MLB News

by **rowshkex** » Sat 12/10/11 11:06 am

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/1638 ... 54-million

Pretty good article on Pujols's decision. I hate posting this after all you stat junkies and people with a lot more time to consider all the factors in baseball, but I think it's spot on.

by **LeoPohl** » Sat 12/10/11 12:17 pm

Beauner wrote:Wait let me get this straight, it's OK for you to argue than one of Santo's reasons for being a HOFer is that he had 8 ASGs in his 14 years, but when I say Brooks had 18 of them that's worth nothing?

Re-read what I said. The context was about the BBWAA voting for All-Star games and HOF. There's quite a few players who received numerous all-star appearances who did little to deserve them, other than being famous or having star-power. The reality is that's just how the system works. Now if you're going argue that it's the All-Star game, or it's the Hall of Fame, and that star-power is a major part of the equation, then that's your opinion. Just don't confuse star-power and all the awards/hype they generate as actual greatness, because they are not.

By the way, I have spent numerous hours on all those sites you've listed (baseball-almanac, baseball-reference, baseball-fever etc.) and I still hold my opinion. I'd take Brooks Robinson in my top 7 3B of all time. I wouldn't put Santo in it. Is he a HOFer? Sure. He was a very very good player. But I'd take Brooks Robinson over him any day.

If that's the case, then I'll let it rest, and we'll just have to agree to disagree.

I just wish I didn't have to wait longer for Lahman's db to become available.

by **LeoPohl** » Sat 12/10/11 12:26 pm

rowshkex wrote:http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/16383014/pujols-could-have-had-it-all-but-instead-he-chose-254-million

Pretty good article on Pujols's decision. I hate posting this after all you stat junkies and people with a lot more time to consider all the factors in baseball, but I think it's spot on.

I hate the production stats it uses and the greed argument it makes, but I agree with it's basic premise. Even if you think that he's the best player in baseball and worth the money now (I don't, but...), I'm not sure how how anyone thinks he's worth that much later in his careers.

by **Greyeagle** » Sat 12/10/11 1:05 pm

There will be no disparaging of Brooks Robinson. Ever. :chainsaw:

by **LeoPohl** » Sat 12/10/11 1:40 pm

Greyeagle wrote:There will be no disparaging of Brooks Robinson. Ever.

Still an excellent 3B and HOFer.
On a related note, until I read this, I thought your nickname was a tribute to Tris Speaker. There's an original member of www.baseball-fever.com by the same name and was wondering if you two were the same.

by **Greyeagle** » Sat 12/10/11 1:47 pm

We lived in Baltimore until I was 8 or 9, Brooks & Johnny U are Gods.

by **LeoPohl** » Sat 12/10/11 2:12 pm

Greyeagle wrote:We lived in Baltimore until I was 8 or 9, Brooks & Johnny U are Gods.

Were you around to see the beginning of a great team that the O's put together in the mid-sixties that dominated the latter part of the decade and throughout the 70s under Earl Weaver? Reminds me of the Braves in the '90s and first half of the 2000s. Didn't win many WS, but always in contention and a threat for 100 wins every season. Stellar left side of the infield with Robinson at third and Aparicio/Belanger at SS. Ground ball pitcher's dream. Palmer the stud on a deep pitching staff, and Boog and Frank the big bats in an era when teams only had one or two. Very complete teams, year after year.

by **Tee09** » Sat 12/10/11 8:06 pm

Ryan Braun: cheater.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/ ... ncing-drug

by **trixR4kids** » Sat 12/10/11 8:21 pm

I guess we'll have to wait and see what the ruling is but this looks like it might be a lost season already.

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 12/10/11 9:02 pm

HahahahahahahahahahahahahHahahahahahahahahahahaha

by **Beauner** » Sun 12/11/11 3:16 am

dxmnkd316 wrote:HahahahahahahahahahahahahHahahahahahahahahahahaha

This was my reaction while I was at the game. My buddy checked ESPN on his blackberry to find out who won the Heisman and noticed that as a secondary headline. :lol:

by **Hobey Baker** » Sun 12/11/11 2:44 pm

The Braun incident is another big black mark on baseball with concerns to performance enhancing drugs.

by **Snowcool08** » Sun 12/11/11 3:39 pm

The NL MVP award is not awarded through Major League Baseball. It is a Baseball Writers Association of America award. If the Braun suspension holds up, I would think this is one time where the award will be taken away. I think it's easier for a private organization to take away the award than if it were an MLB award.

by **dxmnkd316** » Sun 12/11/11 3:41 pm

Careful, the BBWAA is a crock of an organization and doesn't read baseball fever. They don't know anything.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Sun 12/11/11 4:20 pm

Snowcool08 wrote:The NL MVP award is not awarded through Major League Baseball. It is a Baseball Writers Association of America award. If the Braun suspension holds up, I would think this is one time where the award will be taken away. I think it's easier for a private organization to take away the award than if it were an MLB award.

Bud Selig is the Commissioner of MLB.
Bud Selig owns/owned the Milwaukee Brewers.
I wouldn't bet on it.

by **dxmnkd316** » Sun 12/11/11 4:24 pm

I thought he sold the brew crew.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Sun 12/11/11 5:27 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:I thought he sold the brew crew.

He did. I amended to owns/owned after. I'm not sure if he still has a small stake that he retained or not.

by **dxmnkd316** » Sun 12/11/11 5:32 pm

Gotcha.

Although, I wouldn't be shocked if they do take it away. There might (or not) be a grudge between the BBWAA and Selig. Who knows.

by **Hobey Baker** » Mon 12/12/11 1:50 pm

Why don't they test monthly or bi weekly for these guys?? It will clean the sport up instantly.

Owners, Players and the union need to / must realize that this type of an incident kills the sport and its integrity (especially for those who are clean!)

As fun as it was to watch Sosa, McGwire and Bonds in the short term, most now realize the stats are a joke. Guys like Harmon Killebrew shouldn't be 11th (dont know actuall numbers) all time in Homers but 4th or 5th.

by **trixR4kids** » Mon 12/12/11 2:03 pm

Hobey Baker wrote:The Braun incident is another big black mark on baseball with concerns to performance enhancing drugs.

It was a banned substance so not necessarily a PED.

It sucks because even if it had a negligible effect it's still a huge black mark on his career and even if there was no intent it still looks bad.

by **Chris Eckes** » Mon 12/12/11 2:09 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:
sunbone wrote:Unless you are exaggerating that would be almost 20 hours a week for 10 years. I would lean towards ashamed if I was you.

Wilt Chamberlain?

I don't know if anyone else caught this, but HILARIOUS! :lol:

by **Chris Eckes** » Mon 12/12/11 2:12 pm

Tee09 wrote:That's what we in the climate science community call "an alarming trend."

Although I suspect I disagree with you on the actual issue, this was also a very well played comment

by **LeoPohl** » Mon 12/12/11 2:28 pm

The X Factor wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:
sunbone wrote:Unless you are exaggerating that would be almost 20 hours a week for 10 years. I would lean towards ashamed if I was you.

Wilt Chamberlain?

I don't know if anyone else caught this, but HILARIOUS!

The best/worst part-it's pretty much accurate.

by **Chris Eckes** » Mon 12/12/11 2:59 pm

Which one, you or Wilt the Stilt?

by **LeoPohl** » Mon 12/12/11 3:02 pm

The X Factor wrote:Which one, you or Wilt the Stilt?

The original statement.
If I was about a foot taller I could ... Eh, Never mind.

by **rowshkex** » Mon 12/12/11 11:27 pm

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports. ... 2/33839548

At least he's got a wife that buys into the same mentality.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Mon 12/12/11 11:43 pm

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/12/12/t ... &eref=sihp

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 12/13/11 12:08 am

THAT is why I think Pos is probably the best baseball writer on earth.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Tue 12/13/11 12:15 am

dxmnkd316 wrote:THAT is why I think Pos is probably the best baseball writer on earth.

He's one of my favorites, too. :wink:

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 12/13/11 12:20 am

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
dxmnkd316 wrote:THAT is why I think Pos is probably the best baseball writer on earth.

He's one of my favorites, too.

So few people have the talent to meld statistics, analysis, and writing into an accessible yet still insightful piece.

by **Beauner** » Tue 12/13/11 1:03 am

Bushwood Gopher wrote:http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/12/12/the-real-albert-pujols/?sct=hp_wr_a1&eref=sihp

Thanks for posting that BG. Very interesting.
Pujols has been my all-time favorite player since the first time I ever saw him swing a bat so I thoroughly enjoyed that

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Tue 12/13/11 1:15 am

@dx - well said. I think you nailed why Posnanski is such a compelling writer.
@Beauner - you bet! He's been my favorite player too and I thought it was an interesting look at his past/present/future.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Mon 1/09/12 4:31 pm

Hey dx, do you get two votes on the Hall voting or what? :poke:

http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports. ... 2/34288701

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Tue 1/24/12 3:09 pm

Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 1/24/12 3:14 pm

crap.

Edit: Please tell me you mean Cecil... :beg:

by **sunbone** » Tue 1/24/12 3:15 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

Lot of money for a guy who looks like he will probably have type 2 diabetes for at least half of that contract.

by **Chris Eckes** » Tue 1/24/12 3:17 pm

What are they going to do with Cabrera??

by **dxmnkd316** » Tue 1/24/12 3:19 pm

sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

Lot of money for a guy who looks like he will probably have type 2 diabetes for at least half of that contract.

Apparently he's a vegan...

by **psych** » Tue 1/24/12 3:21 pm

The X Factor wrote:What are they going to do with Cabrera??

Drug Rehab Michigan
Narconon Freedom Treatment Center
Michigan Drug Rehab & Alcohol Rehab
809 W. Erie Street
Albion, MI 49224

Phone: (877) 362-9682
Phone:269-965-3629
Fax: 269-965-4974

Email: jeannietrahant@yahoo.com
Website: Michigan Treatment Center -- www.freedomtreatmentcenter.com

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Tue 1/24/12 3:22 pm

sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

Lot of money for a guy who looks like he will probably have type 2 diabetes for at least half of that contract.

It is a lot of scratch, no doubt. In his defense, though, he's been one of the most durable players in all of baseball. He's averaged 160 games per year over his six full seasons. And he's missed one game total over the last three seasons.

by **sec 16 row16 seat 16 17** » Tue 1/24/12 3:25 pm

holy cow prince that's a lot of dough.

by **Bushwood Gopher** » Tue 1/24/12 3:27 pm

The X Factor wrote:What are they going to do with Cabrera??

3B, OF or DH. He has more combined starts at 3B/OF than he does at 1B.

by **sunbone** » Tue 1/24/12 3:36 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

Lot of money for a guy who looks like he will probably have type 2 diabetes for at least half of that contract.

It is a lot of scratch, no doubt. In his defense, though, he's been one of the most durable players in all of baseball. He's averaged 160 games per year over his six full seasons. And he's missed one game total over the last three seasons.

I think the plan is to find somebody who makes Delmon look athletic.

by **gopherguy13** » Tue 1/24/12 3:39 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

Lot of money for a guy who looks like he will probably have type 2 diabetes for at least half of that contract.

It is a lot of scratch, no doubt. In his defense, though, he's been one of the most durable players in all of baseball. He's averaged 160 games per year over his six full seasons. And he's missed one game total over the last three seasons.

Wow, that is impressive.

by **rowshkex** » Tue 1/24/12 3:59 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

Lot of money for a guy who looks like he will probably have type 2 diabetes for at least half of that contract.

Apparently he's a vegan...

Vegans can drink pop too... :wink:

by **sunbone** » Tue 1/24/12 4:33 pm

Bushwood Gopher wrote:
sunbone wrote:
Bushwood Gopher wrote:Jon Heyman of SI reporting Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years for $214M.

Lot of money for a guy who looks like he will probably have type 2 diabetes for at least half of that contract.

It is a lot of scratch, no doubt. In his defense, though, he's been one of the most durable players in all of baseball. He's averaged 160 games per year over his six full seasons. And he's missed one game total over the last three seasons.

True, but 9 years is too much IMO. His old man was pretty much a workhorse too up until about age 33, then it went downhill pretty fast. I could see the same thing happening to him.

by **Maize** » Tue 1/24/12 4:39 pm

sunbone wrote:
True, but 9 years is too much IMO. His old man was pretty much a workhorse too up until about age 33, then it went downhill pretty fast. I could see the same thing happening to him.

I don't like 9 years either, though I'm sure Prince would be the first to tell you he's a very different person from his dad.

by **sunbone** » Tue 1/24/12 4:48 pm

Maize wrote:
sunbone wrote:
True, but 9 years is too much IMO. His old man was pretty much a workhorse too up until about age 33, then it went downhill pretty fast. I could see the same thing happening to him.

I don't like 9 years either, though I'm sure Prince would be the first to tell you he's a very different person from his dad.

I'm sure he would. But they look like they share the same workout regimen and dedication to fitness.

by **Hobey Baker** » Tue 1/24/12 7:14 pm

Fielder to Tigers hurts the Twins.

by **Greyeagle** » Tue 1/24/12 7:32 pm

Nine years....hope his knees make it.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 2/03/12 12:03 am

Apparently Josh Hamilton is back on the bottle. Personally, I say good for him. No one likes a quitter.

by **Armadillo** » Fri 2/03/12 12:11 am

I wonder if that incident last season where the father died trying to catch a ball Hamilton threw has had any bearing on his sobriety.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 2/03/12 12:20 am

Armadillo wrote:I wonder if that incident last season where the father died trying to catch a ball Hamilton threw has had any bearing on his sobriety.

Honestly, I think if it didn't drink him to drink, I'd probably think a bit less of him. No one can be that emotionally detached. No one.

by **Beauner** » Fri 2/03/12 12:50 am

dxmnkd316 wrote:
Armadillo wrote:I wonder if that incident last season where the father died trying to catch a ball Hamilton threw has had any bearing on his sobriety.

Honestly, I think if it didn't drink him to drink, I'd probably think a bit less of him. No one can be that emotionally detached. No one.

Sociopaths beg to differ.

by **Chris Eckes** » Fri 2/03/12 9:47 am

I think what drove him to drink was the fact that Jesus abandoned him for that no-talent hack Tim Tebow.

by **SouthTexGopher** » Fri 2/03/12 9:56 am

This has obviously been a big topic of discussion here in DFW this morning. It was the primary topic on WBAP. The reactions from the folks on air and the callers ran the usual range, but there were some genuine WTF reactions. Like:

"Don't blame Josh Hamilton, blame the bartender who served him."

"What if the bartender didn't know it was Josh Hamilton?"

"How dumb are you? Everyone knows Josh Hamilton."

"The Rangers can't hold him accountable, since Ron Washington admitted to doing cocaine."

"It's not Hamilton's fault, the Rangers were supposed to give him an Accountability Partner."

Nolan Ryan was supposed to be on this morning (as he often is)...and the hosts were committed to not asking him about the Hamilton situation. I was shaking my head at that point. Why on earth wouldn't you ask the team president about a situation involving the team MVP?

by **Zwak** » Fri 2/24/12 2:34 pm

Ryan Braun gets suspension overturned.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A ... wers-braun

The reason why it was overturned was because it sat in someone's house for 44 hours. Somehow during this 44 hours we are supposed to believe the handler (a) tampered with the container (b) knew how to tamper with the sample to make it test positive.

Technically the procedure was not followed correctly so that means it is not a vaild test. That said, I think Mr. Braun will be heavily scrutinized by the public and media.

by **Beauner** » Fri 2/24/12 2:46 pm

Zwak wrote:Ryan Braun gets suspension overturned.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A ... wers-braun

The reason why it was overturned was because it sat in someone's house for 44 hours. Somehow during this 44 hours we are supposed to believe the handler (a) tampered with the container (b) knew how to tamper with the sample to make it test positive.

Technically the procedure was not followed correctly so that means it is not a vaild test. That said, I think Mr. Braun will be heavily scrutinized by the public and media.

And he deserves to be. Especially since he's gloating about a test getting overturned on a technicality.
Urine tests sitting for 44 hours shouldn't have any chemical change in a sealed container. There is almost no chance any chemical reaction can occur given the limited oxidation that could occur, so the urine wouldn't be able to break down into the separate parts. If it was a positive test, it was a positive test. Now he's celebrating like he never should have been questioned.
:censored:

everything about Wisconsin.

by **dxmnkd316** » Fri 2/24/12 2:49 pm

A roider is like someone who cheats: Once a roider, always a roider. There's going to come a time in his career where he has a nagging injury or his numbers start to drop a little and the temptation will come back with a vengeance. He was caught once, he WILL be caught again.

by **bobman543219** » Fri 2/24/12 2:51 pm

Beauner wrote:
Zwak wrote:Ryan Braun gets suspension overturned.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A ... wers-braun

The reason why it was overturned was because it sat in someone's house for 44 hours. Somehow during this 44 hours we are supposed to believe the handler (a) tampered with the container (b) knew how to tamper with the sample to make it test positive.

Technically the procedure was not followed correctly so that means it is not a vaild test. That said, I think Mr. Braun will be heavily scrutinized by the public and media.

And he deserves to be. Especially since he's gloating about a test getting overturned on a technicality.
Urine tests sitting for 44 hours shouldn't have any chemical change in a sealed container. There is almost no chance any chemical reaction can occur given the limited oxidation that could occur, so the urine wouldn't be able to break down into the separate parts. If it was a positive test, it was a positive test. Now he's celebrating like he never should have been questioned.
everything about Wisconsin.

I'm not defending Braun in any way, but his test did have the highest testosterone level ever recorded (almost two times higher than the highest recorded level), which means it would make sense that the sample was tampered with.

by **Composer** » Fri 2/24/12 3:14 pm

bobman543219 wrote:
I'm not defending Braun in any way, but his test did have the highest testosterone level ever recorded (almost two times higher than the highest recorded level), which means it would make sense that the sample was tampered with.

Yea--but we hate the Brewers. So that means he cheated more and cheated the morning of the test! It was playoff time!

by **bdj** » Fri 2/24/12 11:58 pm

For those that know Braun off the diamond, not a lot of tears were shed when this went down. And It is unlikely he will get caught again unless he uses the same treatment for a recurrence of herpes.

by **gopherguy06** » Fri 3/02/12 2:30 pm

MLB votes to expand post season to 10 teams, creating 1 game playoff between wild cards teams

I am not a fan of extending an already long MLB post season that goes into October.

by **IDGopher** » Fri 3/02/12 2:34 pm

Yeah, adding one game to a best-of-5 and a best-of-7 on each side leading into a best-of-7 World Series sure will extend those already long playoffs...

by **gopherguy06** » Fri 3/02/12 2:36 pm

Obviously I know it is one game but regardless why even add it at all? What's the point?

by **Dances With Gophers** » Fri 3/02/12 2:42 pm

gopherguy06 wrote:Obviously I know it is one game but regardless why even add it at all? What's the point?

Girl, please.

by **Composer** » Fri 3/02/12 3:52 pm

gopherguy06 wrote:Obviously I know it is one game but regardless why even add it at all? What's the point?

It makes winning the division mean something. Win the wild and and you you still aren't really in the playoffs. You need to win that game. It also makes the overall best record more meaningful because you get to play a team that had to use their best pitcher in a one-and-done game (if available!)

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 3/03/12 6:24 pm

Worst idea Selig has ever had. I despise this plan.

by **davescharf** » Sat 3/03/12 7:12 pm

dxmnkd316 wrote:Worst idea Selig has ever had. I despise this plan.

Look on the bright side, the Twins may get out of the first round of the playoffs now. :lol:

by **dxmnkd316** » Sat 3/03/12 8:52 pm

Doubtful. We don't have an ace.

by **streakygopher** » Sun 4/01/12 10:17 am

I'll be surprised if anybody gets more than 5 right....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/batter-up-a-baseball-quiz/2012/03/30/gIQAJ7d6lS_blog.html

by **Chris83** » Sun 4/01/12 10:35 am

streakygopher wrote:I'll be surprised if anybody gets more than 5 right....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/batter-up-a-baseball-quiz/2012/03/30/gIQAJ7d6lS_blog.html

I got 7...and THAT was fortunate

by **psych** » Sun 4/01/12 11:40 am

streakygopher wrote:I'll be surprised if anybody gets more than 5 right....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/batter-up-a-baseball-quiz/2012/03/30/gIQAJ7d6lS_blog.html

Question 5 of 13: Who holds the career record for grounding into double plays?

I got lucky and guessed Ripken only because Joe Mauer's name was not on the list.

Edit: I got only 4. Man that quiz was ridiculous. Then again, I am not a huge baseball "buff", so, there's that.

by **sec 16 row16 seat 16 17** » Sun 4/01/12 11:48 am

i got 3 right need to brush up on my baseball.

by **streakygopher** » Sun 4/01/12 12:08 pm

psych wrote:
streakygopher wrote:I'll be surprised if anybody gets more than 5 right....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/batter-up-a-baseball-quiz/2012/03/30/gIQAJ7d6lS_blog.html

Question 5 of 13: Who holds the career record for grounding into double plays?

I got lucky and guessed Ripken only because Joe Mauer's name was not on the list.

Edit: I got only 4. Man that quiz was ridiculous. Then again, I am not a huge baseball "buff", so, there's that.

Ha ha on the Joe Mauer bit, but yeah it's hard to pick right when all the possible answers are freakin HOF's.

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