Anytime Pete Rose chimes in you have to temper it for what it is; it's merely a call for attention to himself.
Pete Rose was certainly one of the greatest players of the game, but he broke the most important rule (at least in legacy of the game): gambling. And, he lied about it. He lied about it so much that the fickle American public began to warm up to the idea that he should be considered for the Hall of Fame. Even I was caught up in that argument for a time, convinced that he might be wronged for being excluded from the game.
Yet, Pete Rose shows his character, time and time again.
In context of history, Pete Rose seems aloof over the precedence of his actions. Let's face it, until we see Shoeless Joe Jackson being reinstated, I can't in good conscious even begin to consider Pete Rose who admitted to his actions (Shoeless Joe's actions are certainly questionable as he played extremely well in the 1919 World Series). Kennesaw Mountain Landis made it very clear: the worst thing you can do is be involved with gambling in baseball. Players and managers are always aware of this. As an aside, if you have a chance to read the book Eight Men Out (1963) by Eliot Asinof, you should. It's far better than the movie for which the book was based. Today, in each clubhouse, there is a notice posted to remind players that there is no gambling. In other words, baseball is not forgiving of anything which tarnishes the integrity of the game.
Pete Rose, in an interview with Dennis Miller, is attempting to whitewash his actions in context of the contemporary. He notes that players using performance enhancing drugs are "making a mockery" of baseball and of course he spins this whole episode right back to himself: "I never thought anybody would make me look like an altar boy." And, I love this quote: "If you're going to put these guys that supposedly did steroid into the Hall of Fame, I mean I've got to get a shot somewhere."
So here we have classic Pete Rose, positioning himself once again as an angel. We also see the narcissism that ultimately plagues this guy's character. He has no idea where he fits in with the history of the game nor where he fits in with the issue at hand. The old adage "Two wrongs don't make a right" is quite fitting here. I suggest that every fan needs to consider this carefully before they jump on the "let's forgive Pete" bandwagon: each action that destroys the reputation of the game needs to be considered carefully within the context of history. Sorry Pete, but you goofed and you have not been contrite at all about it.
Gambling was illegal before 1919. Landis issued his ruling with that in mind. Steroids and HGH were not illegal throughout all of the time frame that the Mitchell Report examined. Baseball had a precedent regarding gambling well before Pete Rose decided to gamble on his team that he was managing and every player understands what gambling does to the integrity of the game. Players using HGH to recover from an injury or being persuaded to use it because a trainer suggests it will help recover from an injury is far more forgiving. Andro was not illegal until 2004. The bottom line: Pete Rose is no altar boy, even in context of today's steroid era.
I readily admit Pete Rose was a phenomenonal player, but he committed an egregious act in baseball. He does not deserve reinstatement - and that is what he is trying to position himself for in this interview - nor should anyone even feel sorry for this guy. Pete Rose understands that reinstatement opens the door to money.
The main reason I do not feel sorry for Pete Rose is his lack of contrition. And I understand baseball history. I tell you what, Pete, if you successfully lobby for the reinstatement of Shoeless Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver, I'll be happy to reconsider my position. Until then, you'll just have to live on as a statistical legend who will not be enshrined in the hallow Hall of Fame.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Return of Javy Lopez?
As reported by both CNNSI.com and the AJC.com, former All-Star catcher and fan favorite (particularly among the females!) Javy Lopez has agreed to a minor league contract to vie for a backup role on the Atlanta Braves. The one year contract with a base of $750,000 if he makes the team is quite a bit off from the $60 million plus he's made as a starting catcher.
Javy Lopez has had an exceptional career, but last year he did not make the Colorado Rockies' team out of spring training and sat out the season. This, after having poor seasons in Baltimore and Boston. For the Braves, Javy was pretty consistent offensively. After having an off-season in 2002 when he hit a microscopic .233 with 11 homeruns and 52 RBIs in 109 games, he rebounded in 2003 with a .328 average and 43 homeruns and 109 RBIs. But Lopez left after that season and we know who came around to catch for the Braves soon after!
Lopez is not being brought in to tutor Brian McCann who has been a great all around catcher for the Braves. Lopez is not being brought in either to help sell tickets. In fact, Lopez is not guaranteed a spot on the team. He has to compete against some young studs who might overtake Javy.
On the other hand, Javy is very comfortable with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, even though rumors abounded that Javy did not work well with Greg Maddux when the "Big Three" were pitching together there. Javy is supposed to have had private workouts with Braves bench coach Chino Cadahia since October and impressed him enough to vouch to Frank Wren.
As of now, Javy will probably have to compete against Corky Miller, J. C. Boscan, Brayan Pena, and Clint Sammons. The road won't be easy for Javy. Still, Chino told David O'Brien as reported in DOB's blog that Javy's defensive skills look even better now than they did when he left the Braves after 2003.
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it might be nice to see Javy regain some pride. After all, Javy was once considered one of the best offensive catchers in the game and he could play fairly well behind the plate. But we'll have to see. I always wondered what Greg Maddux had against Javy's playcalling. Bobby Cox downplayed it whenever it was asked. I seem to recall that Bobby Cox once noted that he rested Javy on the days that Maddux pitched to keep Javy fresh.
Javy Lopez has had an exceptional career, but last year he did not make the Colorado Rockies' team out of spring training and sat out the season. This, after having poor seasons in Baltimore and Boston. For the Braves, Javy was pretty consistent offensively. After having an off-season in 2002 when he hit a microscopic .233 with 11 homeruns and 52 RBIs in 109 games, he rebounded in 2003 with a .328 average and 43 homeruns and 109 RBIs. But Lopez left after that season and we know who came around to catch for the Braves soon after!
Lopez is not being brought in to tutor Brian McCann who has been a great all around catcher for the Braves. Lopez is not being brought in either to help sell tickets. In fact, Lopez is not guaranteed a spot on the team. He has to compete against some young studs who might overtake Javy.
On the other hand, Javy is very comfortable with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz, even though rumors abounded that Javy did not work well with Greg Maddux when the "Big Three" were pitching together there. Javy is supposed to have had private workouts with Braves bench coach Chino Cadahia since October and impressed him enough to vouch to Frank Wren.
As of now, Javy will probably have to compete against Corky Miller, J. C. Boscan, Brayan Pena, and Clint Sammons. The road won't be easy for Javy. Still, Chino told David O'Brien as reported in DOB's blog that Javy's defensive skills look even better now than they did when he left the Braves after 2003.
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it might be nice to see Javy regain some pride. After all, Javy was once considered one of the best offensive catchers in the game and he could play fairly well behind the plate. But we'll have to see. I always wondered what Greg Maddux had against Javy's playcalling. Bobby Cox downplayed it whenever it was asked. I seem to recall that Bobby Cox once noted that he rested Javy on the days that Maddux pitched to keep Javy fresh.
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Mitchell Report Aftermath
Greetings! Well, I've fallen way behind here on the many things to comment about, so I guess I will just try and catch up as best that I can in today's blog. I mean, I haven't commented on Eric Gagne's signing with the Brewers and still have not mentioned anything about Andruw Jones' signing with the Dodgers! So without any further ado...
Striker to the Line!
I've managed to read the Mitchell Report - in its entirety (yes, all 409 pages!) - and through all of the legalese and stacking of evidence I am convinced absolutely that the problem is far more pervasive than what the report notes. I am also convinced that we are all guilty here. Let me explain this first.
Let's consider something rather dramatic. Over the last decade, Major League Baseball has become an economic machine. That is only possible if fans are supporting the teams in their current incarnations. And let's face the fact that we as fans have come to expect perfection from our teams and players.
So how does this impact the players on the ground? Do you not believe for one minute that they are aware that they are in the spotlight every time that they take the field? Every move, every play, is carefully scrutinized by the fans (perhaps even more so today with the ubiquity of blogging). Players naturally are going to seek those things to satisfy the lust of the fans and to get their own piece of the pie.
And before this outcry gets way out of hand, again, let's reflect on the previous paragraph. Historically speaking, players have always sought ways to gain an edge in the game. Do you think it's natural to put vaseline or spit onto a ball to gain a drop from a pitch? Or what about the pitchers who take small pieces of sandpaper to the mound. Or the pitchers who wear extra sunscreen to rub into the ball? Or what about those extra roughed up baseballs that are left in strategic places besides walls or bullpens? Players have been using tricks for years. Sometimes they get caught, sometimes they don't.
Players have used hallucinogens, alcohol, barbiturates, and other drugs. Others have superstitious beliefs that they adamantly adhere to, rituals such as placing a half stick of gum in the back pocket and chewing on the rest throughout a game.
The question we should all be asking is why. Why do they sacrifice so much, be their credibility, their DNA, their mental well-being? The bottom line is not economics, in my opinion. Look at the Mitchell Report and you'll note players who were not superstars. You'll note several players who did not have outstanding careers. But you'll probably note that they were motivated to play the greatest game on Earth.
I have hard time taking the hard stance on these players. I probably do more for Barry Bonds because he's an anathema to the game, but then again so was Hall of Famer Ty Cobb. In contemporary terms, many of the players are not doing anything different than much of the population. Many people today are seeking fast results and fast success at their jobs. "Show me the money" is more than a quote from the movie Jerry McGuire; it's a pervasive norm among many Americans. Success at all cost; let me get the edge against the rest of the world.
Recently we've seen NFL teams admitting to resorting to videotaping sidelines of opposing teams to pick up plays (essentially akin to teams stealing signs in baseball). Most notorious was the ever powerful New England Patriots. I guess my point here is that this problem is far more deep-rooted in the American norm than many people will wish to admit. But if we all reflect on this, we will have to admit that we are all equally culpable in the aftermath of the Mitchell Report.
I think Jon Heyman of SI.com summed up a lot of how I feel in the wake of this report. In his comments regarding Roger Clemens (and ultimately the whole of the issue), Heyman stated, "Some will say who cares? I say those who played on the up-and-up deserve to know. And so do the fans, most of whom love the history of the game. Well, like or not, this stained steroid era is part of the history."
Whither Discipline?
Bud Selig's position was very odd immediately after the release of the report. Specifically, I was taken aback when Bud stated that there was nothing in the report recommendations that he disagreed with. Later, we learn that Bud is considering on a case-by-case basis whether to dole out recommendations, counter to the advice in the report.
Does disciplining these players warrant necessity? Many of these players cited in the report had conducted their behaviors before MLB became stringent on the use of performance enhancing agents. Not only that, we really don't have a "smoking gun" in any of the evidence presented. What he have mostly is evidence that players bought items and we have statements by people who said they saw, heard, and a couple of administered the items. We don't have evidence that the drugs entered the players, though. We do have a lot of circumstantial evidence suggesting that this happened, but we really are not beyond reasonable doubt that each player is guilty of anything.
Does disciplining everyone/anyone accomplish anything? Probably not, in actuality, as each player will certainly be looking over their shoulder as the next one falls. The fair thing here is to institute tighter control on the testing, as outlined in the report, and maybe use the international standards that the Olympics use. I think that the drug system that is in place is working a bit, but anyone can see that there are some issues.
I am not one at all to suggest that forgetting the past will allow us to move on from this scandalous period. After all, let us not forget that baseball has been laden with scandals in the past, the most notable was certainly the gambling era in which the Black Sox were ravished in their time back in 1919. Pete Rose paid the same price as those nine who were banned by Kennesaw Mountain Landis, and certainly anyone after this report who decides to gamble with performance enhancing agents will pay a hefty price. When something stains the game, the game tends to respond harshly. After all, this is America, and within the norms of society, rarely does one get to recover when he or she wrongs society.
Turnbow and Gagne?
Well, who would have thought that Turnbow and Gagne would be mentioned in the same vein in the Mitchell Report, particularly since Gagne was brought in to basically do the job that we were all getting ready mentally for Turnbow to do. Wow, that was a long sentence!
Turnbow was mentioned in the report because he was tested positive for androstenedione in October 2003 while he was in the Angels organization and trying out for the US Olympic team. Andro was of course most notable because Mark McGuire admitted to using it during his 1998 chase of Roger Maris' record. It should be pointed out that Derrick did not use this drug illegally; it became illegal on March 12, 2004, and it was not banned by MLB at the time. It was, however, banned by the Olympics and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Turnbow was summarily excused from the team.
As for Gagne, all we really have are shipping labels which shows Kirk Radomski sent packages to him at Dodger Stadium and his Florida home. In the report, Gagne supposedly contacted former Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca on his behalf to purchase HGH. He also supposedly later inquired Radomski via Lo Duca as to how to remove air out of a syringe.
Between 2002 and 2004, Gagne was incredible as a closer, but injuries later sidelined him until last season where he seemed to be resurgent as a the closer for the Rangers. Certainly, many people will watch carefully what happens next in his career.
So, the Brewers now have three relievers specifically named in the Mitchell Report: Turnbow, Gagne, and Mota.
Logjam in the Bullpen?
If Bud Selig does not discipline anyone as he suggested he might, the Brewers are going to have a logjam of pitchers for the end of the game (much to Ned Yost's delight, I suppose). Yet, I still found it strange that the Brewers signed Gagne, especially after what appeared to be some positioning that Turnbow was going to be the closer again.
Gagne's contract is not a bad one for both he and the Brewers. If Gagne rebounds to sensational form, then it will probably be worth the $10 million (especially if the Brewers find a path to the playoffs). If he flounders, the Brewers will only be stuck with him for one season.
The Brewers could have a formidable bullpen, a luxury they lacked last season (except, of course, when Cordero got the ball). I firmly believe that a strong bullpen makes a starting staff a lot better, and the Brewers really have the makings of a strong rotation. But it would surprise me in the least that the Brewers will carry all of these pitchers on the opening day roster. The Brewers are still looking for an answer in the outfield.
By the way, anyone else notice that Johnny Estrada was non-tendered? Basically, the Brewers got Mota for free!
Aftermath in Atlanta
There must have been a collective sigh among those in the Braves camp; no current players on the Braves' roster were named in the Mitchell Report. That does not mean that the Braves are in the clear, though.
Don't forget that suspicions arose about Gary Sheffield when he played in Atlanta. Sheffield went so far as to say he was unsure what he received from Barry Bonds, a good friend of his at the time, so he was not at fault (right?). And now David Justice's name has appeared, although his name was mentioned after his time in Atlanta (he steadfastly denies that he took HGH, though he admits to inquiring about it to help recover from an injury).
John Smoltz went on Dan Patrick's show and stated that this scandal is irreparable. As much as I admire John Smoltz, I am not sure sometimes where his head is at. In this case, I disagree. I'll bet if he played in 1919 he would have said the same regarding the Black Sox scandal (and there have been allegations that gamblers were involved in more games than that World Series, by the way). Baseball recovered, John, and it will again.
Ninth Inning...
I think I'll close out this blog for now, leaving with only a modicum of sanity. I don't know who or how many players were involved in using HGH or steroids, but it's clear that something is going on. Curt Schilling went on record noting that he had to second guess hitting another player on the butt because he was concerned that he might slap an injection site. I was pondering yesterday that we generally see players slap their gloves these days more often than pat the other on the rump for a good play like days of old. I don't know if that is exactly connected, but it does make me wonder.
I think baseball will recover. Baseball is not the only sport to have this kind of scandal (anyone remember Lyle Alzado?) nor do I suspect future scandals will miraculously be circumvented. I think the use of testable steroids will certainly be done away with, but I am not convinced that players won't find other ways to get an edge.
Think about it. Do you know how hard it is to hit a 95 mph fastball (especially one with motion)? Do you know what kind of punishment a body goes through during a 162 game season? It's a test of endurance, and if a player wishes to play throughout a season he has to mentally and physically find a way.
Because, after all, the fans demand it. We demand perfection. And we are all guilty in this.
Striker to the Line!
I've managed to read the Mitchell Report - in its entirety (yes, all 409 pages!) - and through all of the legalese and stacking of evidence I am convinced absolutely that the problem is far more pervasive than what the report notes. I am also convinced that we are all guilty here. Let me explain this first.
Let's consider something rather dramatic. Over the last decade, Major League Baseball has become an economic machine. That is only possible if fans are supporting the teams in their current incarnations. And let's face the fact that we as fans have come to expect perfection from our teams and players.
So how does this impact the players on the ground? Do you not believe for one minute that they are aware that they are in the spotlight every time that they take the field? Every move, every play, is carefully scrutinized by the fans (perhaps even more so today with the ubiquity of blogging). Players naturally are going to seek those things to satisfy the lust of the fans and to get their own piece of the pie.
And before this outcry gets way out of hand, again, let's reflect on the previous paragraph. Historically speaking, players have always sought ways to gain an edge in the game. Do you think it's natural to put vaseline or spit onto a ball to gain a drop from a pitch? Or what about the pitchers who take small pieces of sandpaper to the mound. Or the pitchers who wear extra sunscreen to rub into the ball? Or what about those extra roughed up baseballs that are left in strategic places besides walls or bullpens? Players have been using tricks for years. Sometimes they get caught, sometimes they don't.
Players have used hallucinogens, alcohol, barbiturates, and other drugs. Others have superstitious beliefs that they adamantly adhere to, rituals such as placing a half stick of gum in the back pocket and chewing on the rest throughout a game.
The question we should all be asking is why. Why do they sacrifice so much, be their credibility, their DNA, their mental well-being? The bottom line is not economics, in my opinion. Look at the Mitchell Report and you'll note players who were not superstars. You'll note several players who did not have outstanding careers. But you'll probably note that they were motivated to play the greatest game on Earth.
I have hard time taking the hard stance on these players. I probably do more for Barry Bonds because he's an anathema to the game, but then again so was Hall of Famer Ty Cobb. In contemporary terms, many of the players are not doing anything different than much of the population. Many people today are seeking fast results and fast success at their jobs. "Show me the money" is more than a quote from the movie Jerry McGuire; it's a pervasive norm among many Americans. Success at all cost; let me get the edge against the rest of the world.
Recently we've seen NFL teams admitting to resorting to videotaping sidelines of opposing teams to pick up plays (essentially akin to teams stealing signs in baseball). Most notorious was the ever powerful New England Patriots. I guess my point here is that this problem is far more deep-rooted in the American norm than many people will wish to admit. But if we all reflect on this, we will have to admit that we are all equally culpable in the aftermath of the Mitchell Report.
I think Jon Heyman of SI.com summed up a lot of how I feel in the wake of this report. In his comments regarding Roger Clemens (and ultimately the whole of the issue), Heyman stated, "Some will say who cares? I say those who played on the up-and-up deserve to know. And so do the fans, most of whom love the history of the game. Well, like or not, this stained steroid era is part of the history."
Whither Discipline?
Bud Selig's position was very odd immediately after the release of the report. Specifically, I was taken aback when Bud stated that there was nothing in the report recommendations that he disagreed with. Later, we learn that Bud is considering on a case-by-case basis whether to dole out recommendations, counter to the advice in the report.
Does disciplining these players warrant necessity? Many of these players cited in the report had conducted their behaviors before MLB became stringent on the use of performance enhancing agents. Not only that, we really don't have a "smoking gun" in any of the evidence presented. What he have mostly is evidence that players bought items and we have statements by people who said they saw, heard, and a couple of administered the items. We don't have evidence that the drugs entered the players, though. We do have a lot of circumstantial evidence suggesting that this happened, but we really are not beyond reasonable doubt that each player is guilty of anything.
Does disciplining everyone/anyone accomplish anything? Probably not, in actuality, as each player will certainly be looking over their shoulder as the next one falls. The fair thing here is to institute tighter control on the testing, as outlined in the report, and maybe use the international standards that the Olympics use. I think that the drug system that is in place is working a bit, but anyone can see that there are some issues.
I am not one at all to suggest that forgetting the past will allow us to move on from this scandalous period. After all, let us not forget that baseball has been laden with scandals in the past, the most notable was certainly the gambling era in which the Black Sox were ravished in their time back in 1919. Pete Rose paid the same price as those nine who were banned by Kennesaw Mountain Landis, and certainly anyone after this report who decides to gamble with performance enhancing agents will pay a hefty price. When something stains the game, the game tends to respond harshly. After all, this is America, and within the norms of society, rarely does one get to recover when he or she wrongs society.
Turnbow and Gagne?
Well, who would have thought that Turnbow and Gagne would be mentioned in the same vein in the Mitchell Report, particularly since Gagne was brought in to basically do the job that we were all getting ready mentally for Turnbow to do. Wow, that was a long sentence!
Turnbow was mentioned in the report because he was tested positive for androstenedione in October 2003 while he was in the Angels organization and trying out for the US Olympic team. Andro was of course most notable because Mark McGuire admitted to using it during his 1998 chase of Roger Maris' record. It should be pointed out that Derrick did not use this drug illegally; it became illegal on March 12, 2004, and it was not banned by MLB at the time. It was, however, banned by the Olympics and the World Anti-Doping Agency. Turnbow was summarily excused from the team.
As for Gagne, all we really have are shipping labels which shows Kirk Radomski sent packages to him at Dodger Stadium and his Florida home. In the report, Gagne supposedly contacted former Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca on his behalf to purchase HGH. He also supposedly later inquired Radomski via Lo Duca as to how to remove air out of a syringe.
Between 2002 and 2004, Gagne was incredible as a closer, but injuries later sidelined him until last season where he seemed to be resurgent as a the closer for the Rangers. Certainly, many people will watch carefully what happens next in his career.
So, the Brewers now have three relievers specifically named in the Mitchell Report: Turnbow, Gagne, and Mota.
Logjam in the Bullpen?
If Bud Selig does not discipline anyone as he suggested he might, the Brewers are going to have a logjam of pitchers for the end of the game (much to Ned Yost's delight, I suppose). Yet, I still found it strange that the Brewers signed Gagne, especially after what appeared to be some positioning that Turnbow was going to be the closer again.
Gagne's contract is not a bad one for both he and the Brewers. If Gagne rebounds to sensational form, then it will probably be worth the $10 million (especially if the Brewers find a path to the playoffs). If he flounders, the Brewers will only be stuck with him for one season.
The Brewers could have a formidable bullpen, a luxury they lacked last season (except, of course, when Cordero got the ball). I firmly believe that a strong bullpen makes a starting staff a lot better, and the Brewers really have the makings of a strong rotation. But it would surprise me in the least that the Brewers will carry all of these pitchers on the opening day roster. The Brewers are still looking for an answer in the outfield.
By the way, anyone else notice that Johnny Estrada was non-tendered? Basically, the Brewers got Mota for free!
Aftermath in Atlanta
There must have been a collective sigh among those in the Braves camp; no current players on the Braves' roster were named in the Mitchell Report. That does not mean that the Braves are in the clear, though.
Don't forget that suspicions arose about Gary Sheffield when he played in Atlanta. Sheffield went so far as to say he was unsure what he received from Barry Bonds, a good friend of his at the time, so he was not at fault (right?). And now David Justice's name has appeared, although his name was mentioned after his time in Atlanta (he steadfastly denies that he took HGH, though he admits to inquiring about it to help recover from an injury).
John Smoltz went on Dan Patrick's show and stated that this scandal is irreparable. As much as I admire John Smoltz, I am not sure sometimes where his head is at. In this case, I disagree. I'll bet if he played in 1919 he would have said the same regarding the Black Sox scandal (and there have been allegations that gamblers were involved in more games than that World Series, by the way). Baseball recovered, John, and it will again.
Ninth Inning...
I think I'll close out this blog for now, leaving with only a modicum of sanity. I don't know who or how many players were involved in using HGH or steroids, but it's clear that something is going on. Curt Schilling went on record noting that he had to second guess hitting another player on the butt because he was concerned that he might slap an injection site. I was pondering yesterday that we generally see players slap their gloves these days more often than pat the other on the rump for a good play like days of old. I don't know if that is exactly connected, but it does make me wonder.
I think baseball will recover. Baseball is not the only sport to have this kind of scandal (anyone remember Lyle Alzado?) nor do I suspect future scandals will miraculously be circumvented. I think the use of testable steroids will certainly be done away with, but I am not convinced that players won't find other ways to get an edge.
Think about it. Do you know how hard it is to hit a 95 mph fastball (especially one with motion)? Do you know what kind of punishment a body goes through during a 162 game season? It's a test of endurance, and if a player wishes to play throughout a season he has to mentally and physically find a way.
Because, after all, the fans demand it. We demand perfection. And we are all guilty in this.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Updated List of Players
First List of Names
WNBC has reported the following names will appear on the Mitchell Report. Also, Jon Heyman of SI.com has confirmed Roger Clemens, David Justice and Andy Pettite will be among those honored on the list:
Brady Anderson Manny Alexander Rick Ankiel Jeff Bagwell Barry Bonds Aaron Boone Rafael Bettancourt Bret Boone Milton Bradley David Bell Dante Bichette Albert Belle Paul Byrd Wil Cordero Ken Caminiti Mike Cameron Ramon Castro Jose Canseco Ozzie Canseco Roger Clemens Paxton Crawford Wilson Delgado Lenny Dykstra Johnny Damon Carl Everett Kyle Farnsworth Ryan Franklin Troy Glaus Rich Garces Jason Grimsley Juan Gonzalez Eric Gagne Nomar Garciaparra Jason Giambi Jeremy Giambi Jose Guillen Jay Gibbons Juan Gonzalez Clay Hensley Jerry Hairston Felix Heredia, Jr. Darren Holmes Wally Joyner Darryl Kile Matt Lawton Raul Mondesi Mark McGwire Guillermo Mota Robert Machado Damian Moss Abraham Nunez Trot Nixon Jose Offerman Andy Pettitte Mark Prior Neifi Perez Rafael Palmiero Albert Pujols Brian Roberts Juan Rincon John Rocker Pudge Rodriguez Sammy Sosa Scott Sc hoenweiis David Segui Alex Sanchez Gary Sheffield Miguel Tejada Julian Tavarez Fernando Tatis Maurice Vaughn Jason Varitek Ismael Valdez Matt Williams Kerry Wood
The End of this Era?
Senator Mitchell's report is about to be released live to the public in about 20 minutes. I can't help but wonder what kind of impact this report will have on the game. Will the public view the game as tainted? Will we wonder if his sources (two as I understand it) captured the totality of the number of players?
Chipper Jones late this season noted that every player in this era - the "steroid" era - will be scrutinized, whether they used steroids or not. And it's certainly a shame, in my opinion, that an outside investigator had to scrutinize the game.
Let's be clear about one thing: performance enhancing agents have been around the game since the beginning of the game. There, I said it. Now let's consider why I've said it.
Baseball players have always tried to find a way to gain an advantage to play the game better, be it for the prospect of more money, love of the game, or pure vanity. Players who are on streaks will continue doing whatever routines they did since the beginning of their streak. When players decided to use gloves in the game it was seen as a performance enhancer; more importantly, it was seen by most ballists at the time as not a "manly" thing to bring to the sport, at least initially.
Through the years ballplayers have used various diets, vitamin supplements, snake oil, whatever they thought would help their bodies endure the trials of a major league season. Not much was really said about it.
But this is different. What we are seeing is not merely the use of natural agents to help the ballplayers; we are seeing agents which are scientifically produced and which often lead to long-term deleterious affects. Steriods and HGH basically manipulate the body in such a way as to enhance recovery. They allow far more strenuous exercise and contribute to building body mass.
But, this is a natural progression. And it's been one that baseball could have monitored since the first rumblings were being made in clubhouses.
Kennesaw Mountain Landis dealt with the innocence of the game when he became baseball's first commissioner of baseball in 1920. He banned the Chicago Black Sox (Shoeless Joe Jackson among others) and made it clear that gambling would not be permitted in the game. Today, the vestige of his decision remains firmly entrenched in each and every clubhouse in Major League Baseball as signs posted which forbid betting on baseball games.
Bud Selig might want to revisit that notable decision. He has to ask himself whether it is more important to protect the integrity of the game or not. We'll see what happens.
As an aside: Sorry for not posting! I will post quite a bit later after the Mitchell report.
Chipper Jones late this season noted that every player in this era - the "steroid" era - will be scrutinized, whether they used steroids or not. And it's certainly a shame, in my opinion, that an outside investigator had to scrutinize the game.
Let's be clear about one thing: performance enhancing agents have been around the game since the beginning of the game. There, I said it. Now let's consider why I've said it.
Baseball players have always tried to find a way to gain an advantage to play the game better, be it for the prospect of more money, love of the game, or pure vanity. Players who are on streaks will continue doing whatever routines they did since the beginning of their streak. When players decided to use gloves in the game it was seen as a performance enhancer; more importantly, it was seen by most ballists at the time as not a "manly" thing to bring to the sport, at least initially.
Through the years ballplayers have used various diets, vitamin supplements, snake oil, whatever they thought would help their bodies endure the trials of a major league season. Not much was really said about it.
But this is different. What we are seeing is not merely the use of natural agents to help the ballplayers; we are seeing agents which are scientifically produced and which often lead to long-term deleterious affects. Steriods and HGH basically manipulate the body in such a way as to enhance recovery. They allow far more strenuous exercise and contribute to building body mass.
But, this is a natural progression. And it's been one that baseball could have monitored since the first rumblings were being made in clubhouses.
Kennesaw Mountain Landis dealt with the innocence of the game when he became baseball's first commissioner of baseball in 1920. He banned the Chicago Black Sox (Shoeless Joe Jackson among others) and made it clear that gambling would not be permitted in the game. Today, the vestige of his decision remains firmly entrenched in each and every clubhouse in Major League Baseball as signs posted which forbid betting on baseball games.
Bud Selig might want to revisit that notable decision. He has to ask himself whether it is more important to protect the integrity of the game or not. We'll see what happens.
As an aside: Sorry for not posting! I will post quite a bit later after the Mitchell report.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Winter Off-Season Musings
Has anyone ever wondered about the origins of softball? Softball was originally developed in the late 19th century, initially as a lark, but it fundamentally had its roots with baseball. In fact, softball was used by early ballists to keep in shape because the game was originally designed to be played indoors (it was originally called Indoor Baseball).
Today, ballplayers keep in shape during the off-season in myriad ways. In fact, I recall an interview that Phil Niekro once gave (I believe in the late 1970s) that he kept in shape by working on his farm (in particular, I remember him stating that digging a ditch or fixing a fence were great ways to keep in shape). Many young players and some older players trying to showcase their wares may play in the Winter Leagues of Mexico and the Caribbean, but the majority of them have a workout routine and take batting practice at indoor batting cages.
And while players working on their physique, general managers work on piecing together a roster that they believe will accomplish their goals for the upcoming season. The Winter Meetings will wrap up today and already there has been a bevy of activity for the Braves and the Brewers as well as other teams in the Majors.
Scott Rolen Coming to the Brewers?
Rumors have been circulating the Brew Crew nation that Scott Rolen could be traded to Milwaukee, perhaps for Bill Hall and Chris Capuano. ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Cardinals broke off talks that they did not feel comfortable with trading Rolen to a team within its own division, but Doug Melvin did not agree with that report. Instead, Doug Melvin reported to Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinal that he was uneasy about the trade for the following reasons:
La Russa's feud with Scott Rolen stems from the 2006 post season in which La Russa benched Rolen who was not hitting well with his bad shoulder. La Russa seems to want to move Rolen and he has gone on record today seeming to be ready to accept Rolen as an everyday player next season as long as he produces. This could be La Russa's way of accepting the fact that the Cardinals organization will not trade their star third baseman without a nice package, and certainly even La Russa noted that the Cardinals will not "accomodate" Rolen by merely trading him to appease Rolen; the Cardinals expect to make the trade equitable for the organization if they indeed trade him.
If Rolen is healthy - and I have some concerns about that - the move could be brilliant for the Brewers. He is a career .283 hitter with 13 seasons of big league experience, but his power seems to be off the last few years. He would be a big defensive upgrade to the Brewers and it would put Ryan Braun in the outfield. Ryan Braun has reported that he is willing to move to the outfield to help the team, but he is also confident that he will become a "Gold Glove" outfielder one day.
Yet, the obstacle to insure this trade are difficult at best to overcome. The Cardinals are lacking in starting pitching right now - an area that the Brewers have great depth right now - and they will be limited in where they can trade Rolen because he has a no trade clause in his contract. Ultimately, if the Cardinals are able to work out a trade for Rolen they will have to accommodate him because he can pull the plug on the trade. So, the bottom line is that the Cardinals will have to find a team willing to eat most or all of Rolen's salary and get at least one potential quality pitcher. I doubt any team would be willing to do that, and I think the best deal would be the one that the Brewers would offer if they are willing to deal. I'm guessing that Doug Melvin will probably sit back on this and see if they get a better deal than what the Cardinals want right now, whatever that is.
If Not Rolen, then Who?
The Brewers might wait until Saturday to check "the boards" and see what's available. That's when players who were offered arbitration can decline and become free agents, so the free agent pool may widen a bit. Thus, options for third base or left field may broaden to the Brewers' advantage.
I think that the Cardinals were waiting patiently to see how the Miguel Cabrera trade was going to shake out, which explains a great deal why the Cardinals might have been stern regarding what they wanted in return for Rolen. Even so, let's examine some potential options for both third base and left field:
Russell Branyan: A former Brewer with a lot of pop in his bat, but his batting average can hover around the Mendoza line. I don't think he'd be a good fit for the Brewers as he'd only be defensively adequate and the Brewers will be looking for something more. Plus, the Cardinals released Branyan in August which should probably say something about his value.
Pedro Feliz: The San Francisco free agent is an intriguing possibility only in that he has some pop in his bat. That being said, Doug Melvin reported to Tom Haudricourt that the Brewers have little interest in Feliz, presumably due to his low on base percentage.
Chris Gomez: He's served very well as a back-up third baseman the last few seasons in Cleveland and Baltimore. He's also available to play the other infield positions. Personally, I'd sign Chris Gomez as a replacement for Tony Graffanino were I Doug Melvin, or at least replace him with Craig Counsel.
Chris Woodward: Another Mendoza Line hitter and utility player, he did not live up to the expectations that the Braves had. I think I'd seek a trade before signing Chris Woodward.
Tadahito Iguchi: He's a possible fit, but he'd have to switch from second base to third. His agent has already expressed Iguchi's interest and has stated that he would welcome the move to third base. Iguchi's agent, Rocky Hall, has even said that he was expecting an offer from the Brewers, but Doug Melvin has not indicated as much. We'll have to see if this is actually something in the making.
Those are the free agents left. Yet, the Brewers have inquired about the following third basemen:
Joe Crede: Joe Crede missed most of last season due to back surgery. If healthy, he'd be a defensive upgrade and could potentially knock 30 homeruns. But, I expect the White Sox will be shopping Crede around and may not make a good offer for the Brewers.
Hank Blalock: It's hard not to like the Texas Rangers' third baseman, but he missed a large part of the season due to a thoracic outlet syndrome, which is a nerve disorder that can adversely affect the neck. In other words, the Brewers would have to scrutinize Blalock's medical records...we don't need another Corie Koskie on the roster. Apart from this, Blalock could be an good fit for the Brewers, but the Rangers will definitely want more than Chris Capuano. The Rangers, of course, communicate quite well with Doug Melvin, so who knows what may transpire after today?
Miguel Tejada: Tejada was Baltimore's shortstop and the Brewers considered him a possibility for third base. He has some pop in his bat and is certainly a defensive upgrade, but probably not a good economic fit for the Brewers.
My Thoughts: If I were Doug Melvin, out of these possibilities, I'd sign Chris Gomez as a utility player and I might go after Hank Blalock if all I had to give up was Capuano and maybe a prospect. Otherwise, standing pat would be a good idea with Ryan Braun at third. I'd go after a corner outfielder instead.
Turnbow Closing Again?
It appears that the Brewers are preparing to have Derrick Turnbow closing again, which fans won't be too keen about. Doug Melvin specifically noted in yesterday's story, "Derrick probably has a head-start on it because he has done it before and has been an all-star closer." True, but after the All Star game in 2006, Turnbow fell apart and became ineffective. He definitely has the stuff to be a closer, but he has to work out whatever is going on in his head. Turnbow's walks last year were egregious for a relief pitcher, but he still possesses a dominant, lively fastball.
I'm not sure that the Brewers are done with the shopping for a closer, but they may be merely seeing what else might pop up on the shelf.
That's it for now. I'll address some Braves related material later, especially regarding the Andruw Jones signing in Los Angeles and Braves fans reactions.
Today, ballplayers keep in shape during the off-season in myriad ways. In fact, I recall an interview that Phil Niekro once gave (I believe in the late 1970s) that he kept in shape by working on his farm (in particular, I remember him stating that digging a ditch or fixing a fence were great ways to keep in shape). Many young players and some older players trying to showcase their wares may play in the Winter Leagues of Mexico and the Caribbean, but the majority of them have a workout routine and take batting practice at indoor batting cages.
And while players working on their physique, general managers work on piecing together a roster that they believe will accomplish their goals for the upcoming season. The Winter Meetings will wrap up today and already there has been a bevy of activity for the Braves and the Brewers as well as other teams in the Majors.
Scott Rolen Coming to the Brewers?
Rumors have been circulating the Brew Crew nation that Scott Rolen could be traded to Milwaukee, perhaps for Bill Hall and Chris Capuano. ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Cardinals broke off talks that they did not feel comfortable with trading Rolen to a team within its own division, but Doug Melvin did not agree with that report. Instead, Doug Melvin reported to Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinal that he was uneasy about the trade for the following reasons:
- Rolen's Salary. He is owed $36 million over the next three years. It appears that the Brewers don't want to pay all of that.
- Rolen's recent spat of injuries. Don't forget that he had shoulder surgery in September.
- What else the Brewers would have to give up to get Rolen beyond Capuano
La Russa's feud with Scott Rolen stems from the 2006 post season in which La Russa benched Rolen who was not hitting well with his bad shoulder. La Russa seems to want to move Rolen and he has gone on record today seeming to be ready to accept Rolen as an everyday player next season as long as he produces. This could be La Russa's way of accepting the fact that the Cardinals organization will not trade their star third baseman without a nice package, and certainly even La Russa noted that the Cardinals will not "accomodate" Rolen by merely trading him to appease Rolen; the Cardinals expect to make the trade equitable for the organization if they indeed trade him.
If Rolen is healthy - and I have some concerns about that - the move could be brilliant for the Brewers. He is a career .283 hitter with 13 seasons of big league experience, but his power seems to be off the last few years. He would be a big defensive upgrade to the Brewers and it would put Ryan Braun in the outfield. Ryan Braun has reported that he is willing to move to the outfield to help the team, but he is also confident that he will become a "Gold Glove" outfielder one day.
Yet, the obstacle to insure this trade are difficult at best to overcome. The Cardinals are lacking in starting pitching right now - an area that the Brewers have great depth right now - and they will be limited in where they can trade Rolen because he has a no trade clause in his contract. Ultimately, if the Cardinals are able to work out a trade for Rolen they will have to accommodate him because he can pull the plug on the trade. So, the bottom line is that the Cardinals will have to find a team willing to eat most or all of Rolen's salary and get at least one potential quality pitcher. I doubt any team would be willing to do that, and I think the best deal would be the one that the Brewers would offer if they are willing to deal. I'm guessing that Doug Melvin will probably sit back on this and see if they get a better deal than what the Cardinals want right now, whatever that is.
If Not Rolen, then Who?
The Brewers might wait until Saturday to check "the boards" and see what's available. That's when players who were offered arbitration can decline and become free agents, so the free agent pool may widen a bit. Thus, options for third base or left field may broaden to the Brewers' advantage.
I think that the Cardinals were waiting patiently to see how the Miguel Cabrera trade was going to shake out, which explains a great deal why the Cardinals might have been stern regarding what they wanted in return for Rolen. Even so, let's examine some potential options for both third base and left field:
Russell Branyan: A former Brewer with a lot of pop in his bat, but his batting average can hover around the Mendoza line. I don't think he'd be a good fit for the Brewers as he'd only be defensively adequate and the Brewers will be looking for something more. Plus, the Cardinals released Branyan in August which should probably say something about his value.
Pedro Feliz: The San Francisco free agent is an intriguing possibility only in that he has some pop in his bat. That being said, Doug Melvin reported to Tom Haudricourt that the Brewers have little interest in Feliz, presumably due to his low on base percentage.
Chris Gomez: He's served very well as a back-up third baseman the last few seasons in Cleveland and Baltimore. He's also available to play the other infield positions. Personally, I'd sign Chris Gomez as a replacement for Tony Graffanino were I Doug Melvin, or at least replace him with Craig Counsel.
Chris Woodward: Another Mendoza Line hitter and utility player, he did not live up to the expectations that the Braves had. I think I'd seek a trade before signing Chris Woodward.
Tadahito Iguchi: He's a possible fit, but he'd have to switch from second base to third. His agent has already expressed Iguchi's interest and has stated that he would welcome the move to third base. Iguchi's agent, Rocky Hall, has even said that he was expecting an offer from the Brewers, but Doug Melvin has not indicated as much. We'll have to see if this is actually something in the making.
Those are the free agents left. Yet, the Brewers have inquired about the following third basemen:
Joe Crede: Joe Crede missed most of last season due to back surgery. If healthy, he'd be a defensive upgrade and could potentially knock 30 homeruns. But, I expect the White Sox will be shopping Crede around and may not make a good offer for the Brewers.
Hank Blalock: It's hard not to like the Texas Rangers' third baseman, but he missed a large part of the season due to a thoracic outlet syndrome, which is a nerve disorder that can adversely affect the neck. In other words, the Brewers would have to scrutinize Blalock's medical records...we don't need another Corie Koskie on the roster. Apart from this, Blalock could be an good fit for the Brewers, but the Rangers will definitely want more than Chris Capuano. The Rangers, of course, communicate quite well with Doug Melvin, so who knows what may transpire after today?
Miguel Tejada: Tejada was Baltimore's shortstop and the Brewers considered him a possibility for third base. He has some pop in his bat and is certainly a defensive upgrade, but probably not a good economic fit for the Brewers.
My Thoughts: If I were Doug Melvin, out of these possibilities, I'd sign Chris Gomez as a utility player and I might go after Hank Blalock if all I had to give up was Capuano and maybe a prospect. Otherwise, standing pat would be a good idea with Ryan Braun at third. I'd go after a corner outfielder instead.
Turnbow Closing Again?
It appears that the Brewers are preparing to have Derrick Turnbow closing again, which fans won't be too keen about. Doug Melvin specifically noted in yesterday's story, "Derrick probably has a head-start on it because he has done it before and has been an all-star closer." True, but after the All Star game in 2006, Turnbow fell apart and became ineffective. He definitely has the stuff to be a closer, but he has to work out whatever is going on in his head. Turnbow's walks last year were egregious for a relief pitcher, but he still possesses a dominant, lively fastball.
I'm not sure that the Brewers are done with the shopping for a closer, but they may be merely seeing what else might pop up on the shelf.
That's it for now. I'll address some Braves related material later, especially regarding the Andruw Jones signing in Los Angeles and Braves fans reactions.
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