Nate Cornejo's Scouting Report


2004 Outlook
"Cornejo made strides last season in his mental approach by developing a bulldog attitude. But his lack of velocity raises a red flag. Where it looked like he was a potential No. 1 or 2 starter a couple years ago, it appears he now might be a No. 4 or 5 starter at best. Not throwing as hard may have helped him stay in the major leagues, but it's a double-edged sword because Cornejo simply might not throw hard enough to reach what at one time seemed like his considerable potential."
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Is thinking like a canine really an improvement (a "stride") in one's mental "approach"? I don't think dogs are capable of such complicated concepts as approaching. Accosting maybe, approaching, certainly not. Even uber-sports-guys, those permitted to write scouting reports, betray the stupidity that sadly plagues too many American men.

OK OK. Bulldog is a common slang phrase used to describe unrelenting determination. To me, it's an backhand compliment, because of the following facts:
-bulldogs are ugly and ungraceful.
-dogs are not as intelligent as humans, dolphins, or even pigs.
-The term is somewhat condescending because it implies that you are simply TOO bullheaded to know when to stop, and therefore ironically effective. Whereas the accuser (or person doling out the compliment) knows when to stop, relent and quit, he views this as a necessary weakness. Almost a requisite fault that goes along with being human: "I know I can't build a house, so I need to hire a builder. But that guy, he's a bulldog, he just built it himself." Meanwhile the other guy's name is Jack and he lives in nonfunctioning clubhouse.