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Big League Stew

Mon Nov 24, 2008 8:22 pm EST

Rinku and Dinesh sign with Pittsburgh, make MLB history

By 'Duk

America, please meet Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel. They're both 20 years old, they're both pitchers and they're both from India. Both are your newest trailblazers in the world of American baseball.

Before this spring, neither had ever picked up a baseball, preferring cricket and javelin. On Monday, though, Singh and Patel became the first Indians to sign baseball contracts in the United States, inking minor league deals with Pittsburgh and inevitably setting the stage for a baseball comedy starring Rob Schneider and that dude from Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle. 

Time will tell if the arms of Singh (left) and Patel prove them to be more than just an easy "Hey, America is outsourcing everything to India!" joke, but the Pirates believe their potential is worth a risk. (And if this news isn't the ultimate proof that 16 straight losing seasons will send you searching anywhere, I'm not sure what is.)    

The USA Today has more:

"This is very intriguing for us," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "We are trying to broaden our horizons internationally and to get into some non-traditional markets. I've always been curious about India, knowing they have a cultural passion for cricket, which involves throwing, hitting and running. We want to see how that translates to baseball.

"This organization benefited in Latin America when we signed Roberto Clemente, and hopefully with their success, we'll see more athletes coming from India."

If you're wondering how the pair went from subcontinent unknowns to U.S. newsmakers in just over six months, the story is actually worth more than a script treatment. Earlier this year, an American talent company held a pitching contest in India because it believed the country's 1.1 billion was a vast and untapped talent resource. Singh and Patel topped the 30,000 Indians who tried out and have been working with USC pitching coach Tom House ever since.

To learn more about Rinku and Dinesh, visit their unintentionally hilarious blog — "We went with JB sir to breakfast at a great American breakfast eatery called Dennys" — or check in with the guys at Walkoff Walk, who have been on the story since Day One. 

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183 Comments

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  1. Rob
    1. Posted by Rob Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

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    Just shows you how committed the Pirates are to winning. If they amount to anything they will be playing for a contender with a couple of seasons. Oh yeah, Boston Red Sox, 2009 World Series Champs!!!!!
  2. jackdawbl2
    2. Posted by jackdawbl2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    Obviously the go-to joke would be something about Indians not playing for Cleveland...
  3. Rmoss606
    3. Posted by Rmoss606 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    Cows aren't considered sacred. They believe in reincarnation so animals coudl be another perosn they'd know. People be a little mature and stop with stupid religion comments. Religion has nothing to do with baseball. They were signed because they had some nice speed and control. I'm Christian but making cow and meat jokes is just stupid.
  4. Brett K
    4. Posted by Brett K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Actually Rmoss, to the Hindu religion the cow is sacred. I am sorry if I offend you or anyone else.
    The spped and control thing is another issue. If you read the prvious stories on these guys, they arent burners, and control comes and goes, maintaining it take experience, which these two do not have. And in this blog the Gm of the Pirates pretty much say that they are trying to tap a new fan base($$$$$$). To me, signing both is just a pubucity stunt, unless the best one said the other had to come with or he wouldnt sign.
    Like all baseball players, only time will tell and good luck to them.
  5. nosdog32
    5. Posted by nosdog32 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    can things get anyworse for the pirates faithful.... instead of playing the market to end this seemingly endless losing streak with "right now" players, they take a shot on two indians who have one year of baseball in them
  6. nosdog32
    6. Posted by nosdog32 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    can things get anyworse for the pirates faithful.... instead of playing the market to end this seemingly endless losing streak with "right now" players, they take a shot on two indians who have one year of baseball in them
  7. Stan the Man
    7. Posted by Stan the Man Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:45 pm EDT

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    The Pirates didn't sign Clemente. He was plucked from the Dodger organization.
  8. Aparajith K
    8. Posted by Aparajith K Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    to brett4prez,
    that comment you made was absolutely unnecessary. there is no need to stereotype indians so maliciously as you just did. i am indian and am extremely offended by your comment. also, to insult an entire religion shows just how ignorant you are. same goes to you brett k. please show some respect towards other people.
  9. Aparajith K
    9. Posted by Aparajith K Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    Hey Brett4Prez,
    I am Indian, and am extremely offended by your comments. It is extremely ignorant of you to stereotype Indians the way you just did. You also took a very cheap shot at Hinduism, which is just a dirty, cowardly move on your part. Please show respect for other people and their religions.
  10. xX Vytemink Xx
    10. Posted by xX Vytemink Xx Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    tru to tht neel
  11. Eddie S
    11. Posted by Eddie S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:21 pm EDT

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    I actually lived in India for 3 years and tried to help start a baseball program in Mumbai. Actually, their President recently mentioned that baseball is the fastest growing sport in their country. I've coached young children, playing without shoes on fields covered in glass, nails, and excrement, who could practice for 4 hours in 115 degree heat without ever asking for a drink of water or a break. So, great for these two guys who are getting a shot at something that every young American boy dreams of (9th inning, bases loaded, and two outs...) and to experience first hand how great the sport of baseball is in the U.S., and how our society embraces both the winners and losers. The same can not be said for Indian sports, where their cricket stars have their lives seriously endangered by idiot fanatics wanting to lynch them after losing a match or a tournament.
    It is true that Indians consider cows to be sacred, but it is not as ironic as you would imagine. Although Hindu is the largest religion in India, most other religious groups do not consider cows to be sacred (i.e., Muslims, Jewish - Yes there are even Jewish people in India, etc.) Furthermore, many Indians do wear weather shoes, belts, jackets. They won't kill a cow specifically for that purpose, but if a cow dies, some will take the opportunity to reap the benefits of it's dead carcas as they believe the soul of that cow has moved to a different state.
    My fellow Americans, can we try to remember that at one point in our history, most of the outside world did not consider us the "enemy" or the "idiots"? It's through vehicles like the game of baseball that boundaries and misconceptions can be broken and commonalities fostered between us all.
    Let's try to keep the "player hating" to a minimum here BrettK and Brett4Prez. The $100,000 these two boy received are more than you'll ever make serving them breakfast at Denny's.
  12. Aparajith K
    12. Posted by Aparajith K Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:57 pm EDT

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    yo Brett4Prez, why are u so racist? What is ur problem with Indians? Oh ya, and just as a heads up, I go to Cornell, and I plan on becoming a venture capitalist when i grow up, not a "quicky mart employee". look it up, i dont think you know what a venture capitalist is.
  13. travisf
    13. Posted by travisf Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:54 pm EDT

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    Does their blog strike you as being a suspiciously upbeat? Not a spot of trash to be seen in south-central LA... USC students acting mature and polite... No talentless [profane]s like bret4prez and brett k ...
    Except for the parts where the guys express that they're homesick, it looks like the blog was written by their agent, with intentionally foreign-sounding prose.
  14. A Yahoo! User
    14. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Nov 25, 2008 2:48 am EST

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    Hey Neal, just make sure their shift at the Slurpee Mart doesn't interfere with their game day starts. The locker room will never be the same!! This is the final straw, now we will be rooting for the Indians; Let's go Cleveland, what has this come down to, come on already, spend some freakin money and get a winning team. I don't want my family ttradition to end because of this.
  15. PeterN
    15. Posted by PeterN Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:07 pm EDT

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    I had to talk with a beautiful Indian university student whose path I crossed Sunday. It never crossed my mind, any of those stupid stereotypes--maybe a bit of the other stereotypes about many Indians being high achievers as professionals.
    It's hard to believe that some people reflexively go to the "Apu" thing and don't realize it's hopelessly dated. (Cardinals note: Some bloggers shorten "A. Pujols" to "APu.")
    Then again, the day before, I stopped in at a gas station's convenience store and was waited on by a middle-aged Indian woman. Still, brothers, I don't know if that should contribute to a negative stereotype, because look at the employees at the two gas stations nearer my house: like 9 whites, 3 blacks, and 1 Anglo-Hispanic mix.
    Best of luck to Rinku and Dinesh. It'd be great if their success sparks more interest in the game of baseball among the kids back home.
  16. Brett K
    16. Posted by Brett K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Rmoss,
    from pbs , nature, "holy cow"
    To India's millions of Hindus, the cow is a holy animal that cannot be harmed.
  17. Brett K
    17. Posted by Brett K Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Eddie,
    If you dont see a joke when you read it then that is the problem. too many people in this world have no sense of humor and are eady to kill if offend in the slightest way. i am catholic and i have heard them all about priests and catolics, and you know what, i have laughed at them all also.
    btw- my coworker, who is hindu, that i work side by side with everynight lauged his a s s off at my first comment.
  18. mark
    18. Posted by mark Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    Don't Listen to that Eddie S above....He is an a@#$!. I have been living in India for six years was helping to coach those guys with him. This is just a big promotional stunt to give two young guys a free baseball fantasy camp like every flat arsed 50 year old signs up for.
    "Tryouts" were basically a rubber and a speed gun moved from village to village in India....the same thing u flat slobs throw with your kids when you go to a ball park on Dollar Dog Day.
    I met these two guys and they have great arms so good for them. Indian athletics are a disgrace with cronism and corruption all the way up to the Prime Minister and it is very doubtful these two were the "best". They were sponsored by some politicians so their tryout was greased ll the way to US.
    Hey Eddie - KNOCK KNOCK..... ur GF Deepgash got one up on you...Troll!!!
  19. pechin
    19. Posted by pechin Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:05 pm EDT

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    Now maybe the HIGH SALARIES of the other USELESS pirates and other OVER RATED mlb players might go down. That is what is wrong with major league sports today. In my opinion the players should get played per performance per GAME. If they suck then pay them the very minimum. If they play well, then pay them accordingly. GET RID OF THE HIGH SALARIES and you will see better baseball. I hope these guys do well because they havent been 'corrupted' .........yet.
  20. Bud Foxx
    20. Posted by Bud Foxx Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

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    "That dude" is Kal Penn, you stupid hack. If you're going to link to the article at least earn your paycheck to get the guy's name.
  21. pensfox
    21. Posted by pensfox Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:40 pm EDT

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    Go pirates, we all love you guys
  22. Seema
    22. Posted by Seema Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    HEY what the heck my son always wanted to be the first indian player shut up this a turning point in sports history
  23. v v
    23. Posted by v v Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    you bloody americans. how racist are all those comments.!!! you should be proud that your game is going so global. India , if you didnt notice, is one of the best in the world at cricket. which has many skills similar to baseball. alot of teams employ baseball coaches for throwing and fielding.
    a cricket bowler is different but still takes a strong arm and good mechanics.
    with a little training, i dont see why these young men couldnt throw good hard strikes.
    good luck to them and i hope they can bring some baseball excitement to india.
    i think there could be more countries with raw talent. have a look at pakistan. shoaib aktah could bowl a cricket ball at 100mph. its alot harder to bowl than it is to pitch. try throwing a baseball without bending your elbow... you cant get much on it.
    brett lee the australian and shaun tate both bowl at 100mph on a good day. lee was offered a chance to play baseball but turned it down. he earns a few million a year in cricket.
  24. MikeD
    24. Posted by MikeD Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    Best quote from their blog!!!
    "praise Allah that we have won a baseball contest and a not a football one. i don’t think we could even take a hitting once."

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Big League Stew is an MLB blog edited by Kevin Kaduk. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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