It was only last week that Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny was singing the praises of 22-year old Oscar Taveras, a native of the Dominican Republic.
“I think he can be a star. And I think he showed things all season long that showed that. He stepped into some big situations, a different role. He was very much into the competition and trying to figure out how he could help us. Yes, he wanted to play. Yes, he wanted to be the guy out there every day. He realizes he has some things to do to help make that happen,” Matheny said.
Today, the Cardinals Manager released the following statement:
“I was asked last night to give some words regarding the tragic death of Oscar Taveras, but I just simply couldn’t,” Matheny said in a statement released Monday. “First of all, it felt like a bad dream that could not be real, and when reality kicked in, my words didn’t even seem to make sense. To say this is a horrible loss of a life ended too soon would be an understatement. To talk about the potential of his abilities seemed to be untimely. All I wanted to do was get the guys together and be with our baseball family. I know the hurt that comes along with buying into the brotherhood of a baseball team. That hurt is just as powerful as the joys that come with this life.”
Tavaras’s 18-year old girlfriend Edilia Arvelo was also killed in the accident.
“In my opinion, the word ‘love’ is the most misused and misunderstood word in the English language,” he said. “It is not popular for men to use this word, and even less popular for athletes. But, there is not a more accurate word for how a group of men share a deep and genuine concern for each other. We loved Oscar, and he loved us. That is what a team does, that is what a family does. You will be missed, Oscar.”
