I know none of you care but ........ (the Baseball thread)

[pmarachi]

RIP Jerry Coleman

[pmarachi]

Yep, you spotted my deliberate error.

I suspect that Wilson will just attend Spring Training and not play any actual games. However, the fact that this was a Rule 5 pick might mean that he has to start the season on the roster.

Brian Jordan was after Prime.

However, neither of them compare to Bo Jackson, an All Star in both sports.

Bo Jackson was just a phenom.  Completely insane.  Most people who know enough to know (i.e. not people like me who know nothing) say he was the best pure athlete they have ever seen.

If you have a chance, they did an ESPN Film about him called You Don't Know Bo.  It will amaze you.

Some quick highlights that I didn't know (but I guess are common knowledge: not a spoiler)
-turned down a multi-million dollar NFL contract to play minor league baseball
-never lifted weights
-is an expert archer

When I was a kid, my father took me to a Yankee/Royals game.  I remember when he came up to a bat a lady behind us said "This guy is huge, he looks like a football player..."  haha

[pmarachi]

As for the Cano thing, as a Yankee fan I don't blame the guy for leaving

 (I do think it's weird that he is saying he was disrespected, but whatever...)

Here is my take:

He got more money.  He didn't grow up a Yankee fan. He gets to play somewhere slightly under the radar.
I have also heard that Mariners games are broadcast in Japan, which is a big baseball market, but I don't know if that is true.
I do think that the insane contract Ellsbury got pissed him off a little too.

Here's the thing:
He has seen what other big name players do, and they play in smaller markets with big contracts, and when that team can't afford them, they trade them to big market teams at 2/3 the price while they pick up the back 1/3 (See Arod from Texas to Yankees).
If he plays well, the Mets,Sox, Phillies,Dodgers will come knocking.  The Mariners can't possibly keep him around if they don't make the jump to next level, and if and when that doesn't happen, they will deal him... and still probably have to pay him.


In all honesty, I love Cano.  I wish him the best.  Did he sometimes look like he did not hustle? yeah.  Did he sometimes look lazy? yeah.  But was he?  I don't think so.  I think he was so naturally good that everything looked effortless. 

Did it drive me crazy when he didn't run out infield balls to first base? yes.  Do I think it would have mattered? no.

I will cheer him when he comes back to yankee stadium as I am sure most people will.

[UK Redsox]

Yep, the ESPN film on Bo is excellent. It was on TV over here a couple of months ago

[UK Redsox]

The Hall of Fame results will be announced today and its already known that Greg Maddux will not be the first unanimous selection.

One idiot writer submitted a ballot with just one name, Jack Morris. The writer says that he won't vote for anyone who played during "the steroid era", conveniently ignoring that Morris played during that time as well.

http://deadspin.com/greg-maddux-will-not-be-a-unanimous-hall-of-famer-1496300490

[UK Redsox]

As expected, Maddux, Glavine and Thomas are elected at the first attempt

Biggio misses out by 0.2% in his second year.

http://baseballhall.org/news/press-releases/bbwaa-elects-greg-maddux-tom-glavine-and-frank-thomas

Palmeiro fails to get the minimum 5% to stay on the ballot.

Someone voted for Armando Benitez 

[UK Redsox]

A-Rod suspended for the whole of the 2014 season after the arbitrator cuts the ban from 211 games to 162

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10278277/alex-rodriguez-suspension-reduced-162-games

A-Rod will now try to get an injunction and take this to court.

[bertlambshank]

A-Rod suspended for the whole of the 2014 season after the arbitrator cuts the ban from 211 games to 162

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10278277/alex-rodriguez-suspension-reduced-162-games

A-Rod will now try to get an injunction and take this to court.

I bet the Yankees are pissing themselves,not having to pay him.

[UK Redsox]

Yep. This either gives The Highlanders a chance of achieving their aim of keeping their salary under $189m in order to re-set their revenue sharing or maybe bidding for Tanaka

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masahiro_Tanaka

[OzVilla]

A-Rod suspended for the whole of the 2014 season after the arbitrator cuts the ban from 211 games to 162

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10278277/alex-rodriguez-suspension-reduced-162-games

A-Rod will now try to get an injunction and take this to court.

I bet the Yankees are pissing themselves,not having to pay him.

I thought they still have to pay out his contract which runs for another 3 years?

[UK Redsox]

Nope, the Highlanders don't have to pay A-Rod while he's supspended

[pmarachi]

As everyone knows, I am a huge Yankee fan.

But seriously, they are pissing me off with this whole Arod thing.  So is baseball.

Is he a scumbag? yeah… of course.

But he is the ultimate scapegoat for the yankees and baseball.  Think about this.

1) He has NEVER failed an official MLB drug test.
2) The only drug test he failed was from a sealed test where several other players failed as well yet his name was the only name leaked- Right there, thats his own players union protecting everyone BUT him.
3) Bosch first said he didn't have anything on Arod, he then gets paid some money and he suddenly does? Whats the proof he is telling the truth you ask? HE HAS MADE THE STATEMENT MORE THAN ONCE!  seriously! he is his own verification of his own facts!!
4) Full season suspension based on no official failed drug test, while that is clearly not the precedent.
5) because he is arod and a known a**hole, it is ok? why isn't his players union freaking out?

Baseball REALLY wanted the all time record holder to be a yankee, when it didn't work for them they were pissed and they are taking it out on him.
Don't get me wrong, he almost surely is guilty, but this is definitely a Yankee led witch hunt.

Meanwhile guys like Big Papi can just brush their failed drug tests under the rug and pretend it never happened and no one cares...

[usav]

1) He has NEVER failed an official MLB drug test.

After the whole Lance Armstrong thing, I don't trust anyone whether they passed a test or not.

[UK Redsox]

The Highlanders have signed Tanaka for $155m over 7 years (plus the $20m "posting" fee to the the Rakuten Eagles).

The new system between MLB and NPB stitches up the Japanese teams. Under the old system the Eagles could have expected $50m plus.

[UK Redsox]

Evil empires combine.......

Fox is taking over the Yankees' "YES" TV network

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10346996/21st-century-fox-take-majority-control-yes-network