Phillies and Papelbon agree to deal

Weird. They were reportedly on the verge of re-signing Ryan Madson for $44 mil over 4 years, and I'm sure they are paying Papelbon more than that. I don't get it at all. Papelbon has been slipping in the past few years, and the Red Sox collapse was hardly his fault, but he did blow it in the most important game of the year for them. I think I'd rather have Madson

Also a sports radio personality in Miami is saying Jose Reyes to the Marlins at 3 years, $20m+ per year is basically a done deal. The Marlins are also meeting with Albert Pujols on Monday.

Wacko.

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These leaked earlier today. Miami Marlins to unveil new uniforms and logos at 8pm central.

Those look so bush league.

i kinda like the big M's on the hats

Better than their other ones.

it sounds like miami's trying to break the bank, but i doubt the reyes report. hanley doesn't look like a natural third baseman to me, and i would be more concerned about relief pitching if i were them.

Pappelbon has post-season experience, is an intriguing player, and is still young. Why wouldn't you want him?

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Padres updated their Uniforms yesterday but its nothing too exciting. Essentially getting rid of the sand colored uniform, adding the collar/placket piping, and adding the Blue alternate with left peck logo.

The Home Whites now have this version of the swinging friar on their arm:
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And then these are new primary logos:
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The stadium logo is on their Alternate Blue jersey, and the Road grey. Not sure why this logo was created, its a not a new building and its a real lame logo to have on your jersey.

Blue Jays new uniforms come out later this month, but the updated logo leaked a while back. Original Blue jay on the left, new on the right:
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yeah that Marlins "M" is really great looking. uniforms are getting real bland looking

I wouldn't mind that "M" if the fish wasn't there. The fish looks like some sort of metal Boat badge.

That orange jersey is an Alt. by the way, they will wear Black on the road. I also would like this uniform a lot more if Black wasn't use anywhere on it.

Padres uni's are borrrring compared to their classics:
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yeah i want more of that type of weird shit.

Man, thank god Toronto is going back to that original logo. About time.

Pitbull is performing live at the Marlin uniform unveiling! The pre-recorded portion just said "Bitch I'm worldwide!"

I bet you that punk Reyes doesn't even look at the Twins 2 yr $11 million offer.

$11 million a year to play baseball? He should be crawling on his hands and knees to Minneapolis.

That wouldn't be very good for his knees.

No biggie Twins can take days off whenever they want.

some of you guys are funny. not in an intentional way though.

Papelbon is nowhere near as lights out as he was, and has faltered in big games lately. He will be 31 in a couple weeks, so he's not young by baseball standards. They were better off keeping Madson at 11. This makes him the highest paid closer in baseball besides Mariano Rivera (who is actually worth the money) but he has the most total in a contract for a closer ever. He is not the best closer ever. Then again, neither was BJ Ryan when he became the record holder a few years back. I just don't get paying Papelbon 12.5 a year when they had Madson for 11.

I am skeptical of the Reyes/Miami claim too, but at the same time I could easily see Han Ram playing 3rd or CF. His defense is not very good, so he probably shouldn't play shortstop any more either way.

madness! madness! madness!

Why is it not a $50-80 million dollar premium to join the AL.

This probably means the days of the pitcher batting in the NL are numbered, another change that was bound to happen eventually.

I just hope like heck that they get rid of the all star game determining home field advantage. It definitely decided the world series this year, which is totally fucked.

I don't think this means more interleague really, it just means there won't be that one odd NL-only series that's always going on while the rest of the teams play interleague. That's not really noticeable.

I don't quite get all the anger about homefield in the World Series. Before the current system, it was just switched between the leagues every year. How is that any better?

I like the AL brand of baseball better. If I wanted to see pitcher's hit, I'd watch the WNBA. I can appreciate the extra strategy involved, but it requires some stupid roster moves and it seems to come down to which team has the better bullpen.

Damn 9/11, I guess you are right, I always thought it was winningest record gets homefield advantage. My argument is null and void. Sorta. Just feels weird to have a game that meaningless end up determining the fate of the world series.

More on the changes, I guess the 2 wild card teams idea is already set in stone

Also, Jim Crane sounds like a stand up guy:

"Selig is expected to recommend that Crane be approved, after satisfying baseball officials who had concerns about past discrimination complaints and war profiteering charges."

The only thing worse than Mauer getting $23 million would be the Pohlads keeping it.

I hope Cuban gets the Dodgers.

Boris is dropping truth bombs all over this thread.

No bye Soapy, 2 wild card teams play a 1 game playoff, winner plays #1 team regardless of divisional affiliations (I believe). At least that was the plan for now.

And that plan is beyond stupid. All it does is give the #1 seed an even bigger advantage, the WC teams will have to use their #1 pitcher and they won't get to start at the top of their rotation in the divisional series.

STUPID.

Wow, that really fucks the most exciting teams of the playoffs. For sad!

A one game playoff is definitely worse than a bye.

The Astros should revert back to their original name with the move to the AL.
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The one game playoff idea is the single weirdest brand of Artificial Excitment I have ever seen in sports. Unless the teams are tied, I see no point for this to exist. Just wait for Wild Card 1 to be like 10 games ahead of Wild Card 2, WC2 wins that one game then gets swept in the playoff against the #1 team.

If the idea is for more butts in the seats and more tv time, why not just make the first round of the playoffs 7 games rather than 5?

It hasn't been determined to be a 1 game playoff yet, but it is expected to be either a 1 game or 3 game playoff, and there will be 2 wild card teams per league. 1 game or best of 3 both suck. They should either add 2 teams to each side and have a bye for the top 2 seeds, which would be worse than the current format but better than any 5 playoff team per league proposal I have seen, or just not fuck with it.

The reason Crane gave for asking for a discount is that with the move to the AL West, the Astros will have 3 teams on the west coast in their division which means more late telecasts.

Why not just have the final season end and whomever has the best record wins the title. If there is a tie, those two play against each other ONCE to decide the best record.

Playoffs are a gimmick.

Europe will play the national anthem at every game in the final season

The parade for the World Champion Florida Marlins (82-80) is going to be awesome.

Despite best free agent market for closers in years, Matt Capps' agent says "he's going to be closing somewhere"

Unfortunately somewhere might be Minnesota, as Terry Ryan has been talking with Matt Capps agent. Please god no. Noooo.

The parade for the World Champion Florida Marlins (82-80) is going to be awesome.

*ahem* Miami Marlins.

I agree, they would have been a better fit, but that would have meant 2 teams changing divisions instead of 1.

Oh yeah, good point. I forgot about the overcrowded NL Central.

Two teams switch, big deal. It's called grep.

On the other hand, I suppose it makes sense for the two Texas teams to have some kind of division rivalry.

I personally would love to see Colorado join the AL West and clean the clocks of some of those wimpy west coast AL West teams, but then I would become a bit conflicted because the Rockies are my NL team, in general.

Orioles are changing their cap logo to an updated Cartoon Bird like in the good ol' days.

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that is awesome

I don't like this era of retro baseball logos and uniforms. I'm sure the world will get by without my approval though.

HOW DARE YOU

That oriole seems racist to me.

Apparently the Nationals are so interested in Ryan Madson that they are trying to trade Drew Storen, who has 4 years of team control left. They still want Denard Span too. I'd be more willing to let him go now that he has gone and concussed hisself. Considering they need huge amounts of bullpen help and a closer is the most expensive piece, that would be a great deal for the twins.

yes! i love that oriole! i need a new orioles hat now

That Oriole is a classic Shylock image.

Isn't it kinda racist that the hat that oriole is wearing doesn't have the new logo on it? Are they trying to tell us that the mighty oriole is some kind of second class citizen who doesn't deserve up to date sports apparel?

i actually like the other orioles logo too. i have one of those hats too

Orange jerseys are back, too. Sharp.

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These are the two previous Cartoon Orioles used, note that neither bird is wearing the hat the players were wearing:

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The new Cap with new Bird:

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Kershaw wins NL Cy. These Cy Young voters are alright! They've gotten it right for the past 3 years.

I heard some radio people giving Matt Kemp some "best player in the game" dap the other day, which is funny because he was hitting like .240 or something when he was porking Rihanna. I guess the lesson is to not pork Rihanna.

fuck that!
pork rihanna a bunch

gotta put the team before yourself

do it for her

the goal of bring a world series championship home to the fans of los angeles dies under rihanna's umbrella, do not let her panties touch thou floor.

No you won't.

But that really sucks.

The one game part of it is not official yet, but a 3 game playoff between WC teams is not much better.

The only thing a one-game playoff proves is the ineptitude of MLB leadership. Still, I'd blame the compelling 163rd games by the Twins for this.

Yeah, that's the one good thing about this. Hopefully. I haven't heard that but I am assuming that's what happens.

I don't think fair is a part of this Soapy, but yes, there will be a game 163 before the wild card playoff in the event of a tie.

It doesn't really matter if the cut off is 4 or 5, there will still be the same number of Game 163s. Of course this year we wouldn't have had one of the greatest days of baseball in the history of the game if this were in effect, but over the years the races for the #5 spot have been just as tight as the races for the #4 spot in a league.

But I'm just being devil's advocate here. This is an awful, awful thing, but it will take a lot more than this to get me to stop watching baseball. I've kinda given up the other sports and don't intend on going back.

Guys, it's cool. Souhan thinks these changes are good. Those who think otherwise are just nostalgists who fear any kind of change.

This is such an odd idea. But the demand will be there for sure, it will put butts in seats and eyes on the TV. How far out would expansion happen you think to add 2 more teams a side? Then they will have 4 division winners in each side, maybe that will eliminate the need for WC all togethor.

It is not clear if the 2 wild card team postseason will start this season or 2013. Wouldn't make much sense to start while the AL still has fewer teams, but then again, Selig is involved.

Expansion seems so unlikely right now. I don't know what market would take it right now.

The weird thing about the Souhan column is how much he keeps talking about how good it is that the Astros and Rangers will be rivals and that separating the two Texas teams was "ridiculous." That's the dumbest logic I've ever heard and I'm not really all that opposed to switching leagues except that it seems to mean that interleague is here to stay and that it also probably means that the DH will be coming to the NL in the near future for roster reasons alone. But this idea that the Rangers and Astros shouldn't be separated can only logically mean that the Yankees and Mets, White Sox and Cubs, Royals and Cardinals, and Marlins and Rays, and Dodgers and Angels should be in the same league to. How asinine.

The star tribune writers are some of the biggest dummies in sports journalism.

LaVelle Neal was one of 2 voters who left Pedro Martinez off his MVP ballot in 1999.

I don't mind leaving pitchers off your MVP ballot, even though I disagree. There's an argument there, at least. But Souhan and Reusse are some of the worst I've seen. I always enjoyed Barreiro's columns, but he really left some bare cabinets behind.

I wouldn't assume expansion for like 10-15 years - but I would assume there is at least two markets with out a baseball team that could handle one by that time. Portland? Carolina? OKC? Tennessee?

Portland almost got the Expos. I still think Des Moines would be an ideal candidate.

I love Reusse in a lot of ways. But I cannot defend all of his writing. But he is cut in the old mold of seeing a newspaper's jog of comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. But, I think he's just gotten kind of lazy and reactionary with his writing in the last few years. Most of his columns just seem like quick shots from the hip. Sometimes he hits his mark, often he doesn't.

Souhan is a fraud. Every sentence in his writing is so intentional and crafted. And he misses the mark so much cause he has such a clumsy hand and a deaf ear.

a ball team in des moines would be cool i think

Is a team in Mexico 2 crazy 2 consider?

Sioux Falls!

Not a fan of the one game. It gives a huge benefit to Division winners in terms of setting up a playoff rotation. And why move Houston? They should move MIL back. Silly Selig.

Des Moines would get an NHL team before an MLB team... probably along the lines of the Coyotes or Panthers relocating there for about five years to be called the "Shuckers."

Then they'd either fold or move to Hamilton, ON.

Verlander wins MVP!! The Voters got it right!

Hank Aaron award?

If there were a Cy Young for hitters I would agree to a pitcher winning the MVP. Game, set, match.


There isn't a Cy Young for hitters though. That's not the fault of pitchers. Either change the name of the award or come up with a new one for batters only or put more stock in the Hank Aaron award, whatever that is. Game, set, rematch.

Bautista was head and shoulders better than anyone else.

He most definitely was not. What metrics are you using to say this?

Home Runs? He was the league leader by 2.
OPS? He led the league by 0.23. Miggy was #2, and no one was too close to either of them. Miggy's other numbers plus the fact that the Tigers made the playoffs put him easily ahead of JoBa

Neerrrrrd threeeaaad

You can argue which statistics are useful and which aren't, but how can you say Clayton Kershaw was more valuable to the Dodgers than Halladay was to the Phillies?

It's subjective :)

You guys ever listen to the song "California Girls"? I mean really listen. You gotta get hep. It's about the coming race war.

Whoa! I never knew, Soapy. Cool story bro.

I can see the headlines now

"Race war started in AL city over argument about NL Cy Young Award on an internet message board"

Joe Nathan signs for two+option with the Rangers.

Dang. Oh well, thanks for the memories Joe. Hope the twins don't go and do something stupid like signing Matt Capps now.

RIP Greg Halman

I think Feliz will do well as a starter. He will have some kind of innings limit I'm sure, but if he can be good as a starter and if Ogando can last longer into the season this year and they re-sign CJ Wilson, the Rangers are going to be hard to beat.

good job brew crew!

New labor agreement reached, no strikes looming....


but 10 team playoffs start next year

Lloyd kill me now

Plus, well, you know.

If Philip Roth's "The Great American Novel" is to be believed.

Plus, well, you know.

Jews control Milwaukee?


I do not like the slotting rules. Like SK said, more money for the owners, less money for the youngsters.

LA radio tells me that writers who vote for Braun over Kemp are so stupid and blind they shouldnt be allowed to vote.

Also, one could easily argue that any one who voted for Braun over Kemp is both racist and Zionist

I know of an mrmb-er named after Mr. Mack.

Whoa! That's amazing. Lucky kid.

One of my fantasy baseball leagues is called "shanemack"

I'm a little late to this but Matt Kemp really, really should have been MVP. Ryan Braun's numbers get boosted by the fact that pitchers can't pitch around him because Prince Fielder is batting behind him. Kemp's numbers are much more impressive if you take that into consideration, and that doesn't even address the fact that Kemp had higher Hit, Run, RBI, HR, and SB totals.

Jon Broxton to the Royals. 1 year deal. How cute of them. Both of them.

Twins and Royals are going to be duking it out for 4th place in the AL Central. I love their line up, but their pitching is god awful. Still sad to say they are probably in a better position than the Twins are in the year we will come to know as 2012.

Bobby Valentine will be managing the Red Sox. I guess I should post how this will make it even easier to hate the Red Sox, which is kind of true. But I actually kind of of found myself picking up a lot of what Valentine was laying down doing radio color commentary during the playoffs this past season. I felt like he was actually explaining some inside baseball stuff and on the field stuff in a matter of fact manner that wasn't ego driven or filled with cliches. It surprised me.

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I don't know too many Red Sox fans who are happy about this move. Then again, I don't know too many Red Sox fans in general.

Are Red Sox fans ever happy?

Still, not a Valentine fan. Except for the costume incident.

Heath Bell to the Marlins. 3 years, $27 mil.

For as good a closer as he has been, they got a pretty good deal on him. I'd much rather have Heath Bell then J-Paps.

So I guess the Marlins actually are going to spend money. I was starting to think all those free agent visits they paid for were just PR moves so their cheapskate owner could tell fans that he tried to spend more money, but the big meanies didn't want to play in Miami.

<a href=" http://m.bbref.com/m?p=XXminorsXXplayer.cgiQQid=marque001eri">Ericdavis Marquez: greatest name ever</a>.

There is no other phone

Reyes to Marlins is happening. Wow. They need one or two more pitchers and need a decent comeback from Josh Johnson, but they are going to be really good.

Apparently now the Marlins are offering Pujols a 10 year contract.

Jon Heyman says they are "trung hard" to get Pujols

This is probably a typo of some sort, but trung hard is my new favorite thing in life as of 30 seconds ago.

whoa whoa whoa 10 years? player coach pujols!?

Maybe they are dumb enough to think that he'll retire before the end of the contract.

Now correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Fountain of Youth supposed to be down there in F-L-A?

10 years is kind of irrelevant without the money figure. The Cardinals were offering 200-210 for 9 years. I'd imagine the deal would have to be in the $230 million range for Pujols to want to take it.

But...holy shit! I was wrong about the Marlins just trying to blow some smoke up their fans asses.

I smell a fire sale in 2 years.

I had no idea Buehrle was only 32. He hinted at retirement like a year ago.

Pujols to the Angels for ten years.

HOLY FUCK! $250-260 mil. It makes much more sense for him to play in the AL with a 10 year contract, because there is at least a reasonable possibility he will be able to DH into his 40s.

i'm kinda stoked about having Pujols in the AL.

Angels are STILL going after CJ Wilson too. With Weaver, Haren, and CJ Wilson, they would easily have the best rotation in the AL

Pujols got a full no trade clause.

This is nuts.

Wow.
The Angels already had 2 first basemen and they don't really have a corner OF or DH spot to push anyone into. Not that any of those guys should preclude a team from adding Pujols, but I'm very interested to see whether and when Morales, Trumbo, Abreu or even Hunter will get put on the trading block.

CJ Wilson to the Angels.

Unbelievabah

I thought Abreu had an option vest or something to lock him in LA for another year.
Anyway, it's still a crowded house when Trout shows up at mid-season. All in all that's a good problem to have.

CJ Wilson's deal is 5 years, approximately $75 million. Crazy that Buehrle got $14.5 million a year in a state with no income taxes and CJ got only 1 extra year and $15 mil.

CJ is 31. Shit. I thought he was younger than that.

Think Anaheim will sell low on Kendry?

I could see that happening. There's really no where on the field he can play for them. They will probably be at 155-160 in payroll right now, they will get rid of a few players before the season starts I'm thinking.

All you Matt Kemp boosters can shut up now, it's clear who wanted it more.

holy crap!

I have Zionism jokes for this.

more like Triskaidek-vio Dotel amirite

All you Matt Kemp boosters can shut up now, it's clear who wanted it more.

Hahahaha

And suddenly it becomes clear why the Rangers didn't do anything yet this offseason.

They spent 51.7 million for the rights to negotiate with Yu Darvish, who unlike Matsuzaka or Nomo, actually projects to be a dominant pitcher in the majors. He's only 25, and pretty much all of his seasons in Japan are better than either of the other two's best Japanese seasons. He has 3 excellent pitches and 2 other very good pitches. He's 6'5. I think he's going to be really good for them, if they can come to a contract agreement.

so much stupid money

Related to the first post in this thread:

Reds sign Ryan Madson to a 1 year, 8.5 million dollar deal. I'm sure the Phillies are glad they got a jump on the closer market. hahahahaha

Soapy you just made me cry. who you think should be in there? Alan Trammal!?!?!?! as women say on the internet le sigh

Yes, let's make arguments that steroids don't help players, and kick Kirby Puckett out of the Hall Of Fame. That sounds like the kind of world I want to live in. That's just beautiful.

The argument is not that steroids don't help players, but that the hall is already full of cheaters. And rapists.

No, Soapy has some weird thing about steroids having nothing to do with the spike in power numbers around a decade ago. Old argument. Also, he kills prostitutes.

Something always struck me as odd about Fausto. He never seemed like a real Fausto.

According to a report by broadcaster Yancen Pujols, Indians' right-hander Fausto Carmona was arrested in his native Dominican Republic for using a false identity.
The story was passed along by Jorge Arangure of ESPN Deportes. Maximo Baez Aybar, who handles PR for the Dominican police, confirms that Carmona (whose real name is actually Roberto Hernandez Heredia) was arrested outside the consulate while trying to secure a work visa. Details are still pouring in, but remember that right-hander Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly known as Leo Nunez) was able to avoid jail time in the Dominican Republic after faking his identity and the Marlins signed him to a new contract this week. However, he is still trying to get his visa situation figured out and similar issues could prevent Carmona/Heredia from reporting to spring training on time. Stay tuned for further developments.


Also, Yu Darvish signs 6 year deal for $60 million. He's going to be good. I think.

just heard that, ouch

The Tigers will be paying 2 1st basemen who can barely play first base $45 million through 2016.

Unbelivabo.


In other news: Even though I hate Tony LaRussa, I think it is cool that he will coach the NL All Star team next season.

cabrearra played third at the marlins, can he even remotely handle that position anymore?

No, but that doesn't mean they won't start him there, and besides they will probably score enough runs that it won't matter.

Victor Martinez is likely out for the season, which means Cabrera of Fielder can have the DH spot.

Huh. I should be more excited about this, but. . .huh.

This looks great on paper for the Tigers but I bet it ends very, very badly.

I agree, but my worry is that the end won't start until several years from now. They will be regretting this deal eventually, but for now it's pretty stellar.

Scott Boras is a genius. No one heard a word that the Tigers were in. This was the first I heard that they were in on Fielder at all.

One of them will DH, sure, but that's a lot of money for a DH, and what happens when they get to the world series?

son of a BITCH

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Edwin Jackson to the Nationals. Watch out now, they might be a Wild Card B team!

I almost feel bad for the Nationals, bidding on everybody the last 3 years and not getting anyone.

Well you are probably the only person who feels bad for a team that has Stephen Strasburg AND Bryce Harper

They did get Jayson Werth. hahahahhaahahahaha

AJ Burnett to the Rays pending league approval is the scuttlebutt. That...surprises me.

Pirates?

i thought pirates as well

Definitely Pirates.

Yanks are paying $20m of the remaining $33m of his salary, and are getting back 2 nothing special prospects, which I would say is a steal for the Yanks.

Heh, whoops. Whenever I see "Bucs" I think Tampa Bay.

As a Pirates fan this is even worse news.

Ehhh whateva. He'll probably be decent for that team. I read this morning that the average drop in ERA from a pitcher leaving the AL East to any other division in baseball is more than 1 run, and he is moving to one of the shittier divisions in baseball, which just lost 2 superstar batters.

Just bummed he's not on the yanks anymore.

Salient points, all.

$13 mil for 2 years of AJ Burnett in the NL Central ain't bad

ERA drops for pitchers who left AL East recently

Small sample size on that second link, but still worth noting.

This plus loss of Fielder-protected at-bats = sell, sell, sell

As a white Jewish man, I am happy for him.

As a baseball fan, I am skeptical.

So conflicted.

So he got off on a technicality (sample wasn't sent to Montreal right away, instead waited 48 hours) and he apparently took a test after finding out about the failure that showed normal testosterone leves.

The Pirates getting Burnett is a good move on their part. Let's not forget the Pirates suck. They have maybe one decent pitcher. Plus Burnett going from one of the toughest division in baseball to one that is mildly competitive as a whole should give him some confidence. He'll easily be number one or two in that rotation easy.

My apologies. Upon further investigation, Ryan Zimmerman is not, in fact, Jewish.

As a punishment for my mistake I will now kill myself. It won't happen again.

I can't wait to Boooooooraun

Oh for sure, he's going to get torn apart for the rest of his career for this, especially being an MVP caliber player for a team in the Midwest. It seems like baseball is the worst sport with this kind of thing.

A couple of points I am unclear on:
1. I've heard some reports that Braun says he offered to take a DNA test to prove whether of not the first sample, the one that tested positive for high testosterone, was his or not. I don't know if this is true, and if it is why MLB declined the DNA test.

2. Uncle Jam, what do you mean when you say the MLB leaked the results of the failed test. I guess I don't know the policy on this. Was it a leak or are all results made public?

3. I've heard that the original test was taken on a Friday night and that because of that the sample was not able to immediately be brought to a Fed Ex location to be shipped to the testing lab. Therefore the sample taker kept the sample in a refrigerator until Monday when it was shipped. This is the crux of the argument that MLB did not follow policy, right? Even though Braun is not alleging that the sample could have been mistakenly switched or contaminated in the weekend before it was shipped. I guess I don't know what Braun's claim to innocence is. If he offered to take a DNA test, that indicates he feels the sample wasn't his. Yet he also, I believe, states that he doesn't think anything happened to the sample while it sat over the weekend, but only that this fact violated the policy.

It being someone else's urine sample is the best defense I have heard, and would square with Braun's subsequent clean test. The containers are supposed to be tamper proof and I'd imagine they use the same couriers, because they are specially trained, and I'm assuming this is not the courier's first trip to the piss rodeo.

He got the sample on Saturday night, not Friday. Here's MLB's drug testing policy Page 38-39 is where you want to look. It does say samples can be stored in a cool, secure location if immediate shipping is not available, so technically the policy was followed, but it is not specific on how long the courier can wait. I have to imagine there was a FedEx/Kinkos location that was open on Sunday, and I believe Braun's lawyers argument was that he could have sent it Saturday night because there was a FedEx/Kinkos open 24/7.

For a failed drug test, players are allowed a chance to appeal before they are suspended, and it is supposed to remain confidential until the player fails the appeal. I don't think Braun was ever officially suspended. There have probably been several successful appeals by lesser known players that we never heard about.

I would think that would be visually identifiable.

Recap of press conference with Braun:

Ryan Braun News Conference (02/24/2012)

Friday February 24, 2012
11:56 We're on the field and in the front row here at Maryvale Baseball Park for Ryan Braun's news conference.
Friday February 24, 2012 11:56
11:56 The assembled media -- and it's a large group, predictably -- is making its way down.
Friday February 24, 2012 11:56
11:57 Braun arrived around 9:35 local time, and not long thereafter addressed his teammates in a players-only meeting in the clubhouse.
Friday February 24, 2012 11:57
11:58 Not a cloud in the sky here in Phoenix, and about 80 degrees. Far cry from the weather back in Milwaukee, I've been told.
Friday February 24, 2012 11:58
12:00 Perhaps in a show of support for Braun, a large number of Brewers players are taking seats in the stands behind the media.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:00
12:01 Interesting to be on the field for once, with players in uniforms sitting behind us in the stands.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:01
12:02 This is beat writer Todd Rosiak providing the play-by-play, by the way. Tom Haudricourt is asking questions.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:02
12:02 Braun appears in street clothes, and is making an opening statement.

Friday February 24, 2012 12:02
12:02 Braun is thanking the Brewers organization, including owner Mark Attanasio and his teammates.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:02
12:02 Attanasio is "everything that's good about the game today."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:02
12:03 Braun thanking not only his teammates, but also athletes in other sports who have supported him.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:03
12:03 Braun also thanks the fans -- especially those who kept a neutral stance.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:03
12:03 Braun reading off some prepared notes to start.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:03
12:04 "If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I'd be the first one to step up and say, 'I did it.' "
Friday February 24, 2012 12:04
12:04 "I'd bet my life that this substance never entered my body at any point."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:04
12:04 Braun now says he won't be able to get into all the details of the case today.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:04
12:05 "There were a lot of times I wanted to come out and tell the entire story. But I realized what was best for the game of baseball, and put that ahead of myself."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:05
12:05 "I learned a long time ago to stop questioning life. I have yet to figure out what the reason for this is, but I'm not questioning it."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:05
12:05 "Today is about all players -- all current players and all future players in the game of baseball."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:05
12:06 "Never had a personal medical issue...never had an STD."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:06
12:06 Yes, Braun just said that.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:06
12:06 Braun also referred to ESPN as "that network".
Friday February 24, 2012 12:06
12:06 "The truth is on my side and at the end of the day, the truth prevailed."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:06
12:07 "Today is about making sure that this never happens to anybody else in this game."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:07
12:07 Initial test result was Oct. 1. Made aware of positive test on Oct. 19.
Friday February 24, 2012 12:07
12:08 Braun said he initially talked with the players' association and said that "I did not do this."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:08
12:08 "I opened up my life to them. I told them I would be happy to take any and every test to prove I didn't do this."
Friday February 24, 2012 12:08
12:09 Braun said he was told the test result was three times higher than any previous test result in the history of MLB's drug testing. Friday February 24, 2012 12:09
12:09 Braun said he proved he didn't gain a single pound through recorded weigh-ins with the Brewers during the season. Friday February 24, 2012 12:09
12:09 Also used a lot of documented information to defend him. Friday February 24, 2012 12:09
12:10 Braun had been tested 25 times over the course of his career prior to the positive test. Friday February 24, 2012 12:10
12:10 Braun said he was told "None of this makes sense to anybody." Friday February 24, 2012 12:10
12:10 But the burden of proof was on Braun to prove he was innocent. Friday February 24, 2012 12:10
12:10 Now Braun is getting into the chain of custody issue. Friday February 24, 2012 12:10
12:11 The detail Braun has here is incredible. Make sure to check back here later for the transcript -- we'll have it all. Friday February 24, 2012 12:11
12:13 "Why didn't he bring it in? Why was there zero documentation? Why did he wait 44 hours to turn it in?" Friday February 24, 2012 12:13
12:15 "If they were motivated, it would be extremely easy," said Braun, recounting discussions he had with doctors and scientists when his team asked how easy it would be to tamper with a sample. Friday February 24, 2012 12:15
12:15 Braun now ready to answer questions. Friday February 24, 2012 12:15
12:15 He did say he is considering legal action, although he didn't specify against whom. Friday February 24, 2012 12:15
12:15 How do you explain such a high reading? Friday February 24, 2012 12:15
12:16 "I am 100 percent certain it did not come from my system. I don't have any idea." Friday February 24, 2012 12:16
12:16 ESPN's Pedro Gomez asks a question. He answers it. Friday February 24, 2012 12:16
12:16 "I respect their opinion and their position," he said when asked about MLB's response. Friday February 24, 2012 12:16
12:17 Braun is asked about the collector, and he won't answer that because of potential ongoing litigation. Friday February 24, 2012 12:17
12:17 What is Braun doing to investigate the leak? Friday February 24, 2012 12:17
12:18 "I certainly hope so. But we don't know anything with any kind of certainty." Friday February 24, 2012 12:18
12:18 "I've lived this nightmare every day for the last four months." Friday February 24, 2012 12:18
12:18 "I'm not dumb enough to pretend it's going to go away." Friday February 24, 2012 12:18
12:19 Braun says he found out about the arbitration victory yesterday, sometime around the middle of the day. Friday February 24, 2012 12:19
12:20 "I recognize it's not going to be easy. It's going to be a challenge," Braun says when asked if he thinks he'll be able to restore what had been a squeaky-clean image. Friday February 24, 2012 12:20
12:20 Another ESPN questioner. I'm surprised Braun is entertaining them. Friday February 24, 2012 12:20
12:20 "When you know that you're innocent of something, it's an extremely difficult thing to prove when you're 100 percent guilty until proven innocent." Friday February 24, 2012 12:20
12:21 Braun has really been an open book to this point. Impressive. Friday February 24, 2012 12:21
12:21 "There's a lot of haters, a lot of people who have doubted me and continue to doubt me. To say I'm excited to get going would be a significant understatement." Friday February 24, 2012 12:21
12:22 Braun said his teammates have meant the world to him during the process. Friday February 24, 2012 12:22
12:22 "One of my biggest regrets is it should have been the time of my life, and I can't get that back." Friday February 24, 2012 12:22
12:22 Braun is asked about possibly correcting the drug program. Friday February 24, 2012 12:22
12:23 "The way it was applied to me was fatally flawed. I feel it was unjust and unfair. Beyond that, whether there are changes to be made, I think that's a possibility, yes." Friday February 24, 2012 12:23
12:23 "Hopefully it certainly helps our chances," Braun says about him being available for the entire season. Friday February 24, 2012 12:23
12:23 Braun is asked if he believes the collector tampered with his sample. Friday February 24, 2012 12:23
12:24 "Again, I don't know what happened to it during that 44-hour period. Beyond that, I know what it's like to be wrongly accused of something, and I certainly wouldn't accuse anyone." Friday February 24, 2012 12:24
12:25 Says he and his people have some beliefs and ideas about what happened with regard to the collection process, but he's not going to talk about that now. Friday February 24, 2012 12:25
12:25 We just got the "one more question" warning. Friday February 24, 2012 12:25
12:26 Braun talks about his teammates again. Friday February 24, 2012 12:26
12:26 Braun makes some closing comments. "I was proven innocent." Friday February 24, 2012 12:26
12:27 And Braun leaves the podium. Roughly 25 minutes long. Open, honest, answered virtually everything asked of him.




Also, I think this is now my official position:
I do think there's a strong possibility the enormous levels found in the test indicate some error. It's possible his representation didn't think they would be able to identify exactly what went wrong and rested their case on the thing they could for sure prove.

It sounds to me like Braun's people found the one thing they could argue and went with it, but I would be that even THEY are surprised that they won. It sounds like total bullshit to me. I bet a lot of people will be convinced that Braun is innocent just because he seems to confident and insistent that he is innocent. I'm not one of them.

That said, I'm fairly familiar with the world of urine testing, and I've seen staff at the lab fail to label samples and thus they were lost, but they could have been mixed up. Especially if they had multiple people dealing with multiple samples. It's unlikely, but even with this kind of testing, there is room for human error.

Still sounds like total bullshit though.

I don't get how he can show testosterone levels 3 times the highest ever MLB test, but then pass tests earlier in the season and one immediately after he found out he failed. Somethings not adding up. The sample was TARNISHED.

Also:
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On Slate's Hang Up and Listen podcast they said that the someone associated with the Montreal organization that conducts the lab test says that while the level of synthetic testosterone in the sample was indeed unusually high, but he had certainly seen similar and higher levels in non-MLB players.

I'll admit, I'm sort of a hawk on performance enhancing drugs. But I also am willing to err on the side of following procedural standards. That said, I think that the sample collector and the testers did follow the procedural standards. The collector and the media state that there wasn't an open FedEx place with 50 miles of the stadium, where the collection took place. So the guy stored it in a refrigerator for 48 hours and then shipped it. There was no sign of tampering with the seals. The delay would only serve to degrade the sample, not magically place synthetic testosterone in the sample.

I know this process isn't a court of law. But all of the reasonable doubt that Braun raised in his press conference is, in fact, unreasonable doubt. The narrow argument about a violation of procedure that he presented to the arbitrators was not even what he brought to the court of public opinion the other day. He is openly speculating that there was tampering. There is no reason to believe that given the lack of motive and the fact that the tamper proof seals were not broken.

And boo to the extra wild card.

MLB At Bat 12 is out today for iOS and Android devices.

Basic functions (which are extensive) are free, in-app purchases for mlb.tv is $124 for the season. I go with audio-only (all games, home and away and all alternate feeds, no blackouts) for $14.99 a year. The nice thing this year is I pay the $14.99 once and it applies to both iphone and iPad.

Oh, and another thing that I heard on Hang Up and Listen, it sounds like the original leak actually may have come from Braun's camp and not MLB. The story is that the leak came from someone that was contacted by Braun's people to act as a witness in the appeal.

There were indeed FedEx locations open within 50 miles of Miller Park, but it looks like their latest pick up times were 3:30 on Saturday, so it depends when the test was.

And the collector said he stored the sample on his desk in his basement, which he said is sufficiently cold enough to store urine samples.



MLB just charged me $120 for MLB.TV, those bums. Didn't realize it was a recurring payment thing, cancelled, hoping in short enough time to get a refund. It's really nice to have, I just didn't watch it enough last year. I'm thinking the iphone app is more up my alley.

Well of course I meant FedEx locations that were still open, but thanks Brauning me on the exactness.

What are you implying when you state that he had it out on his desk? Are you speculating that a urine sample left at room temperature would develop artificial testosterone? That seems pretty stupid to me.

I'm not implying anything, I am just saying he did not have it in his refrigerator.

I am also not a sports scientist or drug testing expert. Are you?

I am definitely getting the MLB At Bat app. I love listening to west coast games as I fall asleep. I wish I could figure out Vin Scully's radio schedule.

One feature that I always have high expectations for but ultimately don't like is the condensed game videos that they upload the morning after the game. They show the final pitch of every at bat, but there is no graphics to keep you up on the score or who the pitcher or batter is. It moves so fast that it is hard to follow.

The app has made great leaps every year, I wouldn't bet against them improving that experience.

Yes, boris, that's my hope.

I still wear my "Contract Bud" t-shirt from ten years ago. I have little affection for Selig.
















But I do love a good hate fuck.

I miss Peter

there's going to be additional stuffs in the app when your at parks this year too. rumor has it.

Who is Peter?

Yeah, they said some parks will let you order food to your seat via it.

I honestly wasn't implying anything. I typed it because you typed that he put it in his refrigerator, which was not true, according to the courier himself. He said his basement is cold and meets the drug policy requirement that the sample be stored in a cool, secure location, and that he has stored samples on his desk before.

I don't know shit about any of this, all I know is there seem to be unusual circumstances about this one, including a test Braun took shortly afterwards that didn't show any unusual testosterone levels.

Do I think Ryan Braun would be willing to risk a 50 game suspension and his entire legacy by taking a PED after passing 20+ drug tests in his career? Hell no.

Could he have done it? Maybe

Is there enough evidence for me to come to a conclusion on either side? Definitely not.

<i.Do I think Ryan Braun would be willing to risk a 50 game suspension and his entire legacy by taking a PED after passing 20+ drug tests in his career? Hell no.</i>

By that logic, why would any athlete take PEDs?

What we do know is that a sample he provided tested positive for synthetic testosterone. There is no evidence of tampering with the sample, even though Braun certainly raised that specter in a totally classless move.

I'm not claiming to be omniscient and know that he absolutely did take a PED. But there is more evidence that he did and the only defense, aside from procedural issues, is unreasonable doubt raised on behalf Ryan Braun himself.

all we know for sure is that dude crushed some balls last season, and it's okay to boo him now.

Any athlete would take PEDs to be as good at their sport as Ryan Braun is at baseball w/o PEDs. He has been one of the best offensive players in baseball since he broke into the league.

Although to be fair he totally crushed it in game 1 of the NLDS (the day of the test) with 2 singles and 1 double in 4 at bats, and had a 1.750 OPS for the day, well ahead of his career numbers. Musta been a PED.

It may be the only way to get neight to a Twins game.

JUST KIDDING!

and anti-herpes.

Totally agree with this

For those possessing the subscription, first radio game today at 2:05 local. Athletics hosting Mariners.

Picked up an older Pirates Starter jacket in perfect condition for $10 bucks. I will wear it a lot and cheer on a team I hope breaks .500 this year.

Awesome! Pirates have been my number 1 NL rooting interest since 1969.

I'm a diehard Penguins fan and Pirates are my #2. Have been losing interest in football more and more.

Question regarding the radio subscription, why not just download the TuneIn app and listen to the local coverage of it for free? I do it for the Pirates games and never had a problem.

I had no idea there was a free phone-based baseball audio option, for one team or any.

Still, $14.99 for all 2,700-odd mlb games at the ready is the no-brainiest no-brainer I ever no-brained.

I don't know anything about this TuneIn app. Is it actually get the over the air radio broadcast, or does it go to the radio station's streaming web site. Most radio stations do not stream their sports team broadcasts because the rights aren't owned by the radio station, but instead by the team.

It was decades that WCCO was the producer, and therefore owner, of Twins broadcasts. I think the Twins have produced it themselves for only about ten years. I could be way wrong on that...

The Pirates games are broadcasted on local stations and TuneIn allows you to easily search for which radio station you want and pick it up in really good quality. I hook up my iphone to my stereo at home and listen while watching TV. It has done the job for me but the MLB app is really cool too since I've been playing with it the first few minutes. I've been happy with NHL Gamecenter too.

Makes sense about the team owning it, perhaps Pittsburgh is the exception. Didn't know that.

So, do you know, does the app pick up the air broadcast, or the station streams?

I want mlb.tv just for Vin Scully, but all Dodger games will be blacked out for me, and I can't afford cable. I know he does radio too, and I certainly appreciate baseball on the radio, but I like watching things.

IF ANYONE EVER FIGURES OUT SCULLY'S RADIO SCHEDULE LET ME KNOW.

Heh, I've wondered about that too, stu. Steiner isn't bad at all, but Vin is something special.

Here's the best writeup I found on it stu http://smokinapps.com/app/tunein-radio-1/review/

From an article about Vin's return in 2012:

Scully said he considered cutting back his schedule, but at his wife's urging he decided to continue calling all Dodgers home games and road games against NL West and AL West opponents. He calls all nine innings of the team's television broadcasts, while the first three innings of his games are simulcast on the radio.

Yeah, I like that Steiner guy, but Scully is a legend. I like to fall asleep listening to John Miller or Scully, but Scully rarely comes up and I've scoured the Dodger's web site and Google for an explanation to what his radio schedule is and it never comes up. It's hard to search because he does have a specific schedule about no road games east of the Rockies, so that always shows up in search results.

Thanks, TVAsEyes. I've had total mlb.app tunnel vision, it's good to know options.

Just read your post boris. That might explain it as I usually tune in after 10pm which is about the 4th inning. Thanks.

82 years old. Broadcasts all nine innings. By himself.

When I lived in Oakland I used a card with my billing address in Iowa, and I could watch the A's and Giants, but eventually they figured me out.

Okay while it probably still holds true that article I quoted was about the then-upcoming 2011 season.

boris, remind me how old you are. I'm wondering if you remember what the roles of the Twins 1960s radio broadcast team were when it was Herb, Ray Christensen and Halsey Hall. My understanding is Halsey did the color commentary (but I don't know how he did it given he was really an "insider" to the game, just a personality), Herb did the play by play, but I don't know what Ray Christensen did. Was he kind of the host and do the sponsors and PSAs and lineup intros?

Sorry, I do remember Herb and Halsey (who came to the booth as a legit newspaperman) very well but them exclusively as far as the Twins are concerned. Ray's voice is with me forever but more as a football guy, and then Gopher everything. I can't imagine Ray's spare style was suited to anything but play by play.

Don Vogel had a funny "our ne-gros are beat-ing their negros" impression of Ray's basketball game calling.

I am FIFTY.

I thought you might be a bit young to remember Ray on the Twins games, but I'm not very sure when he stopped.

Thanks for asking. It got me looking at this short SABR remembrance of Halsey Recommded.

Speaking of SABR, their annual convention is in Minneapolis this year. I am tempted to go to at least some of it.

Moneyball was a baseball movie about baseball.

Also: The twins eliminated the A's during a DAY game, and the game lasted more than 30 seconds.

It seems the less people care about baseball the more they liked Moneyball.

I liked Moneyball quite a bit, actually. I thought it was cool that they got the GM names right!

I haven't read the book but I think maybe Soapy's gripe has more to do with the book then the movie? I'm not sure? They could have shown a more recent A's season and had made a more effective point about the effectiveness of moneyball.

I haven't seen it yet, but wasn't the whole challenge and maybe even the point of making that movie to make men talking about baseball and math interesting to a wide audience, not just baseball fans and mathematicians?

Tell that to the academy awards! (did moneyball win any?)

not one, actually.

Tell that to the golden globes?

The Marlins president seems like a pretty good guy.

deposit for the 9/11 LAWM spank bank

The nice weather is making it seem like I should be able to wake up on Sunday and watch an officially sanctioned regular season baseball game.

Not so.

I got the fever!

Andy Pettitte is coming back I guess. Taking a page from Roger Clemens, the most beloved man in baseball.

Is he going to be the number one starter over Baker and Liriano?

I'm surprised he "retired" in the first place. He was still pretty effective in 2010. Roy Oswalt is also taking a page from Roger Clemens, working out and staying in shape in the hopes that he gets signed mid season, and I'm sure he will.

I just don't see why these GMs sign such long term deals. I guess it's because it takes two parties to negotiate and the players generally have more leverage in these negotiations.

Less risk for a batter than for a pitcher, I guess, but yeah, it's getting pretty nuts. It's really only happening for the very top tier of superstars, but they definitely have the leverage because if their team doesn't give them a huge deal, someone else will.

Yikes the new Marlins ballpark. A cookie-cutter design this is not, gotta say that much for it.

I wonder if they can chroma key out all the green. That would be pretty cool.

ohhhh <falsetto> yooo hoooo, timesquaaad!</falsetto>

Duuuude, I can watch Dodger and Angel games on MLB.tv on my Roku player. I hope this lasts. Did not foresee spending time with my kindly grandfather Vin Scully this evening, but I am, and I am very happy.

I envy you, sir.

IMHO Marlins have the best park now.
They did not half-ass cater to the local audience..they just went for it. I want to be the celebration sign operator.

I'd have to sit in it, but yeah that sign is balls-out.

I have a bad feeling that's a temporary thing 9/11 but I hope not for your sake!

MLB Network showed some of the Dodgers/Padres yesterday, I could listen to him call games all day and most of the night. Had MLB.TV the last 2 years, decided against it this year. No Scully for me 'cept for MLB Network.

Apparently he said diarrhea a few times yesterday w/r/t Kershaw.

AL Cy Young - Francisco Liriano


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U-Jim has a no-no going through 6 1/3, but he has 3 walks and 88 pitches already.

He said he was going to pitch mad because of his suspension.

OH SHIT somebody break those Tigers up!

Yeah. Shit's not cool.

Yanks and Red Sox are both 0-3, and there was much rejoicing in the streets.

Bad for the Twins but it's otherwise fucking awesome is what it is. AL

How can Detroit afford to fund their payroll the way they do? They can't have a tv contract that pays them that much. Their attendance figures are totally middle of the road...

rich owner(s)? its annoying because i think the pohlads are among the richest owners in MLB but keep the payroll just below 'competetive'

Illitch is a pizza tycoon. Little Ceasers pizza to be exact. Pretty sure their TV deal pays them better than the Twins deal pays the twins.

But it comes down to desire to have a winning team. No way the Illitchs are worth more than the Pohlads

What a weird story on ESPN...

Brewer's Rotation Not One of Baseball's Best

In other news, the Twins are not one of baseball's best teams.

That is kind of weird.

They do have a very solid rotation, one that I would love for the Twins to have, but I would rather have the rotation of all the teams in front of them on that list besides the White Sox.

Is this Ozzie Guillen story about Fidel Castro actually a controversy?

Every time I turn on ESPN radio they are talking about it and interviewing someone about it. I get the sense that it only matters to the dreaded "24 hours news cycle" and the asshole Miami Cuban-American community.

It's a controversy like Anthony Weiner's "dickpics" were a controversy. Although I expected Ozzie to go at least a few more weeks before saying something really stupid.

He was just suspended for 5 games by the Marlins.

Calling for his job is ludicrous. A dictator would have fired him over something he said, don't they see the irony there?

Last night on Baseball Tonight a CubAm analyst repeatedly likened Castro to Hitler.

Most of them were willing to sail the ocean on homemade boats to get away from him, so safe to say you can't praise Castro in Miami and get away with it. So it's on Ozzie. I haven't read much about it, but I get why it's a story. Miami is an extremely unique place, the story involves a famous dictator, Guillen has a reputation for saying anything, etc etc.

CubAm≠Marilelitos, not by a long shot.

This is their Elian Gonzalez moment.

Ozzie definitely should have been more aware of his surroundings. He spent a year coaching there so he should know better than to say that.

Miami knew what they were getting when they got Ozzie though. He put his foot in his mouth a lot quicker than I would have expected, but there was obviously going to be at least one controversy like this this year.

I think a 5 game suspension should more than settle it.

Anyway, thank god for MLB Network keeping me ESPN-free forfuckingever.

CubAm≠Marilelitos, not by a long shot.

Not sure what that means.

Watching MLB Network on game nights has been the #1 baseball-related experience of this baseball season thus far. But even they were talking about New York a lot last night.....at least it was the Mets.

I misspelled Marielito. My point is the Cuban ex-pats faux-riled about Ozzie Guillen know not from rafts, they trace their lineage to Bautista-era wealth and arrived here on yachts and jets.

Huh. In the story I saw on the local news last night, they'd replaced "motherfucker" with "[S.O.B.]".

So he's apologizing for calling Fidel Castro a motherfucker?

He said

"I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that (expletive) is still here."

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Dern was just coming to post that!!!!

Everyone's doing the Shoppach Shuffle!

SO GOOD, SO GOOD.

Brilliant deceptive baserunning on his part

That was his first major league steal, btw.

You see how he fake slides to confuse the fielder as to where the base is. It's called manufacturing runs, and it makes me want to masturbate.

True or ridiculously true: Jeff Samrdjzia is the best pitcher in baseball.

we should wait to make sure he makes it out of the 5th inning...

This is all part of his plan, stop doubting him.

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Bobby V tryin to get his fingers wet!

This was in an article on Yahoo on Bobby V calling out Youkilis.

In watching the Dodgers fairly close this year, I've come to the conclusion that Matt Kemp is very good at baseball.

Also, I wish that Vin Scully called NBA games, so I could hear him explain Marquis Daniels' tattoo of a guy blowing his head off that says "Only The Strong Survive," is his patented tone.

I'm gonna eat crow on Kemp. Maybe. I thought he would put up good numbers again this year but not quite as good as last year. Looks like he's going to do even better this year, which is pretty nuts. Barry Bonds of 2k12. Pre steroids.

So everyone out here thinks it's not even a debate that Kemp is the best player in baseball. Thoughts?

Also, I watched the Cain/Lee pitching matchup the other night, skipping the commercials, and it felt like about 45 minutes to watch the 9 innings. Crazy. Lee made it through the tenth, and I was sorta surprised Bochy didn't have Cain do that too.

I wouldn't say not even a debate, but yes, unless he has a huge drop off he is the best player in baseball

Phil "Johan" Humber is one out from a perfect game against the Mariners

craycray day - Humber's perfect one and the Yanquis scorin 12 and counting unanswered runs after being behind 9-0 in Fenway!

Time to lower the mound.

Pineda has a torn labrum and will be out for the year most likely

Hahahahahahaaha. Damn Yankees.

I guess they're waiting until tomorrow to break his ribs.

That was an exciting game to watch. Harper is legit. A violent, yet elegant swing. Idi Amin meets Winston Churchill. And the throw he made from the outfield was the most impressive thing he did, that was rather incredible.

And I'm sticking with my theory that Matt Kemp is very good at baseball.

And and and tossing your helmet off while running because it's coming loose isn't a naughty thing.

It didn't look like it was coming off to me, and I'm a real athlete.

Either way, that was a really great game. The Nats are going to be good for a long time, and yeah, I think it is safe to say Matt Kemp is #1 right now. Harper and Strasburg both really looked great.

I thought it was definitely coming loose a bit. And I don't think anyone would do that unless it occurred to them that it was necessary. I know he used to wear facepaint like the Ultimate Warrior, but I doubt he was just like "RAAAAAAHHHH!" there.

My theory is that he wanted to get his unique haircut some air time. I do think he was like RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! there.

The thing is though, no player is going to be like RAAAAAAHHH!! there. The only reason it'd even cross your mind to toss your helmet off while running to a base is because it's impeding and/or annoying you. I believe myself to be right about that.

Vin Scully was in the booth calling the game for Bryce Harper's debut, and Mickey Mantle's debut.

I don't really want MLB to expand instant replays, but....

this guy was called out! OUT!

Maybe they need a 5th ump that has instant access to replays and can communicate with one of the umps on the field as this article mentions. I don't like the thought of delaying the games at all, and I've always been a "that's part of the game" guy when it comes to bad calls in baseball, but dang. That's pretty effed up.

Hairston is out for swatting the baseball from Pedro Ramos Saturday night.

That's what I thought. I should've asked my dad, who was in town. He just started umpiring high school games, vim and I had lunch with him Sunday, would've been a good test for him.

Kershaw gave up 3 home runs today, first time ever. I'm kind of a Dodger fan now. Between watching Vin Scully call a bunch of games, Matt Kemp, the Twins and Cubs being crap, I'm on board. Only problem - I still like the Giants a lot.

hahah that swat was pretty bad. Really hard to see in full speed so I can't blame the ump. He might have scored anyway, Ramos should have held on to that ball.

It's gonna be a good year to be a dodgers fan.

waytogoLarryWAYTOGO

Watched that Braves game all the way through, was a good one. I love me some mlb.tv.

Someone give me some hope. Even if it's for something in the next two seasons.

Is Sano a sure fire star?

I don't think anyone is a sure fire star, but yes, the way he is playing I'd expect him to be in the top 3 on just about every prospect list next Spring (it helps that Trout and Harper will no longer be on those lists, btw)

And yeah, I would be thrilled to see him play 3B but I don't think that's going to happen based on what I've heard. One scout who watched him play this year said something like they expected his defense to be terrible, but it was only pretty bad. Or something like that. Might be able to plug a hole at 3B temporarily or play there every once in a while like Joey Bats.

Is Joey Bats Bautista? I'd never heard that name before.

Eesh he's been striking out on about 25% of his plate appearances, but he also has almost as many walks this year as he had in a full season last year.

Joe Mauer never played AAA. I don't think Puckett did either. None of which has any logical bearing on Sano.

Splitting hairs here - Mauer did sorta play AAA

It all depends on how well the team is doing. If they still suck as bad as they do now in a couple years, there's no reason to start his free agency clock and call him up and they can just let him get some time in AAA ball in. In 2005 the Twins were pretty great, had just traded AJ the year before and had a big need at catcher, so it made sense to have Mauer skip AAA.

I bet he comes back. Gut feeling.

I saw Bryce Harper do something I'm not sure I've seen before. Advancing from second to third on a totally routine groundout by Jayson Werth to third base.

Hard to watch

God that's awful. I feel so bad for him.

I am actually even sympathetic for the Yankees right now. Shit's fucked.

I wouldn't be surprised either way, it just always sounded like this was going to be it, the final year, but he's still got talent. He's a freak.

That sucked to watch

And then all that was left was Jeter.




I'd like to read a real piece of writing about Rivera's personality and his baseball life. I just feel like his stoic mound presence really allows fans and the media to project what they want to on him. I don't think I've ever read a real in depth piece about him, just ones that pay the usual cliched homage to his unflappableness and enduring career.

What is there to love about Buck Showalter.

That's pretty cool.

I like that Hamels hit Harper on purpose. I like that Harper went from 1st to 3rd on a single then stole home on a pick off attempt after Hamels put him on base.

I like that Hamels will be an LA Dodger next season.

How would he not get suspended? Never heard a pitcher admit to hitting a guy before. And what's with that dumb rambling quote of Hamels? Why would you admit to throwing at him, then dance around the reasoning? What the heck is he even trying to say there? So many questions.

The most underachieving team in baseball decides to put Bryce Harper on notice and it could not have turned out better.

I know we've had this discussion before, and I was and probably will forever be on the losing side, but throwing a hard object at 95 mph at a guy for perceived treatment he's getting from other people is just fucking stupid.

Glad Harper got on base and tore them up with his righteous speed. Last laugh, indeed.

I think everybody did the right thing in this situation. No blame!

Hamels wanted to make a point, Harper took it without complaint then jobbed him on the pickoff. Then Zimmerman defended his teammate and Hamels took it cause he deserved it.

Self-policing makes baseball interesting.

Yep.

If they suspend Hamels they have to suspend Zimmerman, right? And then do they have to suspend Harper for being too good at baseball?

Bert Campaneris would know what to do.

How is he dancing around it?

By making vague, too general statements that don't explicitly make a point. He basically just fired up some cliches that would appeal to 50 year old men in a bar in Scranton, and Soapy Kittens. Maybe I'm not a big enough fan to know what the heck "old school prestigious baseball" is exactly. More or less he danced around it by by not saying this:

He thinks Harper's getting the star treatment without earning it. He thinks he's getting the benefit of an All Star's strike zone as a rookie when he had to deal with a rookie zone like everybody else.

And also, what exactly does hitting Harper do, if you're trying to make some larger point? Who's going to be like "Hamels hit Harper in the back, we should rethink how we run this sport"? What exactly was accomplished here? You baseball people can be serious weirdos, you know.

Hamels tried to send Harper a message. That's what was accomplished there. Hey pretty boy, the media might love you and the commish might want to tip the scales in your favor, but here's a fastball for your back.

And then Harper was all like, oh cool, thanks for the message. Now I'm going to make you look like an idiot and score.

You're over thinking it, brah. It's just a little rookie hazing.

I'm not overthinking it, you're a weirdo.

Psychologically speaking, Hamels just wanted to show the world that Harper was just a man, not a baseball god come to save the game.

It's like in Rocky IV when Rocky finally landed the punch that cut Drago's eye open. "He's a man! He's not a machine! He's a man!"

Whatever. When he's on the Dodgers next year you'll forget this ever happened and you'll be all about "the old way"

Any word on if they let Bryce Harper wear all that dumb make-up in the bigs?

Not quite to the same absurd degree, but still a lot of make-up in the day game I saw him play in.

Also like this

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Those are both way more vicious than what happened with Hamels. There's emotion there, not politicking. Dig me?

Bruce Bowen don't have no emotions.

One must wonder how long the Phillies have had this reverse bounty system in place.

Effect of suspension: Hamels will pitch on Sunday instead of Saturday.

Ohh, apropos of nothing, but since you posted that pick of Nigel de Jong pulverizing Xabi Alonso, and we're talking athletes policing their sport, I just saw this today. One player had used a racial slur against this black player in a previous match, and when the racist was going for a ball in the next match between them, the black guy runs up on him and straight up kicks him in the balls. Brutal.

Are people claiming that, given the opportunity, they wouldn't hit Bryce Harper with a 95 mph fastball?

One home run ball hits some guy in the balls and some girl in the face.

I have yet to read any professional opinion pieces about this incident that suggests you guys are anything less than manly baseball weirdos.

Have you considered the fact that agreeing with the "professionals" makes you the weirdo?

Because I have.

What a weird thing to say that is.

Josh Hamilton hit 4 home runs tonight. I am playing him in a fantasy league this week. Only a few players on my team have 4 home runs on the entire season.

I don't have Hamilton and I'm glad I'm not going against him this week. My team is awesome so far this week.

I wish I had his accountability coach.

too soon. i tried to get that fantasy baseball thread going a month or so ago. no dice.

Wait, what did the ump do wrong in this scenario? (I know nothing about this other than the gifs.)

Are you saying he blew the ball and strike calls or is there something he said to Lawrie?

Whoa, hadn't seen the pitch, yeah that was really bad.

Lawrie's gotta get suspended because you can't do that, I'm hoping it's more like 7 games than 15 because he's on my fantasy team and because I can understand his frustration.

It would be great to see an ump suspended for this kind of thing. I doubt it will happen, though, MLB seems to take the umps side all the time.


Other weird things in the MLB yesterday:

Stephen Strasburg got icy hot on his nuts and pitched poorly as a result

Terry Collins took David Wright out of the game after a Mets pitcher apparently intentionally hit Ryan Braun with a pitch and Wright was due up in the next half inning. Wright was pissed, and I don't blame him.

Never having looked down the barrel of an MLB pitcher's fastball, if the pitcher is trying to plunk a batter in a "safe" way (i.e. the ribs, thigh, or back) and the hitter is expecting it, how easy is it for the hitter to move out of the way?

Also, are there any unwritten roles about not standing in and taking the pitch?

Or any unwritten rules about taking a player out to avoid the unwritten rule of retribution via intentionally hitting someone with a pitch.

Seems like batters don't have much time to get away, there's so little reaction time. Especially in the back/torso area, seems like it would be hard to avoid. I don't think any MLB player would do that, even if they expected it.

If the Brewers pitcher hit Wright he would have been tossed from the game, too, so I think that makes Collins' move even more chickenshit.

I would fully believe there is some dumb unwritten rule about "taking it like a man". Probably considered showing the pitcher up because you aren't afraid of their pitch speed, or blah blah blah. Dumb unwritten rules.

Even their own TV guys have given up on the Angels

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They were up 4-0 at that point!

Lawrie suspension only 4 games, I guess they are taking in to account the ump being a dickhead, figured it would be about twice that, at least.

Kind of a nice story about a Reds fan who caught homerun balls on consecutive at bats.

Hey, when you're that beloved.

If he breaks the record, he'd have to average closer to 25 homers per season for the life of his contract. Of course, he'd have to stay healthy and not get caught doping. And there is no guarantee the public will give a shit once he does break the record. Sounds like the Yankees lose/lose/lose.

They figured there would be a big media hoopla when he broke the HR record, which at the time seemed inevitable. Then the steroids stuff came out, then he sorta fell off a cliff. The Angels are giving Pujols money for 20 years, 10 for the contract and 10 more to remain a part of the Angels organization in some form. All the same bullshit, IMO.

Mannyapolis
5/23/12 12:05 PM
Of course, he'd have to stay healthy and not get caught doping again.

FYP.

While I'm among the 99.99999999% of humanity who'd have been happy for the Letsgo never to have logged a no-hitter, glad to see it was Johan.

^yep

so happy for the guy! I miss him

Just read a couple interesting stats on Joey Votto. He's popped up to the infied 3 times in the past 4 seasons, more than 2,000 at bats. And he's only pulled a ball foul into the stands once in his entire career, in his rookie season. That barely seems possible.

My conclusion: they keep way too many stats these days.

Super closed stance I am guessing?

amazing if true!

It was in a Tom Verducci column, so I'd assume it's true. He's reputable, right?

Well done Matt Cain. I got gersebermps!

Are we in the midst of the decade of the pitcher or what?

7/26/10 9:30 PM
boris parsley
6/26/10 9:27 AM Bring back steroids.
boris parsley
8/08/10 2:43 PM
P.S. Bring back steroids.

I'm down with roids too. Honestly. It's not my wee-wee that's getting shrunk.

This gets an asterisk because it was a non-interleague game during interleague play. Commissioner Boris "Mountain" Parsley has spoken.

That was fucking awesome. Got home and Charlie Steiner on the Dodger broadcast said something about it, so I saw the 9th.

I mean, that sucked, why couldn't someone on the Houston Astros have 'roided up andto hit a home run to make it 10-1 and stopped this awful event?

no, give Cain the steroids. that's the whole point. He could have got 15 Ks instead of 14.

I'm no American League exceptionalist but it bugs part of me that this guy's name will be spoken with the same breath as Phil "Night Train" Humber.

You're totally an American League exceptionalist.

I don't care who it's against, a perfect game in which more than 1/2 of the outs were recorded via strikeout IS one of the greatest pitching performances ever. I mean by definition it's already one of the 22 (23* for Galaraga) best pitching performances ever, right?

That catch was good, but nothing too amazing. They showed DeWayne Wise's catch to save Buehrle's perfect game a few years back, THAT was an amazing catch, play of the year worthy type shit. He robbed a home run, crashed into the wall hard, and the ball even came out of his glove and he got it with his barehand. IMO the play on the very last out of Cain's was even more impressive than Blanco's catch, it's a good thing Pablo Sandoval wasn't at 3rd there.

Good lord. 14 strikeouts, no hits, no walks. Obviously a historically good pitching performance. I love me some early Kerry Wood but, as you say, "c'mon."

Some dude in the early 1900s pitched something like 25 innings in ONE GAME.

Let me know when Kerry Wood does that.

(j/k that 20k performance was bad ass to the max, but I'd still take 14k's and no hits or walks. BTW does anyone remember or really care who Wood threw 20 strikeouts against?)

(PS it was also the Astros)

Yes, I knew it was the Astros, in 1998.

I miss R. A. Dickey. He had a gem himself last night. Complete game with 12 Ks, one unearned run and one hit allowed (which could've been an error on David Price---he barehanded a ball and missed the throw to 1B).

RA Dickey is the most confusing player in baseball. He was so so on many teams for a long time, used mostly as a long reliever, then all the sudden he becomes a great starter for the mets last year. I assumed it was a fluke but I am having a harder time assuming that after what he has done so far this year.

I'm def not saying the Twins should've seen this coming, but he was a really serviceable pitcher in relief and spot starts and was inexpensive.

More than anything, I just like knuckleballers.

Mike Trout is doing better than Bryce Harper, but receives a fraction of the coverage. East coast bias. No one cares about Southern California.

Well that, and Bryce had about as much hype of any recent prospect this side of Stasburg. Not that Trout didn't have hype, but nothing like Harper.

MLB network guys made a good point last night that the quality of west coast baseball is improving and it's nice to be able to see some great games later into the night

Dickey! I guess he's the first MLB pitcher to throw back-to-back one hitters with ten or more Ks.

woah. hope he wasn't having a stroke or something.

awesome. I wish Bert did that kind of shit.

Much love for RA

If you want to hear all that nonsense in audio format - skip to 1:08 or so

Yeah, I don't get that Johnson/Maddox dispute. How do you dispute the fact that he had pinetar on his glove?

Sounds like it happens quite a bit, but it's just never called out.

And the only reason Johnson called him out was because Peralta played for the Nationals in 2010 and they knew he was one of many pitchers who had pine tar on his glove.

I stand with Johnson's quote: "Read the rulebook."

Just because he's done it for 2 years doesn't make it legal.

Just because he's done it for 2 years doesn't make it legal

jaywalking is illegal yet if you do it in front of a cop I highly doubt you will get a ticket or even a talking to.

It's not legal, but it is accepted, and there are dozens of pitchers who do it. The only reason I brought up that he was doing it that long is because that's the only reason Davey Johnson knew to call him out on it, which is a total pussy move.

rizzo time

My Fantasy Team
Doumit, R.
Perez, S.
Pujols, A.
Kipnis, J.
Middlebrooks, W.
Seager, K.
Fielder, P.
Lowrie, J.
Gordon, A.
Jennings, D.
Ethier, A.
Trout, M.
McCutchen, A.
Revere, B.
Rizzo, A.
Moustakas, M.
Cespedes, Y.
*DL* Longoria, E.

Dickey, R.A.
Wainwright, A.
Burnett, A.J.
Peavy, J.
McDonald, J.
Lee, C.
Garza, M.
Harrison, M.
Kimbrel, C.
Frieri, E.
Wilhelmsen, T.

I'm up 2.5 games, but 3rd place starts at 20.5 back. I've also made twice as many moves as any other team haha.

I still can't fault him. You know who else knew about it: Peralta. I guess I'm just to "civil" according to SI, but if you're breaking the rules, put up with the damn consequences. Everybody complains when they get a speeding ticket, too--that doesn't make it go away or reduce fault.

Well Peralta got the first speeding ticket that's been issued in years, even though a lot of people speed.

Soapy Kittens
6/27/12 8:55 AM

What's the difference between a pitcher doctoring the ball and Barry Bonds using steroids?

No punchline?

Barry can no longer even jam a dick up your ass.

DeWayne Wise pulls the hidden ball trick, fools Umps

Almost as good as that catch he made to keep Buehrle's perfect game alive.

Tonight Zach Greinke starts the third straight Milwaukee Brewers game. Ejected in the first inning on Saturday, came back with an ND versus Houston on Sunday.

Hah nice didn't realize he was starting tonight. Awesome. I wonder where he will end up and if the Brewers will trade him, sounds like there's not much chance he'll re-sign with them.

Yeah, it's surprising but it seems like a classic Yankees midyear deal.

HanRam to the Dodgers!

Phillies, Hamels nearing extension agreement to the tune of 6 years, $140 million.

And King Felix broke A-Rod's hand.

Yeah that was weird, didn't even get a warning I don't think? Although I will not stand here and say I didn't enjoy seeing A-Rod writhing in pain.

Felix such a bad ass

Greinke killed it against the Phillies last night but the Brewers still managed to lose the game. The Brewers are the only team I watch so I'm hoping they'll keep him, but it seems really unlikely at this point.

Vin Scully reads a tweet live on the air - so CUTE!

Seems like there was a lot of action this trade deadline. Love the Giants getting Hunter Pence for not very much. He's going to help them a lot. The Dodgers and Yanks really needed to go out and get Dempster. Neither has a good enough rotation to win the world series.

Dempster without shitty Marmol and with a little run support would've been a FORCE this year. He might really help Texas win another one.

MLB team facebook pages hacked

Some of these are kind of funny.

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hahahahaha (not)

I said kind of. What are you, neight?

Did anyone see the Seattle game last night? First game Felix started since the perfect game, and it was unbelievable. The whole stadium was wearing yellow t-shirts and holding K signs, and when he'd get two strikes on a hitter they'd all stand and chant "K" over and over. Cheering everything good that happened loudly for pretty much the whole game. That crowd compared to the best October crowds ever, and it was an August game featuring two bad teams. Absolutely cool, glad I was bored and happened to tune in because I heard he was pitching.

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awesome

HOLY SHIT!

BLOCKBUSTER!

Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Nick Punto for a bunch of garbage from the Dodgers! Well I guess there's a pitching prospect in there.

I guess the Red Sox just wanted to jet a big chunk of this team and start over? Might just be rumors of course, but in the clubhouse issues last year and this year, Beckett and A-Gon were supposedly a big part of the problem.

Gammons says Boston hate the team so much they don't even care what or if they get in return.

I'm pretty sure Magic Johnson could start a mandatory abortion program and carry it out himself, and people in LA would just be like "well, he had no choice." Heard on the radio this morning that only one $100 million has ever been traded (A-Rod), and the Dodgers are picking up two in one trade. This is crazy. But I've already jumped on the Dodger bandwagon (except I still like the Giants too), and it'll be fun listening to Vin Scully call the games and watch these dudes play.

Ugh. The Red Sox just pulled a major coup with this one. Beckett/Gonzalez/Crawford are a combined $58 million dollars for this year alone, and only Gonzalez is playing better than average (or even above terrible). Just getting rid of Crawford's contract is huge. If they get any major league talent for these three they are one the winning end.

Fun Vin Scully anecdote, and when I saw Ahngel, think of the Spanish pronunciation of Angel - he was talking last night about how in the last LA-SF series, he'd been pronouncing Angel Pagan's name in the typical English way, and his producer got in his headset all like "It's AHNGEL, you have to get that right," so he started going with that. Then yesterday he got an email from Pagan's family that it really is pronounced Angel. So he'd been right all along. Then he goes "I don't remember that old song being called 'Have You Heard I married an Ahngel." He's so cute. He says if he dies, he's going to give his eyes to Stevie Wonder.

The trade happened yesterday but I think they have to wait on Beckett because he is a 5/10 player and has the right to veto a trade. Crawford is on the DL so that decision doesn't need to be made yet.

What in the world could have motivated Mr. Gonzalez to high-tail it out of Boston like that.

3 run homer on his first at bat.

Also you guys, you should dig Luis Cruz. He's pretty rad.

Victorino is a free agent after this season, Crawford just had TJ surgery so he'll be out until the start of next season at least.

I think there's a very good chance Crawford plays worth the price of his contract. He had a bad year in Boston and was hurt this year, he's only 31.

It's madness that all 10 (or whatever) players cleared waivers.

Especially Mr. Punto.

Well that's just not true.

I don't think all 9 players need to clear waivers, only one.

So did Justin Morneau not clear waivers.

all of the red sox players had cleared waivers

Oh so OBP is the stat we all care about now? I guess Joe Mauer is worth $23 million a year then? He's not so great against lefties, but hardly bad enough to be just a platoon player. Plus he's got elite speed and is a well above average defender.

Oh Astros.

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I like Keith Law as much as the next guy, probably even more than the next guy, but he has some crazy opinions some times.

Like Miguel Cabrera being the third best player on the tigers behind Verlander and Austin Jackson.

Cabrera is not a travesty on the field. He'll never be mistaken for a Gold Glove-r, for sure, but he certainly hasn't been the disaster some predicted.

-non-baseball-talking guy who listens to every single Tigers game

So Vin Scully will be back next year. Apparently, he's energized by the Dodgers acting like drunk, rich kids with trust funds on a sex tour of SE Asia.

Miggy only has 10 errors this season, which at first base would be most in the league but is surprisingly average for the hot corner.

Fair enough that LF is not a premium defensive position, but we aren't talking Adam Everett or Brendan Harris here, his numbers vs. lefties + elite speed + very good defensive play = worth a spot in the line up, any day.

Errors aren't everything defensively. You're not going to get an error because you're too fat to get to a ball that 2/3 of starting 3B could turn into an out.

I know most people don't get into this stuff, but yeah, I suppose Miggy is pretty bad at defense when you look atzone ratings

Okay, almost every Tigers game.

Yeah I know :/

Not looking forward to giving the guy $20. It would be great if he didn't hit another one all year.

Hmm, I figured they'd hose up in favor of Wrigley. Rah.

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so I was driving through Vegas recently and saw this. is it just me or is this a bad name for a beer?

It looks like malt liquor in those black and red cans--in which case, I think the name is appropriate.

stu
5/07/12 9:18 AM

I would just like to note that the Baltimore Orioles are 19-9 and leading the AL East by half a game. The Orioles are a favorite of mine and it's too bad that they are having a good year when they switched back to the cartoon logo and mascot this year.
Soapy Kittens
5/07/12 9:21 AM

I'd be shocked if they finish at .500. Not nearly as good as their record.

I do love Buck, though.

Orioles are tied for first on September 5.

They are something like 20-5 in one run games this year.

I've probably mentioned it in this thread but 3 years ago I bet my friend that the Orioles wouldn't make the playoffs for the next 5 years, back in the simpler times of 1 wild card team. Even if they some how bomb out this year, I can't imagine I'll make it another 2 years without forking over the $25.

Also shout out to Mark Reynolds, who I had to bench all season in fantasy baseball, who suddenly now is on a scorching tear, luckily I lost bad the last week of the season and missed the playoffs, otherwise I could really benefit from that right now! FUCK YOU MARK!




PS we're still cool Mark. I like you secretly.

Brewers have clawed their way back to .500

Over the weekend Tom Kelly (all but)said LaRussa would be managing Boston next year.

Doug Fister has now struck out 7 consecutive K.C. Royals, most of them looking.

I no sooner tune in...

New American League record.

Sal Perez gets 2 strikes on him before grounding out. Streak over.

Yesterday the Pirates get no hit. Today they took the first step at winning out and breaking the streak of losing seasons at 19. Four more games to go, four more wins to .500! Will they make it?

goddammit, I knew they had sunk back to the pack, but they're not even going to get a winning record out of this? man, i feel so sorry for those fans. who exactly do they have to blow?

Still another step forward for them.

They'll make the playoffs in 2015. Mark my words.

So when the Yankees lose tonight, win tomorrow, then lose on Friday what will the new playoffs scheme be next season?

That would be awesome, but maybe it would be for the better. A 1 game playoff is horseshit. Needs to be best of 3 at a minimum.

I am so excited for the playoffs! I kind of stopped paying attention to baseball this past month due to my disgruntlementation with fantasy baseball, and I'm ready to come back.

I will be paying my friend on our 5 year orioles-will-not-make-the-playoffs bet. He's getting married later this year and I'm going to get them his and hers manny machado jerseys. Or maybe mark Reynolds.

So it's been a weird baseballing experience for me this year. I've watched more than I have in years, aided by MLB.tv never blacking out LA games for me (Vin Scully! Mike Trout!). And the Twins and Cubs were awful, so that's even weirder that I watched so much. But I hardly read about the sport at all, so I was missing a lot of the big picture. So could someone please explain to me how Miguel Cabrera is about to win the Triple Crown and it's not a bigger story? It's never happened in my lifetime, and I just found out about it a couple days ago. I understand he's not playing backup QB for the Jets, but still this feels like it should be a big deal. Also, I never watch the Cardinals so I guess I'm out of the loop with anything going on in St Louis, but Yadier Molina is an MVP candidate? Am I on acid?

I hate the extra wild card but at least any wild card has to be put through the charade that is a one game playoff.

The triple crown chase has been getting some serious press online and on MLB network. Yes, you are on acid.

Corker going on in Oakland. Rangers were up 5-1 now Oakland has batted around themselves to tie it in the fourth.

When you click on the 'Schedule' button on the Pirates page it takes you to April 2013.

Twenty seasons and counting of sub .500 baseball!

I'd trade their history for anybody's.

Why wouldn't it manny? They have already completed 162 games. They literally will not play another game in 2012

They completed their last game today!

Their webmaster must have been having a slow day. Better luck next year.

Hamilton drops it!

I wonder the last time two teams lost 100 games in the same division. Cubs lose today and it will be their 102nd and they'd still be 4 games clear of last place.

Good luck in the AL West next year, Gastros.

can't wait for postseason baseball!

It's not a question at this point. Miggy is the MVP of the AL.

He's had a monster 2nd half and especially final month, plus he led the Tigers surge past the White Sox.

Trout hit a wall, for Mike Trout at least, and the Angels flamed out of the playoff race.

Since Trout's first game on April 28, the Angels have the best record in the American League at 83-57

Hell yeah A's!

That may be true about Trout, but he faltered (again, for him) down the stretch whereas that's when Miggy really turned it on. Trout's team went from being in the playoff picture to falling out, the Tigers went the other way. It's about the whole season, but crunch time carries more weight. IMO.

Just the batting title alone for him is amazing. Not like there's many infield singles in that .330.

And just 98 Ks while leading the league in home runs.

Shit news, Pat Neshek's newborn died suddenly 23 hours after he was born. He seemed healthy and dad looked so proud holding him earlier today. Thoughts go out to the Neshek's.

Damn :(

I had no idea Fernando Rodney had such a good year. His ERA (0.67) was lower than his WHIP (0.78), with 47 saves. I'm sure he will get some CY votes but it's probably going to Verlander again.

Also here's this picture
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Couldn't have happened to a bigger asshole...but...Jesus...a triple crown!

Cool to see a functional alcoholic win the Triple Crown. What a season!

I'm really rooting for a Orioles/Reds World Series.

Wake me when one of these douchebags hits .400.

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Cool to see a functional alcoholic win the Triple Crown. What a season!

And that is why baseball is the greatest sport on earth.

This season should put to rest any concern about the end of the season not being as good with an extra wild card team. It's just more confusing.

The one game playoff has gotta go though

O's/Nats!

Definitely O'S/Nats

Oh man, fuck you guys. Seriously. Couldn't be happier for Miggy. He's kept his nose clean for the last couple seasons and torn it up.
It's cool when dudes in bands drink too much though, isn't it?

i think it's amazing he won the triple crown! i've been wanting to see a triple crown winner since i was a kid

Craig Kimbrel struck out more than half of the batters he faced this year

Orbit
10/04/12 7:24 AM
Oh man, fuck you guys. Seriously. Couldn't be happier for Miggy. He's kept his nose clean for the last couple seasons and torn it up.
It's cool when dudes in bands drink too much though, isn't it?

Yes, exactly. Good back and re-read my post - cool that he won despite his functional alcoholism!

When I looked at ESPN.com this morning, Cabrera winning the Triple Crown was listed in the middle of the links to stories on the right of the screen. So weird to me. Since World War 2 and before this year, it's been won one time each by Ted Williams, Micky Mantle, Frank Robinson and Carl Yastrzemski.

yeah i saw that too! it's crazy the first triple crow since the YAZ!!!!!

Yaz's was awesome too, .303/44/101

I will admit, I'd be more excited about a .400 hitter, but I really think this is amazing.

Triple crown on a playoff team is hands down the MVP. That doesn't diminish Trout. It speaks to the amazing accomplishment. And these weren't soft numbers. Just about any of his stats would have lead the league in other years.

I'd go so far as to say that if the Twins had a triple crown winner this season they should get serious consideration for the MVP.

And I hate Cabrerra.

To be fair, Derek Lee won it several years ago with the Cubs, but generously faded down the stretch to protest the war in Iraq, thus avoiding technically winning it.

Joe Mauer breathes a little easier tonight.

Runs are basically witchcraft.

Pujols won the MVP on a non playoff team. If someone hit .400 with a 1.350 OPS they would win the MVP regardless of win totals. RBIs are not as team-dependent as a teams win total is, so there's no point comparing them.

Rarity doesn't matter like 9/11 said. I bet mark Reynolds is the only person to go 30/30 in a season while striking out 200 times, but who cares? There are tons of 30/30 players and even a handful of 40/40 players, which is better than 30/45. Ever hear of Matt kemp?

Be kind of funny in a not-funny way were Miggy to lose this after his teammate won last year only playing every fifthy day.

JVs win is more about the lack of a clear cut choice last year than him being the MVP.

But yeah that would be funny in a not-actually-funny way. Same could be said about JV winning in the first place

Sigh, this thread is making real sad that I can't geek out about sports right now. :: hits F5 on nhl.com::

Damn I apparently blocked Braun winning the MVP last year out of my head. Kemp should have had it.

You are saying 30/45 is better because it's more rare. I am saying 39/40 (kemp last year) is better because any normal person would prefer 9 more home runs and 5 less steals. Just because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it's better. Triple crown uses the same stats every year, not some cherry picked here and there.

Playoffs:
Texas over Baltimore

Detroit over Oakland
Rangers over Yanks

Detroit over Rangers

Braves over Cardinals

Giants over Reds
Nationals over Braves

Giants over Nationals

Tigers over Giants

Grieves me deeply to pick the Tigers, but I think this is there year. Fielder will make a difference, and this will be the year JV ends his playoff mediocrity. Giants pitching is good enough to get them to the WS. The nationals are too young and strasburgless, they will probably go to the WS next year though.

Whatever happens today Texas and Baltimore deserved better than to face one and out.

I would say the same about Atlanta and the Braves. The cardinals, on the other hand, can go fuck themselves.

But hey playoff baseball is starting tonight!!!

But that also means chip caray is back tonight :(

I'd say 45 years of games and lineups and players and at-bats pretty well normalizes such dependencies.

It's one thing to note that RBIs are effected by factors outside the players control. It's another to say they are meaningless. You're out of line there.

I'd agree with you that OBP is a better indicator than average, and slugging/total bases is a better indicator than home runs, but miggy still led the AL in OPS and had an OBP just a sliver under trouts. So using those stats still favor miggy, not by much, but he's still in front.

Also, the triple crown doesn't have arbitrary numbers like X number of home runs and Y steals does. Miggy had one of the better triple crown years that has ever happened. It's rare because the same stat categories are used every year. If mike trout had hit a few more homers, he would have had less chances to steal, and we wouldn't be talking about this right now. If trout were really the MVP he would have hit a few more homers.

everybody loves the dingers!

Hit some dingers!

I wasn't being serious about that last line btw, but I was serious that if a few of his hits stayed in the park had instead left the park he would probably have fewer steals.

RBI has some meaning for the same reason that batting average with runners in scoring position has meaning. Joe Mauer would have had a shit ton more RBI the past few years if he didn't ground into a double play in so many clutch at bats. And beyond that, Miguel had 139 of the suckers, which is very impressive on ANY team

Me saying its beyond discussion has more to do with miggy's final 2 months of the season versus the same span for Trout than defense and base running. Obviously trout is the more complete player, but they don't give out awards for that as far as I know.

That argument is invalid for anyone who has ever used the word "clutch"

I believe Cabrerra led the AL in producing an RBI in a situation where a runner was in scoring position. It was something like upper 20% and Trout was around 16%.

I'm absolutely not a baseball stat scholar, but it seems to me that the players that are consistently at the top in RBI's are usually among the very best hitters. And especially if you're among the best hitters, pitchers are going to pitch you differently when runners are on base. For sure pitchers would've been extremely cautious with Cabrera with runners on base this year, and he still managed to end up on top. So that seems like it's worth something to me.

I can listen, for a while, to the importance of fielding. Base running is important, but to even mention it with hitting only shows me someone who is more interested in arguing that being sensible.

I'll also admit that I don't know if Trout is a good baserunner. Is he? To me baserunning is only half made up up stolen bases. I think Joe Mauer is one of the best baserunners in the majors in that he has a good sense of where the ball is and advances himself and is rarely making mistakes that either prevent runs or casue outs. But he doesn't steal bases.

Angels won more games than the Tigers and in a tougher division.

Weren't you the guy telling me how Verlander was the MVP because there's the Hank Aaron award for the best hitter?

No. My only argument for JV winning the MVP was that there was not a clear cut MVP batter, and votes got split between them. I don't really have a problem with him winning, but I don't think he should have won it. I'm guessing what happened was you said something like the Cy Young is the MVP for pitchers, and the MVP was the MVP for non-pitcher and I said the Hank Aaron award was for the best batter.

So you admit that there is some pressure in different situations. There is more pressure on a hitter when there is a runner on 2nd or 3rd, there's no question about that. No, I don't think hitters try harder, but I think that it is harder because there is more pressure. There's also more pressure when your team is behind in the playoff race, especially late in the season. Trout flamed out in September when the pressure was on, Cabrera played better than he had earlier in the year. I'm not saying this is THE reason why he is the MVP, but it is certainly part of the reason.

And for the 19th time, I agree with you that RBIs are a stat that is greatly affected by factors totally out of control of the player, but that doesn't mean you should throw out all 139 of them, which is the highest RBI total in the major leagues since 2009, in the AL since 2007. Again, just a piece of the MVPuzzle.

And of course leading the majors in home runs is nothing to sneeze at, but of course that's just cause he plays in a more batter friendly park than Trout does, right?

RIP Chipper Jones

Aw.

That's the kind of final AB that haunts a guy.

Forever.

This is fucked. Do they have scab umps?

So what happened?

If an OF can make a play on the ball, it shouldn't be an IF fly rule.

Braves had runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out. high pop fly was hit to left, about halfway between edge of infield and the fence. St Louis shortstop went back to catch it, left fielder was coming in but deferred to the SS, the SS backed off at the last second and the ball dropped. 3rd base ump called infield fly rule about a second before the ball hit the ground. Somehow they ended up with giving the Braves an out and letting the runners stay at 2nd and 3rd, even though they didn't tag up.

Bush league.

I won 140 fake dollars on the O's with a fantasy sportsbook.

I'm officially rooting for the Os. Just wanted to get that on e-paper.

When the Yankees beat the Cardinals you're all going to be such dicks about it.

Not sure what the announcers meant by the fans trashing Turner Field. Atlanta always looks like that.

well the ex-cub theory came true as the braves and rangers had the most ex-cubs on the team

Were I any remaining manager I would want no kinda part of the O's.

Indians hire T-Franc as their next manager. He could have been ours.

Way to go, Indians.

Silver and number machine now possess the Foucauldian Right of Death and Power over Life.

Nate Silver is a man of very small stature, a thin and effeminate man with a soft-sounding voice that sounds almost exactly like the “Mr. New Castrati” voice used by Rush Limbaugh on his program. In fact, Silver could easily be the poster child for the New Castrati in both image and sound. Nate Silver, like most liberal and leftist celebrities and favorites, might be of average intelligence but is surely not the genius he’s made out to be.

Well he didn't say he would win it.

I was being dumb before, it was a toss up between these two. Trout was historically great defensively and on the bases. I did not realize he was only thrown out 5 times in 54 attempts, which is absolutely bonkers.

Oh well. Trout is going to get a few of these in his day.