Valadius

Great move! He's a more-than-decent pitcher.

If statistics told the whole story, we'd have come up with a formula by now to pick Hall-of-Famers. We haven't because we can't leave it up to statistics. Statistics only present a single point of view. It is in interpreting these statistics and incorporating other elements of a player not on paper that we have to use in making our choices. It is in the diversity of viewpoints that a Hall-of-Famer becomes legitimized.

I'm disappointed that amphetamines were ignored by the Mitchell Report. Of course, that's due to lack of evidence, but still.

It's doing a disservice to the fanbase. Not everything should be about money.

Intangibles alone shouldn't be, but it ought to be a component that might push one's candidacy over the threshold. For example, if David Ortiz ends up with career statistics that get him serious consideration for the Hall, his record of coming up big in clutch situations should be factored in.

I think what's done is done. I think that baseball fans have sense enough to know the Babe Ruths from the Tony Perezes. I think that each individual enshrined in the Hall of Fame is in there for some reason or another, and that we should respect those reasons. There are many different ways to define a Hall-of-Famer. It should not always be based on the accumulation of offensive statistics. Defense and intangibles ought to play a role as well. If not, you can kick Ozzie Smith out, as that's why he's in there. And I personally believe Mazeroski deserved it - he was possibly the greatest-fielding second baseman of all time. I think it's a worthless exercise to debate removing players from the Hall of Fame. It will always remain an exclusive club, but I think it ought to be more inclusive than some have suggested.

They're simply insufferable. Why on earth would you spend time picking on someone like Sickels?

It's just stupid, in my opinion. In the largest market in the country, why the hell would they make a smaller stadium? It robs a hell of a lot of fans the chance to catch a game.

I must admit that at first glance I saw the same thing too, soupcan.

I think this has to do with their need to raise prices next year when they have fewer seats in the park.

Clemens took it in the butt. That's the big distinction between them, I think.

The Padres have signed former Mets Shawn Estes and Glendon Rusch to minor league deals.

Thanks DocTee - that made my day! Here's the link to it in the archives: http://cranepoolforum.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2039&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=29

Selig refuses to take blame.

Selig may discipline players, despite Mitchell telling him not to.

Captain Red Ass takes on a whole new meaning.

I was really surprised that Edgardo Alfonzo's name didn't come up.

Lo Duca injected himself with steroids in 1999 while in AAA. OE: It's on pp. 230-232.

]Paul Lo Duca Paul Lo Duca is a catcher who has played with three teams in Major League Baseball since 1998, the Los Angeles Dodgers (7 seasons), Florida Marlins (2 seasons), and New York Mets (2 seasons). He has appeared in four All-Star games. Todd Hundley referred Lo Duca to Radomski when Lo Duca played for the Dodgers. Radomski estimated that he engaged in six or more transactions with Lo Duca. In some transactions, Radomski sent the performance enhancing substances by overnight mail to Lo Duca�s home or to the Dodgers clubhouse and Lo Duca sent Radomski a check a week or so later. Radomski produced copies of three checks from Lo Duca, each in the amount of $3,200. All are included in the Appendix. Radomski said that each check was in payment for two kits of human growth hormone. Lo Duca�s name, with an address and telephone number, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski�s residence by federal agents. During that search, federal agents also seized a note from Lo Duca to Radomski. It read: Kirk, Sorry! But for some reason they sent the check back to me. I haven�t been able to call you back because my phone is TOAST! I have a new # it is [Lo Duca�s phone number is listed here]. Please leave your # again because I lost all of my phonebook with the other phone. Thanks Paul In 2002, Lo Duca was quoted by Sports Illustrated in an article responding to Ken Caminiti�s admission of steroid use. Lo Duca was reported to have said: �If you�re battling for a job, and the guy you�re battling with is using steroids, then maybe you say, �Hey, to compete, I need to use steroids because he�s using them . . . Don�t get me wrong. I don�t condone it. But it�s a very tough situation. It�s really all about survival for some guys.� According to the notes of an internal discussion among Los Angeles Dodgers officials in October 2003 that were referred to above, it was reportedly said of Lo Duca during the meetings: Steroids aren�t being used anymore on him. Big part of this. Might have some value to trade . . . Florida might have interest. . . . Got off the steroids . . . Took away a lot of hard line drives. . . . Can get comparable value back would consider trading. . . . If you do trade him, will get back on the stuff and try to show you he can have a good year. That�s his makeup. Comes to play. Last year of contract, playing for 05. On June 26, 2004, Lo Duca wrote a check to Radomski for $3,200. On July 30, 2004, the Dodgers traded Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota, and Juan Encarnacion to the Marlins. On August 7, 2004, Lo Duca issued another check to Radomski for $3,200. In January 2005, Lo Duca signed a three-year contract with the Marlins. The handwritten note shown below on Dodger Stadium stationary from Lo Duca to Radomski was seized from Radomski�s house during a search by federal agents. Radomski said that this note was included with a check Lo Duca sent Radomski as payment for human growth hormone. In order to provide Lo Duca with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined.

Hallelujah that Piazza's legacy is intact.

Radomski somehow found his way into the Mets locker room in 2003, when he put HGH in Mike Stanton's locker.

Todd Pratt used steroids in 2000 or 2001.

Clemens was injected in the ass with steroids.

Gagne had stuff delivered to Dodger Stadium in 2004.

Mo Vaughn was using at least in 2001.