Chico Escuela posted:fenwaysouth posted:....
I really do prefer National League baseball over American League baseball. ....
Many years ago, someone explained MLB to me this way: "In the American League, they use a Designated Hitter; and in the National League, they play baseball."
Pitcher’s hitting are a nice comedy break, speeds things up a bit.
I was born and raised as a O's fan (fortunately I'm old enough for that not to have been a horrible experience) but I've lived my adult life in NL markets (LA, SF, NY) so I follow and prefer NL baseball.
True, pitchers hitting can be comic, except when they're not (for example Bumgarner), and sometimes you get to see something really, really special, as I did last season in my first game at Citi Field when Syndergaard shut out the Reds in CG win, and drove in the only run of the game with a solo HR.
JCG posted:...but I've lived my adult life in NL markets (LA, SF, NY) so I follow and prefer NL baseball.
JCG, i think you have Yankee fans across the country spitting out their coffee right now 
Angel fans don't really care and A's fans are happy not to be associated with the wine crowd.
I know, I know... Can't help myself. Effing Yankees. At least Billy Martin was entertaining while being a total a$$. Now they're more of a brand name than a baseball team.
So, regarding the "wearable devices" element to this story, specifically the video of Altuve covering his jersey as he crosses home plate, he put out this statement via his agent...
...and this is his statement: ‘I have never worn an electronic device in my performance as a major league player.’ … [Altuve] has never been involved in any information with the use of an electronic device that is triggered during the course of the game. Fans need to keep in mind that there are a lot of players who are in the spider web, but they are not the black widow just because they are a member of the team or the league.
What I found to be missing in this statement is any denial of involvement in the bigger picture of the scandal. Sure seems to me, if you are going to make a point to publicly clear yourself, you would do it all the way if innocent of any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, my A + B = C logic tells me he was definitely involved in benefiting from the "trash can" version. One of my favorites. Dammit.
cabbagedad posted:So, regarding the "wearable devices" element to this story, specifically the video of Altuve covering his jersey as he crosses home plate, he put out this statement via his agent...
...and this is his statement: ‘I have never worn an electronic device in my performance as a major league player.’ … [Altuve] has never been involved in any information with the use of an electronic device that is triggered during the course of the game. Fans need to keep in mind that there are a lot of players who are in the spider web, but they are not the black widow just because they are a member of the team or the league.
What I found to be missing in this statement is any denial of involvement in the bigger picture of the scandal. Sure seems to me, if you are going to make a point to publicly clear yourself, you would do it all the way if innocent of any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, my A + B = C logic tells me he was definitely involved in benefiting from the "trash can" version. One of my favorites. Dammit.
Hence my search for a new team.
Much of the above thread is based on social media rumor, innuendo and supposition.
Is it heretical to repeat the west coast player HGH rumor?
If a player is taking an illegal substance ( such as in this case HGH), there are medical exceptions allowed.
Am I correct in recalling that Boras previously denied that Altuve participated in the trash can banging scheme? I could swear I read a statement earlier, before the penalties were announced, but I can't find it today. The latest Altuve denial is worded very carefully so as not to deny the prior cheating.
Yes, the latest controversy is only rumor and speculation at this point. But I remind folks that there were published rumors at least as early as 2018 that the Astros were using trash cans to signal pitches in 2017 ("Two major league players said they have witnessed the Astros hitting a trash can in the dugout in recent years and believe it is a way to relay signals to hitters." -- from Oct 2018, https://sports.yahoo.com/sourc...ation-032027336.html ) I'm not saying the current rumors are true, just that recent history suggests 1) that they can't be completely discounted (and denials by the alleged participants mean little or nothing given their track records); and 2) MLB may not act unless someone makes a non-anonymous public statement a la Mike Fiers.
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Edited to fix the link--autocorrect inserted an emoji. Sorry
I think we are going to be seeing more of this kind of report... This one hit ESPN.com a few minutes ago:
"Jack McDowell says Tony La Russa had sign-stealing system with White Sox in '80s"
"Former Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell on Friday accused Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa of having a camera-aided sign-stealing system installed when he was with the Chicago White Sox in the late 1980s."
I’m sure that some of you have seen it but I just got a recommendation to watch the following. I will at some point over the weekend.
Unfortunately, even if the electronic buzzer story is totally false, this is one of the consequence of being caught cheating. Once a cheater, anyone can now believe any cheating accusation about them.
fenwaysouth posted:Go44dad posted:hshuler posted:Go44dad posted:Explain this, Shu!
No explanation, my friend! 🤣
The Astros have admitted the crime and have received their punishment. I have talked to several people who say that certain folks should be banned for life. I’m not in the camp after thinking about it but I don’t think that everyone has to think like me. I can respect everyone’s opinion even when I don’t agree.
At this time, they are banned for the rest of my life. I'm looking for a new team. Must be in Eastern time zone. A 6:00 CST start sounds good. Can't stay up past 9:00. Can't do Yankees, Red Sox, Mets. Tried the Phillies last year and just couldn't. I'm thinking Jays, Rays or Braves.
My local and national league team is the Nationals. Been following them since they started when they were absolutely terrible, and watched them blossom last year. Can't go wrong with the Nats! Besides, the mascot is an American Eagle which is kind of cool.
I really do prefer National League baseball over American League baseball. In 2020, I will be watching and attending lots of Nats games because I will not be watching Red Sox games (or purchasing MLB package). I've put the Red Sox in mental time out, and I will not be spending any money to attend or watch Red Sox games this year.
It used to be that I thought the players and managers were the good guys and the GM and front office were a bunch of wankers. That perspective is gone. With this scandal, I think the commissioner has to do something with the players. How is this different from players like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson who had lifetime bans put on them for gambling or taking money to throw a game? In my mind this level and degree of cheating is far worse than gambling because it involves the whole team, yet nothing is being done to the players. If I was commissioner, the players, coach and any front office personnel would be banned from baseball for life. Houston and other teams would be promoting a lot of AAA guys for the 2020 season.
Sorry for the left turn onto Rant Avenue but this has really got me pissed off probably because my team is part of it.
As always, JMO.
Nfenwaysouth posted:Go44dad posted:hshuler posted:Go44dad posted:Explain this, Shu!
No explanation, my friend! 🤣
The Astros have admitted the crime and have received their punishment. I have talked to several people who say that certain folks should be banned for life. I’m not in the camp after thinking about it but I don’t think that everyone has to think like me. I can respect everyone’s opinion even when I don’t agree.
At this time, they are banned for the rest of my life. I'm looking for a new team. Must be in Eastern time zone. A 6:00 CST start sounds good. Can't stay up past 9:00. Can't do Yankees, Red Sox, Mets. Tried the Phillies last year and just couldn't. I'm thinking Jays, Rays or Braves.
My local and national league team is the Nationals. Been following them since they started when they were absolutely terrible, and watched them blossom last year. Can't go wrong with the Nats! Besides, the mascot is an American Eagle which is kind of cool.
I really do prefer National League baseball over American League baseball. In 2020, I will be watching and attending lots of Nats games because I will not be watching Red Sox games (or purchasing MLB package). I've put the Red Sox in mental time out, and I will not be spending any money to attend or watch Red Sox games this year.
It used to be that I thought the players and managers were the good guys and the GM and front office were a bunch of wankers. That perspective is gone. With this scandal, I think the commissioner has to do something with the players. How is this different from players like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson who had lifetime bans put on them for gambling or taking money to throw a game? In my mind this level and degree of cheating is far worse than gambling because it involves the whole team, yet nothing is being done to the players. If I was commissioner, the players, coach and any front office personnel would be banned from baseball for life. Houston and other teams would be promoting a lot of AAA guys for the 2020 season.
Sorry for the left turn onto Rant Avenue but this has really got me pissed off probably because my team is part of it.
As always, JMO.
I agree with all of the above except the ban for life. The players should be suspended, for at least a year. There’s no worse pain than not playing the game you love. And they need to feel that pain. They hurt other younger players coming up. Those young guys are being inadvertently punished. There will be 4 less guys that will get the chance to play pro ball. The wrong guys are being targeted. This hurts.
RoadRunner posted:fenwaysouth posted:Go44dad posted:hshuler posted:Go44dad posted:Explain this, Shu!
No explanation, my friend! 🤣
The Astros have admitted the crime and have received their punishment. I have talked to several people who say that certain folks should be banned for life. I’m not in the camp after thinking about it but I don’t think that everyone has to think like me. I can respect everyone’s opinion even when I don’t agree.
At this time, they are banned for the rest of my life. I'm looking for a new team. Must be in Eastern time zone. A 6:00 CST start sounds good. Can't stay up past 9:00. Can't do Yankees, Red Sox, Mets. Tried the Phillies last year and just couldn't. I'm thinking Jays, Rays or Braves.
My local and national league team is the Nationals. Been following them since they started when they were absolutely terrible, and watched them blossom last year. Can't go wrong with the Nats! Besides, the mascot is an American Eagle which is kind of cool.
I really do prefer National League baseball over American League baseball. In 2020, I will be watching and attending lots of Nats games because I will not be watching Red Sox games (or purchasing MLB package). I've put the Red Sox in mental time out, and I will not be spending any money to attend or watch Red Sox games this year.
It used to be that I thought the players and managers were the good guys and the GM and front office were a bunch of wankers. That perspective is gone. With this scandal, I think the commissioner has to do something with the players. How is this different from players like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson who had lifetime bans put on them for gambling or taking money to throw a game? In my mind this level and degree of cheating is far worse than gambling because it involves the whole team, yet nothing is being done to the players. If I was commissioner, the players, coach and any front office personnel would be banned from baseball for life. Houston and other teams would be promoting a lot of AAA guys for the 2020 season.
Sorry for the left turn onto Rant Avenue but this has really got me pissed off probably because my team is part of it.
As always, JMO.
Nfenwaysouth posted:Go44dad posted:hshuler posted:Go44dad posted:Explain this, Shu!
No explanation, my friend! 🤣
The Astros have admitted the crime and have received their punishment. I have talked to several people who say that certain folks should be banned for life. I’m not in the camp after thinking about it but I don’t think that everyone has to think like me. I can respect everyone’s opinion even when I don’t agree.
At this time, they are banned for the rest of my life. I'm looking for a new team. Must be in Eastern time zone. A 6:00 CST start sounds good. Can't stay up past 9:00. Can't do Yankees, Red Sox, Mets. Tried the Phillies last year and just couldn't. I'm thinking Jays, Rays or Braves.
My local and national league team is the Nationals. Been following them since they started when they were absolutely terrible, and watched them blossom last year. Can't go wrong with the Nats! Besides, the mascot is an American Eagle which is kind of cool.
I really do prefer National League baseball over American League baseball. In 2020, I will be watching and attending lots of Nats games because I will not be watching Red Sox games (or purchasing MLB package). I've put the Red Sox in mental time out, and I will not be spending any money to attend or watch Red Sox games this year.
It used to be that I thought the players and managers were the good guys and the GM and front office were a bunch of wankers. That perspective is gone. With this scandal, I think the commissioner has to do something with the players. How is this different from players like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson who had lifetime bans put on them for gambling or taking money to throw a game? In my mind this level and degree of cheating is far worse than gambling because it involves the whole team, yet nothing is being done to the players. If I was commissioner, the players, coach and any front office personnel would be banned from baseball for life. Houston and other teams would be promoting a lot of AAA guys for the 2020 season.
Sorry for the left turn onto Rant Avenue but this has really got me pissed off probably because my team is part of it.
As always, JMO.
I agree with all of the above except the ban for life. The players should be suspended, for at least a year. There’s no worse pain than not playing the game you love. And they need to feel that pain. They hurt other younger players coming up. Those young guys are being inadvertently punished. There will be 4 less guys that will get the chance to play pro ball. The wrong guys are being targeted. This hurts.
I actually agree with your last statement to a degree, although all of the players who project to be drafted top 2 rounds will still be drafted, just by other teams.
cabbagedad posted:So, regarding the "wearable devices" element to this story, specifically the video of Altuve covering his jersey as he crosses home plate, he put out this statement via his agent...
...and this is his statement: ‘I have never worn an electronic device in my performance as a major league player.’ … [Altuve] has never been involved in any information with the use of an electronic device that is triggered during the course of the game. Fans need to keep in mind that there are a lot of players who are in the spider web, but they are not the black widow just because they are a member of the team or the league.
What I found to be missing in this statement is any denial of involvement in the bigger picture of the scandal. Sure seems to me, if you are going to make a point to publicly clear yourself, you would do it all the way if innocent of any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, my A + B = C logic tells me he was definitely involved in benefiting from the "trash can" version. One of my favorites. Dammit.
And if you are a hitter for the Astros, how exactly would you claim/be innocent? Buzzer=private. Loud noises not so much. So what do you do as a player? How do you ignore that? I say it’s impossible. And I was huge Altuve fan (for personal reasons you can likely guess). This has made it harder for some to climb the ladder.
collegebaseballrecruitingguide posted:RoadRunner posted:I agree with all of the above except the ban for life. The players should be suspended, for at least a year. There’s no worse pain than not playing the game you love. And they need to feel that pain. They hurt other younger players coming up. Those young guys are being inadvertently punished. There will be 4 less guys that will get the chance to play pro ball. The wrong guys are being targeted. This hurts.
I actually agree with your last statement to a degree, although all of the players who project to be drafted top 2 rounds will still be drafted, just by other teams.
Of course. But what about the 4 that get no chance? Some here may say/think the last last 4 don’t really have a ”chance”. I guess that depends how you define chance. Maybe some guys need/want the experience. Maybe they want to build their resume, to coach, college or otherwise. Maybe those 4 unimportant players want to stay in the game, whatever it takes, at whatever level, doing whatever job they are qualified for.
Guys I know who were drafted in the last couple rounds in my experience are typically great players who are going to top D1 programs and told teams that they were not going to sign, or relatives of MLB executives or coaches, who have no real chance at a professional career and were drafted as favors. Happens every year.
collegebaseballrecruitingguide posted:Guys I know who were drafted in the last couple rounds in my experience are typically great players who are going to top D1 programs and told teams that they were not going to sign, or relatives of MLB executives or coaches, who have no real chance at a professional career and were drafted as favors. Happens every year.
Four less.
Is it just me, or has everyone else had it “up to here” with cheating and cheaters? If it’s not people buying their ways into schools or on to rosters, it’s players/teams cheating at a systemic rate. It’s trash cans, video cameras, perhaps buzzers and PEDs.
I for one and sick of this crap and would like to see teams receive an ultimatum. If the team is caught cheating to win games, the organization will not be scheduled to play in the following season. THE ENTIRE SEASON. Impacts the owners, impacts the players who are part of the cheating, and impacts those who do not cheat. Hopefully the pressure on the cheaters on the club from the non-cheaters to not mess with their livelihoods would have an impact. A full year of team revenue would certainly catch their attention.
just sick of this...
