The Official 2012 Major League Baseball Thread

[Merlot]

The Red Sox fire sale has begun, (a clear indication that they have given up on the season), who is next to be traded?.

:lol:

I love Youk for all his great contributions of the past. He was a great player for several years. But anyone who thinks trading a guy who isn't himself anymore so the team can play one with a .331 AVG and hitting at a rate of 190 hits, 41 doubles, 36 HRs, 134 RBIs, .368 OBP, 592, SLG, .960 OPS is a bad thing doesn't know anything about baseball. These are MVP consideration numbers.

 

[Joe.t]

I love Youk for all his great contributions of the past. He was a great player for several years. But anyone who thinks trading a guy who isn't himself anymore so the team can play one with a .331 AVG and hitting at a rate of 190 hits, 41 doubles, 36 HRs, 134 RBIs, .368 OBP, 592, SLG, .960 OPS is a bad thing doesn't know baseball. These are MVP consideration numbers.

Atta boy Merlot, way to stay positive on the absolute failure of the Red Sox season, two years in a row and counting.:thumb:

 

[lgna69xxx]

The guy has played what, 41 or is it 42 MLB games in his career.... Nuff said :crazy:

:lol:

I love Youk for all his great contributions of the past. He was a great player for several years. But anyone who thinks trading a guy who isn't himself anymore so the team can play one with a .331 AVG and hitting at a rate of 190 hits, 41 doubles, 36 HRs, 134 RBIs, .368 OBP, 592, SLG, .960 OPS is a bad thing doesn't know anything baseball. These are MVP consideration numbers.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Who has the worst baseball fans? The Bawstin Red Sox!!!!

Earlier tonight, i got home late & turned on the tv, hoping to catch the end of the Jays/Red Sox game held at that monstrosity of a stadium, the one they call Fenway Park. To my great surprise, the game was now in the bottom of the 7th inning with the Jays bombing the Red Sox 9-5. But what do i see? The stands nearly empty, with maybe 500 people at the game, half of them wearing Jays' baseball caps. Say what?? Has Red Sox Nation died or something? Are they protesting the fact that their hero, Kevin Youkilis, decided to jump ship & request a trade (and was granted) a trade to the Chicago White Sox?? WTF?????

 

[Doc Holliday]

Former Red Sox outfielder Marlon Byrd banned 50 games for getting caught using performance-enhancing drugs

Outfielder Marlon Byrd was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball on Monday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.

Major League Baseball said the 34 year old Byrd tested positive for Tamoxifen, which can reduce side effects of steroid use and increase testosterone. It is often used to treat breast cancer patients.

“I made an inexcusable mistake,” Byrd said in a statement released by the players’ association. “Several years ago, I had surgery for a condition that was private and unrelated to baseball. Last winter, I suffered a recurrence of that condition and I was provided with a medication that resulted in my positive test. Although that medication is on the banned list, I absolutely did not use it for performance enhancement reasons.”

Byrd is currently a free agent, and will be placed on the restricted list for the duration of his suspension, which began immediately. He started the season with the Cubs and was dealt to the Red Sox on April 21. He was designated for assignment by Boston on June 9 and released four days later.

“I am mortified by my carelessness and I apologize to everyone who loves this game as I do,” Byrd said. “I will serve my suspension, continue to work hard and hope that I am given an opportunity to help a Club win later this season.”

In 2009, Byrd said he was using supplements provided by SNAC System, a company founded by Victor Conte, who also was the founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

BALCO was at the centre of a wide-ranging scandal involving performance-enhancing drugs that enveloped several top-level athletes, including Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery and Barry Bonds. Conte pleaded guilty to steroid distribution in July 2005 and served four months in jail.

Byrd said the supplements were all OK to use under MLB rules. He had never before been suspended for failing an PED test.

“Any nutritional supplements I ever provided to Marlon Byrd were legal products that contained no banned substances,” Conte wrote on Twitter. “I provided Marlon Byrd with nutritional and training advice which had nothing whatsoever to do with any type of prohibited substances.”

Byrd hit .210 in 47 games with the two teams, though he hit .270 with a homer and seven RBIs in 34 games with Boston. The Red Sox picked him up when they had a shortage in the outfield after a rash of injuries.

“He played here and he played well,” Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said. “I had no indication or I don’t think anyone did.”

The 34-year-old Byrd has played for five teams in 11 major league seasons and is a career .278 hitter.

Byrd finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2003 with the Phillies and was a National League All-Star with the Cubs in 2010.

 

[Jman47]

Who has the worst baseball fans? The Bawstin Red Sox!!!!

Earlier tonight, i got home late & turned on the tv, hoping to catch the end of the Jays/Red Sox game held at that monstrosity of a stadium, the one they call Fenway Park. To my great surprise, the game was now in the bottom of the 7th inning with the Jays bombing the Red Sox 9-5. But what do i see? The stands nearly empty, with maybe 500 people at the game, half of them wearing Jays' baseball caps. Say what?? Has Red Sox Nation died or something? Are they protesting the fact that their hero, Kevin Youkilis, decided to jump ship & request a trade (and was granted) a trade to the Chicago White Sox?? WTF?????

Well...you have had a recovery period of nearly 24 hours to recover and remove this sad excuse for an "official thread" post. Enough time surely for a gent of your portrayed intelligence to figure out that your comments were directed at a game that was entering a rain delay about the time you turned it on. No matter who has the worst fans in baseball, I can safely state they can probably recognize a rain delay when they see one...:lol:.

And the trade...of all the sports reports and all of the info out there, you think we'd have read a "request" for a trade in at least one other location. Curious, its only mentioned by someone attempting to illicit negative responses on an obscure escort board in an obscure Canadian town. BTW, it was the right time and the right thing for the team to do.

And...BTW again, I thought sniping and baiting was banned from the official thread...?

 

[Jman47]

Yoouuukkk!!!

Thanks for the memories Kevin...and thanks for playing the game right and giving it your all! YOUk will be missed.

 

[Merlot]

Ooops,

Blue Jays overwhelmed by WHO........DICE-K. :lol:

Enough time ...to figure out that your comments were directed at a game that was entering a rain delay...

It's called grasping at straws. They don't have rain delays or championships in Toronto.

Cheers,

Merlot

 

[lgna69xxx]

He pitched well, now if he can do it consistently instead of once every 14 starts you might be on to something there. How about Phil Hughes! Threw 8 shutout innings and looks like All Star Hughes from 2 seasons ago. Had a bad start last time out but bounced back like good pitchers do. When do we play you guys next? Seems like it has been for-evah since we played one another.

Blue Jays overwhelmed by WHO........DICE-K. :lol:

 

[Doc Holliday]

They don't have rain delays or championships in Toronto.

The Jays don't have any championships? Why Skipper, our little buddy Merlot must be absolutely right again! :lol:

Or maybe his frequent acid trips during the 70's have caused him to totally forget the 90's, an era where the Jays often dominated & won back-to-back World Series. :thumb:

Cheers! :lol:

Doc Holliday

 

[Doc Holliday]

Just heard that CC Sabathia has been put on the DL with a groin strain & will miss at least 2 starts. It's not surprising that his body is beginning to break, considering that he hasn't been taking care of himself properly over the years, causing him to be considerably overweight. Never good when you're as big as he is.

 

[lgna69xxx]

Thats too bad, but he has lost alot of weight and so far kept it off this season.... recover soon my man... can you imagine him 100% in shape and healthy? 25 wins a season!

 

[Doc Holliday]

can you imagine him 100% in shape and healthy? 25 wins a season!

Quite possibly. However, i doubt it could happen at his age. It's easier to get in top shape when you're in your teens & twenties. But when you hit the 30's, it all starts going downhill from that moment on, and so on. Big men such as Sabathia often wind up dying prematurely.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Andy Pettite breaks left ankle; out at least 6 weeks

NEW YORK -- New York Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte has a fractured left ankle and will miss at least six weeks.

The 40-year-old Pettitte was hit on the ankle by a line drive in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees said Pettitte will heal without needing surgery.

The injury occurred hours after the Yankees announced that ace CC Sabathia was headed to the disabled list due to a strained muscle in his left leg.

After cruising through the first four innings against Cleveland, Pettitte was struck on the ankle by a liner off the bat of Casey Kotchman. He tried to recover the ball before crumbling to all fours. Yankees manager Joe Girardi and trainer Steve Donohue attended to Pettitte, who attempted to stay in the game after a brief discussion and a few practice pitches.

But after throwing one pitch to Lou Marson, Pettitte winced and hobbled off to the dugout, unable to continue.

Since returning from retirement less than two months ago, Pettitte has been one of the Yankees' better starters. He entered Wednesday with a 3-3 record and a 3.29 ERA.

(My wager with a prominent Yankee fan is now a wash....damn it!)

 

[Jman47]

The Jays don't have any championships? Why Skipper, our little buddy Merlot must be absolutely right again! :lol:

Or maybe his frequent acid trips during the 70's have caused him to totally forget the 90's, an era where the Jays often dominated & won back-to-back World Series. :thumb:

Cheers! :lol:

Doc Holliday

Easy to overlook considering the long time, well documented losing traditions in Toronto......:lol:...

And uh, oh...the yanks are down two more pitchers...maybe now they can lose 6 outfileders and we will see what a genius brain REALLY is...have fun...:help:.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Easy to overlook considering the long time, well documented losing traditions in Toronto......:lol:...

This coming from a Boston Red Sox fan? Does the number 86 ring a bell? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[lgna69xxx]

Man, the Jayman was not thinking when he posted that one lol.... Cashman will do what it takes to cover for Andy and CC. maybe is ManBan time??!! hey rumps, you keep A closer eye on the Yanks than you do your own team, is he healthy?

This coming from a Boston Red Sox fan? Does the number 86 ring a bell? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jman47]

This coming from a Boston Red Sox fan? Does the number 86 ring a bell? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, the Jayman was not thinking when he posted that one lol.... Cashman will do what it takes to cover for Andy and CC. maybe is ManBan time??!! hey rumps, you keep A closer eye on the Yanks than you do your own team, is he healthy?

You outsiders (yankee fans and other ball breakers) really, truley don't understand do you?
The 86, 1918 or whatever thing is that you continue to hang on to is...DEAD. It DIED in 2004...buy a vowel, get a clue, do something:help:...ROFLMAO!

It meaningless to those of us (Red Sox Fans) on the other side, but if it makes you feel good...well, ok...have fun:amen:.

On the other hand and in other arenas...1967 still looms LARGE!

 

[Doc Holliday]

On the other hand and in other arenas...1967 still looms LARGE!

I remember that series. Red Sox lost to the St Louis Cardinals in 7 games. Classic series! Bob Gibson, Yaz, Dick Williams' first year as manager. I was cheering for the Red Sox, the perenial losers that they are.....but unfortunately, the CURSE got the better of them....again!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Another ugly game, and more questions about Daniel Bard

By Danny Knobler

When the Red Sox were going through their "Will he or won't he?" stage on Daniel Bard and starting vs. relieving, two major-league pitching coaches expressed concern about what it would all mean for Bard's future.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with 'the thing,'" one of them said sadly.

"The thing," as in the sudden inability of a pitcher to throw the ball over the plate at all.

Friday night in Pawtucket, Bard allowed five of the six batters he faced to reach base. His final four batters went walk, hit batter, walk, walk. He threw just four of his final 17 pitches for strikes, and several of the 13 balls were far out of the strike zone.

It doesn't mean he has "the thing." Pawsox manager Arnie Beyeler told the Providence Journal that Bard simply "can't repeat" his delivery.

It does mean that Bard isn't close to being able to help the Red Sox, as a starter or as a reliever.

He was a starter this year in Boston. He started the first game after the Red Sox sent him to Triple-A, then moved to the bullpen, at first as an experiment, and eventually for good.

His nine-appearance numbers for the Pawsox: 11 1/3 innings, 11 hits, nine runs (all earned), eight walks, four hit batters, 14 strikeouts. Add in the final big-league outing that earned Bard a demotion, and Bard has allowed 32 of the last 68 batters to reach base, 20 of them by walk or hit batter.

It's ugly, and it's scary.

Bard's problems haven't shown up in every appearance. Just this past Wednesday, he had a 10-pitch, 7-strike inning.

But then came Friday, when Bard was so bad that he refused to even talk about it, according to Brian McPherson of the Journal.

At best, it has to be a great concern for the Red Sox.

And at worst . . .

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/d...gly-game-and-more-questions-about-daniel-bard