2013 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[Falcon]

Beyond the A-Rat Braun talk, has anyone else noticed the Dodgers are on a crazy historical run?

I try not to buy into the hyperbole but good God, it's tough not to - and I really can't stand them.

By far the best team in the NL, very capable of running right through the playoffs and into the World Series.

They are on fire for sure. If the Yankees don't get in the playoffs I'll be rooting for them. Not because i love the Dodgers but for Donnie Baseball. I've loved Mattingly since i was a little kid and nothing would make me happier to see him holding that trophy finally. He was a guy on the fast track to the HOF until he hurt his back and he's one nicest guys baseball has ever had. Loves and respects the game and played it right.

My disgust for all things Dodger stems from the Tommy Lasorda era, the whole "Bleed Dodger blue" schtick..

I like Mattingly as well but he's collateral damage (so is Vin Scully unfortunately) in my Dodger disdain.

They're really good though, could very well steamroll their way to a WS championship.

[Falcon]

The ARat/Yankee train wreck just got the ante upped by Yank Prez Randy Levine, oh my..

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/23196126/arod-escalates-war-with-yankees-team-responds-with-a-challenge

[tim_m]

Beyond the A-Rat Braun talk, has anyone else noticed the Dodgers are on a crazy historical run?

I try not to buy into the hyperbole but good God, it's tough not to - and I really can't stand them.

By far the best team in the NL, very capable of running right through the playoffs and into the World Series.

They are on fire for sure. If the Yankees don't get in the playoffs I'll be rooting for them. Not because i love the Dodgers but for Donnie Baseball. I've loved Mattingly since i was a little kid and nothing would make me happier to see him holding that trophy finally. He was a guy on the fast track to the HOF until he hurt his back and he's one nicest guys baseball has ever had. Loves and respects the game and played it right.

My disgust for all things Dodger stems from the Tommy Lasorda era, the whole "Bleed Dodger blue" schtick..

I like Mattingly as well but he's collateral damage (so is Vin Scully unfortunately) in my Dodger disdain.

They're really good though, could very well steamroll their way to a WS championship.

It would just make me so happy to see him win a world series. He had the misfortune of playing at a time where we totally sucked. Then retires the year before we win it all.

[tim_m]

The ARat/Yankee train wreck just got the ante upped by Yank Prez Randy Levine, oh my..

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/23196126/arod-escalates-war-with-yankees-team-responds-with-a-challenge

I could say i'm shocked but we all know i'd be lying my ass off.

[pilferk]

I realized last night we missed someone if the hof discussion:

Ichiro

The voters consider both his numbers in Japan, and the us. He is closing in on 4000 hits. I think he is a shoe in for the hall.

I had him in my original 5

I always enjoy HOF talk and players chances, fascinating conversation.

I play the "If they retired today" game and who'd get in without question.

I can think of only 5:

Rivera, Pujols, Jeter, Ichiro, Cabrera.

An, I missed that one!

[Falcon]

The ARat/Yankee train wreck just got the ante upped by Yank Prez Randy Levine, oh my..

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/23196126/arod-escalates-war-with-yankees-team-responds-with-a-challenge

I could say i'm shocked but we all know i'd be lying my ass off.

For sure.

ARod has now been told by the GM to "Shut the fuck up" and by the Prez to "Put up or shut up" on separate occasions this year.

[AxlsMainMan]

The ARat/Yankee train wreck just got the ante upped by Yank Prez Randy Levine, oh my..

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/23196126/arod-escalates-war-with-yankees-team-responds-with-a-challenge

I could say i'm shocked but we all know i'd be lying my ass off.

For sure.

ARod has now been told by the GM to "Shut the fuck up" and by the Prez to "Put up or shut up" on separate occasions this year.

..while Girardi praises him

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130817&content_id=57297376&notebook_id=57296632&vkey=notebook_nyy&c_id=nyy

[tim_m]

The ARat/Yankee train wreck just got the ante upped by Yank Prez Randy Levine, oh my..

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/writer/jon-heyman/23196126/arod-escalates-war-with-yankees-team-responds-with-a-challenge

I could say i'm shocked but we all know i'd be lying my ass off.

For sure.

ARod has now been told by the GM to "Shut the fuck up" and by the Prez to "Put up or shut up" on separate occasions this year.

..while Girardi praises him

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130817&content_id=57297376&notebook_id=57296632&vkey=notebook_nyy&c_id=nyy

Well he has been playing quite well since returning.

[tim_m]

Whether you like A-Rod or not, what Dempster should've been tossed for what he just did and Girardi had every right to be flipping livid.

[tim_m]

Just a tip, if you want to taunt A-Rod on national tv with a sign; you might wanna make sure you spell loser right. A-Looser makes no sense! Loser has one o last time i checked.

[GeorgeSteele]

Whether you like A-Rod or not, what Dempster should've been tossed for what he just did and Girardi had every right to be flipping livid.

I thought Girardi showed a ton of character there.  Didn't matter that the guy who got hit was maybe the most hated athlete in America and an organizational pariah, he stood on principle and that's to always protect your players. 

I've thought highly of Girardi ever since he told Jeffrey Loria to go fuck himself, but this was just as impressive.

[AxlsMainMan]

Whether you like A-Rod or not, what Dempster should've been tossed for what he just did and Girardi had every right to be flipping livid.

Didn't matter that the guy who got hit was maybe the most hated athlete in America and an organizational pariah, he stood on principle and that's to always protect your players. 

What alternative did he have? Wouldn't he have been reprimanded or only added fuel to the tension and hurt feelings existing between Rodriguez and the Yankees had he sat back and done nothing?

[GeorgeSteele]

Whether you like A-Rod or not, what Dempster should've been tossed for what he just did and Girardi had every right to be flipping livid.

Didn't matter that the guy who got hit was maybe the most hated athlete in America and an organizational pariah, he stood on principle and that's to always protect your players. 

What alternative did he have? Wouldn't he have been reprimanded or only added fuel to the tension and hurt feelings existing between Rodriguez and the Yankees had he sat back and done nothing?

It is full out war right now between A-Rod and the organization, just see the recent comments in the news from both sides, so it seems everyone stopped caring about added fuel and tension a long time ago.  Girardi could have just made a tacit defense or even done nothing (which some managers do under normal circumstances) and I suspect the front office would have preferred that. 

[tim_m]

Girardi did what he had to do and that's stick up for his player. It was clear from the first pitch Dempster was trying to hit him. A warning should've been given immediately and Dempster tossed on the 4th pitch. What Girardi had to say was right, a player can't just take it into his own hands and be judge, jury and executioner. You can seriously injure a person throwing a baseball at them. How you feel about A-Rod should be irrelevant. Its just not something you should do so blatantly intentional. Like Girardi said about the fans cheering it, what if that was your kid up there and someone was throwing at him on purpose?

[AxlsMainMan]

Like Girardi said about the fans cheering it, what if that was your kid up there and someone was throwing at him on purpose?

I think most people would be ashamed to have Rodriguez as their kid. Plus given the shitstorm he's wrought on MLB this season, I think people are well past empathizing or sympathizing with him; they simply want him gone from the game of baseball.

[tim_m]

Like Girardi said about the fans cheering it, what if that was your kid up there and someone was throwing at him on purpose?

I think most people would be ashamed to have Rodriguez as their kid. Plus given the shitstorm he's wrought on MLB this season, I think people are well past empathizing or sympathizing with him; they simply want him gone from the game of baseball.

Agreed completely with you there, myself included. That still doesn't make it right taking matters into your own hands and throwing at someone intentionally. If the players don't like the fact players can still play while appealing a first suspension under the JDA they shouldn't have agreed to it in the CBA. What's worse is this bum Dempster is a player rep. This is terms he agreed with then goes out and does something like this. What if the other players who were suspended decided to appeal? Was he gonna go drill them all too?

[Ali]

Beyond the A-Rat Braun talk, has anyone else noticed the Dodgers are on a crazy historical run?

I try not to buy into the hyperbole but good God, it's tough not to - and I really can't stand them.

By far the best team in the NL, very capable of running right through the playoffs and into the World Series.

The Dodgers may be the hottest team in the NL.  I don't see them as being the best in the NL, necessarily, and certainly not by far.

Ali

[tim_m]

Beyond the A-Rat Braun talk, has anyone else noticed the Dodgers are on a crazy historical run?

I try not to buy into the hyperbole but good God, it's tough not to - and I really can't stand them.

By far the best team in the NL, very capable of running right through the playoffs and into the World Series.

The Dodgers may be the hottest team in the NL.  I don't see them as being the best in the NL, necessarily, and certainly not by far.

Ali

I tend to agree, they have some holes. I would go with Atlanta as the best overall team. That doesn't mean the dodgers can't just continue this incredible streak right through the playoffs though.

[Falcon]

Beyond the A-Rat Braun talk, has anyone else noticed the Dodgers are on a crazy historical run?

I try not to buy into the hyperbole but good God, it's tough not to - and I really can't stand them.

By far the best team in the NL, very capable of running right through the playoffs and into the World Series.

The Dodgers may be the hottest team in the NL.  I don't see them as being the best in the NL, necessarily, and certainly not by far.

Ali

Who's better?

Atlanta?
Pittsburgh?

Not a chance.

I'll take my chances with Kershaw, Ryu and Grienke against any other NL teams top 3 in a heart beat.

[Falcon]

This could be good news for the Yankees and not so good new for Robinson Cano and JayZ's bid to break the bank this off season.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/19/report-cuban-infielder-alexander-guerrero-narrows-list-of-potential-landing-spots/