"Hey Batter Batter, Sah WING Batter" Baseball 2012

Thanks for the info on the Pirates, TTM.
 
You are correct, the Buccos scouting and management has been deficient.  Given that wonderful ballpark, a great tradition, and a loyal fan-base it's a damn shame. 

No worries.  I can rail against the financial inequities in baseball with the best of 'em.  But, the Pirates dug this hole themselves.
 
Unfortunately, a direct result of their poor scouting and development of players is that they can't attract decent free agents to come and play for them. Edwin Jackson turned down a 3 year/$30 million deal from the Pirates to take a 1 year, $11M deal from the Nats.  He TURNED DOWN $19 million to NOT play for the Pirates. Oswalt has no offers on the table from anyone has rebuffed the Pirates, as well (reportedly) the Brewers and Tigers, too.  You'd think that these guys would give the Pirates a shot. - (A) I don't know that you can hold current management and ownership responsible for the failings of the previous regime; (B) You'd think that a contender might like an arm like Edwin Jackson or Roy Oswalt at the trade deadline (teams did last year), so you're really only committing to half a season in purgatory, with a chance to help turn a franchise around; and (C) I would think pitching in that park - even beauty aside - would be good for both of those pitchers' careers.

my beloved mariners started spring training early(the M's and A's will open the season in Tokyo). i sure hope that young Montero will help the woeful offense and that Justin Smoak will improve this year. But the M's have no chance of beating the rangers and Angels so it will be another long year for us.

As a Yankee die=hard,I can tell you, you got a great hitter in Montero...enjoy...he should help...he will one day be a big star!

The Travelin Man


No worries.  I can rail against the financial inequities in baseball with the best of 'em.  But, the Pirates dug this hole themselves.

Unfortunately, a direct result of their poor scouting and development of players is that they can't attract decent free agents to come and play for them. Edwin Jackson turned down a 3 year/$30 million deal from the Pirates to take a 1 year, $11M deal from the Nats.  He TURNED DOWN $19 million to NOT play for the Pirates. Oswalt has no offers on the table from anyone has rebuffed the Pirates, as well (reportedly) the Brewers and Tigers, too.  You'd think that these guys would give the Pirates a shot. - (A) I don't know that you can hold current management and ownership responsible for the failings of the previous regime; (B) You'd think that a contender might like an arm like Edwin Jackson or Roy Oswalt at the trade deadline (teams did last year), so you're really only committing to half a season in purgatory, with a chance to help turn a franchise around; and (C) I would think pitching in that park - even beauty aside - would be good for both of those pitchers' careers.

Wow. 
 
And now these geni have traded/contracted for a notorious "head case": A.J.
 
A Pittsburgh boy, Mark Cuban, loves toys. 
 
His NBA "toy" won a championship about which DFW barely noticed.
 
In terms of wealth, he's "small potatos" in Dallas but could be a hero in his hometown.
 
Sell him the Pirates.
 
Please!
 
 

I think Burnett falls into category B that TTM listed.  He's 35 and has had some arm problems over the years, but if he's pitching reasonably well as the trade deadline approaches and the Pirates are out of the NL Central race (they did hang in for a surprisingly long time last season) he could be moved to a contender.
 
Cuban + Pirates = Steinbrenner?
 
Brad

ScreamingChicken


Cuban + Pirates = Steinbrenner?

Brad

The Pittsburgh market is not big enough for that.
 
I would hope, somehow, that he would become a "Rooney" with deeper pockets.
 

I just went through the Cubs spring training roster
 
WHO THE HELL ARE THESE NOBODY'S and WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE KNOWN PLAYERS?????
 
Cubs suck this year!!!!!

I heard a terrific interview of Bob Uecker on Phoenix Sports-Talk radio this evening.  Uke needs no Spring Training, he is already in mid-season form.  Click here to hear the interview (its in the 4:00 to 5:00 segment).  I don't know how long they'll keep this up, so the sooner, the better.

CajunKing


I just went through the Cubs spring training roster

WHO THE HELL ARE THESE NOBODY'S and WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THE KNOWN PLAYERS?????

Cubs suck this year!!!!!

Excuse me, but isn't your new GM a self-recognized genius? 
 
I'd advise patience, something Cub fans have in abundance.
 
(Not to whine, but didn't my Buccos just set a record for consecutive losing seasons?).
 
I live in Dallas now and the local team - (stolen long ago from DC by that vile Minneapolis trucker Bob Short) - now has the ownership group with the deepest pockets in MLB. 
 
And, they had better sense than to pay $250MM to either Pujols or Fielder for .300/30/100 for 5 or so years from first base.  
 
Laissez les bon temps roullez! 

A's fans:  if Cespedes pans out, they'll make a new movie about Billy Beane.  I think the Marlins really blew it both about that and also paying so much for a fragile hotdog to play SS for them.
 
Cardinals fans:  I can share your pain only by imagining The Great One leaving the Pirates.  That never happened.  Thank God.  Well, you'll always have The Man. 
 
Detroit fans:  The great Verlander doen't strike out everybody.  Cabrera at 3B?  YIKES!  The Rangers will see you in the playoffs. 
 
Oriole fans:  Congratulations, you stole Chris Davis.  That could well be the trade of the 21st. Century.  He won't make you forget Gentile, Powell, Murray, or Palmeiro but he will pepper Eutaw St. and maybe even put a nick or two in the warehouse.  You don't know him yet; just wait!  And he also plays great "D". 
 
Given how long it took the Rangers to develop Nellie Cruz; I can't believe they gave up on Davis.  Mitch Moreland is not even a third the player Davis is.

MetroplexJim


Cardinals fans:  I can share your pain only by imagining The Great One leaving the Pirates.  That never happened.  Thank God.  Well, you'll always have The Man. 

Wayne Gretzky played for the Pirates?

As glad as I am that Ryan Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned, it would've been a lot more convincing had it happened because something went wrong with the sample or lab work instead of a technicality.  Even though I suspect he'll come out of this with most of his reputation intact some will always have some doubts now.

ScreamingChicken

MetroplexJim


Cardinals fans:  I can share your pain only by imagining The Great One leaving the Pirates.  That never happened.  Thank God.  Well, you'll always have The Man. 

Wayne Gretzky played for the Pirates?

Well before Mr. Gretzky there was this rightfielder, #21 in your program, whom the Pirates' broadcaster, Bob Prince, labelled The Great One. 
 
Both Willie Mays and Henry Aaron called him the "best they ever played against".

ScreamingChicken


As glad as I am that Ryan Braun's 50-game suspension was overturned, it would've been a lot more convincing had it happened because something went wrong with the sample or lab work instead of a technicality.  Even though I suspect he'll come out of this with most of his reputation intact some will always have some doubts now.

The whole "steroids era" crap pi$$es me off for the simple reason that when Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro, Clemens et al. were what is now, with vitrol and condescention, called "doping" it was by THE (SACRED) RULES OF MLB was not forbidden! 
 
Really, WTF does anyone reasonably expect a competitive athlete to do with 10's of millions at stake?  Or a prideful Barry Bonds to do near the end of an already HOF career when he saw (relative) ass-clowns hitting 60+ HR?    
 
The last time I looked ex post facto laws are forbidden by the Constitution.  And now these poor, dumb bastards are being harrassed by perjury prosecutions.  At least they, unlike Shoeless Joe, can afford it!
 
And what are the "purists" going to do about the players who today routinely buy "Ted Williams' eyes" from their local LASIK surgeon?
 
TV or video doesn't count.  In my fortunate life I saw in person Koufax and Clemente: OMG!; they were transcendant, electric.  They owned the ballpark. 
 
And Spahn, Mays, Aaron, Musial, Gibson ... and, later, the "dopers": (Barry) Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro, and Clemens, before and after their "crimes".  If the latter four aren't HOF-ers, KMA! 
 
Steroids may let you hit the ball farther, but they don't let you put the bat on the ball more effectively.  For a few years toward the end of his career Barry Bonds laid the bat on the ball better than anyone I ever saw. 
 
I would attribute that far more to LASIK than steroids.
 
---------------------
 
So, I glad Braun "beat it", too. 
 
Maybe he, like me, suffers from "low T". 
 
The young, comely Mrs. Metro isn't going to give me a "50 night suspension" because I rub "the clear" into my thighs after showering in the morning!
 

No increase in weight.
 
No increase in strength.
 
No increase in speed.
 
No change in batting average.
 
No change in power.
 
If Braun was doping, he needs to get his money back.

JRPfeff


No increase in weight.

No increase in strength.

No increase in speed.

No change in batting average.

No change in power.

If Braun was doping, he needs to get his money back.

 
The samples showed extremely high testosterone levels as well as evidence of synthetic testosterone.  The only thing they have to hang their hat on was a procedural screw-up- the veracity of the tests were never challenged.
Braun did a good job being convincing at his press conference.  However, the science clearly says otherwise.
As to "no changes in this or that......", if he's been cycling on and off of it for years, he wouldn't show changes in vitals or stats over the last five years.  Moreover, steroids don't have to make you freakishly large to be effective.   Also, there are several masking agents that can hide test results, so it's possible to use for a long period of time.
Braun's argument is laughable.  It's like someone getting back blood sugar tests that are high and insisting they are not diabetic even though the test results show otherwise.

saps

Braun's argument is laughable.  It's like someone getting back blood sugar tests that are high and insisting they are not diabetic even though the test results show otherwise.

To quote Penn Jillette, Bull****!  One extremely high A1C reading (4 times the next highest ever for anyone!) after a decade of normal readings does not make you diabetic. Especially when you immediately give another sample that is normal.  The lab screwed up.  It happens.  Go have a donut.
 
In a legal setting, it is a typical strategy to go with your strongest argument and stop there.  Braun had no need or obligation to dispute the veracity of the tests. MLB could not prove that the sample that was tested came from Braun's bladder and was delivered untainted to the testing lab.  Since MLB has a zero tolerance policy for players, MLB had better be 100% perfect in their sampling and testing procedures.
 
If players can routinely fool "the highest quality drug testing program of any professional sports organization in the world system" at a 96% rate by "cycling on and off of it for years," then the MLB testing program proves nothing.  By that logic, more than 9 of 10 players can be cheaters (Hello Albert...) and never test positive for PED's.

JRPfeff


No increase in weight.

No increase in strength.

No increase in speed.

No change in batting average.

No change in power.

If Braun was doping, he needs to get his money back.

To me, this is his strongest argument.
What did he have to gain? 
He's signed for another decade for nearly $200MM!
 
His careeer is progressing very normally for a player of his calibre: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/braunry02.shtml
 
Here's a real anomaly:  57 HR "out of nowhere" in 2001: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzalu01.shtml
 

As of now, the only thing that was proven was that there was a "a chain of custody" issue in regards to the sample.  Braun got off on a technicality that has nothing to do with disproving his guilt.  Moreover, the seals on the sample weren't broken, and there was no degradation of the sample.  There was no evidence of the sample being tampered with whatsoever. 
Then here comes Braun, just like Rafael Palmeiro, wagging his finger and saying "I never did it".  That's where your BS comes in.
 
In regards to the MLB testing program, are you aware that Bonds never tested positive for steroids?
I get it.  You're a Brewers fan, and Braun is your guy.  But Braun in now way has cleared his name here by disproving these tests.  All he did was have an attorney that showed that the tester didn't follow protocol.  But that doesn't prove that the tests are incorrect, or that not following protocol affected the samples.  Remember- seals intact, and no degradation of the sample.
One other thing- the abnormally high T:E ratio isn't a record.  The media has been recording that his 30:1 ratio is extremely high and shows a lab problem issue, but ratios as high as 80:1 have been reported.
Just another black eye for baseball, and just another steroid user pissing on the game.

saps


Then here comes Braun, just like Rafael Palmeiro, wagging his finger and saying "I never did it".  That's where your BS comes in.

 
Yeah, the Palmeiro thing was pretty sad.  And, in retrospect, the numbers he put up post-age 33 do look a bit suspect:  http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/palmera01.shtml .
 
That said, remember that he was the first active pro-player that did ads for Viagra.  Maybe he just had "low T".

When an athlete, or someone who excerises alot gets tested, hormones are high. End of story.

AND-good for Ryan Braun-fought for what was right.

ann peeples


When an athlete, or someone who excerises alot gets tested, hormones are high. End of story.

 
You're not serious, are you?   Have you read anything about this story, or steroid testing in general?  A average epitestosterone ratio is 1:1.  A high normal one is 4:1.  According to reports, Braun's was somewhere between 20:1 and 30:1- making it pretty clear that something was awry.  The sample was sealed in a tamper-proof bag in a tamper-proof box.  Braun won his case on a technicality, not because he proved that he didn't have something foreign in his system.  That's a fact.  End of story.
 

The only thing Ryan Braun will ever test positive for is TOO MUCH MOJO.

Too bad for you Bartman.

Will the madness ever end?
 
I heard a major investigation is underway, looking into the possibility that two Roadfood Champs may have been "doping" on their last eating tour.  If true, they will be stripped of their trophies and have to perform community service as busboys at Olive Garden.
 

 
Say it ain't so

Re: Braun -  whatever, whatever; whether or not; why and how will come out with the wash.
 
May God's Gift, delivered upon prayer and supplication from the knees of our founders, the Constitution of the United States of America, continue to Bless "We the People".
 
 
 
 

JRPfeff


The only thing Ryan Braun will ever test positive for is TOO MUCH MOJO. 

If MOJO is a steroid, you're absolutely right.
 
I remember how vehemently the Giants fans defended Barry Bonds' as well.

saps

JRPfeff


The only thing Ryan Braun will ever test positive for is TOO MUCH MOJO. 

If MOJO is a steroid, you're absolutely right.

I remember how vehemently the Giants fans defended Barry Bonds' as well.

What did Bonds ever do that was against the "Rules of the Game" as they were then written?
 
Yes, once one has reached the age of 30, one's hat and shoe size is pretty much fixed for life. 
 
Bonds' sizes increased. 
 
And I think we agree that was not from just "working out".
 
OK?
 
We agree.
 
But again: what did Bonds ever do that was against the "Rules of the Game" as they were then written?
 
Yet again still, ex post facto "laws" are absolutely forbidden under the Constitution.
 
BTW: for several reasons I think Barry Bonds is an a$$hole.
 
But "a$$holery" is not a crime.  
 
He is my fellow Citizen.
 
Though - in Bonds' case - my teeth may grit, my hand will not falter if called again to protect and defend the Constitution.  
  
 

Jim- anabolic steroids have been illegal in the U.S. since around 1990.  That's why Balco and Victor Conte were such a big deal- they broke the law, as Bonds did by illegally obtaining and using them.  MLB and it's players obviously fall under the jurisdiction of U.S. law.  There isn't and never was any special dispensation that allowed players to use steroids in baseball while there was already federal law forbidding it.  In fact, Faye Vincent sent memos to the clubs and players union in 1991 reminding them that steroids were illegal:
 
 "This memorandum sets forth Baseball's drug policy." "The possession, sale or use of any illegal drug or controlled substance by Major League players or personnel is strictly prohibited.... This prohibition applies to all illegal drugs ... including steroids or prescription drugs for which the individual in possession of the drug does not have a prescription."
 
   The only thing that really changed was that testing was put in place in 2004 and there were provisions made for suspensions.