2013 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[pilferk]

Yankees should just say fuck MLB dragging its feet on the steroid suspension and suspend him themselves.

They have to have cause to do it.

This wouldn't qualify, as it likely would fall under Arods right to disclose personal medical information (assuming that information isn't fraudulent) without employer repercussions.

[tim_m]

Yankees should just say fuck MLB dragging its feet on the steroid suspension and suspend him themselves.

They have to have cause to do it.

This wouldn't qualify, as it likely would fall under Arods right to disclose personal medical information (assuming that information isn't fraudulent) without employer repercussions.

No case or not this is becoming a made for tv miniseries.

[tim_m]

Yankees should just say fuck MLB dragging its feet on the steroid suspension and suspend him themselves.

They have to have cause to do it.

This wouldn't qualify, as it likely would fall under Arods right to disclose personal medical information (assuming that information isn't fraudulent) without employer repercussions.

Well they are looking at disciplining him for this. Also, he won't play in another rehab game until the 1st.

[Falcon]

I just got caught up with the daily ARod tomfoolery.

Just when you think it can't get any more bizzarro...

USA Today's Bob Nightengale latest:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/yankees/2013/07/25/alex-rodriguez-yankees-at-odds-mlb-suspension/2588527/

[Drew]

I really hated to see Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson suffer a season ending broken ankle Wednesday night.

[pilferk]

Well they are looking at disciplining him for this. Also, he won't play in another rehab game until the 1st.

That's the rumor..but there is so much noise to signal around, I'm not sure it's true.

And if it is...the CBA allows they to discipline him for seeking a 2nd opinion without notifying the Yanks, or choosing a doctor off the "approved" list.

It amounts to a fine (and not a very stiff one, at that) and the costs of the treatment.

Suspension might be overreaching a little.  Especially since, apparently, he notified Levine he was going to seek a second opinion on Tuesday night (just not in writing..which is waht the CBA requires).

And after the Yanks told him he wouldn't see action til aug 1st....Arod went on  Francessa and bitched about it, basically.  Sure, he did it in a passive aggressive type way..but he did it.

It wouldn't shock me to hear that he submits a written notice that he's seeking a second opinion this morning, to the Yanks, and then goes and finds his own approved doctor...end arounding the Yanks again.

Neither side is looking very good in this...

[pilferk]

I really hated to see Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson suffer a season ending broken ankle Wednesday night.

It was pretty horrific.  Theisman-ish.

[AxlsMainMan]

Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees rescue

[pilferk]

Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees rescue

Rescue might be too strong a world.  But he will instantly be the 2nd best hitter in the lineup when he starts tonight.  When Jeter gets back, he might drop down to 3rd.  That's not a comment on Mr. Strikeouts ability and more a comment on the aenemic Yanks lineup right now.

He's, basically, Granderson at the plate.  A .250 power hitter who strikes out a ton.  But that's better than Hafner who is a .200 hitter who strikes out a ton.

Interesting dynamics, though.  Soriano was traded for Arod...largely because Soriano didn't want to move to the outfield to make room for Cano.  Soriano promptly moved to the outfield at his new home, though.

And now he's coming BACK to the Yankees, to play with Cano and, maybe, someday, eventually, Arod.

[Falcon]

In a non ARod related note, MLB.com has re ranked the Top 100 prospects (by team and position as well) list reflecting this years draft and those who've graduated onto the Big Leagues.

New faces on the list, some moving up nd some moving down.

Take a look here:

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/mlb/prospects/watch/y2013/

[tim_m]

Alfonso Soriano to the Yankees rescue

Rescue might be too strong a world.  But he will instantly be the 2nd best hitter in the lineup when he starts tonight.  When Jeter gets back, he might drop down to 3rd.  That's not a comment on Mr. Strikeouts ability and more a comment on the aenemic Yanks lineup right now.

He's, basically, Granderson at the plate.  A .250 power hitter who strikes out a ton.  But that's better than Hafner who is a .200 hitter who strikes out a ton.

Interesting dynamics, though.  Soriano was traded for Arod...largely because Soriano didn't want to move to the outfield to make room for Cano.  Soriano promptly moved to the outfield at his new home, though.

And now he's coming BACK to the Yankees, to play with Cano and, maybe, someday, eventually, Arod.

Granderson is due to begin his rehab assignment soon too. Things are slightly looking up for the Yanks.

[pilferk]

Granderson is due to begin his rehab assignment soon too. Things are slightly looking up for the Yanks.

Started last night with the Tampa Yankees.  5 Innings in the field, 0-2...got hit in the bicep by a Double Play ball (trying to slide under the throw), but he's OK.  His teammates are giving him a hard time, calling him "The Magnet".

Supposed to play 7 innings in the field tonight.

Maybe DH or OF on Saturday "somewhere"....depending on how tonight goes. Reevaluate on Sunday.  Could go to AA or AAA...or maybe even come up to the big club, at that point.  Interestingly (or maybe no so) they've basically said he'll be playing LF for his rehab time.

Nix played his second rehab game last night (same place as Grandy).  He could be back as early as mid-week, next week, too.

[tim_m]

Granderson is due to begin his rehab assignment soon too. Things are slightly looking up for the Yanks.

Started last night with the Tampa Yankees.  5 Innings in the field, 0-2...got hit in the bicep by a Double Play ball (trying to slide under the throw), but he's OK.  His teammates are giving him a hard time, calling him "The Magnet".

Supposed to play 7 innings in the field tonight.

Maybe DH or OF on Saturday "somewhere"....depending on how tonight goes. Reevaluate on Sunday.  Could go to AA or AAA...or maybe even come up to the big club, at that point.  Interestingly (or maybe no so) they've basically said he'll be playing LF for his rehab time.

Nix played his second rehab game last night (same place as Grandy).  He could be back as early as mid-week, next week, too.

Jeter could be back Saturday too. So help for our AAA team we're fielding is on the way soon.

[tim_m]

Jeter back Sunday if he feels ok, but Hafner to the DL with a shoulder injury.

[Falcon]

And back to Biogenesis for a minute.

From the New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/mlb_bans_in_ped_case_likely_to_drop_9vrYirxam2vt7mihs3UiKI


It always has been MLB?s plan to announce the suspensions at one time for the 15-plus players believed to be facing sanctions in the performance-enhancing drug case. MLB went early with Ryan Braun?s suspension because of his willingness to accept the penalty without appeal.

It is expected other players will do the same this week. To that end, Rodriguez?s representatives met with MLB officials in the past few days, The Post has learned. It is believed A-Rod?s camp was trying to gain a better understanding of potential penalties. However, a member of Rodriguez?s team told The Post yesterday it is ?unequivocally untrue? that Rodriguez is seeking a settlement.
 
TIME RUNNING OUT: Alex Rodriguez was all smiles in Tampa yesterday on his 38th birthday, but he won?t be smiling if commissioner Bud Selig hands down a significant suspension for A-Rod?s reported involvement with the Biogenesis clinic.

It is believed MLB wants to make the suspensions formal this week before teams reach the point at which they have fewer than 50 games to play. The penalty for first-time offenders who fail a PED test is 50 games.

MLB apparently is willing to give the same sanction to first-time offenders in this case, in which the evidence does not come from a failed urine or blood exam, but rather from an investigation. The thinking is MLB wants to provide the first-time offenders this carrot: Don?t appeal and you can serve the entire suspension this year and start with a clean slate for next season.

Rodriguez does not fit into this category. It has become evident MLB is going to demand Rodriguez?s punishment far exceed Braun?s. That is because MLB believes the combination of being a user and obstructing the case demands a much stiffer penalty ? especially because Rodriguez has admitted to previous drug use from 2001-03 and because MLB believes Rodriguez subsequently lied to its investigators in previous interviews about his usage.

Bud Selig was at the Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cooperstown this week and was said still to be mulling what punishment to deliver Rodriguez. It is conceivable he could ask for permanent banishment, akin to Pete Rose. But the belief is no matter the level of evidence ? and it has been portrayed that MLB has substantially more evidence on Rodriguez than it does on Braun ? it would be hard to convince an arbitrator, if Rodriguez appeals, that Rodriguez?s first suspension should be for life.

Keep in mind, though, that Selig could ask for life knowing the arbitrator could lower the punishment to a shorter duration ? or even find that Rodriguez should not be punished at all.

But as a way to levy a sanction that will not be reduced, there was growing belief around baseball that Selig would request the rest of this season and all of next year.

That could be viewed as just about the death penalty for Rodriguez, at least for his playing career. He turned 38 yesterday. He has yet to play this year. The idea that he would not play this season or next season and come back able to play in 2015 after two hip surgeries seems farfetched.

The expectation was Rodriguez had hired a cavalry of lawyers, private investigators, crisis managers and spokesmen to fight any sanction. Publicly, his camp has been feisty ? and more ? in trying to mount a case that both MLB and the Yankees have tried to injure his reputation and keep him from playing.

The only reason, in theory, he would cease that strategy and accept a suspension would be if he felt the evidence was irrefutable and was seeking a way to protect as much of the roughly $97 million he is still owed on his record $275 million contract.

For example, Rodriguez is owed $61 million from 2015-17. Thus, if a punishment were offered to him that extended through 2014, he might accept that to protect the $61 million. If he does accept the punishment, though, the Yankees could try to mount a case to void the rest of the deal based on fraud (a team cannot punish a player for illegal drug use; only the commissioner can do that).

If Rodriguez fights the suspension, he apparently is going to have to counter ? among other things ? alleged communications between him and the Biogenesis kingpin Tony Bosch that delineate usage of PEDs. It is believed that is just part of MLB?s case and also that MLB will limit the scope of its suspension attempts to proving Rodriguez used PEDs and worked diligently to try to prevent MLB from finding evidence of that.

There was some anticipation that MLB might go after Rodriguez for serving as kind of a Pied Piper for Biogenesis or financially supporting the clinic, but it appears that will not be the case.

[tim_m]

So this week looks like the week then?

[Falcon]

So this week looks like the week then?

Could be.

I'd think they'd like to get this thing wrapped up sooner than later.

MLB's ducks seem to be in a row, should be an interesting week.

[Falcon]

Anyone following the Tino Martinez debacle in TB?

Always heard stories about him being a total dick but this is beyond dickdom.

[tim_m]

So this week looks like the week then?

Could be.

I'd think they'd like to get this thing wrapped up sooner than later.

MLB's ducks seem to be in a row, should be an interesting week.

And doing it in the next few days many of the guys who would be suspended would simply be gone for the rest of the season.

[tim_m]

Anyone following the Tino Martinez debacle in TB?

Always heard stories about him being a total dick but this is beyond dickdom.

Maybe he did go a little too far but these aren't 12 year olds. These are million dollar players who get played to hit. Imagine if this was an old school coach. It would've been a lot worse.