2013 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[Falcon]

Seeing a lot of All Star talk on the MLB sites I frequent and am finding it for lack of a better term - boring.

The game holds little interest for me these days (beyond the "this one counts" train wreck appeal) unfortunately.  Daily interleague play, club organized ballot stuffing and expanded rosters have literally killed any intrigue the game used to carry for me personally.

Anyone else give a hoot anymore?

[pilferk]

I'm sure to the surprise of no one: Yes, I still find the game intersting.

That being said, I've gone from a guy who pretty much watches every inning of every Yanks game (live or memorex) to watching snippets of every yanks game, and a lot more of other teams (via MLB network, or via my Ipad).

The current Yanks lineup is just hard to watch...and has been for about a month or so.  All those guys who stormed out of the gate have regressed back to the backs of their baseball cards (or worse).  I can't muster enough energy to change the channel to watch Wells strike out again, watch Hafner weekly ground out, or watch their replacement player of the month weakly hack at the air.

These are just not the New York Yankees.  Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees, maybe.

Lest you all think this is fair weather fandom..it's not.  If this were a team of actual major league caliber players who just happend to be sucking out for a time (and I've certainly watched stretches of that in the 80's and early 90's), that's one thing.  It's just not.

I've watched the Rangers and Giants play more innings, lately, than I have the Yanks.....

[Falcon]

I watch most of the Cards games when possible less the interleague in an AL ballpark but that's been the case for quite some time though - it's like going from chess to checkers for me.

My overall watching is down generally although the live look ins on MLB Network are gold, no need to go to the grocery store to buy an item or two when you can hit the convenience store.

And I feel for you and Tim on the Yanks, they're a tough watch for now for the most part but I have to admit, the sideshow this year is must see TV.

Never a dull moment for the Bombers.

[pilferk]

I watch most of the Cards games when possible less the interleague in an AL ballpark but that's been the case for quite some time though - it's like going from chess to checkers for me.

My overall watching is down generally although the live look ins on MLB Network are gold, no need to go to the grocery store to buy an item or two when you can hit the convenience store.

And I feel for you and Tim on the Yanks, they're a tough watch for now for the most part but I have to admit, the sideshow this year is must see TV.

Never a dull moment for the Bombers.

I pay more attention to the sideshow, and the injury report/ updates than I do the games right now. Hopefully, by the end of July, we will get SOME major leaguers back.

I just hope zolo stays with the big league club. He won't...because the yanks will never release wells. But I can hope.

[Falcon]

I pay more attention to the sideshow, and the injury report/ updates than I do the games right now. Hopefully, by the end of July, we will get SOME major leaguers back.

More sideshow action from TMZ, yes - TMZ.

http://www.tmz.com/2013/07/01/major-league-baseball-steroids-biogenesis-whistleblower-alex-rodriguez-ryan-braun/

I don't know about you cats but I'm ready for the other shoe to drop, or not drop at all.

[Falcon]

This, as the kids say - "just cray".  But hilarious at the same time.

Sorry George.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/22600996/july-1-is-bobby-bonillas-day-to-get-paid-by-mets

July 1 is Bobby Bonilla's day to get paid by Mets

It's July 1, so that means Bobby Bonilla got a check for $1,193,248.20 today, just as he'll do every July 1 through 2035 due to a deferral clause in the contract when the Mets bought out the final year of Bonilla's deal in prior to the 2000 season.

The deal was signed by the Marlins in 1996, but Bonilla was traded to the Dodgers in the 1998 blockbuster that involved Gary Sheffield and Mike Piazza. Bonilla was later flipped to the Mets. He then only played 60 games in 1999, hitting .160/.277/.303, so the Mets saw fit to get rid of him before the 2000 season instead of paying him $5.9 million that year.

And now they'll be paying him a bit more than four times that -- just stretched out over 25 years.

[tim_m]

Congratulations to Andy Pettitte on becoming the Yankees all time leader in strikeouts.

[GeorgeSteele]

This, as the kids say - "just cray".  But hilarious at the same time.

Sorry George.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/22600996/july-1-is-bobby-bonillas-day-to-get-paid-by-mets

July 1 is Bobby Bonilla's day to get paid by Mets

It's July 1, so that means Bobby Bonilla got a check for $1,193,248.20 today, just as he'll do every July 1 through 2035 due to a deferral clause in the contract when the Mets bought out the final year of Bonilla's deal in prior to the 2000 season.

The deal was signed by the Marlins in 1996, but Bonilla was traded to the Dodgers in the 1998 blockbuster that involved Gary Sheffield and Mike Piazza. Bonilla was later flipped to the Mets. He then only played 60 games in 1999, hitting .160/.277/.303, so the Mets saw fit to get rid of him before the 2000 season instead of paying him $5.9 million that year.

And now they'll be paying him a bit more than four times that -- just stretched out over 25 years.

Haha, thank you!  I actually find that whole fiasco with Bonilla to be hilarious.  I remember back in Bonilla's Met days in the early 90s, he threatened a reporter with the comment "I'll show you the Bronx".  I think he showed Fred Wilpon.

Keep in mind, Wilpon was turning a profit on this deal until 2008, earning 20% a year on his Madoff investments.  We know how that turned out...

[Falcon]

A bizarre night of baseball in store for me this evening with the Cards visiting the Angels.

Albert facing his former mates for the first time will be a lil weird to say the least.

Looking back it was obviously the right decision letting AP walk, it sucked at the time but it was the right move for the organization.

At Pujol's request, the Halo's will be wearing patches honoring Stan Musial with Stan's grandson throwing out the first pitch - classy move.

[tim_m]

Props to AP for doing that, very classy move by a good guy.

[tim_m]

Minnesota Twins honor Mariano Rivera with rocking chair made of broken bats
Published 29 minutes and 44 seconds ago
Troy Machir Sporting News
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New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is on a farewell tour across the majors.

The future first ballot Hall of Famer is making his final trip to opposing ballparks across the country this summer, thanking the players, coaches and members of the opposing staff he has interacted with over his 19-year career.

The Yankees are in Minnesota for the final time this season, and the Twins honored Rivera before their game on Tuesday night with a souvenier chair made out of broken bats caused by Rivera's pitches.

The "Chair of Broken Dreams":

    #MNTwins honoring the career of retiring closer Mariano Rivera by presenting him with a ?Chair of Broken Dreams.? pic.twitter.com/XqQG7iIpxi
    ? Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 2, 2013

MORE: Rivera delivers pizza to Oakland staff | Yankees closer doesn't want to start the All Star Game

    Gardy, Morneau and Perkins present Mariano with the Chair of Broken Dreams before tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/L7ccdql1aW
    ? FOX 9 Sports (@Fox9Sports) July 2, 2013

Rivera will go down as the greatest closer in baseball history. He will also be remembered as one of the nicest, most friendly guys to ever take the mound.

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2013-07-02/mariano-rivera-chair-broken-bats-minnesota-twins-retirement-tour-new-york-yankee

They also presented him with $10,000 for his charity.

[tim_m]

Some good news on the Yankees front. Derek Jeter has been cleared to begin his rehab assignment will play tomorrow for Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

[Falcon]

Baseball America's mid season Top 50 prospect list is out, take a look here:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-prospect-update-top-50-prospects/

[tim_m]

Looks like MLB is getting ready to lower the suspension boom on A-Rod Braun and the others associated with Bosch's biogenisis clinic after next week's All-Star game.

[Falcon]

Looks like MLB is getting ready to lower the suspension boom on A-Rod Braun and the others associated with Bosch's biogenisis clinic after next week's All-Star game.

Yep, here's the ESPN report:

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9464246/ryan-braun-refused-answer-mlb-questions-biogenesis-clinic-sources-say

[AxlsMainMan]

Looks like MLB is getting ready to lower the suspension boom on A-Rod Braun and the others associated with Bosch's biogenisis clinic after next week's All-Star game.

Will you be heartbroken if A-Roid doesn't take the field this year?

[AxlsMainMan]

Really cool story about Manny helping Mike Olt out:

http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=9459392&city=dallas&src=desktop

[tim_m]

Looks like MLB is getting ready to lower the suspension boom on A-Rod Braun and the others associated with Bosch's biogenisis clinic after next week's All-Star game.

Will you be heartbroken if A-Roid doesn't take the field this year?

Not really, i don't think having him will help this team much with all the injuries.

[Falcon]

Maybe he should pay with his Seinfeld money.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2359173/Danny-Tartabull-Former-baseball-star-wanted-deadbeat-Los-Angeles.html

Former star baseball player who earned $33MILLION during career is 'most wanted' deadbeat dad in Los Angeles after owing $275K in child support

PUBLISHED: 21:22 EST, 9 July 2013  | UPDATED: 21:22 EST, 9 July 2013 

A former star baseball player who earned more than $33million over the course of his 14-year major league career has been named the top deadbeat dad in Los Angeles after allegedly failing to pay more than $275,000 in child support for his two sons.

Danny Tartabull's face appears prominently on a Los Angeles County Child Support Services poster advertising the five 'most wanted' deadbeat dads in the county.

Tartabull, who hit 262 home runs between 1984 and 1997, is currently a fugitive from justice. A warrant was issued for his arrest on May 12, 2012 after he failed to appear for a 180 day jail sentence.

[tim_m]

I actually met him once very briefly lol.