Personally I think everyone should give the whole Barry Bonds thing a rest. No one will every know for sure what he did and didn't do/take. He will never fail a drug test so its hard to accuse him of anything. And if you don't think he hasn't been tested multiple times you are an idiot.

Also, I was listening to ESPN radio and they had some interesting statistics. Of the 104 players that have failed drug tests for steroids, more than 54% of them have been pitchers. So before people start bashing all of the great hitters in MLB, they may want to consider the fact that there was a very good possibility of them having to face a juiced up pitcher every game.

I agree. Plus, there are some who think that Bonds is the one of the few who have taken steroids. People forget that he was in the middle of a hall of fame career before the alleged steroid use. I would rather see a full investigation rather than just ripping Bonds. There are quite a few players who I can think of off the top of my head who could have been on them due to overinflated one or two season stats that I won't mention.

I am kind of indifferent about Barry Bonds as a player but I think the treatment of him is unfair since there are quite a few other players out there who are just as likely to have been rumored to juice.

I agree. I also can think of quite a few players who were noticeably different. My favorite reference has always been Brett Boone. Averaged about 15 HR's a year and then magically hits .330 with 46 bombs a couple years ago all the while looking like a pint sized mr. universe. Then the steroid scandal comes out and he does nothing for two more years, his body breaks down, and he retires.

yeah what a douche.

Luis Gonzales came out of nowhere and hit 57 dingers as well, then went back to hitting 25 or whatever.

You know it's his attitude that makes him an easy target. I'm not trying to justify anything people are doing to him, but lets not forgot that he isn't the most innocent guy in the world.

if bonds get ridiculed for roids, then shuold other players get the same from fans too? sure. Palmero got it pretty bad last year. Is he even playing this year? I'm sure if there were other players that have the same star status, and who is just as big of an A-hole as Bonds then fans would get all over them too.

I was really surprised the Dodger fans didn't go off him as hard as other fans have. But then again, Dodger fans are really stupid and unoriginal. The only thing I've heard Dodger fans say to him was " you're a homo", " f*ck you bonds!", or " your dick is small just like your brain" or something stupid like that.

Yeah I'll agree too. I think the fans would be quite different if he was a genuinely good guy. It probobly doesn't help him at all considering he's a racist, highly irritable bastard.

Middle of the 8th.... Florida 3, Cubs 0

End of game.... Florida 3, Cubs 6

GO CUBS!!!!

He is a fricken racist.

That would have been funny to see McGwire cast under the same light as Bonds since McGwire was never liked by the media and some fans as well.

I just want to hear more about how Greg Vaughn could hit 50 one year. Or 90210 anderson for the orioles.

I agree that Bonds always has been an a-hole and this is the way to get back at him.

I just think McGwire is a pussy for not admitting to anything he did when he was giving his testimony. Allthough I guess I can say the same for Palmeiro and Sosa (who conveniently forgot that he spoke English).

That's the thing people don't get - steroids can help pitchers too, as far as velocity, stamina, and other factors. It's affecting both sides, pitching and hitting.

Luis Gonzalez is an interesting case; his home runs went down, but his batting average was still higher than it had been for the first few years of his career. He wasn't a bad player in his first few years; he just wasn't putting up the numbers he did the last five years or so.

It's almost like waiting for the next shoe to drop; who's going to be snagged, and is it going to be someone we expect, or someone random (like Matt Lawton).

According to people who study this sort of thing, by FAR the most common case is someone like Matt Lawton - that's also (one reason) why there are multiple minor leaguers caught for every MLB player*: the 'classic' steroid case, so far, has been a guy trying to 'hang on' or 'take the leap' or recover from injury faster (Lawton was pretty much all three, w/ the NYY).

You should really pick up Will Carroll's book "The Juice: The Real Story of Baseball's Drug Problems" - Carroll writes for Baseball Prospectus as their injury guy, he's head of some national athletic training orgs. It's pretty unbiased, and he gets a couple of guys to (anonymously) do 'case studies' - one minor leaguer, one major leaguer, and one guy who helped develop what became known as 'the Cream' at BALCO.

Interesting stuff - CS, I'll send you my copy if you want . . .

*Obviously there are other reasons - for instance, major leaguers can afford to pay more for 'designer' (and more likely undetectable) substances . . . rounds of hGH and IGF-1 cost around $1k/mo., so obviously these will be more of a problem at the highest level.

Oh absolutely, there are other issues with it, and that's a big reason why I'm interested to see who actually is caught. Is it a pitcher in his late 30's who is still throwing in the upper 90's? Is it one of those hanger-ons, or will it be the stud slugger that people automatically associate with roids?

I like Carrol's writing, so I may have to pick that up. I'm going to pick up the book by the two San Fran reporters, so maybe I'll just get all my roid reading out of the way at once.

Both of you make good points. Obviously there is such a high number of minor leaguers getting positive test results because they are all looking for that little edge that can take them to the next level. Personally, I don't think Louis Gonzalez ever took steroids. He never had the look of someone that was on them. I played college baseball and saw up close what it does to people and he just never looked the part. When you are around it alot it become really easy to see. I think a great example is Eric Gagne. Acne, big square head, big upper body, threw absolute gas night in and night out.....and now the steroid scandal blows up and he is so hurt all of the time he can't play....which is a pretty classic case of what happens to your body after you wean yourself off the drugs.

I really don't think there are is any excuse for more major leaguers to get caught now, unless they are just really really dumb.

Seeing the Yankees play Texas in May, Blue Jays & Braves in July, Orioles &Tigers in August and Tampa Bay & Orioles again in September....all for $35!!! So excited.

First of all, this isn't the New Random thread. Second of all, HOW are you doing this? What about California? Angels? Padres?

First of all shut up you love me :)
Second of all...discount packs, a totally new concept I just heard of today. We're doing Pack #2. $5 a night ticket packs
Some of these other discounted packs of tickets look good too...some are still $$$ but others are a little more reasonable.discount packs

Perhaps the smartest thing the Yankees do is offer these discounted tickets pack!

**and I must add...the seats aren't that great, Tier Box, Tier Reserved but can't go wrong with a cheap ticket, a beer & baseball with friends :)

Padres don't play the Yankees this year :( (It'd be perfect if they did in August back in NY, as I'll be back there visiting my best friend, who's a HUGE Yankees fan!! :p)

But I *may* get her to take me to a Mets game so she can root for the Padres ;)

Nice:)

That is awesome. I have to get to the Stadium this summer, it's been too long.

ETA: I'd heard of the Yankees doing similar packages in the past (cheap weekday tickets), but nothing that included so many games.

Tonite's "don't come here if you're afraid of heights" tickets for Rangers V Yankees were surprisingly AWESOME. We were waaaay up but on the third base line and had a great view of the whole field. Sort of wanted to leave after the disasterous first few innings but what a comeback thanks to Jeter & Posada!! $5 for the seat too!!

So Michael Barrett did what about half of baseball has wanted to do for a long time...

Also, with all the injury problems the Yankees are having, I hope they don't do something stupid like trade Philip Hughes for a washed-up veteran.

Clemens is coming back to Houston:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2464315

didn't surprise me. I knew he was going back to the Astros.

Doesnt suprise me either, he was teasing NY and BOS just so he could get the best deal.

I really hope the Yankees don't trade Philip Hughes. However, if for some bizarre reason someone wants Eric Duncan, I'm all for it.

I'm pretty sure Jim Bowden's never met a 6'5" unathletic 3B with an incredibly long swing who hits .220 but has 'projection' that he didn't like . . . so gross.

It's kind of like Drew Henson, but without the talent in another sport...unless he plays Bocce or something.

I just don't want the "Hughes and every A-ball prospect for Reggie Sanders" deal that would be made in past seasons.

ha - truth, the Duncan/Henson connection is so key. Although I think even Henson walked every once in a while (although he still hit .200 in C-bus).

I'm pretty sure, now that Cashman is actually in charge and not the Tampa Cabal, the Hughes/Sanders rumors are just that - he turned down that trade right after Matsui got hurt, and I'd guess the new guy in KC is much better than Baird so he might have reasonable demands . . . that would still be a shitty trade, since Sanders is signed for next season too . . .

I'd bet it's something more along the lines of Hughes and a package of last year's high draft picks (excepting, of course, the point guard . . . er shortstop . . . er whatever) for Soriano, though. Hughes's numbers have bottomed out since he moved up, but God his projections were amazing coming into this season.

True - it seemed that Cashman demanded close to total control over these matters to stay in NY. Hughes could end up not being all that great, but it would be more important, in a symbolic way, that they weren't going to start auctioning off prospects for half-baked solutions.

I don't think anyone is knocking down the Yankees door for C.J. Henry, but hey, if they get an intramural basketball league going for minor leaguers, watch out.

Double posting, but it's been almost a month...

Anyone see the All Star game last night? It was a pretty good game, with a predictable finish (the AL winning). Besides the glaring ommission of Travis Hafner, and the inexplicable starting of Paul LoDuca, the rosters weren't all that out of place. Of course, if Liriano didn't get voted on...

KSigRC, here's a question for you: Is it worth it for the Yankees to take a flyer on Luis Matos if he's placed on waivers? He was designated for assignment last week by Baltimore. I figure that they can't do worse, and he would be an improvement over the Crosby/Kevin Thompson crowd if he can stay healthy (which is a big if).

Also, apparently Aubrey Huff has finally been dealt: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2517046

i need someone to whack David Wright because my girlfriend loves him more than me.

Uh, right now he's .208/.278/.331 in 120ish ABs this season - career he's .256/.313/.375 but that includes some bad years playing about 30 games while shuffling back and forth.

He's a positive-value expectation player, though (about 12 career WARP), which is probably more than you can say about Thompson (who nearly defines 'replacement level') and probably about Crosby if he has to play any reasonable amount of time in a corner.

The problem, obviously, is that Matos has never really been healthy - he's probably worth throwing at the wall and seeing what sticks, though. I'd guess you see a AA lefty reliever going to Bal'more during the DFA period to pick up Matos, and he's immediately plugged into left field - Matos has always had superb range, so he might take a little added pressure off Damon as well, which would be a good thing.

He's really not a great solution in a corner with his "only slugged over .410 once" bat, though, especially opposite the decaying corpse of Bernie and/or Melky's noodle bat . . . then again, you get away with a lot when you start 4 above-average infielders, a good-OBP 1B w/ great defensive skills, and are solid up the middle. Overall, I'd do it, since there's zero risk and if he gets hot and doesn't die, there's potential for reward - this might tell you whether Cashman's really in charge, since it's a very Epstein/Beane/Ricciardi/Cashman "young blood"-type risk/reward scenario (as opposed to a Steinbrenner "GET ME DANNY TARTABULL" big splash)

Yeah, that's what I figured. He'd be worth a non-prospect from low A-ball, and he wouldn't be much worse than what they have. It's better than watching Bernie try to play the outfield, hoping it was 1993 again.

There's always the chance Matos breaks his leg watching TV...

Or, maybe I just am hoping beyond hope that they're past the Terrence Long experiment, and dreading the day when I see Philip Hughes in the transaction column.

I was hoping for a Kenny Rogers freakout on live tv last night but didn't get my wish:(

Hopefully the tigers cool off a bit (and I think they will) so the white sox can get the AL West team in the first round. I don't want the wild card spot and have to face the sawx.

Who did you hope would start at catcher? You better say McCann.

Aubrey, are you following me?

http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/ml...ents/tb/04.jpg

YAY! I was afraid he was going to go out to Cali, although that would have made Bobby pretty happy. Sorry Bobby!

hahah I can't believe you remember me talking shit to you about us stealing your best player. Anyways, yeah...Huff would have been nice in a Dodger uni, but the Angels really needed him more. Oh well. Atleast he is in Houston, where you can drool all over him again.

I think it's pretty clear that McCann would be a very fine choice (and much better than Lo Duca) - probably the first choice, if you don't feel like doing the Mike Piazza Victory Lap appearance.

I would have said McCann; granted, it's a rather weak crop of catchers in the NL, but he would have been a FAR better choice than LoDuca.