vance_the_cubs_fan

I still believe Dubois can be a player in this league. Whether he gets a chance to prove this, I don't know.

I look at the MVP as it says, most valuable player...in other words, which player has the most value to his team. I think the Cardinals, even without Pujols, would be playing very good baseball and likely still playing for a playoff spot. On the other hand, without Lee, the Cubs are likely fighting the Reds for the division cellar. That in my mind makes Lee more valuable than Pujols.

The Astros were farther behind us than we currently are later than this last year. It is possible to catch them if we can put together a sustained streak.

I can't see any way possible he goes in as anything other than a Brave.

For those not interested in watching the Cubs lose, Felix Hernandez is making his major league debut against the Tigers this afternoon.

We waste a lead-off double...this isn't good. :x

That show would be too easy.

Any casting stops planned for the Monroe, LA metropolitan area? :P

Eye test: failed Numbers test: failed Witnesses test: failed (Canseco) Urine test: unknown Are you honestly defending Sammy Sosa? Do you honestly think he did not use steroids merely because no urine tests have come out yet? Oh boy. First of all, there is no eye test for steroids. Palmeiro is proof of that. There are ways to bulk up without them and not all steroids (Winstrol for example) would give you excess bulk. Cansecon never said he witnessed Sosa. He said Sosa had the characteristics of a steroid user. That's not even second-hand testimony. So, really we have nothing but speculation, which we could do for a lot of players. Why should I have to defend Sosa? There's no definitive reason to believe he took anything. All you have is speculation. I will say, that I would not be surprised if definitive proof ever revealed he was a user, but right now, outside of more evidence, we have nothing other than someone without medical training saying he looks like a user. Can I suspect Frank Thomas of using? He reminds me a lot of Palmeiro. I think he used too, so no HOF for him either.

So what evidence do you have that Sosa used?

The White Sox of 86 years ago, of course, being the only team that ever threw games? At a time when players were paid next to nothing, and gambling rings tried to get to all of them? And only the White Sox bit? Get a history book. Your argument is sort-of like saying "Palmero doesn't diserve to be in the Hall of Fame because he got caught cheating. Unlike Sammy Sosa, who of course got all his numbers perfectly clean." The White Sox were caught, so I hold it against them. And yes, I'll say Palmeiro doesn't belong in the HOF. We know he cheats because he got caught. Right now, Sosa, McGwire, and Bonds are in because we don't know if they cheated. Did they? Maybe, probably...but without proof you have to give them benefit of the doubt. That doubt no longer exists for Palmeiro.... just like it doesn't exist for the 1919 White Sox. They will be known as the team that threw a World Series. Just because they made little money is not an excuse and it's why Joe Jackson isn't and never in a million years will be a HOFer. In your universe OJ is not a murderer, Michael Jackson doesn't fondle kids. (Side note: Bonds was caught.) So, what evidence do you have that Sosa used? (I'm not saying there aren't reasons to suspect him, there are plenty...but no proof.) Palmeiro is proof that you can't look at someone to tell if they're a user or not. If we're going to not elect HOFers based on suspicions then I guess no one in the last fifteen years should make the HOF. And there's no way I could be a fan of a team that's most notable accomplishment was throwing a World Series. That's the worst.

The White Sox of 86 years ago, of course, being the only team that ever threw games? At a time when players were paid next to nothing, and gambling rings tried to get to all of them? And only the White Sox bit? Get a history book. Your argument is sort-of like saying "Palmero doesn't diserve to be in the Hall of Fame because he got caught cheating. Unlike Sammy Sosa, who of course got all his numbers perfectly clean." The White Sox were caught, so I hold it against them. And yes, I'll say Palmeiro doesn't belong in the HOF. We know he cheats because he got caught. Right now, Sosa, McGwire, and Bonds are in because we don't know if they cheated. Did they? Maybe, probably...but without proof you have to give them benefit of the doubt. That doubt no longer exists for Palmeiro.... just like it doesn't exist for the 1919 White Sox. They will be known as the team that threw a World Series. Just because they made little money is not an excuse and it's why Joe Jackson isn't and never in a million years will be a HOFer.

We better freaking win this game.

Another interesting way to lose a game. How many different ways to lose have we discovered this year?

Good points Lance. If the vote was done today, Lee would edge out Albert. Yet, given D. Lee's slide of late I don't think he will continue to lead in all those categories. Over the last month, his SLG has dropped from .721 to .697, BA from .381 to .360, and OBP from .456 to 439. Plus you take into consideration that D. Lee only batted .249 last year after the All-Star break, he is supposedly nursing an injuried back (someone stated that previously on this thread), and he is getting less pitches to hit now. If I was a betting man and I am I would put my money on Albert. Here is the players stats for the last 30 days. http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp? Here is the players stats as of now. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/league_leaders.jsp?c_id=mlb&section1=null&statSet1=null&sortByStat=AVG&statType=1&timeFrame=1&timeSubFrame=2005&baseballScope=NL&prevPage1=1&readBoxes=true&box1=XXXX117601chn3&box2=XXXX408234floO&box3=XXXX405395sln3&compare.x=33&compare.y=8 If Pujols catches him in some of those categories, I may revise my opinions. But based on the data I have available today, Lee is the MVP whether the Cubs are in the play-offs or not. On the other hand, things could significantly change.

I question the intelligence of anyone who doubts the intensity of a fan based on his geographic location.

Based on this test and other suspicions, if I were a writer, I would withold my vote for Palmeiro. I wouldn't vote for him on the first ballot and I wouldn't vote for him on the fifthteenth ballot. I'd leave him at the mercy of the veterans committee.

Both my brother and wife are pharmacists. My brother used to lift weights and he is pretty knolwedgeable on these subjects. I spoke with him a little bit a go and he offered this information. First he said Winstrol would be a steroid you would take if you wanted some strength without the abundant bulk. That would explain why Palmeiro never looked like a "user." Secondly, he echoed what has been said numerous times in this thread and elsewhere and that's there no way someone accidentially injests Wintrol through some "supplement." I also found this, that I found informative. There's a lot more there for those who are interested.

As of today, yes, just as Bonds was the MVP last year even though his team did not make the playoffs. Without Lee, the Cubs aren't anywhere close to making the playoffs. Right now he leads the NL in BA, OBP, SLG, and OPS. He's tied for the league lead in HR's. He's third in RBI and second in runs. He's also tied for the lead in doubles as well. As long as he is leading in those categories, I still say he's the MVP.

I always liked Will Clark. He's never been one to hold back.

Hey...whatever happened to Strife while I was away? I was enjoying his intellectual additions to this thread? (sarcasm fully intended)

Truth be told, I had no way to check on my team since I left town on Thursday AM around 6:30. On Wednesday night, I gave them a pep talk and told them to make me proud.

Did he tell you how bad mUNroe smells? Seriously...the paper mill smells awful. Actually, unless it's raining you don't usually smell the mill in Monroe. West Monroe, now that's where you'll pick up the smell of the mill.

I have DSL, and that sig is taking way too long to load... If you don't change it fast, I guess I'll have to put you on the ole ignore list...b/c I don't like the slow Internet. Panel convene---This expert says sig must go.

I hope I made everyone proud. It's amazing how nervous you get when they tell you that you're next. You know the camera is rolling and you're standing a few feet away from a player that you idolized. And for some reason I was fine, but the moment the producer told me I to come to the mic, I was suddenly aware of the need to empty my bladder.