The MLB Thread

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Buscemi
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

I'm amazed that everyone is so down on the Orioles. After last season's surprise success and with a weaker AL East, I think they can actually thrive (meanwhile, I think the Blue Jays are a year away).

Meanwhile, the Braves are bound to decline this season. After two straight years of blowing the Wild Card, expect a collapse this season. Also, they still have Dan Uggla. He is right up there with Adam Dunn and Mark Reynolds for the title of Most Useless Power Hitter. I also see the Angels as a disappointment (despite the fact that I have them making the playoffs, it's unreal how much they overspent on a number of players and Mike Trout will return to Earth).
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Shrykespeare »

I am hopeful that the D'Backs will improve this season. They picked up some savvy veterans over the off-season, and though they lack the power that Justin Upton brought, they're not headcases like JU. They just locked down Goldschmidt for the next five years, which is awesome, because he's a fan favorite. The key, though, is the pitching staff. If Kennedy and Cahill can anchor the starting rotation, we may vie for the NL West crown.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Geezer »

The Orioles got by by the skin of their teeth SO MANY TIMES last season. Their pitching simply isn't that good and will regress, especially in the bullpen. They can't rely on winning so many close games.

Atlanta got better on offense and with their young rotation, they should only improve. They have the best pen in all of baseball. For some reason you just can't stand them, but they should be very good with the addition of the Upton brothers and Heyward having another season to get even better.

Shryke, I think your general manager should be fired with how little return he got for Upton and Bauer. I really liked the direction Arizona was heading, and now, he fucked it all up. I do love Goldschmidt though, and am relying on him in a few of my fantasy leagues for sure!
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

I read these stories on Rickey Henderson (on the behalf of Rickey) last night and got a good laugh.

http://www.ilxor.com/ILX/ThreadSelected ... adid=67371

Also, read the comments for a 26th story involving him and Mike Piazza.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

Dock Ellis's LSD-induced no-hitter...animated!

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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by W »

When I was watching a Cards game the other day, Darvish was throwing his almost perfect game (got through 8 2/3) and the announcer asked "How many perfect games do you think will be thrown against this year's Astros?"

I think I'm going to a HOU@STL game in July. I have one brother who's a Cubs fan and one who's for the Astros.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

From the archives: here's Billy Ripken not giving a fuck.

Image
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

I was not expecting this bombshell to drop.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/ ... t-approved

Now you know something's going to be done to get those renovations made.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

A simple musing of league action.

- How do the managers of the Cubs and Brewers still have jobs? The Cubs hiring Sveum was a mistake from day one while the Brewers have fallen apart ever since losing the NLCS in 2011. I'll be amazed if both survive the season.

- The Marlins are on pace to go 47-115. The last National League to have a win percentage under .300? The 1962 Mets.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

Much has been made out of Chris Davis's home run total this season and if he will be recognized as the true home run king if he hits 62. My answer to this: no. The only people that make a big deal about steroids are the so-called purists who are stuck in the 1950's. If Davis gets to 62, it will be recognized as just another high total (especially since the stupid attempts to put asterisks on many of the recent totals never went through as the general public doesn't give a damn about what you put in your body).

If anything, performance-enhancing drugs should be legalized. Major League Baseball will never stop them (and when they attempt to, the stars get off too easy in a system that resembles Paul Tagliabue's lax penalties when he was the NFL commissioner) and if are going to continue practicing a half-assed policy, just make them accessible to all.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Geezer »

They have literally the toughest drug testing policy of all the American team sports. They are even blood testing for HGH now. Once again, you are talking out of your ass.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

How do you explain Ryan Braun using loopholes to get out of a 50 game suspension (his claim of the test being tampered was believed by no one and yet the league still bought it)? Or the fact that Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi (users who confessed and have the positive tests to prove it) were never reprimanded? The Major League Baseball drug policy is lenient towards star players (I know you'll say Manny Ramirez but he was in his twilight years when he tested positive) and refuse to do a full crackdown. Instead, they pick on the lesser names and try to claim it's successful.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by W »

In Braun's case, the guy mishandled it. Simply, we live n a country where people are treated legally innocent until proven guilty and if evidence is mishandled it is thrown out. If you couldn't tell Bud Selig was pissed that he got around it, you're the only one.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by Buscemi »

No one believed Braun's excuse except for Major League Baseball (because they were afraid of the negative publicity that would ensue if the reigning MVP missed the first two months). And with rumors that Braun is still doping, it makes his word even flimsier than it already is. But at long as he is still hitting, the league will allow him to keep using behind closed doors.

The policy is basically like a business: if the boss likes you, you can do whatever you want. But if you aren't on the boss's good side, watch out.
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Re: The MLB Thread

Post by W »

It's not an excuse. It was an independent arbitrator that overturned it and then the MLB released a letter basically saying they were pissed. It was mishandled and left in a fridge where other people could access it. It's like a cop staying over at your house and saying "Can I keep this murder weapon in your cupboard tonight?" Whether or not he's guilty is irrelevant at that point. They should have realized the mistake and readministered the test, but they didn't and he hasn't failed another one. As a Cardinals fan, I'd like to have seen him suspended.

As far as I know, now they're paying an ex-illegal drug dealer for information on Braun and others, which will probably also be thrown out if you think about where its coming from. Hopefully they have more legit evidence this time, enough to suspend him without any reasonable doubt.
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