A-P "So You Think You're A Sportswriter" Thread

[metirish]

I hate this shit...why is it that it's the MFY's that are always bored about playing the Mets,

]Because the Yankees are just so bored by the whole thing.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Oh, boo-hoo. The novelty's worn off. As if anybody couldn't see that coming.

]Because don't you just know ESPN will prattle on about the Mike Piazza-Roger Clemens blood feud...

And you haven't milked this to death, yourself?

]Because the Yankees will see Miguel Cairo in a Mets uniform and wonder how (and why) they ever let him go.

Last I heard, he's disabled.

]Because the Mets will be reminded they actually believed Felix Heredia could help them.

I rather think this won't occur to anybody. As Heredia is on the post-operative shelf and Mike Stanton is bringing it with a sub-replacement level 5.79 ERA, I don't think anybody with the Mets will be kicking themselves.

]Because the two Matsuis will be asked (again) how it feels to be playing against each other, even if Kaz is on the DL.

OK, so this series has been a boon in part because it always gives the likes of you something to write. And now the something to write that it gives you is that there's nothing left to write?

Writing about having nothing to write is the cheapest trick used by sophomores. And Virginia Woolf.

]Because there are no new rivalries. Even the old ones (Pedro versus Jorge Posada) are beyond the statute of limitations.

I like to think Pedro still has a score to settle with the Yankees.

]Because interleague play has run its course. It's time to return the schedule to its old-school roots, where division rivals slug it out all summer.

No, wrong. If that old-school stuff is true, than it was always true -- not because interleague play is played out, but because it was ill-conceived to begin with.

]While the Mets and Yankees are having their one millionth reunion, fans around the country are being forced to witness Tigers-Diamondbacks, Blue Jays-Nationals and Royals-Rockies. We wonder if Bud Selig will be waiting up for those scores.

This was always true, column-filler guy.

]Because The Big Unit, who pitches Sunday, just ain't what he used to be.

Neither. Art. Thou.

]We guarantee Pedro won't headhunt.

Yeah, nothing's interesting without gratuitous violence, huh?

]Because John Franco and Al Leiter are gone (a blessing, most Mets fans will say) which means there aren't any real New Yorkers as major players left in this series.

Well, besides Roberto Hernandez, Carl Pavano (New Britian, CT representin'), and John Flaherty, there's the managers of both teams coming from Brooklyn, which used to matter to the likes of you before you got so bored but still had to file a story, poor guy.

Oh, and then there's Alex Freakin Rodriguez!

]Because Doc and Darryl are gone, too. It used to be fun seeing these ex-Mets stars in Pinstripes. Used to be - until that story line got old, as well.

These guys were never really part of this story. Straw had seven at-bats and one single as a Yankee against the Mets. Gooden had one five-inning start desperately hanging on in his last season after the Yankees grabbed him off the waiver wire.

]Because Mike Cameron will tease the Yankees all weekend with his .400-plus on-base percentage, his .300 batting average and his still-quick jumps in the outfield. This is the guy the Bombers need down the stretch. And there's no way the Mets are sending him to the Bronx.

Actually if you were a good writer, you'd realize that this is an angle, not the absence of an angle you've been bemoaning through this column.

]Because George Steinbrenner isn't planning to be around. Too bad. The Man has lost his fastball, but he still makes Stadium employees jittery, and forces the press corps into a paparazzi watch in the parking lot.

He's a creep who should be ignored except when he's hurting somebody, and you chasing him for a story is pathetic.

]Because Tom Gordon would be the perfect fit in the Mets' bullpen. But don't hold your breath.

Shut up.

]Because the Yankees are just so bored by the whole thing.

If this is true, then that's pathetic and that's your story.

]Because, for once, they're right.

I'd gladly take your column over, Ace.

[metirish]

Great stuff Edgy, nothing drives me more crazy as the angle that the MFY's are bored of the Mets, and it's not just Klapisch, all the feature writers do it ,from the Post, to Newsday and the Daily News, it's so lazy, I mean are they bored from playing the D-Rays yet?

[Guest holychicken]

]Neither. Art. Thou.

Damn. . .
Remind me not to end up on Edgy's bad side. . .

[metsmarathon]

] ]Because John Franco and Al Leiter are gone (a blessing, most Mets fans will say) which means there aren't any real New Yorkers as major players left in this series. Well, besides Roberto Hernandez, Carl Pavano (New Britian, CT representin'), and John Flaherty, there's the managers of both teams coming from Brooklyn, which used to matter to the likes of you before you got so bored but still had to file a story, poor guy. Oh, and then there's Alex Freakin Rodriguez!

and jeter was born in freakin' pequannock! don't be dissin' jersey!

[Guest mlbaseballtalk]

>By BOB KLAPISCH
>SPORTS COLUMNIST

I'm starting to think Bobby Bo threatned the wrong guy and should have punked Harper's co-author...

>With eight-plus years of weariness on our shoulders, we slog to the doorstep of one more >Subway Series. Haven't we been here, done that? Indeed - 50 times since 1997, including >the 2000 World Series. Yankees vs. Mets is old and tired, a plague upon any sane fan.

Just out of curiosity, after, oh some 30 years, many playoff series between them, haven't we been there, done that with Rangers-Icelanders and Rangers-Devils to the point where thats old and tired? Ditto Knicks-Nets?

>Deliverance is what we should be praying for. Let this be the last Subway Series until >someday - it won't be this year - these teams legitimately confront each other in October.

Not when the reciepts keep coming in. When these games start drawing 30,000 THEN we can talk about it being old and tired. When 1050 and WFAN cease promoting coverage for the games, THEN its old and tired

>Until then, we've suffered enough. Here's why the gimmickry must come to an end:
>Because don't you just know ESPN will prattle on about the Mike Piazza-Roger Clemens >blood feud (which has long since expired) one more time? It'll be used as state's evidence >that this rivalry is alive and well. We know better.

Funny, I haven't heard any Piazza-Clemens stuff since the famous Shawn Estes game, save for last years All Star Game. Oh and for the record, I'm sure Marichal v. Roseboro is prattled on about during nationally spotlighted Giant-Dodger clashes. Stuff like that is part of "lore"

>Because neither the Yankees nor the Mets are playing particularly well this week.

2 out of 3 against the Phillies? By the way, most of the national media and local media expected the Mets to not be much better than a .500 club, don't see how this translates to "not playing particularly well" when they are playing right around expectations (sure you can point to last year same records and the Mets PR machine saying "Next Year Is Now" but come on)

>Because Joe Torre gets along better with Willie Randolph than he did with Bobby Valentine.

Uh this is an argument how? Do fans really care that the players/managers/coaches are friends or not? Unless they all are singing Kum By Ya together on the field, NO!

>Because Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez won't go head-to-head.

Again, how is this an argument? Luck of the draw. How many times did the Mets/Yanks ever have a match up of two future Hall of Famers? Unless Glavine and Clemens went head-to-head I'm thinking never

>Because Tom Glavine (5.06 ERA) and Sean Henn (10.29) will.

Point is? Dave Milicki had the game of his life in the first Met-Yankee series, and if Sean Henn had pitched a gem all the papers right now would be putting him in Monument Park

>Because Chien-Ming Wang, the Yankees' best pitcher, will miss the series.

Oh GOD! Is there a point to this? The same writers for years were on Torre's side for not rearranging his rotation so Clemens could get his just rewards (which is WHY that was strung out for so many years) because of the "santity of the season" all of a sudden want to see the rotations juggled to get the big matchups

>Because a legion of Mets fans will inevitably end up chanting "Yankees [stink]" at some >point during the weekend. They're no less myopic than Red Sox fans who sound the same >war cry at Fenway. Not to be outdone, the Bleacher Bums will unleash their own brand of >idiocy, turning against their Stadium brethren as they chant, "Box seats [bleep]."

I love how writers turn a blind eye to the yahoo fans they are defending when putting down other fans. Lousish behavior is no more different in NY then it is anywhere in the country, well maybe its worse here than other places, but lets not kid ourselfs thinking that the drunken idiot fans in Yankee Stadium are somehow better than drunken idiots at Shea and Fenway


>Because the Yankees will see Miguel Cairo in a Mets uniform and wonder how (and why) >they ever let him go.

DL Dude get the facts straight. Besides lack of a dependable utility guy is the LEAST of the Yankees concerns

>Because the Mets will be reminded they actually believed Felix Heredia could help them.

Huh? Again lets not get facts in the way of good Met bashing. Simple expensive trash for slightly less expensive trash, I don't think the Mets even thought Rick Peterson could help Heredia

>Because the two Matsuis will be asked (again) how it feels to be playing against each >other, even if Kaz is on the DL.

Hey he does get the facts right! Dude, I'm sure this happens every time Hideki and Ichiro plays, every time Nomo plays either one, ect, if it happened this time around

>Because there are no new rivalries. Even the old ones (Pedro versus Jorge Posada) are >beyond the statute of limitations.

Uh, point is? Met fans will always hate A-Hole. Met fans will always hate Jeter. But let me get this straight, one second you are tired of rehashing past rivalries, and now you are bemoaning no new rivalries. Oh-KAY! Do people need to remind him of WHY Clemens v. Piazza was constantly rehashed? And why Posada/Jeter v. Pedro doesn't need to be?

>Because nothing will ever match the drama in the Mets' dugout on July 9, 2000 - the night >after Roger Clemens beaned Mike Piazza. Until the last seconds before taking the field, the >Mets debated whether to retaliate against Derek Jeter and/or Bernie Williams. Finally, just >as starter Mike Hampton was leaving the dugout on his way to the mound, he decided to >comply with Valentine's edict that no Yankee position player would be targeted.

So Giants vs Dodgers is dead because nothing will ever match the drama of Juan Marichal using John Roseboro's head as a pinata back in 62 and the ensuing tension through the rest of that season (ended up in a tie with a "Shades of 51" play-off series Giants won 2-1)

>Because interleague play has run its course. It's time to return the schedule to its old->school roots, where division rivals slug it out all summer. While the Mets and Yankees are >having their one millionth reunion, fans around the country are being forced to witness >Tigers-Diamondbacks, Blue Jays-Nationals and Royals-Rockies. We wonder if Bud Selig >will be waiting up for those scores.

Does this really matter at this point? It works in New York, it works in Chicago, it works in LA. Once those cities drop in interest (on both sides) and once it appears attendance and ratings are down across the board, then you can call it over. Oh and by the way, why doesn't anyone ever call for the end of Inter Confrence play in the NFL? Ever thought about that? While every 4 years we'll get Giants-Jets we have to suffer Cardinals-Jets and Jaguars-Giants in the meantime. And those are just as riviting as Tigers-Diamondbacks

>Because The Big Unit, who pitches Sunday, just ain't what he used to be.

And the point is?

>Because Carlos Beltran, a nice player, isn't yet what the Mets thought he'd be.

And the point is?

>Because Pedro, who starts tonight, isn't as easy for Yankee fans to hate anymore. He >might have been a jerk in a Red Sox uniform, easy to lump in with Manny Ramirez and >David Ortiz, but he's a better person now that he's a Met. We guarantee Pedro won't >headhunt.

Huh? Why would Yankee fans ever stop hating Pedro? Besides that gets Met fans an opportunity to turn that chant around to "WHO'S YOUR DADDY NOW? BEEEYATCH!

>Because John Franco and Al Leiter are gone (a blessing, most Mets fans will say) which >means there aren't any real New Yorkers as major players left in this series.

Oh contrare. Both Managers from New York, ARod and Jeter were born in the Garden State, Pavano is from CT. And besides when did being a "Real New Yorker" matter, ever?

>Because the unique thrill of seeing the Yankees' best against the Mets' best is gone. That >was the initial lure, watching Mariano Rivera's cutter against Mike Piazza's massive hack, >and the precious inside-out quality of Derek Jeter's swing against Leiter's slider. But those >matchups have all been blurred by time and familiarity.

Uh, Pedro v ARod? Beltran, Wright v Randy? Wright, Reyes, ect v Mariano? Last time I checked baseball teams keep reloading themselves with new "best" every year or so. Does it matter that the some of the old names are still around

>Because the Yankees will be thinking about a three-game series with the Orioles next >week.

Then they are stupid for acting like the 1998 Yankees overlooking a bad team in front of them while thinking ahead to a more "meaningfull" series. This Yankee team can not afford to do something like that. EVERY series this summer is important from here on out

>Because the Mets will be thinking about the Phillies, who come to town on Tuesday. Or at >least they should be.

Then they are stupid for acting like the 1986 Mets overlooking a bad team in front of them while thinking ahead to a more "meaningfull" series. This Met team can not afford to do something like that. EVERY series this summer is important from here on out

>Because everyone will be cursing Sunday night's 8 p.m. start.

Thats on MLB and ESPN dude, not on Mets v Yanks

>Because David Cone isn't around anymore. If anyone could appreciate how special these >games used to be, it was him.

Say what?

>Because Doc and Darryl are gone, too. It used to be fun seeing these ex-Mets stars in >Pinstripes. Used to be - until that story line got old, as well.

You know its fun seeing an ex-Yankee in Met pinstripes in that dugout right now. Man is this guy becoming a cranky old bastard. Oh, BTW should be noted that he wrote Doc's autobiography with Doc. Not exactly unbiased when it comes to remembering past ex-Mets/Yankees

>Because Mike Cameron will tease the Yankees all weekend with his .400-plus on-base >percentage, his .300 batting average and his still-quick jumps in the outfield. This is the guy >the Bombers need down the stretch. And there's no way the Mets are sending him to the >Bronx.

And thats bad how?


>Because there's no race even for a new stadium. Both teams will be in their new homes by >2009.

And thats bad how?

>Because George Steinbrenner isn't planning to be around. Too bad. The Man has lost his >fastball, but he still makes Stadium employees jittery, and forces the press corps into >paparazzi watch in the parking lot.

You know, considering he is almost 75, maybe its a good thing he isn't in New York this weekend

>Because this isn't really a Subway Series. It's three games in the Bronx.

And three games at Shea last month. Uh couldn't you have said that every regular season series since 97?

>Because Piazza isn't what he used to be.

Uh so?

>Because Tom Gordon would be the perfect fit in the Mets' bullpen. But don't hold your >breath.

Uh like the Cameron one, so?

Because the Yankees are just so bored by the whole thing.

Apparantly THEY are the ONLY ONES!

Because, for once, they're right.

Well except for you

[metirish]

Some interesting stuff from Ken Rosenthal.

]Inside Dish: Marlins put Burnett on trading block Posted: June 27, 2005 The Florida Marlins are considering trading righthander A.J. Burnett in a blockbuster move that would alter the pennant races in both leagues, Sporting News has learned. The Marlins are engaged in preliminary discussions about Burnett with the Orioles and a second, unidentified American League club. Their goal in trading Burnett, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, would be to obtain three major league parts -- a young starting pitcher, a quality reliever and a lefthanded hitting outfielder. Few teams would be willing to pay such a steep price. The Red Sox, awaiting the return of righthander Curt Schilling, are not currently pursuing a trade for a starting pitcher, be it Burnett or Giants righthander Jason Schmidt. The Yankees could get involved for Burnett if they were willing to trade setup man Tom Gordon and righthander Chien-Ming Wang, but that move could do more harm than good. The Tigers have had past interest in Burnett. The Angels, White Sox and Twins are not believed to be currently interested. Any team that acquires Burnett, 28, would need to be confident that it could sign him long-term. The Marlins, unlikely to retain Burnett, would prefer to trade him for immediate help than receive only draft picks if he departs as a free agent. Burnett threw a two-hit shutout Sunday against the Devil Rays, but for all his talent, he's only 5-5 with a 3.14 ERA this season, 41-43 with a 3.78 ERA lifetime. The Orioles, a team in search of a No. 1 starter, could prove a match for the Marlins if they are willing to give up either righthander Daniel Cabrera or Hayden Penn, reliever Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie, with the Marlins likely sending them outfielder Juan Encarnacion -- another potential free agent -- along with Burnett. In recent years, however, the Orioles have shown great reluctance at acquiring potential free agents, passing on deals for first baseman Derrek Lee and righthander Tim Hudson because they could not sign them to contract extensions before making the trades. ... If Lou Piniella is fed up with the Devil Rays, then he should follow the example of Jim Leyland, who walked away from the final two years and $4 million on his contract when he resigned from the Rockies after burning out in 1999. Piniella's contract runs through next season, and he reportedly has nearly $7 million coming. Resigning would be the honorable thing to do; he'd find another job, though probably not for as much money. ... Here's how the Reds can trade beleaguered lefthander Eric Milton: By offering to pay half of his remaining salary to a team that plays in a pitcher-friendly park. The Nationals, Giants or Tigers might be willing to take a chance on Milton if they were paying him $4.25 million per season instead of $8.5 million. The Phillies' trade of second baseman Placido Polanco for reliever Ugueth Urbina seemed like a good idea at the time, but the deal already looks like a loser. Urbina allowed five homers in his first 5 1/3 innings at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Polanco not only has given the Tigers a major offensive boost at second base, but also has emerged as a leader. ... The price will be high for Rockies lefthanded reliever Brian Fuentes, who continues to draw significant interest from the Marlins and other clubs. Fuentes, 29, is 8-for-10 in save opportunities, opponents are batting only .202 against him and he is earning only $328,000; he becomes eligible for arbitration after this season. Brewers rookie second baseman Rickie Weeks drew nine walks in his first 59 plate appearances for an on-base percentage of .441, and his bat speed is something to behold. Weeks got down 0-2 in his first at-bat against Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano, then fouled off a pitch and took a ball before hitting an RBI single to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. ... The Cubs rejected the Rockies' offer of outfielder Preston Wilson for a package of three prospects. Wilson, who turns 31 in July, is only about 18 months older than A's center fielder Mark Kotsay but offers more power. Both can be free agents after this season. ... The Nationals' attendance surge gives them the ability to increase payroll, but the team lacks the surplus of young talent needed to make trades. The loss of outfielder Terrmel Sledge, who underwent surgery on his right hamstring and likely is out for the season, has proven particularly damaging. A package of Sledge and righthander Zach Day could have brought the Nationals a significant part. ... The Orioles' demotion of utility man David Newhan prompted the Brewers to inquire whether he was available in a trade, but Newhan played just one inning in Class AAA before the Orioles brought him back to replace B.J. Surhoff, who went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. The Orioles would not have traded Newhan anyway. ... The Blue Jays plan to start using rookie shortstop Russ Adams, a lefthanded hitter, against lefties as well as righties. Adams has made 13 errors, tied for the A.L. lead among shortstops, but the Jays love his alertness in the field. Third base coach Brian Butterfield says Adams has improved his arm from below average to average. ... The Phillies are fortunate that righthander Robinson Tejeda is proving a worthy replacement for lefthander Randy Wolf, who will undergo elbow-ligament transplant surgery on July 1 and be out at least 12 months; Class AAA righthander Gavin Floyd, one of the team's top prospects, isn't the same pitcher he was last season. "He does not have the power curveball that he had, and he doesn't have great command of his fastball," one scout says. "Triple-A hitters are laying off the fastball, and he can't get them to chase his curve. It's more of a slurve this year. He used to have a snap-dragon type breaking ball." Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for Sporting News. Email him at kenrosenthal@sportingnews.com.

The Orioles would be nuts to give up that much talent for Burnett.

[seawolf17]

Can we deal Jae Seo (a young starter), Hernandez (a "quality" reliever), and Eric Valent/Ron Calloway (a left-handed hitting outfielder) for Burnett?

(I'm kidding. I don't think Florida would make that deal.)

[metirish]

Daniel Cabrera has electric stuff, a harder throwing version of Victor Zambrano, he looked great last night against the MFY at times and then he seems to lose the strike zone, still I'd keep him.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I could see the MFYs making that deal-- Gordon + Wang? I'm sure they'd do it. And if I'm the O's maybe I think of it too -- lots of MFY games left on the schedule.

I do not believe in Wang's chance to be anything more than middling good; Goirdon;s old and only has so much left. Burnett of course is inconsistent and frequently injured but has great stuff.

Burnett by the way is a good argument for the unpopular idea of trading your Kazmirs for more experienced guys. If he were to go, all Florida would have gotten in six years were a few flashes of greatness and a couple of big doctor bills while Burnett went 42-43.

Jesus Sanchez, also in that deal, had a career ERA+ of 80 through last year.

We got 95 wins and an above-league-average ERA every year out of Leiter, who was 31 when we acquired him for those guys.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And while acknowledging your point, the answer I imagine you'd get from most quarters is that (1) Zambrano is less than Leiter was at that point, (2) Kazmir is more than Burnett was at that point, and (3) the Mets of the 1997-1998 offseason (coming off an 88-74 season) were in a different place than the Mets at the trading deadlline of 2004.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Agreed on all 3 counts. But still...

[Guest Rotblatt]

From the Daily News. Bold added to highlight inconsistencies.

]Because there is a wild card, we must presume there is still plenty of baseball left in the New York summer - in both boroughs. Sustaining momentum after the trading deadline, however, could be dicey. As the scout said, the embarrassing lack of any genuine prospects in the upper level of the Mets farm system figures to prohibit Omar Minaya from making the kind of deal that will bring a big-time productive first baseman. And the Yankee system is almost as bankrupt, although the consensus among their high command at the powwow with Steinbrenner in Tampa yesterday was that, in the right deal, they would be willing to sacrifice either of their top two Double-A position players, outfielder Melky Cabrera or former No. 1 pick Eric Duncan.

Okay, I'm sorry but in what world does the Yankee farm system have better prospects than us? And what GM would give up more for Cabrera or Duncan net more than, say, Milledge or Petit? And how can this unnamed sportswriter say our upper levels are barren of prospects, then use Yankee AA players to demonstrate the comparitive richness of their system?

Besides, we do have decent prospects in AAA, it's just that the ones who might be ready are pitchers, and we don't need pitchers right now.

[Guest Edgy DC]

OK (1) the two best prospects in the upper farm system (Reyes and Wright) are already in Queens. (2) Is Binghamton the upper farm system? Because there are a handful of gen-u-ine propects there (the second-highest slot among seven farm teams), including a pitcher who is a big-league legacy and is blowing batters' minds. (3) Prospects in the bottom half of a farm system buy big leaguers also.

Lastly, I"m of a mind to stand pat.

[Guest Rotblatt]

]Lastly, I"m of a mind to stand pat.

Yeah, me too, at least if our prospects are getting involved. But it still cheeses me off to see our farm system even COMPARED to the wasteland that is the Yankees'.

[Guest holychicken]

I am definitely down with "stand pat," but I am also down with sell. . .certainly this appears to be a sellers market. . .

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

I'd be fine if the Mets didn't make any deals before July 31.

A 12-game winning streak, or a 12-game losing streak, in the next couple of weeks might change my mind, though.

Right now they're fuzzy contenders. They probably won't make the playoffs, but they might.

They shouldn't make any radical WIN NOW trades that will hurt the farm system. But I also don't want to see them sell off veterans and kill the small chance that they have of contending.

Again, the lengthy hot or cold streak that puts them significantly closer to or further from first place would change my mind.

[metirish]

Anyone here about this rumor?

]By BOB KLAPISCH SPORTS COLUMNIST The rumor that another major league star has tested positive for steroids is spreading like some Internet virus, only without a patch on the way. It's out there - in chat rooms, blogs, message boards, a tidal wave of gossip so massive that Major League Baseball and the union issued a joint statement this week, telling everyone to stop hyperventilating. The fact that Bud Selig and Donald Fehr, blood enemies, are speaking with one voice tells you how serious this PR crisis has become. Is it true, though? Even the clueless David Wells got a whiff of the scandal. On his Web site, Boomer33.com, the larger than life (and larger than his uniform) lefty writes, "I hear that there is about 58 more guys that have tested positive and if that's true, this game is screwed! Congress will have a field day with it." Exaggeration aside, Boomer actually has a point: The feds are waiting to take control of baseball's steroid-enforcement policy and emasculate Selig Fehr once and for all. Ever since Rafael Palmeiro was accused of lying to Congress, there's been an uneasy feeling among MLB officials that the real trouble has only begun. That's why every rumor, no matter how outrageous or unfair, suddenly has legs. Hopefully the whisperers are wrong. Let's all wish for a better world where 400-foot home runs (and 3,000 hits) are products of old-school virtues like hard work. But if Palmeiro, who had the nerve to shake his finger at Congress while proclaiming his innocence, was really just another scam artist, who can we really trust anymore? Now every ball over the fence is met with raised eyebrows. So are the guys who've kept their best fastballs in a year when radar gun readings are down. That's the poison Palmeiro has unleashed on the sport, casting doubt on everyone else. Not a day goes by lately without some tipster calling a newspaper to swear Barry Bonds or Jason Giambi is going down next. In any other year, perhaps, Giambi's resurrection would've been found on Page 1 of the Never Give Up handbook. Hard work in the weight room, extra time in the batting cages, a positive attitude - that's all it took to rescue his career, right? The purist in all of us wants to believe it. But in this era, it takes more than faith to assume no one's cheating. That's why the rumors are floating over baseball. Maybe there's an inkling of truth to them. Maybe that's why Selig and Fehr are working in concert. Maybe they're running scared, knowing their jobs are on the line if the big leagues are suddenly swamped with suspensions. Congress is warming up for a corporate massacre. Tough guys like Tom Davis and Henry Waxman never will forget they were played for fools by Palmeiro - who, by the way, will now be investigated for perjury. Selig and Fehr could be the next to face the feds' wrath. No wonder everyone's so jittery. No wonder when the commissioner and the union chief start bleating about everyone's innocence, a little voice in our heads says: They doth protest too much.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Bob Klapisch is foolish.

[Guest Rotblatt]

You know what wouldn't be foolish, though? Penalizing the team for its player's misconduct.

At minimum a hefty fine, and at maximum maybe bar them from post-season play.

Shocking? Yes, but shouldn't the team have a responsbility to know what goes on in their clubhouse? And is it fair that a team should make the post-season on the backs of juiced-up cheaters?

At a minimum, it would result in a whole lot more "Steriod use=voided contract" clauses, which would hit the players where it hurts.

Would the Yankees have signed Giambi with such rules in place? Would they have turned a blind eye to his steroid use?

If they're serious about preventing steroid use, they have to get the teams invested in the process.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

There's no practical way to bar a team from postseason play.

If a guy tests positive in Tampa Bay, they could just shrug off the ban. They're not going to be in the postseason anyway.

But what happens if the White Sox were barred tomorrow? What would the rest of their season be like? Would the AL Central go the the second-place team? What if ten players tested positive? You could end up with some pretty mediocre teams in the playoffs.

A better approach might be, in addition to hefty fines, to make a team sit out the first rounds of the next amatuer draft. Or maybe the whole draft.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Ooh, I like that idea, Yancy. The whole draft might be tough, but even the first three rounds would do the trick, IMO.

Regarding the post-season, you're probably right, but I get pissed everytime I think of Giambi's part in preventing the Sox from winning the ALCS in 2003.

If they tried to take the pennant away from the Yankees that year, I'd support it in a heartbeat.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

A team already is penalized when a player tests positive, via suspensions for their players -- introducing additional punishments to the team would open the door to all sorts of unintended consequences.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I always liked the idea of, after each game, collecting a sample from every player who appeared, and testing it collectively. If the sample comes up positive, the game is forfeited. Let the team suss out the violator.

I'm sure there's numerous flaws in that.

[patchyfogg]

]I always liked the idea of, after each game, collecting a sample from every player who appeared, and testing it collectively.

Think about all of the jobs that would be created.....

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

You guys should be judges in Texas.

[Willets Point]

="PatchyFogg"] Think about all of the jobs that would be created.....

"Oh, piss-boy!!"

OE: Wow, do I know how to kill a thread or what?

[patchyfogg]

I will say that this guy is pretty funny, though:

http://barstoolsports.com/article/The_Definitive_MLB__Simpsons_Analogy_List/344/

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Excellent.

[Willets Point]

Krusty is coming, Krusty is coming....