QUOTE

I, and apparently the vast majority of people voting on ESPN.com, would love to see a lifetime ban for A-Rod.

QUOTE

Pete Rose got a lifetime ban for betting on games he had nothing to do with, and betting on his own team to win.

QUOTE

MLB Players Association executive director Michael Weiner blasted MLB commissioner Bud Selig on the Dan Patrick Show Tuesday morning, calling the 211-game suspension levied against Alex Rodriguez “unfair” and “inappropriate.” Weiner also noted that the Players Association will assess its position on drug-related suspensions, as current opinion among players is split: “There were a lot of players who were in favor of tougher penalties. There were a lot of players who weren’t.”

QUOTE

I think he's delusional about his popularity.

QUOTE

Oh, and fuck A-Rod, other players like him, and baseball writers who think people who cheat belong in the hall.

QUOTE

When union leaders said the move was not legal, reps continued to push the issue and not one player defended Rodriguez.

QUOTE

Tanaka has never thrown a pitch in the major leagues, the Yankees did not hesitate to offer him the fifth-largest contract ever for a pitcher.

QUOTE

Between outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran, catcher Brian McCann and now Tanaka, the Yankees have expended $438 million in an effort to return to dominance. They've committed a total of $471 million this winter.

QUOTE

He had a .338 career batting average and never hit below .309 in any full season. Gwynn accumulated 3,141 career hits as a contact hitter.

QUOTE

Hypothesis: Cleveland can only win the World Series within 1-5 years of a World War ending.

QUOTE

3. Philadelphia Phillies $180,052,723

QUOTE

Hockey would be a close second, but I could never, ever figure out the offsides rule.

(GORDON @ Sep. 29 2014,11:36)

QUOTE

I seem to have some mental block regarding that rule.  I once read it over and over trying to make sense of it, never could.

QUOTE

Rodriguez, who has repeatedly denied the use of performance-enhancing drugs in connection with Bosch, told investigators that he paid Bosch about $12,000 a month for his services and substances, including prefilled syringes with hormone injections into his stomach, The Herald said. Bosch also gave Rodriguez “tips on how to beat M.L.B.'s drug testing,” the report said.
...
In addition to Rodriguez, The Herald reported that the prosecutors have granted immunity to eight other current and former professional players: Ryan Braun, Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Francisco Cervelli, Yosmani Grandal, Cesar David Puello, Jordany Valdespin and Manny Ramirez.

QUOTE

"I served the longest suspension in the history of the League for PED use," Rodriguez wrote in his statement. "The Commissioner has said the matter is over. The Players Association has said the same. The Yankees have said the next step is to play baseball.

"I'm ready to put this chapter behind me and play some ball.

QUOTE

To avoid leaving the drug in his locker, [Tim "Rock"] Raines carried it in his hip pocket, and slid headfirst when running the bases.
...
Raines received only 24% of the vote in his first attempt in 2008, far short of the required 75%. In 2009 he received 22.6% of the vote, in 2010 he received 30.4% of the vote, in 2011 he received 37.5% of the vote, in 2012 he received 48.7% of the vote, in 2013 he received 52.2% of the vote, in 2014 he received 46.1% of the vote and in 2015 he received 55.0%.

QUOTE

"I disagree with his lifestyle," he told NJ.com. "I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual."

He said he feels that way because he is "trying to surrender to Christ in my own life."

He said: "We love the people. We disagree (with) the lifestyle."

QUOTE

The majority of players they celebrated in the 90s were cheating their asses off. No bans for them.

QUOTE

Steroids finally made it to baseball’s banned substance list in 1991, however testing for major league players did not begin until the 2003 season.

QUOTE

Former pitcher Tom House, drafted in 1967 and active in MLB from 1971-1978, has admitted to using "steroids they wouldn't give to horses" during his playing career.  According to House, the use of performance-enhancing drugs was widespread at that time.  He estimates that "six or seven" pitchers on every team were at least experimental users of steroids or human growth hormone, and says that after losses, players would frequently joke that they'd been "out-milligrammed" rather than beaten.

QUOTE

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton will not be disciplined by Significant League Baseball for his latest difficulties involving cocaine and alcohol. Team officials responded by saying they were shocked and disappointed.

Angels basic manager Jerry Dipoto stated he disagrees with the ruling by an arbitrator appointed below MLB's joint drug system with the players' association. MLB stated earlier Friday that it disagreed with the ruling.

QUOTE

Moreno also claimed that the Angels have language in Hamilton's contract protecting them against a relapse by the troubled outfielder. He said the team was exploring whether to use that protection, although he wasn't specific.

QUOTE

According to the Times, the FBI believes that Cardinals officials gained access to the Astros' database by using a list of passwords associated with Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow dating to his tenure with the Cardinals from 2003 until he left for Houston after the 2011 season.

QUOTE

Look at all those Royals up there, eight of them in the American League starting lineup, including second baseman Omar Infante, who is hitting .228 and is the worst offensive player in baseball.
...
MLB officials insist they haven’t found any sort of large-scale hack job on the vote — heh — and say the results simply stem from the Royals’ ardent followers.

QUOTE

"Other fan bases have clearly benefited from not staying up late on school nights in October," wrote Geoff Foster of The Wall Street Journal. "The five teams with the best grammar and spelling (Indians, Padres, White Sox, Mariners, Cubs) root for teams that have collectively won four titles in the past 100 years."

QUOTE

But because the penalty for betting on baseball — permanent ineligibility — has been clearly stated since 1920, it was hard to imagine new commissioner Rob Manfred lifting Rose’s ban anyway when he meets with him in the next few weeks.

QUOTE

NL Central W L PCT GB

 Cardinals 74 41 0.643 -

 Pirates 67 46 0.593 6

 Cubs 66 48 0.579 7.5

QUOTE

The German people get bashed because "they sat quietly while the Nazis did their thing". Can't the same be said about Muslims today sitting quietly as Jihad John cuts off heads and ISIS destroys history?

QUOTE

Nazi-era Germans, on the other hand, overwhelmingly supported and fought for the Nazi regime.

QUOTE

If every Muslim government, including Iran, came out condemning ISIS and promising troops, equipment, and money to crush them, wouldn't that be a hell of a statement?

QUOTE

Schilling is saying that the religion of Islam is akin to Nazi Germany, and that the world's 1.6 billion Muslims are responsible for the actions of a tiny minority of extremists in the same way that Nazi-era Germans were complicit in Nazi crimes.

QUOTE

1. Los Angeles Dodgers $272,789,040
2. New York Yankees $219,282,196
3. Boston Red Sox $187,407,202
4. Detroit Tigers $173,813,750
5. San Francisco Giants $172,672,111
6. Washington Nationals $164,920,505
7. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim $150,933,083
8. Texas Rangers $142,140,873
9. Philadelphia Phillies $135,827,500
10. Toronto Blue Jays $122,506,600
11. St. Louis Cardinals $120,869,458
12. Seattle Mariners $119,798,060
13. Chicago Cubs $119,006,885
14. Cincinnati Reds $117,197,072
15. Chicago White Sox $115,238,678
16. Kansas City Royals $113,618,650
17. Baltimore Orioles $110,146,097
18. Minnesota Twins $108,945,000
19. Milwaukee Brewers $105,002,536
20. Colorado Rockies $102,006,130
21. New York Mets $101,409,244
22. San Diego Padres $100,675,896
23. Atlanta Braves $97,578,565
24. Arizona Diamondbacks $91,518,833
25. Pittsburgh Pirates $88,278,500
26. Cleveland Indians $86,091,175
27. Oakland A's $86,086,667
28. Tampa Bay Rays $76,061,707
29. Houston Astros $70,910,100
30. Miami Marlins $68,479,000

QUOTE

Five times, Berra had more home runs than strikeouts in a season, striking out just twelve times in 597 at-bats in 1950.

QUOTE

Berra led all American League catchers eight times in games caught and in chances accepted, six times in double plays (a major league record), eight times in putouts, three times in assists, and once in fielding percentage. Berra left the game with the AL records for catcher putouts (8,723) and chances accepted (9,520). He was also one of only four catchers to ever field 1.000 for a season, playing 88 errorless games in 1958.

QUOTE

According to the win shares formula developed by sabermetrician Bill James, Berra is the greatest catcher of all time and the 52nd greatest non-pitching player in major-league history.

QUOTE

"No one in the history of the game who has been declared permanently ineligible has been reinstated," Dowd said. "That gives Rule 21 tremendous force that protects the integrity of the game."

Rule 21 declares permanently ineligible any MLB player, umpire, or club or league official or employee who bets on any game in which the bettor has a duty to perform.

Kevin Hallinan, the former MLB security director who investigated Rose for the Dowd report, told Weinbaum, "The commissioner will decide in the best interests of the game. This is not about the individual."

QUOTE

Early in the 2009-2010 season, Washington Wizards guard Javaris Crittenton lost a $1,100 card game to then-teammate JaVale McGee and apparently argued with McGee over the game.

After teammate Gilbert Arenas got involved in the argument, Crittenton allegedly threatened to shoot Arenas.

Several days later, Arenas reportedly brought four unloaded guns into the Washington locker room, along with a note instructing Crittenton to "PICK ONE" and carry out his threat.

Instead of picking one of Arenas' firearms, Crittenton allegedly responded by pulling out a loaded gun.

QUOTE

11. St. Louis Cardinals $120,869,458
25. Pittsburgh Pirates $88,278,500
13. Chicago Cubs $119,006,885
10. Toronto Blue Jays $122,506,600
16. Kansas City Royals $113,618,650
21. New York Mets $101,409,244
1. Los Angeles Dodgers $272,789,040
8. Texas Rangers $142,140,873
2. New York Yankees $219,282,196
29. Houston Astros $70,910,100

QUOTE

21. New York Mets $101,409,244
1. Los Angeles Dodgers $272,789,040

(Malcolm @ Oct. 01 2015,11:59)

QUOTE

The playoffs are pretty much set.

Nat'l league teams are in bold.  The order in which I've got the teams represents their standings in terms of W-L.  The number in front is their rank on the salary list.

QUOTE

The current picture:
13. Chicago Cubs $119,006,885
10. Toronto Blue Jays $122,506,600
16. Kansas City Royals $113,618,650
21. New York Mets $101,409,244

QUOTE

16. Kansas City Royals $113,618,650
21. New York Mets $101,409,244

(Malcolm @ Oct. 20 2015,22:26)

QUOTE

Royals up 3-1

QUOTE

That rule is the prohibition against betting, posted prominently in every big league clubhouse.

QUOTE

But we also know that MLB itself doesn't hold fast to "No Gambling."

If it did, the league wouldn't have an extended contract with DraftKings, the daily fantasy site in which MLB owns an equity stake and which also has deals with at least 27 teams. And Manfred wouldn't be working so hard to sell a "clear legal line" of gambling that puts DraftKings on the right side.

QUOTE

In a statement released to KRIV-TV in Houston, Clemens reminded the "former Blue Jays pitcher" of allegations brought up during his own career.

"Just to enlighten him, he was accused of using amphetamines by the 'strength coach,'" Clemens said in the statement. "You should be very careful when putting tweets out while not having your facts on the matter at hand."

QUOTE

Plus, it’s not as if strategy disappears with a DH. It just changes. Instead of calling for a double switch, a manager has to utilize his bullpen in more creative ways, because there’s no longer an automatic out in the lineup.

QUOTE

You’re saying that David Ortiz isn’t a baseball player, but Jon Lester with his four career hits is a real baseball player.

QUOTE

“NL games are quicker.”

QUOTE

The fact is, for all the huffing and puffing done by NL fans and/or baseball purists and/or folks who simply fear change, watching baseball games with a designated hitter is the exact same experience as watching baseball games without a designated hitter. The only difference is you don’t have to watch the equivalent of your buddy James from accounting whiff helplessly at fastballs, and you don’t have to see the fifth man off the bench come up in a big spot in the ninth inning, and you get to see a real-life major league hitter play real-life Major League Baseball.

QUOTE

Card experts in Southern California said Wednesday that they have verified the legitimacy — and seven-figure total value — of seven identical Ty Cobb cards from the printing period of 1909 to 1911. Before the recent find, there were only about 15 known to still exist.

(Leisher @ Mar. 03 2016,12:24)

QUOTE

The people who owned the other cards are probably pissed. This find lowers the value of their cards.

QUOTE

Ravech said manager Robin Ventura intervened and told his players to play Wednesday's game because it was their job, and because LaRoche would want them to do so. Several players took to Twitter to support LaRoche, including White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton and Bryce Harper, LaRoche's former teammate with the Nationals...

QUOTE

Chicago White Sox players accused executive vice president Ken Williams of lying to them Friday, and have demanded a meeting with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf over the retirement of teammate Adam LaRoche.
...
“We got bald-faced lied to,’’ said White Sox ace Chris Sale, who had jerseys of LaRoche and the first baseman's 14-year-old son, Drake, hanging in his locker. “Kenny contradicted a few things he said.

"The wrong guy walked out of that room.’’
...
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark indicated earlier this week he may pursue a grievance on LaRoche's behalf.

QUOTE

I think Williams is fucked, and the funny part is he's not in a terribly wrong place.

I mean the kid was there as much as his dad. That's a fucking LOT of time for a non-team member to be around a team serving no function.

QUOTE

Prior to signing with the White Sox, my first question to the club concerned my son’s ability to be a part of the team. After some due diligence on the club’s part, we reached an agreement. The 2015 season presented no problems as far as Drake was concerned. (My bat and our record are another story!)

With all of this in mind, we move toward the current situation which arose after White Sox VP Ken Williams recently advised me to significantly scale back the time that my son spent in the clubhouse. Later, I was told not to bring him to the ballpark at all. Obviously, I expressed my displeasure toward this decision to alter the agreement we had reached before I signed with the White Sox. Upon doing so, I had to make a decision. Do I choose my teammates and my career? Or do I choose my family? The decision was easy, but in no way was it a reflection of how I feel about my teammates, manager, general manager or the club’s owner Jerry Reinsdorf.