2009 MLB season discussion*

[Viq]

I haven't watched a single second of Baseball Tonight this year. My cable company gave us MLBN HD, and I watch it from 6PM - midnight every night. The great thing is that I can flip to it between innings of a game, or between periods of a hockey game, and the guys on MLBN are always discussing something different. I'm also a huge fan of the way the guys on MLBN interact. Harold Reynolds, Barry Larkin, and Sean Casey in any combination are hilarious while still being really insightful.

[Penthesilea]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...ILLIES-web.jpg

lol. first game of mets vs phillies. I'm pretty excited

[Kang]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/...ILLIES-web.jpg

lol. first game of mets vs phillies. I'm pretty excited

Lol nice chart. Mets can't win for shit it seems. Ugh, Jays lost 3 of 4 in KC. Brian Burres is useless. Good thing Doc is on the mound against Baltimore tonight.

[Kang]

The Jays sent down Burres and Brian Bullington to Triple-A today. I'm wondering who they're gonna call up now. I'm trying to view the Jays' transactions on ESPN but it hasn't been updated in a while (today's stuff isn't up yet). Does anyone know of any good web sites that update this kind of stuff regularly? Thanks.

[Viq]

Local newspaper websites are usually where I would start looking for info on that kind of stuff. I know at least in the Boston area, every paper has writers that post blogs throughout the day with info on player transactions, lineups changes, bullpen availability, etc.

[Trichocyst]

I love watching the Mets vs. Phillies. I'll never forget that run summer 2007 where the Phillies just seemed to pull out all kinds of magic tricks to win every single time (August 30th comes to mind when Wagner blew a 4 run lead).

[Headspace]

, Barry Larkin, and Sean Casey

My homies.

[fren.]

The new ARod shitstorm is amusing. Roberts apparently has "sources" that state he tipped pitches to other players in exchange for them to do the same.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...t.7456157.html

ARLINGTON – Michael Young played just the other side of second from Alex Rodriguez, so he'd probably notice any funny business between A-Rod and opposing hitters.

And Young's take on allegations that A-Rod occasionally tipped pitches in lost causes?

"Ridiculous."

The allegations are forthcoming in a tell-all book about A-Rod by Selena Roberts.

The story: A-Rod would signal opposing hitters as to what was coming late in lost causes, in hopes that opposing hitters would reciprocate.

Roberts reportedly also comes up with allegations that A-Rod's dabbling in steroids goes all the way back to high school and continued in New York.

Believing A-Rod did 'roids in places other than Texas is not such a stretch. But tipping pitches to hitters privy to his system, who would then return the favor? A tough sell.

Still, it's tempting, because it might help explain some of the empty numbers he put up late in meaningless games.

But here's what I'd like to know: Who gave Roberts the information?

Had to be someone with Texas ties. Someone who didn't like A-Rod, either.

Plenty of the latter going around, and apparently more every day.

Also, from another article with quotes from Jeff Brantley, another former player:

Brantley: “That did not happen. There’s no way that happens.”

So yea, she outed ONLY him in the whole steroid mess, but at what point does this shit become a smear campaign?

[Cephius]

Since when does tipping pitches even help? I could tell you what pitch and what side of the plate it's gonna be on, but most people would just whiff anyway. Mariano has been throwing the same pitch for about 14 years now, not like it's a mystery what's coming and people still can't hit it.

And yeah, I know people hate A-rod, but I'm still waiting for Selena Roberts to apologize to the Duke lacrosse team. Why does she have any credibility?

And I have yet to hear anyone say they care how much A-rod tips at Hooters.

[Ensam]

So yea, she outed ONLY him in the whole steroid mess, but at what point does this shit become a smear campaign?

Shit sells books. That's all this is, about money, nothing about the "good of baseba" or what not.

And yeah, it's surprising people can forget the Duke Lacrosse thing so quickly and all of a sudden give her credibility. Sports Illustrated is so full of fucks.

[Viq]

It was funny when Curt Schilling was on WEEI yesterday morning. They asked him what he thought about A-Rod tipping pitches, and Curt told a story about how he told A-Rod before an all-star game that he was going to throw him three straight fastballs. He struck A-Rod out, then jokingly took credit for planting the seed in A-Rod's head about tipping pitches.

[fren.]

Shit sells books. That's all this is, about money, nothing about the "good of baseba" or what not.

And yeah, it's surprising people can forget the Duke Lacrosse thing so quickly and all of a sudden give her credibility. Sports Illustrated is so full of fucks.

Heyman pretty much congratulated her on his column, guess he doesn't have much to write about when Boras isn't using him as his lapdog.

and how the fuck are Mets' fans booing Wright?

[Akiyama]

Well, tipping pitches may not mean an automatic hit, but it does give you an idea of what to expect somewhat. Knowing a fastball is coming instead of a slider/curve/change would be a huge help, especially for a talented guy like A-Rod. He may have used steroids for whatever time period it is (I'm not buying the High School stuff personally), but he is still a good baseball player.

Also, I don't think he tipped pitches either. Honestly, Roberts' "sources" are very odd. It honestly does seem like she went everywhere to gather the 'worst A-Rod stories ever' to write in her book to smear his name.

[Headspace]

Johnny Cueto is for real. 8IP 0ER 9Ks in the reds 5th shutout (mlb leading) of the season.

Now we just need the bats to be consistent.

[archibaldcrane]

Johnny Cueto is for real. 8IP 0ER 9Ks in the reds 5th shutout (mlb leading) of the season.

Now we just need the bats to be consistent.

Whoever told me to pick him up in Fantasy in the other thread a few days ago...

Thank you. Won 3 different stat categories because of his start today. (between him and my recent Verlander pickup...so hot right now)

[Headspace]

Whoever told me to pick him up in Fantasy in the other thread a few days ago...

Thank you. Won 3 different stat categories because of his start today. (between him and my recent Verlander pickup...so hot right now)

I told you to, and you're welcome.

[Akiyama]

Liriano had a great start too and you dumped him.

[archibaldcrane]

Liriano had a great start too and you dumped him.

Well, I gained Verlander, Cueto and Volquez - I can survive losing Liriano.

[fren.]

The reaction to the ARod book isn't going as well as Roberts had hoped. They pretty much laughed it off on Mike and Mike, she got grilled by Costas and some other radio shows. They had the former GM (who was active when ARod was in Texas) for the Rangers on MLBNetwork; pretty much said ARod was only suggesting to his catchers of what pitches to call for.

She had a solid story (overlooking the fact she only went after him) and then became a greedy bitch and tried piling more dirt on him.

[Rhinox]

Being the lying piece of shit that arod is I'd take her word for it over 2 overrated commentators and a has-been GM until she gets totally disproven.