Baseball 2009 - July Edition

[What Exit?]

It's true, if we can be 3 games up on them by the next time we see them, it would be much better.

[Sleeps w/Butterflies]

Umm...why?

My Canadian Pirate friend Jimbo 's him!

[Laughing Lagomorph]

[quote=Sleeps w/Butterflies]

Umm...why?

My Canadian Pirate friend Jimbo 's him![/quote:7kxoiucs]

Well, sure. I like Kruk too (although maybe not with the burning fever Jimbo does) but what's with the Easter Bunny look?

[Sleeps w/Butterflies]

You may look at John Kruk, Easter Bunny and say why? I look at him and say why not?!

(Actually I have no idea why, I just found it doing a google search)

[silenus]

Gods, that was beautiful!

For those who weren't paying attention, Manny Ramirez came in to pinch-hit in the 6th inning on Manny bobble head night, and launched the first pitch into orbit for a grand slam. It was more Hollywood than Hollywood.

Fuck you, Masset! Back to AA for you!

[What Exit?]

Gods, that was beautiful!

For those who weren't paying attention, Manny Ramirez came in to pinch-hit in the 6th inning on Manny bobble head night, and launched the first pitch into orbit for a grand slam. It was more Hollywood than Hollywood.

Fuck you, Masset! Back to AA for you!

Who is Masset and why?

[Laughing Lagomorph]

Bizarre story regarding Mets VP of Player Development Tony Bernazard:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... osure.html

Apparently he ripped off his shirt and challenged some Binghamton Mets (AA) players to a fight in their own locker room. There are other stories of public obscene tirades this year.

The Mets as an organization just seem to be unable to get out of their own way. They've been great before and could be again, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot.

[silenus]

Gods, that was beautiful!

For those who weren't paying attention, Manny Ramirez came in to pinch-hit in the 6th inning on Manny bobble head night, and launched the first pitch into orbit for a grand slam. It was more Hollywood than Hollywood.

Fuck you, Masset! Back to AA for you!

Who is Masset and why?

Nick Masset was the reliever for the Reds. When he came in, Vin gave us the run-down on his stats, which were deadly against the Dodgers, pinch-hitters, right-handers in general, and Manny in specific.

Link.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Freaking ManRam. Are you kidding me? First pitch 96 mph fastball blasted into Mannywood for his 22nd career grand slam. He might be a 'roided up, selfish cheater with appalling defensive abilities, but dayum, can he rake!

[featherlou]

You forgot "frightening fashion sense," Jimbo.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Don't get me started on Manny's clown pants!

[Sarahfeena]

Mark Buehrle of the White Sox pitched a perfect game today!

[Laughing Lagomorph]

It's true, if we can be 3 games up on them by the next time we see them, it would be much better.

Yeah, because that way after the Yankees lose ANOTHER three game series to the Sox they can still be tied instead of out of first

Seriously, I can't remember the last time the Yankees had sole possesion of first place for more than 24 hours. Seems like it's been years.

[What Exit?]

With two days to go before the Toronto Blue Jays' self-imposed deadline for trading Roy Halladay and five days before the trading deadline, the potential for two blockbuster deals remains. According to sources, at a meeting of Phillies ownership last week, chairman Bill Giles, noting the small window teams have for continued championship runs, pushed for a Halladay deal, even though it will have to cost top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek and three other top prospects, outfielder Michael Taylor, catcher Lou Marson and shortstop Jason Donald. The Phillies are also aware that Halladay has informed the Blue Jays that his first choice would be to go to Philadelphia. That's where the Jays want to trade him, and why they've told the Red Sox that they'd have to get back their two top young pitchers, Clay Buchholz and reliever Daniel Bard, as well as shortstop Jed Lowrie for Halladay. The Red Sox realize they probably need another front-line starter, but with none available, they are now in competition with the Tampa Bay Rays for Indians catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez. The Rays are attempting to acquire Martinez by first dealing Scott Kazmir to the Angels for prospects in order to free up payroll. They would then probably have to sacrifice their own top pitching prospect, Wade Davis, in any deal for Martinez. The Cardinals' acquisition of Matt Holliday - a deal that Tony La Russa pushed for urgently - was made possible when people close to the outfielder, not his rep Scott (Avenging Agent) Boras, expressed a willingness to do a long-term deal with St. Louis. Both Holliday and the Cardinals realized that the market had changed dramatically since Boras advised his client to reject the Rockies' 4-year, $72 million offer in the spring of 2008.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseb ... z0MIcxd5Lx

I also keeping hearing Washburn in trade talks. The Yanks appear to be interested in Washburn.

[What Exit?]

So the Yanks are playing well, but we just lost Gardner to the DL for a broken thumb. They brought Jonathan Albaladejo back up.

Bud Selig is reported as seriously considering allowing Rose into the Hall of Fame.

The trade rumor mill is still fairly quiet.

I am looking forward to seeing the Rickey's Hall of Fame speech in its entirety.

[dread pirate jimbo]

I LOVE Rickey. He was awesome, even when he was playing for the fucking Yankees.

Bud Selig is a tool to even be reconsidering the Pete Rose issue. He's an unrepentant cheater who deserves everthing he's gotten and more. If Bud decides to reinstate Rose, it will just be another in a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooong list of stupid decisions by this commish, especially if he doesn't reinstate Joe Jackson at the same time. DIAF, Bud, you asshole!

The Jays are playing hardball on the Halladay trade, but I stil expect to see him in another uniform before the deadline.

If my Padres keep losing, they're going to overtake the fucking Natinals for most worthless franchise in baseball. That's just embarassing.

[Sarahfeena]

Cubs and Astros were tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 13th last night, when Alfonso Soriano hit a walk-off grand slam. Kind of a dull game, but a rather satisfying ending, at least for me.

Cubs SEEM to be heating up just a little...

[dread pirate jimbo]

Cubs and Astros were tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 13th last night, when Alfonso Soriano hit a walk-off grand slam. Kind of a dull game, but a rather satisfying ending, at least for me.

Cubs SEEM to be heating up just a little...

The Cubbies are in sole possession of first in the NL Central right now, aren't they? I'd call that heated up.

[Sarahfeena]

Cubs and Astros were tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 13th last night, when Alfonso Soriano hit a walk-off grand slam. Kind of a dull game, but a rather satisfying ending, at least for me.

Cubs SEEM to be heating up just a little...

The Cubbies are in sole possession of first in the NL Central right now, aren't they? I'd call that heated up.

True, they are. Their success seems to be so streaky, though...I'm not holding out a lot of hope that they will keep it up for long.

[dread pirate jimbo]

True, they are. Their success seems to be so streaky, though...I'm not holding out a lot of hope that they will keep it up for long.

Could be worse; you could be a Padres fan. Holy shit, do they ever suck right now!

[What Exit?]

Yanks played a real sloppy game last night. Poor defense and base running and CC did not pitch well at all. However the Red Sox apparently choked also and thus the Yanks remain 2½ games up.

Tonight Joba tries to make it 3 straight good outings.

[Cluricaun]

The Cubs have looked pretty solid since the break, last night was a great game to watch and cements my opinion that Ryan Theriot is the most underrated short stop in the NL. However if we can’t get some depth in that bullpen than all is for nothing. We tie it up 6 all in the 6th and then our usual parade of dipshits proceed to blow the game by a long shot. Our offense is starting to come together, but we need pitching to depend on if this is going to go anywhere. First place is ours for the tossing at this point.

And I’m willing to cut a deal in the next 48 hours for Milton Bradley. I’m willing to accept a cup of warm spit or a Dodger dog with a bite out of it.

[What Exit?]

Trade deadline is close. Red Sox trying for Doc and Yanks for Washburn and Phils for Cliff Lee are all rumored.

Cubs going for a reliever.

What else?

[silenus]

Shit, the Dodgers got lit up by the Cards last night! 10-0. If we can't get some runners cashed in.....

Oh, well. We were bound to hit a rough patch sooner or later.

Go, Big Blue!

[What Exit?]

Cliff Lee & Ben Francisco to Philly and Jack Wilson and Ian Snell to Seattle from Pirates.

Many think Victor Martinez will be next.

Chien-Ming Wang has had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his injured right shoulder.
Yanks picked up Jason Hirsh from the Rockies and released Tomko today. I don't know why as he is pitching poorly in AAA too.

Cubs pounded Stros 12-0 today.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

The Dice-K Matsuzaka honeymoon is officially over in Boston. He publicly blamed the team's pitching regimen for his ineffectiveness this season.

The team thinks his problems are rooted in his pitching in the WBC this year, and a lack of conditioning in the off-season. Still no end in sight for his rehabilitation or whatever they are calling it in Florida:

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/r ... ing_dicey/

Indications now are he won't pitch for the Sox until September at the earliest.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

Oh, yeah. And VP Tony Bernazard was fired from the Mets. What a surprise. Here's guessing Minaya himself will be the next to go.

[Sleeps w/Butterflies]

Ortiz was roidin' it up

[dread pirate jimbo]

Ortiz was roidin' it up

I am SHOCKED! Shocked that a professional athlete would be caught taking performance enhancing drugs! So that's two of the Sox from their World Series run for sure. I wonder how many more there were... Surely not as many as have been caught among the Yankees (that would almost seem impossible), but probably more.

[Sleeps w/Butterflies]

Jimbo, don't make me go end Kruk's life to make you pay for your insolence. Don't make me kill again.

I think hamburgers, hot dogs, and cheese brats are doing the job nicely on the longer term, but I can speed it along.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Yankees connected to the steroid scandal (off the top of my head):

Clemens
Pettite
Rodriguez
Giambi
Sheffield

I'm pretty sure I'm missing a couple guys, but I'm too lazy to look it up. To my knowledge, Derek Jeter has not (yet) been caught.

[Sleeps w/Butterflies]

That's it. Enjoy your man crush while he's around. I begin my quest today.

[dread pirate jimbo]

You can't touch the Kruk. Give it your best shot!

[What Exit?]

Yankees connected to the steroid scandal (off the top of my head):

Clemens
Pettite
Rodriguez
Giambi
Sheffield

I'm pretty sure I'm missing a couple guys, but I'm too lazy to look it up. To my knowledge, Derek Jeter has not (yet) been caught.

Please note that only two of those were connected to the Yanks winning World Series and if we kept Wells over Clemens we probably would have done as well.

BTW: I said for years that I figured Manny and Ortiz were roiders.

[dread pirate jimbo]

[quote=What Exit?]

Yankees connected to the steroid scandal (off the top of my head):

Clemens
Pettite
Rodriguez
Giambi
Sheffield

I'm pretty sure I'm missing a couple guys, but I'm too lazy to look it up. To my knowledge, Derek Jeter has not (yet) been caught.

Please note that only two of those were connected to the Yanks winning World Series and if we kept Wells over Clemens we probably would have done as well.

BTW: I said for years that I figured Manny and Ortiz were roiders.[/quote:1xhn868i]
Ah, so if you don't win the Series with your 'roid monkeys, it's okay then. Is that what you're suggesting? :dub:

In other news, the Dodgers have apparently just shored up their bullpen with George Sherrill from the Orioles for a handful of prospects. No word on whether he'll take the set-up role for Broxton or split closer duties with him.

[What Exit?]

Ah, so if you don't win the Series with your 'roid monkeys, it's okay then. Is that what you're suggesting? :dub:

In other news, the Dodgers have apparently just shored up their bullpen with George Sherrill from the Orioles for a handful of prospects. No word on whether he'll take the set-up role for Broxton or split closer duties with him.

No, I am saying Boston reap more reward from its known roiders. Also don't forget that highly flawed Mitchell report was done by a part owner of the Red Sux and that he somehow only managed to get info from two NYC located sources and thus it skewed to NY teams.

BTW: You also forgot Grimsly on your list of Yanks.

Meanwhile Canseco the Jerk but the so far mostly correct jerk, hinted strongly that "The Rickey" was a user too. My question is did he start in 1989 or 1999?

[Laughing Lagomorph]

Ah, so if you don't win the Series with your 'roid monkeys, it's okay then. Is that what you're suggesting? :dub:
...

No, but teams that do win the Series with their 'roid monkeys have no right to hold themselves out as somehow better than other teams that didn't win the Series with their 'roid monkeys. As fans we are all in the same boat, navigating a sea of HGH.

And I think at this point any rational person would realize that as amusing as it is the term "'roid monkey" may as well be replaced by "Major League Baseball player active in the last 20 years or so".

(Doing research here just now I found this interesting site: http://www.baseballssteroidera.com/

I like the timeline on the left.)

[What Exit?]

A very sad but good link Laughing Lagomorph, thank you. The list of Roiders for both teams is higher than remembered.

[dread pirate jimbo]

Now that we're all agreed that the Ynkees are filthy, dirty steroid abusers, but arguably no worse than anyone else, let's get back to trade deadline news: The Tigers have dealt rookie Luke French and prospect Mauricio Robles to the Mariners for Jarrod Washburn. I'm a little surprised by this move by the Mariners, who appeared to be stocking up for a run at the playoffs this year with the acquisition of Jack Wilson earlier in the week. I guess they're hoping French is as good as his advanced billing seems to be. Meanwhile, Wasburn solidifies the Tigers' rotation and might be able to help take them deep into the playoffs before heading to greener pastures when he turns free agent in the off season and his agent, Scott Boras, starts looking for the giant money from somone like, I dunno, the Yankees or Red Sox. Interesting...

No word yet on Halladay (although it looks at this point like he's not going anywhere). Victor Martinez of the Indians seems to be the only other big name being shopped around at this point.

[dread pirate jimbo]

More trade dealine news: The Twins picked up shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the A's for a minor league prospect. That shores up the Twins' middle infield and adds a solid stick to their batting order. Good trade for the Twinkies, I'd say, especially if they can resign Cabrera in the off-season.

[What Exit?]

More trade dealine news: The Twins picked up shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the A's for a minor league prospect. That shores up the Twins' middle infield and adds a solid stick to their batting order. Good trade for the Twinkies, I'd say, especially if they can resign Cabrera in the off-season.

I am happy the Twins got him and not Boston. So I agree, good trade for the Twins. :wink:

Yankees big move so far ... Shelley Duncan has been recalled to the Yankees as they are facing a bunch of lefties and are short an outfielder.

[What Exit?]

Read it here: http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entr ... 5/16356101

[Laughing Lagomorph]

Now that we're all agreed that the Ynkees are filthy, dirty steroid abusers, but arguably no worse than anyone else....

Unless you have evidence the Yankees organization itself was somehow complicit or involved in giving steroids to its players it is absolutely inarguable.

The list of Roiders for both teams is higher than remembered.

I was struck by how many names I didn't recognize or had barely heard of. If all of those guys did steroids a good number of them were doing it wrong.

[What Exit?]

Small Yankees trade announced by Yanks:

The Yankees have acquired utilityman Jerry Hairston, Jr. from the Cincinnati Reds. Hairston had played six positions this year for the Reds, including all three outfield spots, though he was primarily used as an infielder. He was batting .353
(6-for-17) over his last seven games.

[What Exit?]

Details on the Martinez trade: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4369463

The Indians would receive right-hander Justin Masterson and minor league pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price in exchange for Martinez, a catcher/first baseman.

Reds might get Rolen from Jays.

[dread pirate jimbo]

[quote=Laughing Lagomorph]

Now that we're all agreed that the Ynkees are filthy, dirty steroid abusers, but arguably no worse than anyone else....

Unless you have evidence the Yankees organization itself was somehow complicit or involved in giving steroids to its players it is absolutely inarguable. [/quote:28iy2qxi]
All the evidence I need is in the results: the list of Yankees caught in the 'roid net is massive, ergo, they are a team of steroid abusers. By the way, you're gonna have to start getting my sense of humour, or this is going to get very tedious.

With the season Rolen is having, I am stunned that the Jays would let Rolen go for Encarnacion. Bad move. Terrible move.

Martinez makes for a big upgrade to Boston's offense -- they just got a lot tougher with that move.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

Details on the Martinez trade: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4369463

The Indians would receive right-hander Justin Masterson and minor league pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price in exchange for Martinez, a catcher/first baseman.

...

As a Yankees fan I approve of the Red Sox trading away their young talent for another hired gun.

[Laughing Lagomorph]

[quote=dread pirate jimbo][quote="Laughing Lagomorph":27jp5r18]

Now that we're all agreed that the Ynkees are filthy, dirty steroid abusers, but arguably no worse than anyone else....

Unless you have evidence the Yankees organization itself was somehow complicit or involved in giving steroids to its players it is absolutely inarguable. [/quote:27jp5r18]
All the evidence I need is in the results: the list of Yankees caught in the 'roid net is massive, ergo, they are a team of steroid abusers.
[/quote:27jp5r18]
The list of names of steroid abusers that has been revealed is incomplete so you can't realistically say anything about one organization vs. any other until the name of Every. Single. Guy. Who used steroids in the last couple decades is revealed (if ever).

As a high profile team in a huge media market it makes sense more Yankees names are going to be leaked. Also since the team constantly tries to acquire guys who are producing they are at higher risk of getting players whose numbers were artificially inflated, more so then say the Expos/Nationals.

It has more to say about MLB during the past couple of decades than any one team.

By the way, you're gonna have to start getting my sense of humour, or this is going to get very tedious.

I'm sure I'm far more tedious than you are, just ask my siblings.

[dread pirate jimbo]

The list of names of steroid abusers that has been revealed is incomplete so you can't realistically say anything about one organization vs. any other until the name of Every. Single. Guy. Who used steroids in the last couple decades is revealed (if ever).

As a high profile team in a huge media market it makes sense more Yankees names are going to be leaked. Also since the team constantly tries to acquire guys who are producing they are at higher risk of getting players whose numbers were artificially inflated, more so then say the Expos/Nationals.

It has more to say about MLB during the past couple of decades than any one team.

I certainly agree with you that the problem was system wide and all of baseball is equally responsible for turning a blind eye to an epidemic of performance enhancing drug abuse. The problem went far and wide and started turning guys like Canseco, McGuire, Bonds and Sosa into pumped up cartoon characters, probably before things got particularly bad for the Yankees. However, since the Yankees are, by their very nature, pure undistilled evil, it can reasonably be concluded that they are to blame for the whole mess, just as they are to blame for every other problem that has ever plagued baseball, whether it be the throwing of the 1919 World Series or Pete Rose gambling on ball games, or Bud Selig becoming commissioner. So there!

By the way, you're gonna have to start getting my sense of humour, or this is going to get very tedious.

I'm sure I'm far more tedious than you are, just ask my siblings.

Oh, I don't know about that. I have more than my fair share of Cliff Clavin moments.