hossdriver

Steroids are NOT ILLEGAL in MOST of the Latin American countries. Pot is not illegal in Amsterdam. And if you bring either of those things back from those two places... you are breaking the law. I completely see what you are saying, though, and am not disagreeing. I was trying to tie both points together. You could, as a baseball player travel to the Dominican, do your offseason Sammy Sosa 'workout' and come back to the states. You haven't broken ANY American laws. However, in the eyes of the USOC, the NBA, the NHL, the NFL, and now MLB, you have cheated and broken the rules. THAT is why MLB MUST put rules in place. Professional athletes care squat about morals when big contracts are involved. Something enforceable has to be in place. Ok, I follow better now. btw, love the sig. :lol: I concur... I think it is moot to come down hard on all of these guys. You have to go more toward character than anything else judging on HOF merit. A guy like Bonds, however great he was on the field, is a fink off of it. A guy like Sosa might get a little more benefit of the doubt because he was good in the public eye, bettered the game in 1998, and has never been 'caught'. Same with McGwire. Lets say for argument, if Andy Pettite or Jason Giambi finish their careers with no-brainer HOF numbers... Do you vote them in based on taking the responsibility and apologizing? Alex Rodriguez? Manny Ramirez? What say you about two of the GREATEST of our generation, Bonds and Clemens? They are LOCKS numbers wise, but have cheated, lied, and made a mockery of the game and spit in the face of clear cut evidence with vehement denials... These guys were probably HOFers without PEDs but the fact remains that they went after storied records and all-time numbers and laughed at us the entire way. I liken this to Pete Rose, who I backed for a LONG time. He lied to me. He's an absolute joke now and I couldn't care less if he gets inducted now. No shame. No humility. Just a liar trying to make a quick buck.

Steroids are NOT ILLEGAL in MOST of the Latin American countries. Pot is not illegal in Amsterdam. And if you bring either of those things back from those two places... you are breaking the law. I completely see what you are saying, though, and am not disagreeing. I was trying to tie both points together. You could, as a baseball player travel to the Dominican, do your offseason Sammy Sosa 'workout' and come back to the states. You haven't broken ANY American laws. However, in the eyes of the USOC, the NBA, the NHL, the NFL, and now MLB, you have cheated and broken the rules. THAT is why MLB MUST put rules in place. Professional athletes care squat about morals when big contracts are involved. Something enforceable has to be in place.

Steroids are NOT ILLEGAL in MOST of the Latin American countries. Pot is not illegal in Amsterdam. However, if you come back from a vacation of 'baking' and pop a whizz test, you employer has the right to FIRE YOU, regardless of whether or notis was legal when you used You must make rules within your private organization in order to keep order, integrity and sanity.

So far, there really isn't any PROOF regarding Mark McGwire either... Tom House has said that the entire Atlanta Braves clubhouse used 'anything they could get their hands on' back in the early 70's. Ballplayers have been one step ahead of the rules since the creation of the game. If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin... Obviously it becomes a MORAL issue when there is no legislation or enforcement involved. Every Major League player makes enough money to buy enhancements. Hell, you could buy the same Andro that McGwire was using in 1998, at the corner GNC, in a 100 count bottle for 49.95.

GO DISH!!!

Dome has batted 2nd and 3rd this season, both with success... He has a higher OBP in 3rd taking more than twice as many walks and striking out less in a few more PAs... His power numbers and average are higher batting 2nd (1.100+ OPS vs. .900) with 6 2b, 3 hrs, and 9 RBI from the 2 hole... Of note... Dome is 14/34 (.412) since taking the day off on May 6th... All from the 3 spot... 3 2bs and 1 3b but only 2 RBI from that spot... Theriot is hitting so many homeruns that no one is on base when Fukudome comes up to the plate True... But Dome's splits suggest he is doing very will with Runners On and ISP... However, no power means he's only MOVING runners instead of driving them in...

Dome has batted 2nd and 3rd this season, both with success... He has a higher OBP in 3rd taking more than twice as many walks and striking out less in a few more PAs... His power numbers and average are higher batting 2nd (1.100+ OPS vs. .900) with 6 2b, 3 hrs, and 9 RBI from the 2 hole... Of note... Dome is 14/34 (.412) since taking the day off on May 6th... All from the 3 spot... 3 2bs and 1 3b but only 2 RBI from that spot...

Why is Miles playing? Why is Miles playing? Why is Miles starting lineup and playing???? I know Freel isnt great either, but whats his purpose here? Has he even started a game? I wanted Freel here two years ago when he was a super-utility player for the Reds. The guys plays hard, anywhere in the field, gets on base, steals bags. Miles on the other hand... Remember Edmonds against the Cards last year? Maybe Lou is looking for some 'Former Cardinal' magic... :scratch:

Huh? That makes no sense. Rick Wilkins was never going to be the Mike Piazza and was never even close being the prospect that Prior was. Stop comparing Prior as a prospect to Rick Wilkins. That's just dumb. Wilkins just had a good season. Nobody expected him to have it. People expected things from Prior. Is Evan Longoria just like Rick Wilkins too? Last offseason did you say Cole Hamels was just like Rick Wilkins? Ryan Braun? I don't care about who is likeable. That gets you nowhere. I care about who is good. Mark Prior was very very good. His monster 2003 wasn't a fluke. Not only was it not a fluke, but he did it at an extremely young age. I like that. I don't care if he is mean to old people or kicks dogs. I want to win. We're supposed to be okay watching a young superstar starting pitcher uinder our control fall apart because he might not have seemed nice sometimes? Give me a break. This isn't the Disney Channel, these are athletes. If you don't like athletes with attitudes then you probably shouldn't be watching sports. Oh, and bringing up steroids is pretty ridiculous, and is an example of maybe the most tragic result of the steroid era. Now we have to conastantly deal with baseless accusations because maybe one or two signs point to a guy possible having juiced. Every out of nowhere season is "oh...steroids". Every time a player starts getting hurt... "he was a juice". Everytime a guy develops power... "he's a roider". Let me ask you, are you a Geovany Soto fan? If you're saying you didn't like Prior because he might have juiced, then you can't really like Soto. I'm not saying Soto is juicing(because I don't think he is), but there are just as many signs that Soto roided up if you want to go there. Really you don't have any remotely legit evidence to even suggest that Prior was ons teroids. What do yuou have? He started getting injured, and that he had big calves? You'd better be careful for condemning people for tony thingsl ike that. It's a slippery slope. Really neither of us have any idea if Prior was on steroids and there is certainly no evidence whatsoever. To suggest that we should be okay with the way he turned out because you THINK he MIGHT have POSSIBLY taken steroids is crazy. I wouldn't call it evidence... However, he was a prodigy of Tom House, a prominent, admitted steroid user while pitching in the early 70's... It was also Tom House, a self-proclaimed pitching expert, who proclaimed that Mark Prior had 'perfect mechanics'. A lot of people just bought the snake oil. Rick Peterson predicted Mark Prior would have problems WAY before anyone else did. If Mark Prior had half the pride, heart, and guts of Kerry Wood, I might give a crap about him...

He is some kind of smart... He studied under James Andrews (the Birmingham TJS wizard), and I think he holds a doctorate or is very close to one... He got a raw deal, getting hosed under Willie Randolph. He had 3 20-game winners on his staff in Zito, Mulder, and Hudson... The guy knows his stuff, and actually predicted the demise of Mark Prior and his 'perfect mechanics'...

Furthermore, the real underlying reason why guys like Dawson and Santo are out, and guys like Tony Perez and Brooks are in, is the fact that their TEAMS accomplished more in the postseason... And its a shame...

Unfortunately, that's what seals it for me with regards to Dawson. If you're tied to 'OPS+' as your underlying stat, then yes, it will probably seal the deal... However, 300+ stolen bases, 8 GG, and 157 career OF assists have NOTHING to do with his OPS+.... Dawson played the first half of his career BEFORE most of those other guys you compare him to (ARod, Bonds, Griffey, etc) even broke into the majors, and also BEFORE the 'Year of the Lively Ball' in 1987 when the offensive boom began... This is coincidentally the same year that Dawson won the MVP on a last place team and won the HR crown... Nobody takes note that he also finished SECOND in MVP voting twice BEFORE that. Dawson did have a defined 'peak' from 1979-1983 before injuries hampered him for 3 seasons before moving to the North Side. Too bad nobody cites stats from THAT era because, well, nobody was putting up big numbers. Since Dawson played so long into the 'Offensive Era', people like to compare him to players in that era, when in fact, by the time Griffey and ARod came along, and guys were hitting 40 and 50 with regularity, Dawson was in his late 30's and hobbled with bad knees... Of course Dawson and Rice are favorable in numbers, they played MORE in the same era. You cannot name too many BETTER OFers from 1976-1987 than Dawson, Rice, Raines, Murphy, etc... You would have to look at guys like Guerrero, Winfield, Parker, Henderson and the guys that Dawson played with in HIS prime...

I find it funny how some would think that Dempster is sure to regress... He was the most consistent Cubs starter in 2008. He slowed down in the second half as he started logging more innings. His approach and even that lil glove flip helped him tremendously. I, for one, think he will be BETTER after a full year of starting and getting stamina back. He should be able to maintain further into August and September (hopefully October). He loves playing for the Cubs and he was the best starter... Sign him... On Marquis... Marquis was better than he's been in a couple seasons. He SAVED the Cubs in August and September by throwing QS's and winning games. How is he hampering the Cubs with a $7M/yr contract? He throws 170 innings and wins 11 games with a 4.53 ERA. Did you know that you only need a 4.50 ERA (3ER over 6IP) to have a quality start? He's right on par (salary-wise) with Lilly ($10M per) and Zambrano ($16M per) in terms of production... You won't be able to name a BETTER #5 starter in the game... On Wood... You are dumb if you let him walk. He's the Patriarch. He's the anchor. He's a leader in the clubhouse. He's the highest tenured Cub, and has given his right arm to the organization. He's effective in the closer's role. $8-10M for two or three years would be worth EVERY penny. On trading Lee and signing Texiera... 3 words... NO TRADE CLAUSE... Or did you think Jim could just push the 'Force Trade' button? What do any of you care about payroll anyway? Payroll teams COMPETE year in and year out. No they don't always win the World Series, but their chances are magnified by multiple chances. The Cubs have shown willingness to spend. If they re-sign these guys, keep the nucleus and at least TRY to upgrade the bullpen and bench, why would anyone complain? Injuries? Sabathia, or Lidge, or KRod could have arm problems next year too.

I used to be of the opinion that the Cubs would never win a World Series in Wrigley Field because there never seemed to be a clear-cut HFA. After the season they have had this year (winning 51 at home so far with 6 left to play) I have had to re-think it. It would be great, if the Cubs could either add seats and renovate Wrigley. Getting tix is so freaking hard for an out-of-towner like myself. It doesn't help that Wrigley sends many tix straight to StubHub for twice face value. I'm going Wrigley for now... 32 - Indianapolis

I have noticed, that since Lee made his adjustment in 2005 to be able to turn on the inside pitch, it has opened him up to the pitch low and away. Pitchers have honed in on this. Lee is a tall player. His knees are about where most players mid thigh are. Pitchers have an easier time locating on the outside part of the plate right at Derrek's knees. He can't hit it. If he lets it go by, he Ks looking. If he swings at it, he usually rolls it over meekly to SS or 3B. With a runner on 1B, the middle infield is licking its chops for the twin killing. Lee is batting respectably with RISP at just above .300. Doesn't help much to bring runners home when your hits have no 'stank' on them. Lee's got to make the adjustment and go the other way on that outside pitch. He doesn't even hit the ball in the air anymore for sacrifice flies and such. Lou should send a message. I think it would help tremendously just to swap Aramis and Lee in the order. You don't have to demote Lee to the bottom of the order. He's still an EVERYDAY player and you can't shuffle guys like Dero and Soto in and out of the 3 hole. Give Aramis MORE PAs with Soriano and Theriot and let Lee hit cleanup for a while. Lee was so good going the other way last year with 43 doubles and going the other way. I think he's just been under so much pressure to be a power hitter, that he pulls EVERYTHING and you can't do that with balls low and away...

Have none of you ever questioned the legitimacy of the White Sox win in 2005? They did get to face the WC Astros (89 wins) instead of the 100-win Cardinals... I think things might have been different against the Cardinals. I'm not taking anything away from Ozzie's White Sox, he certainly got every ounce out of every player that year. Sometimes, that is just the way the ball bounces though. I certainly want to face Tampa in the World Series right now, because they look to be the weaker team. The Red Sox have experience on their side, and the Angels look to be a well-balanced juggernaut. I'll take the young, inexperienced Rays over anybody else. They are tied for the 2nd best record in baseball, and I don't think anyone would question the legitimacy of a win over any of the AL contenders...

Put the lefty Fontenot back in the #2 where he gets more pitches to hit... .389/.411/.985 in that spot... It also breaks up the RH monotony at the top...

I agree... With a .400+ OBP and the ability to hit in the clutch without power, Lee offers the combo of scoring and driving in runs to hit best in the 3 hole. He's still second in Rs scored behind Soriano, and third in RBI behind Derosa and Ramirez. If you did anything later in the season, you might move him up to the 2 hole, Rammy to the 3 and Floyd and Derosa behind him. Until Rammy's knee is 100%, you don't want him hitting to high in the order. I see leave him where he's at, because he's protecting the 2-hole very well, and still being productive (to his career averages) even without the power.