The thread where baseball lovers lament wintertime

[sspadowsky]

"What do I do when there's no baseball? I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

-Rogers Hornsby

Here we will discuss picks for next year, any interesting trades or signings or what-have-you, and what-not. This is for baseball and baseball only, because all other sports, especially basketball, should be burned down.

[george]

uh, thats how i feel after football is over.

but we had a local semi-pro team this year:

THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND BLUE CRABS!!!!

http://www.somdbluecrabs.com/images/mid-column-top2.jpg

i never carried out a plan to become the most awesome superfan ever, and instead missed every game. :( but i know that people loved having a team and stadium to go watch games, and the high school teams held the county championship there.

and this year i am looking forward to ball season.

so i can sympathize buddy.

[WhiteRat]

Yeah, i'm already itching for baseball season to roll around again. The Twins were so close to winning the division (and they got hosed by that bullshit coin flip) that the taste of the playoffs is still in my mouth.

Rumor on the street is that the Twins are close to signing Casey Blake. Also, it's been said that Delmon Young can be expected to be traded as we are absolutely loaded in the outfield and he doesn't mesh well with the clubhouse.

[McClain]

We can talk about how my city's minor league team renamed themselves from the Wizards to the Tin Caps after the native Johnny Appleseed (for which we also have an annual festival - it's actually quite popular).

http://www.tincaps.com/

They're already being referenced as the Potheads.

[Colonel Flagg]

:lol

[pac-man]

I love baseball, but football season is where it's at.

[WhiteRat]

I love baseball, but football season is where it's at.

'Tis true, but I enjoy watching baseball games almost equally because I find myself to be more relaxed and at ease. Where as watching football games causes me to throw stuff and drink massive amounts of alcohol when things don't go my way.

[pac-man]

Well said.

[WhiteRat]

Twins unviel new throwback jerseys to comemmorate the last year playing in the Metrodome:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/1twins1125bw.jpg

[sspadowsky]

It's kind of hard to get nostalgic about a park which only has a 28-year history with the team.

[WhiteRat]

Well, we did win 2 World Series in that piece of shit.

[sspadowsky]

Hahaha, true enough. The hefty bag in right and the plexiglass in left (before they took it down) did give it as much personality as you can give a staduim like that.

I was bummed that they tore down Busch Stadium. They put a lot of work into changing it from a faceless, cookie-cutter stadium, and made it look like a real ballpark. Before too long, it was the only "cookie-cutter" stadium left. Then they tore it down, and built a new ballpark that looks just like all the other new ballparks.

[Colonel Flagg]

I was bummed that they tore down Busch Stadium. They put a lot of work into changing it from a faceless, cookie-cutter stadium, and made it look like a real ballpark. [...] Then they tore it down, and built a new ballpark that looks just like all the other new ballparks.

Ah, irony. :(

[WhiteRat]

At first glance I thought I was reading The Onion:


Scott Erickson won 20 games for the Twins in 1991, and he reportedly would like a chance to do it again.
According to a report on cbssports.com (http://cbssports.com/), the 40-year-old right-hander approached the Twins about a comeback. Erickson last pitched in 2006, making nine largely unsuccessful relief appearances for the Yankees, and has not pitched more than 55 innings since 2002.
The Twins are understandably skeptical.
"I told him to go get a job in winter ball and let's see what you can do," general manager Bill Smith told the Web site.
Erickson has not joined a winter league team, so the comeback apparently remains in limbo. Erickson won 142 games over 15 major league seasons, including 61 victories with the Twins, ranking 11th in franchise history.

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q15/JerkDouglas/20081209__erickson__scott_300.jpg

[El Blanco]

Mets sign K-Rod.

Does it mean there is something wrong with me if I happen to be sure this is a bad signing? His K/BB ratio is worse than Fuentes and Woods. He has ankle problems, His motion puts too much stress on his arm. And "closer" is a bullshit concept anyway.

Also, Woods wouldn't have cost them a draft pick.

[WhiteRat]

I hear "Woods" and all I see are Band-Aids.

[El Blanco]

I think has more to do with the Cubs that Woods himself. His isn't the only pitching career they've shortened.

[pac-man]

Yankees drop a shit ton of money in CC Sabathia's lap.

Fuck the Yankees.

[WhiteRat]

Yankees apparently ready to drop a shit ton of money in AJ Burnett's lap.

Fuck the Yankees.

[MattJack]

Yankees dropped about $245,000,000 on TWO players!

:lol

If CC doesn't win a championship this season New Yorkers will crucify him. Unjustly too I might add.

[pac-man]

If they get Manny or another high profile free agent I'm going to boycott next season.

[MattJack]

Not me. I'd love to see them spend a half a billion just because when they lose in the playoffs again it will be so much sweeter.

[sspadowsky]

Spending a shit-ton of money has sure helped them in the last ten years; I'm certain it will work this year.

On the flip side, we have the Cardinals, who signed Trever Miller and Khalil Greene, and then proceeded to do absolutely fuck-all during the winter meetings.

The Yankees may have just thrown money down a hole again, but at least they did SOMETHING.

Fucking cheap-ass Cardinals front office. >:

[pac-man]

Cheap ass Orioles aren't going to pony up the cash to land Mark Teixeira it seems. One of the best players available, a Baltimore native, and he wants to play there, and these jackasses won't pay him. Fortunately for him, he'll be able to make plenty of road trips to Camden Yards when the Red Sox get him. >:




:tear

[WhiteRat]

Cheap ass Twins don't want to pony up any money for anyone. Small markets are the best I tell ya!>:

[pac-man]

Yanks sign Teixeira for 8-years/$180 million.

This is fucking ridiculous.

[Geggy]

:explodes

Make that $420 million combined for 3 players. And a $1.3 billion brand new death star on top of that. They are truly the evil empire!

Teixeira would have been a good fit for the sox. At least mike lowell is staying because had they signed teixeira, youk would move to third base while he plays first, giving lowell the heave-ho. I aint worried though, sox have pedroia and the three japenese pitchers to shoot lasers at the yanks.

Yes, they signed yet another japanese pitcher recently.

[Colonel Flagg]

Yanks sign Teixeira for 8-years/$180 million.

This is fucking ridiculous.

Agreed. Now we wait for (at least) one of the new free-agent signings to go belly up during the regular season, and the Yanks again trying in vain to win a wild-card berth :lol

I <3 NY

[sspadowsky]

When Teixeira blows out his knee and Sabathia needs Tommy John surgery, I'm going to have myself quite a chuckle.

[Colonel Flagg]

The Big Unit signs with SF. 8 mil for one season is actually a bargain, but .... does he have any gas left in the tank, though? 11-10 last season with a 3.91 ERA - hardly Cy Young worthy.

This from a guy rooting for a team with Jamie Moyer on its roster. :\

[Pentegarn]

The Big Unit signs with SF. 8 mil for one season is actually a bargain, but .... does he have any gas left in the tank, though? 11-10 last season with a 3.91 ERA - hardly Cy Young worthy.

This from a guy rooting for a team with Jamie Moyer on its roster. :\

I wonder if he will pick a fight with any of the Frisco hippies that have cameras? :lol ( http://gothamist.com/2005/01/11/randy_johnson_loves_the_camera.php )

[Colonel Flagg]

Nice. I forgot about this one. :lol

[Colonel Flagg]

JC Romero suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3812334

I originally thought "My God, how could he be so stupid?" On closer inspection, he's being railroaded for the errors of the Player's Association. Seriously, if this story is true, and they did clear this OTC supplement for use, only to later find out that - Uh, sorry, it can cause you to test positive; Woops-a-daisy! - then there is no negligence on the part of Romero, only on the part of the Association. They need to pay the fine and be suspended for 50 games, not him.

On the other hand, he shouldn't be taking anything stronger than aspirin. He's making a 7-figure salary - there's too much at risk.

[El Blanco]

The Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a 3 yer $30 million contract. This pending a physical exam. No word on an advisable psychiatric exam.

[WhiteRat]

JC Romero suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3812334



Ha, good ol' JC Romero.

Billionaire Twins owner and noted cheap ass Carl Pohlad died yesterday at the age of 94. The guy was a cheap skate that once tried to contract the team but he still is the only pro sports owner to bring two championships to any current Minnesota team.

[WhiteRat]

The A's signed Giambi. Does anyone care?

[pac-man]

Couldn't care less...

then again, any transactions not involving the Orioles are off of my radar at this point. It's painful seeing how much this organization doesn't care about winning anymore. We need ya back, Cal.

[WhiteRat]

I feel bad for the Orioles having to be in the same division as the Yankees and Sox.

[pac-man]

Yeah, but we were up there with them for so long. If the Ravens hadn't come to town Baltimore would be a shitty sports town now. The O's just need to spend some money and hold on to their young talent. And stop rotating out these do-nothing managers. Get a guy with a commitment to winning and get him some fucking players.

[El Blanco]

Managers actually have little to do with the winning other than dealing with personalities. Its the front office that brings in the right players and the players that execute.

[WhiteRat]

It's up to the managers to throw huge shittin' hissy fits. I seem to remember some guy named Pinella who might have thrown a temper tantrum or two.

[pac-man]

Naturally, Rickey Henderson is on his way to the hall of fame. Don't really have any memories of Jim Rice, but it's nice to see a guy (with MVP and All-Star credentials) make it on his last year of eligibility.

Hopefully once Clemens and Bonds get dealt with for their lies, the final chapter of the "Steroid Era" will close.

[WhiteRat]

Obviously i'm biased, but I really hope that Bert Blyleven gets in before his time runs out (3 years). Dude is 5th all-time in strikeouts and once cussed like a drunken sailor during a Twins telecast in 2006.

On a different note, I am absolutely jacked for the start of the MLB season. The roommate are going to order Extra Innings again. Nothing beats a muggy summer night, kicked back in the recliner, lights off, beer and redman in hand, with a ball game on the big screen.

[sspadowsky]

Jim Rice should have been in the Hall of Fame years ago. Blyleven should be in there as well- he's clearly got the numbers. McGwire should also be there, no question. The BBWAA is a bunch of pricks. Baseball has been a cheater's game from its inception, and anyone with numbers like McGwire, Bonds, et al, should be in the HOF, no questions asked.

The BBWAA should be publicly flogged every time they fuck up. Which is to say, "annually."

[WhiteRat]

I heard on the radio down here that two baseball writers turned in blank ballots. Fuck them.

[Pentegarn]

The new Columbus Minor League Stadium (Right across from the Blue Jackets arena) should be up and running soon. I am eager to go to the first dime a dog night there and get my fat on

[pac-man]

I heard on the radio down here that two baseball writers turned in blank ballots. Fuck them.

That's fucking ridiculous. Jim Rome said it best on his show yesterday or Monday, to paraphrase: "If you don't want your ballot or know what to do with it, give it to someone who does."

[WhiteRat]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/01/15/rules.changes.ap/index.html
As a Twins fan, this came a year too late.

[El Blanco]

Jim Rice should have been in the Hall of Fame years ago. Blyleven should be in there as well- he's clearly got the numbers. McGwire should also be there, no question. The BBWAA is a bunch of pricks. Baseball has been a cheater's game from its inception, and anyone with numbers like McGwire, Bonds, et al, should be in the HOF, no questions asked.

The BBWAA should be publicly flogged every time they fuck up. Which is to say, "annually."

I don't agree about Rice, but ya, BBWAA are major assholes

[El Blanco]

Another reason to look forward to Spring

http://deadspin.com/5141745/meanwhile-at-busch-stadium-

almost pissed myself when I saw that.

[WhiteRat]

That's hilarious. Like the article mentioned, you gotta appreciate the backtracking that whoever did that had to do.

[WhiteRat]

Confirming what we all knew:


Court documents show Barry Bonds tested positive for three types of steroids, and his personal trainer once told his business manager in the Giants' clubhouse how he injected the slugger with performance-enhancing drugs "all over the place."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/04/bonds.documents.ap/index.html

[pac-man]

It's taken so long, I really don't care whether or not Bonds goes down. Selig and co. turned a blind eye to the steroid era and now these guys (Bonds, McGwire, Clemens, Palmeiro, etc.) are pariahs. There's going to be this whole class of hall of fame caliber players who won't make it into the hall despite helping baseball's resurgence after the strike. Why add injury to insult; let them live with their awards, their numbers, and also their shame.

[WhiteRat]

Oh, A-rod. First Madonna, then this?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball/mlb/02/07/alex-rodriguez-steroids/index.html?eref=T1

[pac-man]

It's about time MLB got around to testing these urine samples from 2003. I'm surprised piss keeps that long. Better late than never I guess, though I'm seriously thinking that MLB players should do a Spartacus thing and just all say they used 'roids. It'd just be easier that way.

[pac-man]

Very rehearsed admission/apology from A-Rod. They should add a steroid era wing onto the Hall of Fame.

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

I agree. I could do an entire floor with it.

"Oh, what floor are you going to sir? 1st, 2nd?"

"Asterisk please."

[Colonel Flagg]

With the signing of Ryan Howard, the Phils have completed their task of ensuring the key core players are locked in for the next 2-3 years. Add to this the rapid rehab of Chase Utley, and the Phils look to be pretty well set for the 2009 season.

I'm looking forward to baseball season. :)

[El Blanco]

So, can we put asterisks next to Babe Ruth and all those players that used corked bats before they were banned? What about pitchers that doctored the balls?

[sspadowsky]

Don Sutton and Gaylord Perry are surely laughing their asses off right now.

[pac-man]

A-Rod is trying his best to do damage control and garner sympathy. His statement today wasn't too shabby, but his choking up moment when asked about his teammates seemed phony. I wish the other names on the list would come out already.

Jesse Ventura had an interesting take on why Selig is shoulder blame, citing the precedent of Vince McMahon in the early 90's.
"In the early '90s, the federal government came into pro wrestling and tried to put (WWE Chairman) Vince McMahon in prison for steroid use of wrestlers. My question is: They've now determined 104 baseball players failed their steroid test in 2003 - 104. They indicted Vince McMahon, why aren't they indicting Bud Selig? He's the head of baseball, it happened on his watch."
http://www.fda.gov/centennial/this_week/images/17-06/steroids.jpg

[WhiteRat]

That fact that you used a quote by Jesse Ventura (although i'll begrudgingly admit that he has a point) is laughable. That guy is a joke and is also bat shit insane.

[pac-man]

You voted for him, didn't you? :(

[WhiteRat]

No, I was only 15 back in '98.

My mom voted for him and believe me when I say that I still giver her shit about it to this day.

[pac-man]

lol... I like the comment he made (even though McMahon was thought to have been actively giving his athlete's steroids) because I do feel as if Selig bears a certain amount of responsibility. Plus I found that sweet poster. We lost the war on drugs.

[El Blanco]

Ya, the big difference is that supposedly, McMahon was requiring it of his guys.

Can we put all the sports writers that knew it was going on over the coals as well?

[pac-man]

Good point, but there were plenty of dissenting voices in the media even when the rest were content watching Big Mac hit balls to Mars. The ones who knew are probably as fine with it as many fans are.

[pac-man]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3966766

Wonder what The Rocket is going to say about this.

[Kitsa]

I have got to get to a Dayton Dragons game this spring. I missed out on that awesome fight last year when the worlds of hockey and baseball came so very close :/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUlFc7voX4Y

[Colonel Flagg]

Wonder what The Rocket is going to say about this.

What he's been saying all along: "McNamee is a lying sack of shit. The DNA is not mine. I never used PED's. Plus, I was buying toys for orphans at the time."

Clemens is a c-sucking bastard, and deserves all that he has coming.

[Colonel Flagg]

US gets their asses handed to them by Beltran, Rodriguez, Delgado and Lopez. Mercy!

http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/baseball/wbbc/recap?gameId=290314120&league=wbbc

Now they need to beat the Dutch to stay alive. :\

America's pastime indeed.

[WhiteRat]

Does anyone really care about the WBC?

[Colonel Flagg]

Apparently not. ;)

[WhiteRat]

Roughly a week from now my roommate and I will be driving down to Tampa and Ft. Myers to catch the tail end of the Twins spring training. If anyone is interested I'll try to get some pictures of the games. I think they are playing the Red Sox, too.

[Colonel Flagg]

If anyone is interested I'll try to get some pictures of the games.

Gee, ya think? On this forum, I think you'd be trashed if you didn't!

Sucks to be us though. Have fun in FLA! :rock

[Kitsa]

I'm amazed by how many pages there are out there about Derek Jeter and his hypothetical herpes.

[Colonel Flagg]

First I've heard of it. Then again, I could care less about Derek Jeter and any of his Yankee teammates. And yes, that includes A-Rod.

[Kitsa]

I think the only reason any guy cares is that it may (allegedly) have brought Jessica Alba's market value down a little bit.

[WhiteRat]

Gee, ya think? On this forum, I think you'd be trashed if you didn't!

Sucks to be us though. Have fun in FLA! :rock

We're also bringing a huge Twins flag with us. From what I hear the players are very accommodating when it comes to autographs in spring training so hopefully we can get the flag filled up with signatures.

[Colonel Flagg]

I'm not worried. (Yeah, right!)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/news/story?id=4028523

:eek