Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[JakeYonkel]

One thing about Alex - everything the guy does just looks so contrived.

I watched the interview. I particularly liked the "And to my teammates"--------------38 second pause, stare at the floor, drink from water bottle, think of something really sad ----------- "thank you."

Get the fuck out of here. Give him the Oscar.

[tin00can]

Not 1 post today regarding the A-Rod press conference?


April 6 can not get here soon enough!!

I think it's because we don't care anymore. I agree with Schilling. Release all 104 names, and let's keep fixing this shit. Make Selig and Ozra go before Congress, no better yet burn them at the stake. Let's all move on.

Sheepmafia says it best. Let them play ball.

Bingo. I just don't care about steroids in baseball any more. Yes, they were used, we found out, let's move on. Selig is an idiot for talking about asterisks. About 40 years ago quite a few baseball players were popping amphetamines to increase performance, but you never hear that time referred to as the "amphetamine era" and talks of notating records from then. It's only an embarrassment if you don't learn from it and correct the problems.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

I've said it before, I pine for the days of good clean role models like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.

[killeverything]

I've said it before, I pine for the days of good clean role models like Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb.

What's funny about that in the "good ole' days", according to public knowledge those were good clean role models. This is before the invasive press, etc.

Well I don't think Cobb has ever really been a role model, aside from being argueably the greatest player of all time. That was one mean mother-fucker from what I've read about him.

[killeverything]

Also it seems to be happening already.

The one "flaw" we could see with the newly ferocious Tampa Bay Rays was their bull-pen. I've posted before that I find it hard to believe they'll continue the level that they did last season. Regression to the mean.

Check this out. The closer position is Troy Percival's. Period. If he's healthy it's his.

The Rays won't know until closer Troy Percival pitches in some mid-March exhibitions games how likely it is he will be ready to start the season, as Percival said he would this morning upon arrival to camp. But when Percival, 39, is healthy, he will again be the closer. "Obviously if Perci's well, that is his job, so we just have to see this all the way through and see where he is by the end of this camp,'' Maddon said. For what it's worth, Friedman said Percival "looked great'' when they talked Friday morning

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/

That guy is a bigger fake closer than Joe Borowski.This may be the Rays downfall. As crappy as Percival could be, there is really no one else that has had any success in that role in their career. Wheeler was horrid when he tried to be the closer after Percival went down ( 7.36 ERA in Sept ). Balfour and Howell are coming off career years and must prove they can repeat in their current roles, let alone close.

Granted they have enough MLB ready arms in AAA, but what closer would be availible for trade? Bull-pens can really kill great teams. According to Baseball Prospectus and Pecota, they're young hitters are no joke though.

Oh and they also signed Adam Kennedy to a Minor League contract. When I was talking about Major League ready arms in AAA. I didn't mean him.

[thejuggernaut]

1. I believe pro athletes SHOULD be allowed to use performance enhancing drugs, if they choose - apparently the Yanks were full of juice monsters and it didn't help them. Meanwhile, teams like the Marlins, Sox (Red and White), Cards etc seem to (so far) have no issues with Roids, making it all that much sweeter that they were able to win.

2. I still laugh at the irony of the biggest crooks/liars/conmen in the world, congress, are actually considering punishing athletes who lied about their supplementation.

Just because baseball focused the Mitchell report solely on New York informants, Balco and Barry Bonds and only ARod's name leaked I hope there isn't anyone who actually believes that the Marlins, Sox (Red and White) and Cards etc. are clean. ALL teams have their share. 104 idiots tested positive just in 03.

Let's play baseball, for fucks sake.

It seems to be the marquee players from their respective teams who were tested.

Drug testing began in 04. Bush signed a huge Steroid law in 2004 to include even Andro (the useless garbage made famous by McGwire with his famous somkescreen act which itself should have been the only proof needed to figure out if he was juicing) thus, what was banned by law became banned by the players' union.

Of course some were able to slip past it at the time.

However, as a result of the Balco hearings, new laws, and Canseco's sell all book in 05, there's no doubt usage tapered off drastically beginning in 04.

Perhaps more names will come out, including marquee players from those WS winners from 2003 on. But so far, there's been no mention of Beckett, Lowell, Cabrera, Burnett, Ramirez, Martinez, Ortiz, Konerko, Dye, Buehrle, Pujols, Rolen, Carpenter, Pedroia etc. Perhaps some of them will come out.

However, we can't assume they all did it. I liken it to the 88 Olympics. Yes, we all know the world class sprinters take steroids, but some know how to mask it better than others. Of course Carl Lewis was one something. However, Ben Johnson was caught, Lewis wasn't, thus Lewis deserved the Gold.

That being said, I think it's ridiculous they are illegal, thus banned.

[UtahRatt]

It's likely most if not all hitters are juiced but the % of pictures is a lot less.

Guys like Mike Hampton? For sure.
Martinez? I'd have doubts.

[Machado]

It's likely most if not all hitters are juiced but the % of pictures is a lot less.

Guys like Mike Hampton? For sure.
Martinez? I'd have doubts.

Possible the 2 names above are among the 103 names
that have not yet been released.

[UtahRatt]

It's likely most if not all hitters are juiced but the % of pictures is a lot less.

Guys like Mike Hampton? For sure.
Martinez? I'd have doubts.

Possible the 2 names above are among the 103 names
that have not yet been released.

Very well could be, other then the super confidence you gain I can't see roids being popular with pitches.

[killeverything]

It's likely most if not all hitters are juiced but the % of pictures is a lot less.

Guys like Mike Hampton? For sure.
Martinez? I'd have doubts.

Possible the 2 names above are among the 103 names
that have not yet been released.

Very well could be, other then the super confidence you gain I can't see roids being popular with pitches.

It wasn't. Clemens loved the shit. What was popular with pitchers was HGH, for the recovery time.

Pedro was clean. "I dominated that era and I did it clean. I can stand by numbers and be proud of them." - Pedro Martinez

He dominated at 5' 9" and 180lbs. Putting up the two most dominate seasons in baseball history. 1999 and 2000.

[thejuggernaut]

It wasn't. Clemens loved the shit. What was popular with pitchers was HGH, for the recovery time.

Pedro was clean. "I dominated that era and I did it clean. I can stand by numbers and be proud of them." - Pedro Martinez

He dominated at 5' 9" and 180lbs. Putting up the two most dominate seasons in baseball history. 1999 and 2000.

Exactly.

Hard to make the case Pedro did anything, what with his arm essentially falling off at a relatively young age.

[Facedown]

Sources say Griffey will return to Mariners.

[JakeYonkel]

Sources say Griffey will return to Mariners.

Guy has never really cared much about winning, has he?

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

Sources say Griffey will return to Mariners.

Guy has never really cared much about winning, has he?

A guy I work with was bitching because he heard that Junior's contract is heavily weighted to attendance numbers. With the state that Seattle is in, I wouldn't blame them. At any rate, I'm going up there in June, maybe he'll hit one into the cheap seats for us.

[bighairdiscs]

Very well could be, other then the super confidence you gain I can't see roids being popular with pitches.

I couldn't disagree more...... one of the main things about steroids is the ability it gives your muscles for quicker recovery - who needs quicker recovery more than a relief pitcher who pitches nearly every day??

I bet of the 103 names that haven't been released, there is a high percentage of relievers......

[UtahRatt]

Very well could be, other then the super confidence you gain I can't see roids being popular with pitches.

I couldn't disagree more...... one of the main things about steroids is the ability it gives your muscles for quicker recovery - who needs quicker recovery more than a relief pitcher who pitches nearly every day??

I bet of the 103 names that haven't been released, there is a high percentage of relievers......

ESPN did a story explaining the inns and outs and from what few pitchers I've met it all came to the same conclusion that it's not a popular use because bulking up is harder to throw, you don't need strength and bigger muscles to throw harder and building up muscle mass has show to create more injuries with torn tendons/tommy johns in pitchers.
As for recovery time, Pitchers suffer more elbow, shoulder and tendon problems then muscle.
You can tell some are on it and like you mentioned relief pitchers or more specifically closers would be an easier target but I'd be willing to bet that the % of Pitchers to Hitters is not even close.

I've taken roids for a short interval and the only thing I could see it benefiting a P is purely confidence which is a huge thing when it comes to standing on the mound....And that's it.

[UtahRatt]

Just to add to that, with the advancements in performance enhancing drugs there might be a tailored drug more suited for pitchers but on a whole I can't see them taking straight testosterone.

[killeverything]

Sources say Griffey will return to Mariners.

Guy has never really cared much about winning, has he?

I don't think you can say that. He had good numbers in the post-season. Shit, he's the reason Seattle was in the post-season. They let him go to sign Arod....or try to at least. It's not his fault he hasn't really played for any contenders.

Seattle seems to be on the verge of a turnaround. They fired Bavasi ( which is the ML equivalent of Dusty Baker ), got a new manager. One guy who seems to be working on uniting the team, not unlike Pinella. They hired the brillant Tom Tango, to be in a role similar to Bill James in Boston. Just in time for the draft too.

The quote from JJ Putz was pretty telling, here's seeing if a new management team can fix that.

former All-Star closer J.J. Putz was quoted in the Seattle Times on Monday saying, "There were just some guys that just weren't really team guys."

When asked if the Mariners can win with such players, Putz said: "It depends if they hold everyone accountable equally, or some guys just get special treatment like it's been in the past."

The most prominent name mentioned for Seattle, which became the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games, was superstar Ichiro Suzuki, who has been known to stay in different hotels on the road than his teammates.

Asked specifically about Suzuki, Putz told the Times: "It's hard to argue with 200 hits every year. ... I just think there's so much more he can do that doesn't happen."


I've heard that about Ichiro before. Maybe bringing a guy like Griffey back in the mix could give the team a "kick" so to speak. With a defensive upgrade, King Felix being the King, and Bedard healthy they could make a run at .500 this year.

With the draft coming up and Tango at the helm I could see Seattle cleaning up "Rays style" in it. Hopefully they don't trade them all away for a guy like Bedard again. Check this out.

Round 1 – Pick #2
Round 1 – Pick #21 (Failure to Sign Josh Fields)
Round 1 – Pick #28 (Losing Type A Raul Ibanez
Round 1s – Pick #34 (Compensation Pick for Ibanez)

Those are some good options.

[killeverything]

It wasn't. Clemens loved the shit. What was popular with pitchers was HGH, for the recovery time.

Pedro was clean. "I dominated that era and I did it clean. I can stand by numbers and be proud of them." - Pedro Martinez

He dominated at 5' 9" and 180lbs. Putting up the two most dominate seasons in baseball history. 1999 and 2000.

Exactly.

Hard to make the case Pedro did anything, what with his arm essentially falling off at a relatively young age.

Here's Pedro juiced. I have always loved this pic. I think Nomah was one of the 103 though.

[Machado]

saw a report on ESPN last night that said
"the big hurt", frank thomas is still un-signed.

forgot about this guy. i wonder if a team will need his services in the AL?

also saw another report last night that said the
DR world classic team will be training at the st louis cardinals
facility.
puljos and A-Rod on the same field

[Punk]

That's fucking ridiculous...Thomas averaged .274, 33 home runs, and 105 RBIs in 2006-2007, but since he was injured for much of last year, some team won't take a chance on him, yet there's teams that still take chances on Mike Hampton and shitheads like that.

[tin00can]

That's fucking ridiculous...Thomas averaged .274, 33 home runs, and 105 RBIs in 2006-2007, but since he was injured for much of last year, some team won't take a chance on him, yet there's teams that still take chances on Mike Hampton and shitheads like that.

It's the youth movement. It seems like a lot of teams are trusting their farm systems more now, and are more inclined to go with homegrown products instead of taking a flier on an aged vet.

[JakeYonkel]

I know, pretty sad when fucking Carl Pavano is getting signed to a guaranteed deal and guys like Thomas are shafted.

[Punk]

Giambi was always popular in Oakland, so he had a place to fall back on. Thomas isn't very popular back in Chicago so he doesn't really have anywhere to go like that.

[killeverything]

I understand that. And its a good point.

But signing Thomas for one year with some incentive clauses make sense for any American league team needing a pinch hitter, or some power off the bench.

Its not as though you are breaking the bank for this guy. He'll probably take anything as long as there are some incentives.

It has to be an injury concern. He was Comeback Player Of The Year in '07, shit remember his resurgence in Oakland? I think he did time on the DL in Toronto last season though. So that has to be why some teams are hesitant.

[Machado]

Giambi was always popular in Oakland, so he had a place to fall back on. Thomas isn't very popular back in Chicago so he doesn't really have anywhere to go like that.

The other day Wilbon from PTI had no sympathy for "the big hurt".
Wilbon mentioned that he is not well liked in MLB and that he possibly
is now laying in the bed he made.

giambi certainly did have a place to fall back on. so i think you can't compare the two players/situations.

[killeverything]

Giambi was always popular in Oakland, so he had a place to fall back on. Thomas isn't very popular back in Chicago so he doesn't really have anywhere to go like that.

The other day Wilbon from PTI was no sympathy for the big hurt.
He mentioned that he is not well liked in MLB and that he possibly
is now laying in the bed he made.

giambi certainly did have a place to fall back on. so i think you can't compare the two players/situations.

HGHiambi is pretty likeable, but he wasn't always loved in Oakland. After his "I'm a Raider, I've always been a Raider, blah, blah, blah." Then he turns around and signs with a 100m contract with the MFY. Appears clean shaven blathering about "I've always wanted to be a Yankee, blah, blah, blah."

They were throwing fake money at him at the Coliseum for his first season there. Maybe the fans have forgiven him, because he wasn't worth 100m for NY, and the whole PED thing.

[killeverything]

So Damon and Nady are broke?

I can't pay bills right now," Damon said at the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa. "That started on Tuesday. I had to pay a trainer for working out during the offseason. I told him, 'Just hold on for a little bit and hopefully all this stuff gets resolved.'"

Nady faces similar concerns.

"I'm affected in some ways. I have the same (advisor) as Johnny," Nady said. "He said I didn't have money with Stanford (investments). But all my credit card accounts are frozen right now because of that situation. I'm trying to get an apartment in New York. I can't put a credit card down to hold it."

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9243 ... y?MSNHPHMA

Wow color me shocked. That many guaranteed millions and you left it all with one guy? I understand the tax-break by keeping a mortage, but what about a little security?

"I can pay off my home and nver worry about it again." - Johnny Damon after the NY signing.

[killeverything]

Yep.

I don't know to which extent, because he's still paid the mL wage. I know that Jed Lowrie is with that Stanford Investments firm too.

[Machado]

Yep.

I don't know to which extent, because he's still paid the mL wage. I know that Jed Lowrie is with that Stanford Investments firm too.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady may not be able to withdraw from their investment accounts, but the outfielders won't need to start collecting donations in their Yankees caps anytime soon.
Damon and Nady are among those who have had their assets frozen by the government, which is investigating the Stanford Financial Group and an alleged $8 billion fraud scheme involving billionaire Robert Allen Stanford.


The players did not invest directly with Stanford, but have investments with broker dealers whose accounts were with a Stanford company. They can access their personal checking accounts but cannot use credit cards.

While the Securities and Exchange Commission digs deeper into the scandal, both players said that their focus remains on the field and not on their wallets.

"Right now, this is all that I worry about -- getting into baseball playing shape and ready to go," said Damon, who is making $13 million this year. "That's something you can't control. Who I do feel sorry for is all the people who got caught up in this scam who actually did lose their money. My money is just frozen. people's whole livelihoods got changed. I just get to see it on a small scale."

Nady, due $6.55 million this season, is trying to line up an apartment in New York for the upcoming season and has had trouble putting a deposit down without a credit card to back it.

"We've got meal money, so that's good," Nady said, laughing. "The only thing is that we don't have access to credit cards as a backup. At first, we didn't really know what happened and we were worried. But we found out that we were OK, and now we're just waiting to get the whole investigation done and get everything resolved."

The players are both represented by the Scott Boras agency, which referred them to Stanford companies. Boras told FOXSports.com that "none of our clients is in any financial jeopardy," and both players acknowledged that in the current economic climate, they are among the fortunate individuals.

"I try to make a habit of having a checkup to see where things are," Nady said. "You don't want to be one of those guys on the road that never has any idea. You've seen a lot of things happen in the last few months with people losing money."

Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, also Boras clients with the Yankees, said that they did not have investments related to Stanford. But Rodriguez has paid attention to reports of the Stanford scandal, pointing out the damage wiping out $8 billion causes across the board.

"What a terrible economy, huh?" Rodriguez said. "It's scary."

Not that A-Rod -- chatting amiably with reporters after a tumultuous week -- needs to look for handouts, not in the second year of a $275 million contract. He was jokingly asked what sacrifices he had made in light of the recession economy.

"I've got to think about that," Rodriguez said, laughing.

Damon said the most important thing he needed to do was tell the Yankees to change his direct deposit number to a different account. Both players have been told by their financial advisers that the matter could be resolved within a few days.

Neither seemed to be taking the situation too seriously. Near the end of a group interview, Damon's locker neighbor Nick Swisher held a pen as a microphone and asked Damon to explain what he had been talking about.

"I've got to ask you for a loan," Damon told Swisher.


Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.