runs?

 

As for the "molding" to make him a "better person" -- this is baseball Heath, not the Book of Job. You've got a big fat $27 million coming your way, even if you don't throw another pitch in your life -- not exactly high in the suffering stakes. Try keeping some perspective will ya?

 

There is nothing wrong with him having faith, he is basically saying God is testing him to see if he will remain close to God even when he has really hard trials, such as not being able to pitch well.

 

I'm not happy with how he's pitched but as a person I appreciate him and his faith. He knows there is more important things in life obviously as well which is good to see.

Like leaving your wife and kids on the opposite coast so you can get $27 million?

 

(semi-troll)

God prefers certain athletes over others, like Tim Tebow

God prefers certain athletes over others, like Tim Tebow

 

 

God is also not a Pirates fan by any means.

God prefers certain athletes over others, like Tim Tebow

 

 

God is also not a Pirates fan by any means.

Not since He f***ed up and killed Clemente; He's been too embarrassed to go back after that.

So why not take it the other way? Why has no one bashed Cishek for believing that the Bible verse he had laminated, carries in his back pocket,and reads before he goes out there, while fully believing it has something to do with his success?

 

If you are going to bash someone's religious beliefs, bash them all. Not just the ones that are slumping. Bell has a history of showing he does not suck. He's just got to get it together again. He will. The stats most put so much emphasis on say so. Or are some ignoring the stats that don't fit their arguments again?

 

No one is bashing religion. He is getting "bashed" for sucking and then appears to pass the blame to god. Instead, he should start doing something different because god isn't making him suck and staying the same is only going to produce the same results.

Also, the stats are indeed troubling, and it's been well-documented on ESPN, Fangraphs, and other places -- not just here. He has a great career record, but his strikeouts took an extreme dip last year. There are other things to be concerned with, as well, but that's the most glaring concern, and it has continued into this year. There's no distortion there; I don't know why you insist on creating a straw man, broncobob.

 

I'm creating a straw man? The guy isn't passing the blame to anyone but himself. There are plenty of quotes from him saying just that. Like I said before...The guy is religious and this is one of the things religous folks say. No different that Cishek reading the scripture before every appearance. But I guess it's pretty normal around here to ignore everything and anything that dosen't back the opinions of some.

I've been willing to cut Bell some slack, in the sense that I'm not willing to hate him just because he's going through a (very) rough patch, but he's not making it easy with this type of thing:

 

 

“I’ve got to keep believing in myself and keep going. God’s testing me right now, I know that. I just got to keep staying positive.

 

“If I could get a lucky rabbit’s foot or something and start getting the job done, look how much better we’re going to be.

 

“I’ve got the confidence I’ve got the ability. I don’t know why the lord is testing me right now. He’s breaking me right now. Maybe he’s molding me into a better man or a better person.�

 

 

Now I know being a ball player doesn't necessarily mean you're a smart guy, but this type of logic is just idiotic. Is God (assuming he even exists for the moment) really making the ball stay up in the zone or connect with the fat part of the bat just to "test" Bell? How does he know that those hits in the 9th weren't a reward for something the Padres' batters have done? And does God want to punish the entire Marlins organization, and their fans, along with Bell, or did God arrange it so that in the last two games Bell suffered just enough to throw the game away, but allowed the Marlins to win anyway, meaning that when Ozzie didn't pull Bell in the 9th last night, he had to help Bell get out of the inning without allowing more runs?

 

As for the "molding" to make him a "better person" -- this is baseball Heath, not the Book of Job. You've got a big fat $27 million coming your way, even if you don't throw another pitch in your life -- not exactly high in the suffering stakes. Try keeping some perspective will ya?

 

There is nothing wrong with him having faith, he is basically saying God is testing him to see if he will remain close to God even when he has really hard trials, such as not being able to pitch well.

 

I'm not happy with how he's pitched but as a person I appreciate him and his faith. He knows there is more important things in life obviously as well which is good to see.

 

I don't think it could be said any better than this. Nice post. Just because he's doing poorly right now some are going to jump on just about anything they can and twist it around to what they want to think he meant.

 

When he turns it around ( I'm pulling for that) and thanks God, let's see where that goes.

God prefers certain athletes over others, like Tim Tebow

 

 

Then why couldn't he help him with his passing? As far as I'm concerned, "Saint Timmy" is right where he needs to be. Any place BUT Denver.

God prefers certain athletes over others, like Tim Tebow

 

 

Then why couldn't he help him with his passing? As far as I'm concerned, "Saint Timmy" is right where he needs to be. Any place BUT Denver.

God's testing him