MLB 2012

[ghost]

Yeah, Bobby Valentine is gone after this year.  He got the dreaded "he's safe for the rest of this year" comment fromt the team president. 

[Paelos]

I can name 4 guys that need to go right along with him.

Dustin Pedroia
Josh Beckett
Clay Bucholtz
David Ortiz

Those guys have pretty much doomed this organization with their bullshit.

[ghost]

Weren't they shopping Beckett?  Yeah, their prima dona bullshit has reached a peak. 

[Paelos]

They were absolutely shopping Beckett. Nobody would touch him or his ridiculous contract with a 10 foot clown pole.

[ghost]

What is his contract?  I haven't been paying that much attention to beisbol lately. 

[Ingmar]

The issue is more that he's been completely awful. If he was putting up numbers like his career numbers it would be a "bad" contract but workable from a trade standpoint. He's signed through 2014 at like 17 mil/year.

He's always been inconsistent though so its kind of weird he managed to get that deal in the first place. He seesaws back and forth every season.

[cmlancas]

Dustin Pedroia

Trade this guy.  My high school teammate is their AAA 2B.

[ghost]

Vic Conte estimates half of baseball is on PEDs.  . 

Very interesting..........

[Ingmar]

That dude looooooves the spotlight. Which doesn't mean he's necessarily wrong, of course, but I'd like to hear it from someone other than him and Canseco.

[HaemishM]

If Vic Conte isn't going to name names, he needs to shut the fuck up already. I don't give a fuck if he's right, he helped create the problem and isn't solving it by "not naming names." Fuck him in his earhole.

[ghost]

I love Vic Conte-  he adds a lot of comic relief to the situation.

[Paelos]

If Vic Conte isn't going to name names, he needs to shut the fuck up already. I don't give a fuck if he's right, he helped create the problem and isn't solving it by "not naming names." Fuck him in his earhole.

Naming names when you're a lying douchebag gets you sued. Guess why he isn't doing it?

[ghost]

Naming names when you aren't a lying douchebag will also get you sued.

[Paelos]

Naming names when you aren't a lying douchebag will also get you sued.

Nobody can win a suit against you for telling the truth. Unless you are under a gag order or something.

[ghost]

Winning the suit isn't the point-  just ask Nerf.  

Being involved in a lawsuit  is like being in an awful car crash.  Even if you didn't cause the crash you still aren't a "winner".  90% of the time it's the attorneys who win.

[ghost]

I really can't believe that Roger Clemens has signed with a minor league team.   

[Paelos]

Here's another reason why I've always respected Jim Joyce, even after he blew the perfect game call.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31751_162-57498038-10391697/umpire-jim-joyce-performs-cpr-on-stadium-employee-helps-save-her-life/

[ghost]

Remember the umpire whose blown call cost Andres Galarraga a perfect game in 2010? Well, other than that notorious moment, Jim Joyce is regarded as one of the finest in the game, voted MLB's best umpire just last year.

They may want to talk to their research department.   

[Ingmar]

Andres Galarraga was always an underrated pitcher. 

[ghost]

Looks like Bartolo Colon got busted up for doping.  Dangit, I thought MLB players were doping less........I swear I heard that somewhere.
 

[Paelos]

Looks like Bartolo Colon got busted up for doping.  Dangit, I thought MLB players were doping less........I swear I heard that somewhere.
 

I think you have to use common sense. If a guy goes from being a complete bum two years ago to suddenly a functional hitter leading the majors? Ask questions. If a pitcher that's over 35 suddenly goes from being injured every year and hurling a 4-5 ERA, to pitching under a 3.5 ERA with as many innings as 2005? Ask questions.

[Ingmar]

It's also possible MLB is the only sport with drug testing that works. Really hard to say.

[ghost]

Looks like Bartolo Colon got busted up for doping.  Dangit, I thought MLB players were doping less........I swear I heard that somewhere.
 

I think you have to use common sense. If a guy goes from being a complete bum two years ago to suddenly a functional hitter leading the majors? Ask questions. If a pitcher that's over 35 suddenly goes from being injured every year and hurling a 4-5 ERA, to pitching under a 3.5 ERA with as many innings as 2005? Ask questions.

Interestingly, Skip Bayless speculates that Jeter is using for just the reasons that you've mentioned. 

And with a guy like Colon, you also can't assume that he wasn't using earlier in his career prior to the testing becoming more stringent.  With the testing I assume that a lot of guys got off of their roids or hGh only to figure out that they weren't able to compete without it.  As they develop newer and better synthetics and better cleaning regimens I think you'll see a resurgence of usage as guys look to get an edge.

[Paelos]

Nothing about Jeter's stat record suggests he's been anything but consistent. His home run numbers have been steadily declining since his 20s. He's always been a .300 hitter or better, and that's no different now. He's had a few peaks and valleys which you can expect. Nothing about his current year is something I couldn't point back to a prior year, nor is it abnormal in my view.

Plus consider the source. Skip Bayless couldn't find the truth if he ran up his ass.

[ghost]

Your argument that he's always been "consistent" in no way suggests that he isn't doping now or has doped in the past.  In fact, it might even suggest that he has and does, as he was in his prime during the pinnacle of the doping era. 

[Paelos]

Your argument that he's always been "consistent" in no way suggests that he isn't doping now or has doped in the past.  In fact, it might even suggest that he has and does, as he was in his prime during the pinnacle of the doping era. 

Could be, but that wasn't the reasoning I mentioned before. I was noting players that had experienced wild swings from otherwise pedestrian careers. Barry Bonds was always doping too, and he was consistent. I can't say for sure Jeter is or isn't doping. I doubt he is, but the question isn't unwarranted. After all, a lot of the guys who've been busted lately were former Yankees.

That being said, Skip Bayless is a douchenozzle and deserves to go off a cliff with Stephen A Smith in the same car. Their disappearence would make the sports world a better, more informed place.

[ghost]

I don't think you can assume that any player active from 1990-now isn't doping currently or doped at some point during their careers.

[Paelos]

I don't think you can assume that any player active from 1990-now isn't doping currently or doped at some point during their careers.

I agree with the fact you can't assume they weren't doping at some point. I think during the witch hunt we've had after Balco, I can assume as many players aren't doping anymore. The numbers reflect a steady decrease it total offensive production, an increase in pitching effectiveness, and a large increase in no-hitters and perfect games.

Now, on a case by case basis, you can never prove anything, but I believe you can draw conclusions however you see fit based on your viewpoint.

[ghost]

I wonder if lower overall levels of doping (meaning doping at a lower individual level to avoid detection, not decreases in the number of players doping) wouldn't favor improvements in pitching over Canseco/Bonds/McGwire type power hitting.  One of the great benefits of steroids is the ability of the individual to recover from day to day wear and tear.  To my mind this would favor pitchers over other positions as they are more likely to become injured and go on the DL.

[HaemishM]

Plus consider the source. Skip Bayless couldn't find the truth if he ran up his ass.

He could find it if it was up Tim Tebow's ass, that's for sure.

Skip Bayless is a fucking useless douchenozzle.

[ghost]

Anyone want to make any World Series predictions?  

I'll go with Reds versus Rangers with the Reds winning in 6.

[Teleku]

Giants Vs. Rangers rematch.  Rangers lose again, working hard to secure their place in history as the Buffalo Bills of baseball.

[Paelos]

Giants Vs. Rangers rematch.  Rangers lose again, working hard to secure their place in history as the Buffalo Bills of baseball.

That's...wishful thinking with the Giants rotation issues beyond 2-3 (I don't trust Vogelsong). I can see it, but I think their pitching is nowhere near as strong as it used to be.

I would have said the Nats, but they are shutting down Strasburg which should help them implode in the playoffs. I think the Reds are probably the best team in the NL right now and that's even without Votto in the lineup for over a month. That could have sunk other franchises. So I'm going with Reds.

I think it's Reds v. Yankees. The Yankees hit just as hard as Texas with better starting pitching.

[Ingmar]

Nats-White Sox, Nats win in 5.

[Teleku]

Yeah, sorry, I meant to add a  at the end of that.  Though I don't think its that far fetched, but it will certainly be a fight.  Our offense has been surprisingly robust since Melky made his departure.

Also, your wrong, Vogelsong is awesome!