2013 Baseball Season/Off-Season Discussion

[GeorgeSteele]

And, it looks like he asked the mlbpa to leave his appeal representation to him.

http://www.pinstripedbible.com/2013/10/5/4806904/rodriguez-appeal-hearing-mlbpa-steroids-biogenesis-peds

Surely despite your undying love for the Yankees, even you have to be sick to death of A-Rod and his antics.

My lack of undying love for both the Yankees and A-Rod is well documented in these threads, but if anything, Selig is the one most deserving of a shit sandwich because of this whole fiasco.  I find it incredible that MLB is alleging that A-Rod tried to bribe the key witness (the Biogenesis guy) when it's on record that MLB is not only paying that witness but also blackmailed him with a BS lawsuit to force him to testify against A-Rod.

[tim_m]

This game has been epic.

[Falcon]

Looks like the Dodgers aren't going to Disney Land this year.

I must say, I've enjoyed the hell out of the Cards post season run thus far.

A few days to exhale..

[tim_m]

I was really pulling for the Dodgers. Now if Boston wins tonight i could give less then a fuck who wins the series. I wish they could both lose. I'm sick of the Cards and hate the Sox for obvious reasons. This may be the first world series i don't watch in decades.

[pilferk]

Leyland stepping down as Tigers manager.

Gotta admit..didn't see that one coming!

[LongGoneDay]

Leyland stepping down as Tigers manager.

Gotta admit..didn't see that one coming!

Yeah, on the outside seems like a team that'd be tough to walk away from. They should be loaded for at least one more run next year.
Too bad, he's one of the good guys.

[GeorgeSteele]

Leyland stepping down as Tigers manager.

Gotta admit..didn't see that one coming!

Yeah, on the outside seems like a team that'd be tough to walk away from. They should be loaded for at least one more run next year.
Too bad, he's one of the good guys.

Here's one of his career highlights:

http://deadspin.com/heres-jim-leyland-cursing-out-barry-bonds-for-nearly-a-1449080443

[LongGoneDay]

As much as I'll miss Leyland, I'll miss Menino more...

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/9863201/boston-mayor-thomas-menino-hops-red-sox-win-cup

[AxlsMainMan]

The Giants just re-signed Lincecum to a 2-year/$35 million deal.

[GeorgeSteele]

The Giants just re-signed Lincecum to a 2-year/$35 million deal.

I get overpaying popular, face of the team type guys, even if not nearly as good as they once were, but this is ridiculous.  They could have had him for probably half that. 

[pilferk]

The Giants just re-signed Lincecum to a 2-year/$35 million deal.

I get overpaying popular, face of the team type guys, even if not nearly as good as they once were, but this is ridiculous.  They could have had him for probably half that. 

Agree.

I guess they were worried about what would happen when he hit FA.  Not in terms of AAV, but in terms of duration of contract.  I can see someone giving him a 3 or 4 year deal, at least, at, say, 9 to 12 per. 

But, personally, I would have let him hit the market and then determine value.  I get "face of the team", but, lets face it, this isn't the Lincecum of a few years ago.  He's had a rough go over the past couple years, and I don't see many signs that's going to change. 

[pilferk]

Interesting:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/24/a-cardinals-minor-leaguer-wonders-if-jon-lester-was-doctoring-up-the-ball-last-night/related/

To me, it looks like he's either doctoring the ball...or he's engaging in one of those hyper weird OCD type things.

[GeorgeSteele]

Interesting:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/24/a-cardinals-minor-leaguer-wonders-if-jon-lester-was-doctoring-up-the-ball-last-night/related/

To me, it looks like he's either doctoring the ball...or he's engaging in one of those hyper weird OCD type things.

He was likely using a sunscreen/rosin mix.  There was an article on this earlier this year --- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1633687-is-using-sunscreen-for-sticky-grip-a-pitchers-version-of-pine-tar-or-cheating

The consensus appears to be that there is no consensus; some accept it as an OK way to help grip the ball, others think it's cheating. 

[pilferk]

Interesting:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/24/a-cardinals-minor-leaguer-wonders-if-jon-lester-was-doctoring-up-the-ball-last-night/related/

To me, it looks like he's either doctoring the ball...or he's engaging in one of those hyper weird OCD type things.

He was likely using a sunscreen/rosin mix.  There was an article on this earlier this year --- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1633687-is-using-sunscreen-for-sticky-grip-a-pitchers-version-of-pine-tar-or-cheating

The consensus appears to be that there is no consensus; some accept it as an OK way to help grip the ball, others think it's cheating. 

To me, legal or not, it's still doctoring the ball.  They talked a little last night about it on the MLB network and said they thought it was resin.

But resin is not bright green, so not sure why it would show up as that color in the video and pictures.

Either way...it's interesting to see it.

[GeorgeSteele]

Interesting:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/24/a-cardinals-minor-leaguer-wonders-if-jon-lester-was-doctoring-up-the-ball-last-night/related/

To me, it looks like he's either doctoring the ball...or he's engaging in one of those hyper weird OCD type things.

He was likely using a sunscreen/rosin mix.  There was an article on this earlier this year --- http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1633687-is-using-sunscreen-for-sticky-grip-a-pitchers-version-of-pine-tar-or-cheating

The consensus appears to be that there is no consensus; some accept it as an OK way to help grip the ball, others think it's cheating. 

To me, legal or not, it's still doctoring the ball.  They talked a little last night about it on the MLB network and said they thought it was resin.

But resin is not bright green, so not sure why it would show up as that color in the video and pictures.

Either way...it's interesting to see it.

My guess is that this falls under the "don't say anything to the umps because our guys are doing it too" category.

[pilferk]

I gotta say...this series has been VERY sloppy.  Which is odd since both teams are really good fundamental baseball type teams.

[GeorgeSteele]

I gotta say...this series has been VERY sloppy.  Which is odd since both teams are really good fundamental baseball type teams.

Exactly, what the hell.  Not having a horse in the race (other than wanting Beltran to get a ring), my hope was just to catch a series with top-notch baseball, which both of these teams have played consistently more than any other this season.  So far, a big disappointment. 

[tim_m]

Its been a big disaster. You got the game that ended on the questionable obstruction call. Last night ending on a fucking pick off. The popup that glanced off the sox outfielders glove only to recover to get the cardinal runner cause he went way too far past first. This should be called the bonehead series.

[Falcon]

Welp, that's that.

Oddly enough, not too disappointed with the Cards loss to the Sox.

They actually extended it one game more than I thought going in.

Would have loved to had the Cards at full strength throughout but that's baseball.

Never thought they'd get this far, thought the Pirates had a great shot in the first round.

Once that was done, I knew they'd beat the Dodgers.  The Cards had handled Kershaw historically and I figured the Dodgers would make mistakes both on the field and in the dugout that would be fatal.

The Cards are set up for the future big time, plenty of payroll flexibility and quality youngsters that can be used to acquire whatever's needed and/or take the places of veterans that won't be retained.

Major kudos to Ben Cherington for cleaning up the mess that Theo left, what a turnaround.

[GeorgeSteele]

Falc, it was a great run by the Cards this year, congrats.  3 WS appearances in 8 yrs (w/ 2 wins) and more to come no doubt.

Congrats to all the Fackin Red Sawks fans!  Last place to World Champs, beyond incredible.