Ceetar

Centerfield wrote: Rodriguez was the reigning Gold Glove winner and ahead by the conventional defensive stats. There was no question slotting him in at short would have benefited the team. Jeter was selfish. Now, it may be human to not want to move positions for a douchebag, narcissistic cheater. I get that. But Jeter is just a guy. It's not fucking Saint Derek. A-Rod wanted to get out of Texas and go to a winner. He was willing to take a paycut to do so (not that the Union/MLB let him) He made no waves about moving positions, learning a new one and playing it well. Jeter didn't want to move, when A-Rod got his deal he negotiated with the Yankees to be paid more because he felt slighted. He is always insisting that he "doesn't care about Batting Order as long as he bats in the first inning" Yeah, which one of those guys sounds like the one devoted to winning above all else?

I don't give a crap about blaming Selig for 1998 and that time period (nor do I care that they took stuff, but that's another story). Whatever. Moralize why it was like that and what should have been done elsewhere, this biogenesis stuff has nothing to do with it. What, because baseball decided, for whatever reason, that steroids weren't a big deal then they can't make a big deal about it now? bullshit. It's not Bud Selig now versus Bug Selig then, it's about the rules set in place by the CBA and the witch hunt and arbitrary rules set in place for 'obstructon and frustration' or whatever they called it. Put all your cards on the table and tell us what you have, what A-Rod did (Did he break into the clinic and burn records?) to block the investigation. Then tell us what what he did was so much worse than anyone else that he deserves additional punishment other than the agreed upon one. Tell me if A-Rod was Fernando Martinez, he would've gotten the same suspension through next year.

Fman99 wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Well, maybe they are, but... well, who cares. Steve Phillips is disgrace a half dozen times over since then, and we, for better of for worse, at least aren't associated with the Rodriguez Sideshow. Like you never banged a fat ESPN production assistant dressed up like Princess Leia. Judge not, lest ye be judged. well no, but not for lack of trying.

Edgy MD wrote: 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." A lot of them have the same agency representing them.

except the Yankees are likely to benefit financially. greatly. next season against luxury tax hits and what not.

metirish wrote: Michael Kay just so you know is #here4u https://twitter.com/RealMichaelKay #asshole mocking Francesa right?

metirish wrote: Yes, it really is bizarre....God bless the NYY .... part of MLB statement..... based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years...for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation. years and years... It was just so frustrating! throw the book at him dammit! Wonder if we'll ever get specifics on what exactly 'obstruct' means or just stuck with the "MLB knows best" stuff.

Centerfield wrote: Not true. Jeter is all about winning AND Derek Jeter. It's attitudes like that that make people take steroids in the first place.

Edgy MD wrote: Ten years later, does anybody really believe that? Has Boras ever let a player jump at an early offer? Does it always work that way? Does Texas jump in with an offer if they know it's going to be a bidding war?

Didn't get a laugh on Twitter but will try again anyway. JV1cc? or is that just too nerdy?

RealityChuck wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I don't know if the Mets should've topped the contract Texas ended up paying. But the Mets dropped out of the bidding almost immediately. Who knows? If the Mets offfered A-Rod a fair market value contract early on, maybe Texas never submits an offer. A-Rod did everything but formally announce his preference to play for the Mets.At the same time, later accounts said A-Rod goal was to get the biggest contract ever. And that includes other sports. The Mets would not have gotten him for less. But at the same time, A-Rod was willing to take a pay cut to leave Texas. So maybe he would've signed a 9/210 contract or something if it came first.

86-Dreamer wrote: smg58 wrote: Three Dominican minor-league free agents signed during the Minaya era were suspended today. Makes you wonder who was doing the scouting in the DR, and how closely were they paying attention. I have not heard any of the mainstream media point it out yet, but 8 of the 12 suspended today are from the DR (+ 3 from Venezuela and 1 from Nicaragua). Unfortunate coincidence or a sign of a much more serious issue? Probably more a factor of the clinic's location. I'm sure the other guys that didn't get caught use a different clinic.

Look at the Yankees attendance bump from signing A-Rod (never mind the attention that leads to things like advertisers wanting to advertise with you.) A-Rod signing with the NL Champs in 2001 would've led to a crazy amount of buzz and hype and Subway Series rematch crap would've dominated baseball the entire year. A-Rod easily might've made the difference and the Mets would've enacted revenge on their crosstown foes. And when A-Rod got up before Piazza in 9/21 and hit the home run first and been revered as a hero that healed the country he would've forever been the loved and appreciated superstar he's always wanted to be. He would've stayed with the Mets instead of opting out, and when they finally rebuilt on the WTC site they would've named it A-Rod Tower instead of Freedom tower, for he's the hero Gotham deserved. The Yankees on the other hand, would've started fading, and because they had Alfonso Soriano at second still, they would've traded Cano early in his minor league career for Curt Schilling to pair with Randy Johnson and try to dominate, but the old pair of pitchers, while still great, would fail to get them to where they needed to go. Now in 2013 they'd be enjoying their 5 straight losing season under the weight of contracts to guys they signed in a desperate hope to right the franchise direction and draw fans to the stadium.

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. he likely won't because he's not good. But glad to free up the spot on the 40 man regardless (two spots really). Old friend Fernando Martinez suspended too.

I don't think so. Maybe not if they had to top Texas' offer (which I suspect Boras would've gotten even if the Mets had been in the mix already with an offer) but it's hard to see the Mets not benefiting from having A-Rod. I mean, who knows how things shake out, but in 2006 with A-Rod at SS and Reyes at second? Hard not to see them winning it all. Also, his contract would've ended by now. Even if he opted out early like he did, I can't see the Mets (And Cashman supposedly didn't want to either) caving in to his demands for an equally absurd contract. Perhaps it still shakes out the same way, the Mets capitalize on the first part and don't cave to greedy demands for contracts into his forties, the Yankees do, and are in the same situation.

metirish wrote: And more of the doubles will shake out as HR) That's gold right there...another Jamenson for that man please. Park factors, and things like if he pulls it a little more versus driving it into the gap. Where the pitch is in the strikezone when he turns on it, etc. All factors in turning doubles into home runs. (or vice versa)

Vic Sage wrote: .302/.464/.488/.953 since the break That's about 60 PAs, during which he's had 1 HR and 5 2B and 7 RBI. So, first of all, if this is the guy you're counting on to provided power to the middle of your lineup, you are good and truly fucked. Secondly, any projection or assessment of his future production or value based on such a limited sample size is foolish. But you did the same thing with Lagares in the other thread, where you said about his turnaround over the last month: Yeah, it's gone on a little too long for me to doubt now. Too long for doubt? No, he just had an excellent July. There's PLENTY of room for doubt. first of all, 6 XBH is good. (projects to 60ish over a full season. That's good. And more of the doubles will shake out as HR) 7 RBI is irrelevant. The first sample is a bigger sample too, where he's been on base .420. Which is very very good. It represents not swinging at crap and getting himself out. Maintain that and he should start getting some better pitches to hit, which might the .488 SLG in the second more recent sample might represent. Yes, it's a small sample, but in the biggest sample he's shown ability and if this recent stretch is a sign he's getting back to that, it's meaningful in that regard. Not doubting Lagares is a major leaguer is a long way from believing he's the answer in CF next year.

Well, make MLB prove it at least. I think the public at least, deserves to see this "mountains" of evidence. And perhaps they need to prove to someone that it really is evidence and not just an assumption of guilt they already had. He also has less to lose than most (and I suspect he's being targeted with the steepest penalty, maybe he's simply arguing for equality of treatment) in that he's already considered cheating scum by public consciousness. Not like they going to suspend him more if he appeals, and this way he gets on the field this year. That probably means something as well.

I strongly suspect A-Rod, as a mostly full-time DH, has quite a few more home runs left in him. Makes me wonder if part of the push to suspend him for so long is to keep him from hitting 700 and/or eventually taking the record. I'm not sure why protecting Bonds' record really means anything, but A-Rod missing significant time via suspension (or even injury) probably protects 762. Unless they think if they can keep A-Rod from hitting 13 to get to Mays 660 it means something?

Whatever his mindset, I'm glad someone is standing up to MLB. I wonder why the players union isn't saying much, unless they're mindset is "Hope it blows over and they don't look at anyone else too closely" Seems a bad precedent though, because players are going to continue to seek out advanced treatments from doctors on the cutting edge (And often over that edge) and said doctors may well end up in this same situation. Like that Toronto doctor with the blood-spinning and had an intern or something smuggling steroids over the border? A-Rod was named (and didn't cooperate) there too right? Is he just a drug-mule or does it really talk to like every doctor? John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I mean, the obvious point is that something has always been very wrong with Arod, it's as though he hasn't the vaguest idea as to whats right and what's wrong, or what's appropriate and what isn't. The MFYs are going to do anything to get out of paying him. Arod will need his money because he's going down way worse than Bonds even. "Do whatever I can to play baseball as hard and as good as I can. Get paid millions and millions and millions of dollars, even after there are plenty of allusions to PEDs" Of course, that's been the mindset of roughly every player forever.

they're 14-13 since his recall. They were 12-12 without him.

He's hitting .261/.420/.377/.797 since being recalled. and .302/.464/.488/.953 since the break.

His numbers are certainly decent to good since his return..so Jameson on I guess. I know more and more ballplayers shift towards "body as a temple" nutrition and fitness diets, but i imagine there are sill hundreds that prefer to go out and party. (Don't bars in NYC close at 4?) Especially since they don't generally go to work until 6 hours after the rest of us.

dgwphotography wrote: With their history of PED-assisted players, I find it hard to believe that the Yankees didn't know about this. Cashman would do anything to get out of this contract, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were helping MLB with their investigation with this goal in mind. It stinks to high Hell, and I don't think any team who has a player suspended due to PED use should get salary relief. Said salary should still count against luxury cap, and these dollars should be deposited into the MLB general fund, earmarked for a suitable charity. Hell, Alex might've been buying for the whole team.

these extra innings are messing with my desire for a pre-booze nap.