Edgy MD

metsguyinmichigan wrote: That most-drug-filled-clubhouses line is juicy. Name some names! For the Yankees? Easy. Here are some: Jason Giambi, Mike Stanton, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Chuck Knoblauch, David Justice, Kevin Brown, Rondell White, Jason Grimsley, Randy Velarde, Aaron Boone... That's based on the Mitchell Report and what came out later. Here's Verducci's line: "I asked Rodriguez about steroids, the worst kept secret in baseball. He looked at me with wonder. Steroids? What do they do? Why would players take them? It was chilling to listen to his feigned ignorance. He had played in two especially dirty clubhouses in Seattle and Texas and by 2002 steroids were an open secret in the game, and yet here was Rodriguez asking me questions about steroids." Texas, of course, was discussed heavily in Canseco's book. But I didn't recall the Mariners having a lot of issues. No, I want to hear everything he's got on Texas and Seattle.

According to Jay Horwitz, the first Met since Randy Bobb in 1970 to debut (on the team, if not on the field) on his birthday.

To them, interfering with the investigation is a violation unto itself. They want to take him down like Nixon.

That most-drug-filled-clubhouses line is juicy. Name some names!

I'm not sure there's any reason to decry the arbitrariness of the penalty against A-Rod. He has the most powerful union in America to help him appeal; he gets to play until the appeal is heard; if the appeals process works like the appeals process usually works in baseball, his suspension will be cut in half; and he has the right to take his case to a court beyond baseball if he's still not satisfied. And with each step in the appeals process, more of the alleged evidence will come out. I'm a big fan of due process, but I'm not going to confuse A-Rod with Harry Wu yet. Sane and sober people were declaring just a few days ago that the powers had aligned to ensure that he had played his last game for the Yankees. Apparently not.

Frayed Knot wrote: As seen on Twitter, Jeter to the DL to make room for guess who? Remember how all the mediots in the Spring pronounced it as FACT that Jeter was going to be ready for opening day simply on the basis that he wanted it so much and could therefore will it to happen? Well since that time the number of games he's played (5) is only slightly ahead of the number of DL assignments (3) and it's not like it's been the same injury each time: first was ankle, then quad, now calf. Activating him before he's done with his rehab --- before he had even played a single complete game on defense --- looking like the worst idea in the history of training (wiht the possible exception of continuing to play David Wright after he came up grabbing his hammy).

Of course. I guess there's going to be work enough, as even moving Young to second, Satin is the righthanded thirbaseman and the righthanded firstbaseman.

He'll go in. There's a damn-good case for nine of the top ten on last year's ballot. (Hard for me to get behind Lee Smith's candidacy.)

Well, maybe they are, but... well, who cares. Steve Phillips is disgraced a half dozen times over since then, and we, for better of for worse, at least aren't associated with the Rodriguez Sideshow.

smg58 wrote: We should probably makes this a "Memories of Jordanny Valdespin" thread, as I really don't see how he plays for the Mets again. Perhaps, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he did. But an eventual MemdeVal thread will be rich, as I can't think of any Mets who has left so many uniquely indelible moments in so short a period of time.

I'm willing to bet a head of lettuce that he does.

It only distorts the record to call Fartinez a can't-miss prospect. Every last one of us knows there's no-such thing.

So I understand. My point was cuh-learly about where they differed. Here's a conspiracy... why does Centerfield's first name and last initial appear under Puello's statement in the Daily News article? You're not crafting this stuff for them, are you, Center?

I like that these are mostly written off the same template but differ as to what went wrong in their decision-making --- "certain mistakes," vs. "errors in judgment" vs. "unsound thinking." Cruz stands out in trying to make a medicinal case for himself. All of them acknowledge mistakes made in 2012, implying but not stating outright a claim that they've all been squeaky clean in thirteen. Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz: I have been notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. From November, 2011 to January, 2012, I was seriously ill with a gastrointestinal infection, helicobacter pylori, which went undiagnosed for over a month. By the time I was properly diagnosed and treated, I had lost 40 pounds. Just weeks before I was to report to spring training in 2012, I was unsure whether I would be physically able to play. Faced with this situation, I made an error in judgment that I deeply regret, and I accept full responsibility for that error. I should have handled the situation differently, and my illness was no excuse. I am thankful for the unwavering support of my family, friends and teammates during this difficult time. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Rangers organization, my teammates, and the great Rangers' fans, and I am grateful for the opportunity to rejoin the team for the playoffs. Yankees' Fernando Martinez: I have been notified by Major League Baseball that I am to be suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I accept this suspension and will not exercise my right under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made a serious mistake during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for this mistake. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Yankees' organization, their fans and most importantly, my family. I am hopeful that I can make significant contributions to the Yankees in 2014. Mets' Jordany Valdespin: I have been notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain errors in judgment during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those errors. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mets' organization, Mets' fans and my family, and look forward to contributing to the Mets in 2014. Mets' Cesar Puello: Today, I was notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. Out of respect for the Mets' organization, my teammates, and my family, I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain mistakes during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those mistakes. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mets' organization, Mets' fans and my family, and ultimately helping the club win a championship. Philadelphia Phillies' Antonio Bastardo: Today, I was notified by Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I have decided to accept this suspension and will not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made significant errors in judgment during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those errors. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Phillies' organization, Phillies' fans and my family, and look forward to helping the Phillies win a championship in 2014. San Diego Padres' Fautino de los Santos: I was notified by Major League Baseball that I am to be suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I willingly accept this suspension and will not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain unsound decisions during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those decisions. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Padres' organization, their fans and most importantly, my family. I look forward to helping the San Diego Padres in 2014. Seattle Mariners' Jesus Montero: I have been notified by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I have decided to accept this suspension and not exercise my rights under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made certain mistakes during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those mistakes. I look forward to regaining the trust and respect of the Mariners' organization, Mariners' fans and my family. I look forward to making significant contributions to the Mariners in 2014. Houston Astros' Sergio Escalona: I was notified by Major League Baseball that I have been suspended for 50 games for violation of the Joint Drug Agreement. I will accept this suspension and not exercise my right under the Basic Agreement to appeal. I made errors in judgment during the 2012 season and I accept full responsibility for those errors. I will make every attempt to regain the trust and respect of the Astros' organization, their fans and most importantly, my family. I am hopeful that I can make significant contributions to the Astros in the 2014 season.

Trying to assemble a list of Mets players popped for Peds. Inclludes only (1) guys employed with the Mets at the time of the infraction (no Mike Cameron, no Marlon Byrd), and (2) guys committing the infranction (and so garnering disciplinary action) at the time it was an infraction (no Todd Pratt). MLB Players and MiLB Players Who Were Former MLB Players Felix Heredia Yusaku Iriki Guillermo Mota Grant Roberts Lino Urdaneta Jordany Valdespin MiLB Players Timothy Haines Junior Guerra Waner Mateo Jorge Reyes Kyle Suire Brian Walker Pretty much the death knell for all those guys on the second list. Suire, for instance, had a great 2008 in Kingsport and was never heard from again. Haines, after a decent start with Brooklyn, landed in indy ball and played out six seasons thre.

Ten years later, does anybody really believe that? Has Boras ever let a player jump at an early offer?

Well, the next statement that Rey-Rey was the better player will be the first. It's well pointed out that throwing good money after Kevin Appier (wh also did about as well as could be hoped) was the greater sin.

Oh, man. Somebody invite Muscles to post here.

Certainly. With Braun, it's a question of being a top player vs. merely being a fabulously paid good player. With some of these guys, it's meaningful money vs. cutting sugar cane for a living. The moral calculus is different.

Francisco Cervelli, Jesus Montero, Cesar Puello, Fautino De Los Santos, Fernando Martinez, Jordan Norberto, Nelson Cruz, Jhonny Peralta, Everth Cabrera, Antonio Bastardo, Jordany Valdespin, Sergio Escalona. Where do the American-born guys get their drugs?

POW! You've been smg58'd!

seawolf17 wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Maybe he'll claim that the Yankees had a sap place his name in the BioGenesis files. Sent somebody down there claiming he's buying for Alex Rodriguez, and then they tipped off authorities themselves. That would be an awesome position for him to take. That would be the greatest scandal in the history of scandal. Take down the whole organization. Not that much worse than what they tried to pull on Winfield, I think.

BASTARDO!!!

Edgy MD wrote: I'd be shocked if this poor guy isn't mocked mercilessly on Deadspin by the end of the day. And... scene.

Nymr83 wrote: The initial ten year Texas contract ended up being probably one of the best long-term deals ever signed by a franchise!, it would have been even more valuable had the Yankees not moved him to 3rd while he was still a near gold-glove caliber defender at SS in favor of playing an inferior defender at SS. its the extension that screwed the Yankees. Yabbut, the extension was prompted by him moving to exercise an exit clause in the original contract, was it not?