Friday, February 13, 2009
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY
It's finally here....pitchers and catchers report today. Excuse me, I am going to run through the streets naked screaming in excitement.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Some signings
Bobby Abreu agreed to a one year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the Republic of California ruled by the great and powerful Schwarzenegger for a one year deal with a base salary of $5 mil that could reach over $6 with incentives. Wow Abreu coming off of a pretty good year only gets a one year deal. Tough times.
Adam Dunn agreed on a one year deal with the Nationals worth $20 million. This could cause Nick Johnson to be moved. I've always liked Johnson, he's a good player but gets hurt entirely too much. If he could put together a few healthy seasons he could be productive for somebody.
Braden Looper agreed to a one year deal worth $4.75 million with a mutual '10 option with the Brewers.
And this song is dedicated to Roberto Alomar
Adam Dunn agreed on a one year deal with the Nationals worth $20 million. This could cause Nick Johnson to be moved. I've always liked Johnson, he's a good player but gets hurt entirely too much. If he could put together a few healthy seasons he could be productive for somebody.
Braden Looper agreed to a one year deal worth $4.75 million with a mutual '10 option with the Brewers.
And this song is dedicated to Roberto Alomar
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
A Rod
Obviously a lot about Alex Rodriguez has been said over the past few days. Fans, owners, coaches, commentators, and writers have all had their say on the the latest A Rod scandal. Something about this is bothering me though. It is perfectly fair to condemn the use of steroids, to believe that an asterisk should be placed next to the stats of those found guilty of using PEDs, or even to keep these guys out of the Hall of Fame. However, to come down on Rodriguez, or ANY of those implicated in this scandal on a personal level is disgusting as well as hypocritical. Yes, these guys did something wrong, some of them even lied about it, and continue to lie about it, but in the grand scheme of the world , it really isn't a big deal. These guys cheated in a game, get over it. I've heard people on the television and radio this weekend condemn A Rod as a filthy, no good liar, a scoundral, and a criminal. There is not one of us... NOT... ONE... who hasn't cheated or lied in their life. Just because these men are multi millionares and professional atheletes, does not make them exempt form the same defeciencies and faults that any person has. They are still humans, just with more money than I could ever fathom. So it is my request that all you self righteous radio call in "experts" step off of your pedestal, put down the qurater pounder and join me in the real world.
Monday, February 9, 2009
A- Roid? Seriously?
He did it. In a sit down interview with Peter Gammons, Alex Rodriguez admitted that he was in fact guilty of using performance enhancing drugs during his time with the Texas Rangers from 2001- 2003. All I can say is ...thank god. As a Yankee fan, the last thing I wanted was for this dark cloud to be hanging over the head of A-Rod all season. The overwhelming media circus that would have ensued if he denied ever using them, or refused to comment about his alleged positive test would have made the past 5 years of media scrutiny seem like informal water cooler chat.
This was the best thing Alex could have done. For once he made the smart choice. He came clean, said he was sorry, and now wants to move on. You know what, it will. Not soon, but eventually the media firestorm will pass and Alex will be back to talking about if Derek and he still stay up late playing mystery date and eating rice krispie treats at sleep overs.
Aside from this being the smartest thing for Alex to do regarding the media, it also will make headway with the fans and Hall of Fame voters. This will go along way towards gaining the forgiveness of Yankee fans. Look at Giambi, he was able to win the fans even after admitting taking steroids. All Alex has to do is hit a couple game winning homers and he'll be fine.
The bottom line is that this won't change much. If you hated A Rod before, you'll use this as another reason to hate him. If you were a fan of A Rod before this...you still will be. As far as his Hall of Fame consideration goes, I wrote my opinion on that subject last week regarding Bonds and co. A Rod is a first ballot Hall of Famer. Since 2003, Rodriguez has been subject to rigorous drug testing and has not failed a test, unless he's still being warned by Gene Orza. He had the best year of his career, as well as one of the best seasons of any major leaguer ever in 2007, while being regularly tested.
Maybe I'm naive and he's simply moved on to a new substance to avoid detection, but I am inclined believe he has been clean since then. All in all I'm sick of all this. The book, the steroids, the talk of nicknames, and team payrolls. I am ready for some baseball...some real live actual baseball...who else is with me?
This was the best thing Alex could have done. For once he made the smart choice. He came clean, said he was sorry, and now wants to move on. You know what, it will. Not soon, but eventually the media firestorm will pass and Alex will be back to talking about if Derek and he still stay up late playing mystery date and eating rice krispie treats at sleep overs.
Aside from this being the smartest thing for Alex to do regarding the media, it also will make headway with the fans and Hall of Fame voters. This will go along way towards gaining the forgiveness of Yankee fans. Look at Giambi, he was able to win the fans even after admitting taking steroids. All Alex has to do is hit a couple game winning homers and he'll be fine.
The bottom line is that this won't change much. If you hated A Rod before, you'll use this as another reason to hate him. If you were a fan of A Rod before this...you still will be. As far as his Hall of Fame consideration goes, I wrote my opinion on that subject last week regarding Bonds and co. A Rod is a first ballot Hall of Famer. Since 2003, Rodriguez has been subject to rigorous drug testing and has not failed a test, unless he's still being warned by Gene Orza. He had the best year of his career, as well as one of the best seasons of any major leaguer ever in 2007, while being regularly tested.
Maybe I'm naive and he's simply moved on to a new substance to avoid detection, but I am inclined believe he has been clean since then. All in all I'm sick of all this. The book, the steroids, the talk of nicknames, and team payrolls. I am ready for some baseball...some real live actual baseball...who else is with me?
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Ah Crap
According to SI.com A Rod tested positive for two anabolic steroids in 2003. He was also apparently tipped off the an impending test by Gene Orza of the MLBPA.
Exactly what the Yankees need going into the season MORE A Rod controversy. I'll write more as facts come out.
Exactly what the Yankees need going into the season MORE A Rod controversy. I'll write more as facts come out.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Around the league
Ben Sheets needs elbow surgery....huge shocker
Cliff Floyd agreed to terms with the Padres
Yanks made a minor trading sending Chase Wright (who was DFA'd following the Pettitte signing) to somewhere for someone.... (Brewers for Eric Fryer).
I've really been wanting to write about the infamous Torre/ Verducci book more, but wanted to wait until after I read it. Well much to my chagrin I can't get a copy of the book anywhere. So I will eventually read it and post my thoughts on what was actually said.
Steroids have been making some more news lately. Apparently Clemens DNA can be linked to hypodermic needles. This evidence really isn't going to get anyone where. How can hypo's that Brian MacNamee has been holding onto for years (how weird is that? Is this guy trying to clone the Rocket and make little angry pitchers with icyhot on their man berries?) be used as legitimate evidence. Also new evidence against big Barry Bonds has come out. Apparently there is a positive urine sample from a 2003 PED test. However, Judge Susan Illston is leaning towards throwing this evidence out unless there is "direct testimony tying it to Bonds." So although we've been hearing new stuff on the steroid front, it really amounts to a whole lot of nothing.
This all being the case, I think that despite the rampant cheating going on, you need to let these guys in the Hall of Fame. There really is no way to know, as a 100% absolute certainty, that these guys are in fact guilty. So you have to treat this as simply another era in baseball history. The 1960's was characterized as the Dead Ball era with guys like Bob Gibson being so relentlessly, disgusting, filthy, that baseball had to take action and change it's rules. The era of 1988-2006 can be called the Shrunken Balls era. Just look at these guys for what they did compared to other players of the period. 500 homers is no longer a lock for the hall. Bonds, McGwire, and even Sosa demolished mammoth home run after mammoth home run. They did more than other guys who were on steroids, and hit many home runs off of pitchers who were on steroids (Clemens, Pettitte, etc). What I personally take away from this period is how great the guys who apparently stayed clean really were. Boggs, Ripken, Griffey, Jeter, Gwynn, Frank Thomas, these are the guys who I will remember as the true stars of the time.
Cliff Floyd agreed to terms with the Padres
Yanks made a minor trading sending Chase Wright (who was DFA'd following the Pettitte signing) to somewhere for someone.... (Brewers for Eric Fryer).
I've really been wanting to write about the infamous Torre/ Verducci book more, but wanted to wait until after I read it. Well much to my chagrin I can't get a copy of the book anywhere. So I will eventually read it and post my thoughts on what was actually said.
Steroids have been making some more news lately. Apparently Clemens DNA can be linked to hypodermic needles. This evidence really isn't going to get anyone where. How can hypo's that Brian MacNamee has been holding onto for years (how weird is that? Is this guy trying to clone the Rocket and make little angry pitchers with icyhot on their man berries?) be used as legitimate evidence. Also new evidence against big Barry Bonds has come out. Apparently there is a positive urine sample from a 2003 PED test. However, Judge Susan Illston is leaning towards throwing this evidence out unless there is "direct testimony tying it to Bonds." So although we've been hearing new stuff on the steroid front, it really amounts to a whole lot of nothing.
This all being the case, I think that despite the rampant cheating going on, you need to let these guys in the Hall of Fame. There really is no way to know, as a 100% absolute certainty, that these guys are in fact guilty. So you have to treat this as simply another era in baseball history. The 1960's was characterized as the Dead Ball era with guys like Bob Gibson being so relentlessly, disgusting, filthy, that baseball had to take action and change it's rules. The era of 1988-2006 can be called the Shrunken Balls era. Just look at these guys for what they did compared to other players of the period. 500 homers is no longer a lock for the hall. Bonds, McGwire, and even Sosa demolished mammoth home run after mammoth home run. They did more than other guys who were on steroids, and hit many home runs off of pitchers who were on steroids (Clemens, Pettitte, etc). What I personally take away from this period is how great the guys who apparently stayed clean really were. Boggs, Ripken, Griffey, Jeter, Gwynn, Frank Thomas, these are the guys who I will remember as the true stars of the time.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Super Bowl
Wow, what a game that just was. Even though he didn't pull it out in the end, you have to give credit to Kurt Warner and the Cardinals. They put up a hell of a fight. Larry Fitzgerald really emerged in the spotlight on the biggest stage of them all as well. Congrats to Big Ben and the Steelers.
Now that the Super Bowl is done with and the football season is over (considering nobody watches the Pro Bowl) that means baseball is quickly approaching. As I write this there are only 11 days 10 hours and 54 minutes until pitchers and catchers report for spring training.
Now that the Super Bowl is done with and the football season is over (considering nobody watches the Pro Bowl) that means baseball is quickly approaching. As I write this there are only 11 days 10 hours and 54 minutes until pitchers and catchers report for spring training.
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