Zach Houchins needs to shut up.

[CALSGR8]

Maybe they see something in the kid that can be molded into a good player!  He's young enough to change his ways.

[PatsNats28]

I think that GM Mike Rizzo should be holding that area scout's feet to the fire...  this is a rather large screw up and the exact reason teams have area scouts(to find out if a kid will sign, find out about his makeup, and embarrassing stuff exactly like this.)  There were posters on here that found that "stuff" within minutes and hours, an area scout who spends 12 months a year studying his territory should have caught this well before selecting him on day 2 of the draft.

For the Nationals to have taken this kid in round 15, an area scout saw that kid at least twice and someone else likely saw him as well.  Very strange that they would miss this-

Well I doubt that a scout's job is to check his Twitter... they may not even know how to use Twitter. It's very possible that his coaches gave positive reviews.

[GMUTrkstar]

I think that GM Mike Rizzo should be holding that area scout's feet to the fire...  this is a rather large screw up and the exact reason teams have area scouts(to find out if a kid will sign, find out about his makeup, and embarrassing stuff exactly like this.)  There were posters on here that found that "stuff" within minutes and hours, an area scout who spends 12 months a year studying his territory should have caught this well before selecting him on day 2 of the draft.

For the Nationals to have taken this kid in round 15, an area scout saw that kid at least twice and someone else likely saw him as well.  Very strange that they would miss this-

+1

I saw a lot of ppl saying shame on Rizzo for this when the twitter incident originally started but honestly outside of the first two rounds Rizzo is probably relying mainly on his scouts and I seriously doubt he's ever talked to this kid or did any research on him. He was the top guy on our board at the time so we drafted him. Scouts are likely the ones responsible for background investigations and in this generation to not use a prospects twitter or facebook as a source is just plain stupid.

[RD]

Id judge a kids character much more on how you see him act in practice, games, and speak to him in person. And by the recommendations of his coaches and other people that have contact with him. Not twitter.

Ive had teammates drafted in the teens. The scouts have a ton of direct contact with the players. Before and after games, during practice, phone conversations. Watching his actions during practice.

You get a much better indication of a kid's character in those interactions than you do by something he says to his friends on twitter.

[GMUTrkstar]

Id judge a kids character much more on how you see him act in practice, games, and speak to him in person. And by the recommendations of his coaches and other people that have contact with him. Not twitter.

Ive had teammates drafted in the teens. The scouts have a ton of direct contact with the players. Before and after games, during practice, phone conversations. Watching his actions during practice.

You get a much better indication of a kid's character in those interactions than you do by something he says to his friends on twitter.

I agree with you which is why I said "a source" of course you ask his friends etc... as well but twitter and fb have to atleast be used as a source. Lots of jobs check social networking sites for their interviews etc... which is why most young people(myself included) have their privacy settings on so the whole world can't easily see their profiles.

[Kevrock]

Id judge a kids character much more on how you see him act in practice, games, and speak to him in person. And by the recommendations of his coaches and other people that have contact with him. Not twitter.

Ive had teammates drafted in the teens. The scouts have a ton of direct contact with the players. Before and after games, during practice, phone conversations. Watching his actions during practice.

You get a much better indication of a kid's character in those interactions than you do by something he says to his friends on twitter.

Well, the media judges athletes on what they put on Twitter. If the area scout had done his due diligence and checked his Twitter page, he could have either passed on the kid or, better yet, given the kid a heads up that his Twitter posts would blow up in his face.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Also, let's not let this get lost:

Houchins’s Twitter feed was deleted late last night, around the time the Nationals released the statement from Rizzo. It had included rampant epithets depicting African-Americans, many phrases objectifying women and at least one epithet used to describe Chinese people.

It makes some of his backpedaling suspicious of not being the "whole truth and nothing but the truth."

[welch]

At least he is apologetic and worried. I googled John Rocker and learned that Rocker is the same bag of bigoted stupidity that Will Farrell parodied.

Maybe the kid should go on to finish 4-year college, grow up, learn something deeper. Then we'll see. Beside that, most of these kid athetes need to get an education if only because hardly any will make a living playing a sport.

[HalfSmokes]

Zuckerman was on the radio friday thinking they may just not offer him a contract i.e. signing a very questionable 15th rounder vs. the pr blow back from having this guy in the system

[Sharp]

Zuckerman was on the radio friday thinking they may just not offer him a contract i.e. signing a very questionable 15th rounder vs. the pr blow back from having this guy in the system

That would suck.  What if he turns out well?

[HalfSmokes]

That would suck.  What if he turns out well?

it's just playing the percentages- how many 15th rounders even make the majors?

[Sharp]

it's just playing the percentages- how many 15th rounders even make the majors?

Not a whole lot, but unlike in basketball there are still some extremely talented players who come out of late rounds.  Unless he's demanding a huge amount of money I don't see why the Nats should pass on him for something like this.

[houston-nat]

What if he turns out well?

There are good players who aren't douches.

[PowerBoater69]

I don't wanna denigrate anybody.   My son is 1/4 Japanese.   

My daughters are also 1/4 Japanese.  That's the perfect amount of Asian, just a hint, not too much, not to little.

[PatsNats28]

^^ uh...

[Saint]

Does anyone know exactly what were the slurs Houchins used regarding gays and Asians? I keep reading this but nothing close to that was in the sample provided on FLOTN blog. Also, I'm guessing the misogynistic word was "b**ches" which in the context used wasn't really meant to be such. That much seems to be a little overkill.

Also, did any of the people blogging ever make an attempt to contact Houchins? The only person I've seen quote Houchins is Adam Kilgore.

[CatsEye]

I would have to think some African Americans would disagree with the N word not being offensive coming from a white guy.

                     + Absolutely......he's white-ass trash...I don't care what age he is...trash-talking foul-mouth low-life......yea, African Americans would warm right up to him...see me warming up to him.....
             It was a smart move to have his twitter account deleted.....

[MarquisDeSade]

Also, I'm guessing the misogynistic word was "b**ches" which in the context used wasn't really meant to be such. That much seems to be a little overkill.

This guy was a grade-A azzhole that freaked himself by being a moronic teenager on social media.  Maybe he'll learn from this and be a productive member of society or maybe he'll just keep going with it and become a full on bigot sheethead.  Either way, we don't need him.

[Saint]

Bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices;

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Bigot: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices;

especially: one who regards or treats the members of a group (as racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance.  
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bigot

Nice edit, Mrs. Houchins.  I'm sure you hope for  the best from your son, but please tell your son that even words like b!tches demonstrate a willingness to objectify and dehumanize the target. 

[MarquisDeSade]

especially: one who regards or treats the members of a group (as racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance. 
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bigot

Nice edit, Mrs. Houchins.  I'm sure you hope for  the best from your son, but please tell your son that even words like b!tches demonstrate a willingness to objectify and dehumanize the target. 

I'm really confused.  Can someone help me out here?

[blue911]

I'm really confused.  Can someone help me out here?

No. You gonna be at the Loft tonight?

[MarquisDeSade]

No. You gonna be at the Loft tonight?

I might stop by for a couple of minutes.  Mrs. de Sade is with me tonight and she's pretty pumped about our own little slice of NYC at the Park finally .

[blue911]

I might stop by for a couple of minutes.  Mrs. de Sade is with me tonight and she's pretty pumped about our own little slice of NYC at the Park finally .

Crack dealers and transvestites hanging around the men's room?

[MarquisDeSade]

Crack dealers and transvestites hanging around the men's room?

Ha!  Give it time.