Once again, the mysterious 2003 PED list has struck again. The New York Times have once again reported two more players with that big list of hunderd and three players. Those two were Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez and Boston Red Sox's first baseman David Ortiz. If you forgot, Ortiz was the same guy who called for a one year ban if someone was doing steroids.... rut roh.
I dont really care about Manny because he already has been suspended this year for the PED issue. I mean he did say that this was his only time and he never did it any other times during the other years. But that not has proven to be false. Big Papi is another story for a couple reasons...
a. Like I said before, he was such a big proponent of steroids are a bad thing and they are completely wrong. Ortiz was adamant about getting PED's out of baseball and seemed like one of the good guys. That's why him saying he was shocked by all of this makes a little sense to me because when the list came out they were made aware.
b. He is Boston's sports hero for baseball right now more so than Manny when he was there and trust me when I was down in the Dominican Republic, he was so iconic there as well. Outsiders like me loved Ortiz for his clutch hitting in the playoffs and his happy-go-lucky attitude about the game.
c. Ortiz making claims that he will try to explain all of the details to his fans through the media is an admirable gesture but who knows what we will actually learn from Ortiz. If Big Papi says look I screwed up and took a doctor's advice to help (insert any injury) didnt realize one of the banned substances was in there.
I have said before a million times, it wasnt banned at the time of using therefore why should it really be that big of a deal? I mean I can only imagine what some of these players were thinking "Oh man, this guy is getting such advantage with steroids, I need to get my hands on those." You really dont think that thought went through a lot of guys heads during the fifteen to twenty years.
Just release the list and let all these guys in the Hall of Fame if they deserve it.
-Charlie.
The New Logo
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Lamar Lands in LA
One of the biggest things in the NBA off season has came to end with the Los Angeles Lakers agreeing to a deal with Lamar Odom after it appeared that he was headed back with the Miami Heat. This for the Lakers was probably the biggest achievement of the off season.
We have talked about Odom a couple times on the blog and take away all the things that Kobe Bryant does... LO is the glue of the team. Despite what you think about Odom's antics with his love of the beach and gummy worms, LO does some great things on the boards, defense, and somewhat scoring wise. It also appears to me that Odom is one of the veteran leaders (Derek Fisher too) who will talk to you and explain to you whats going on in the Laker world. The big reason is I really dont believe that Kobe does all that shit therefore you have Odom.
Los Angeles has to breathe a sigh of a relief too because if they were lose Odom and Trevor Ariza would have been disastrous. The Lakers would have to find someone to fill the hole of Odom would have left and it wouldnt been anyone to Lamar's level.
The Lakers now look ready to make a title defense with their new acquisition Ron Artest who is high school friends with Odom leading to having a strong relationship on the court. I think you will see Artest-Odom combination on many parts of the floor.
-Charlie.
We have talked about Odom a couple times on the blog and take away all the things that Kobe Bryant does... LO is the glue of the team. Despite what you think about Odom's antics with his love of the beach and gummy worms, LO does some great things on the boards, defense, and somewhat scoring wise. It also appears to me that Odom is one of the veteran leaders (Derek Fisher too) who will talk to you and explain to you whats going on in the Laker world. The big reason is I really dont believe that Kobe does all that shit therefore you have Odom.
Los Angeles has to breathe a sigh of a relief too because if they were lose Odom and Trevor Ariza would have been disastrous. The Lakers would have to find someone to fill the hole of Odom would have left and it wouldnt been anyone to Lamar's level.
The Lakers now look ready to make a title defense with their new acquisition Ron Artest who is high school friends with Odom leading to having a strong relationship on the court. I think you will see Artest-Odom combination on many parts of the floor.
-Charlie.
Los Angeles' Answer.
The Los Angeles Dodgers knew that they had to make a move with the Philadelphia Phillies trading for Cliff Lee and they have deliver that answer with dealing for Baltimore Orioles' George Sherrill for a couple of prospects.
My thoughts on this one is the Dodgers did a great job at getting a solid reliever who will be their closer right now and then their eight inning guy when Jonathan Broxton comes back from injury. Sherrill has had a good year so far with twenty saves and a 2.43 ERA plus he throws from the left side making him more deadly. Baltimore has Jim Johnson who can be the closer for the Orioles and they didnt really give away a cornerstone. It was a very smart idea for the Orioles to deal Sherrill.
The one thing I didnt know about the Dodgers is the fact that they are the second highest bullpen innings in the league which is something to raise concerns. Los Angeles is going to need big innings out of guys like Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, and Hiroki Kuroda. If their bullpen begins to get over worked you have to worry about the Dodgers in September.
-Charlie.
My thoughts on this one is the Dodgers did a great job at getting a solid reliever who will be their closer right now and then their eight inning guy when Jonathan Broxton comes back from injury. Sherrill has had a good year so far with twenty saves and a 2.43 ERA plus he throws from the left side making him more deadly. Baltimore has Jim Johnson who can be the closer for the Orioles and they didnt really give away a cornerstone. It was a very smart idea for the Orioles to deal Sherrill.
The one thing I didnt know about the Dodgers is the fact that they are the second highest bullpen innings in the league which is something to raise concerns. Los Angeles is going to need big innings out of guys like Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, and Hiroki Kuroda. If their bullpen begins to get over worked you have to worry about the Dodgers in September.
-Charlie.
Lee Lands in Philly and Cleveland Continues the Torment
The Philadelphia Phillies have been the hottest team in baseball for the last month have maybe vaulted themselves into the top team in the National League by landing 2008 AL Cy Young Winner Cliff Lee from the Cleveland Indians.
The Phillies needed pitching for sure with a combined 4.68 ERA which is one of the worst in baseball. That has all changed with Lee because you have a vicious 1-2 punch of Lee and Cole Hamels who had a solid start two nights ago. The worry with the Phillies was they had a guy to go into game five or seven with but they didnt have the game four/six now they do with Lee. He has a 7-9 but has 3.14 ERA. I think a lot like CC Sabathia, his record doesnt reflect how good of a season he has. The other thing you have to factor is he will be playing in the National League for the first time which has usually worked for most teams.
Now the Indians are pulling a Pittsburgh Pirates and I am beginning to wonder if Rachel Phelps is owning the team again. They didnt get a lot for Sabathia last year and then they get five prospects from Phillie yet didnt get anyone that was involved in the Roy Halladay deal. They were both Cy Young winners from the year before, you have to imagine that they are getting a ton for both of them. Its unbelievable how little general manager Mark Sharpio is getting back for his guys plus the fact he still has a job. He should have been fired two years ago including head coach Eric Wedge. Cleveland isnt done either likely dealing Victor Martinez so we will see what their return is on that deal.
-Charlie.
The Phillies needed pitching for sure with a combined 4.68 ERA which is one of the worst in baseball. That has all changed with Lee because you have a vicious 1-2 punch of Lee and Cole Hamels who had a solid start two nights ago. The worry with the Phillies was they had a guy to go into game five or seven with but they didnt have the game four/six now they do with Lee. He has a 7-9 but has 3.14 ERA. I think a lot like CC Sabathia, his record doesnt reflect how good of a season he has. The other thing you have to factor is he will be playing in the National League for the first time which has usually worked for most teams.
Now the Indians are pulling a Pittsburgh Pirates and I am beginning to wonder if Rachel Phelps is owning the team again. They didnt get a lot for Sabathia last year and then they get five prospects from Phillie yet didnt get anyone that was involved in the Roy Halladay deal. They were both Cy Young winners from the year before, you have to imagine that they are getting a ton for both of them. Its unbelievable how little general manager Mark Sharpio is getting back for his guys plus the fact he still has a job. He should have been fired two years ago including head coach Eric Wedge. Cleveland isnt done either likely dealing Victor Martinez so we will see what their return is on that deal.
-Charlie.
Pirates is Just Giving Up Their Roster
Maybe I was wrong when I wrote yesterday that the Pittsburgh Pirates came out a winner yesterday in the trade that brought five new prospects for only Jack Wilson. Now they have traded away their final cornerstone in Freddy Sanchez to the San Francisco Giants for prospect Tim Alderson who is rated fourth in the Giants farm system.
I really cant explain to Pirate fans whats going on with their franchise. I mean they have made four deals already this off-season and there is still a day left before the deadline so who knows what will happen. If I was Pittsburgh, I would announce that this is the last year for trades and we are going to put full faith in John Russell to see what happens with what we have. Almost comparable to the Baltimore Orioles who brought in a lot of prospects and then said we are done... No way is Nick Markakis, Luke Scott, or Adam Jones is getting traded. That has to become Pittsburgh's attitude for the next three years.
As for San Francisco, they get a lead off bat or two hitter which they desperately need. They still havent answered the questions about power hitting at all. They should try to go after the suddenly red hot Josh Willingham of the Nationals or some spark in the three through five. I dont know if this is something that will put the Giants over the top in the National League Wild Card race.
-Charlie.
I really cant explain to Pirate fans whats going on with their franchise. I mean they have made four deals already this off-season and there is still a day left before the deadline so who knows what will happen. If I was Pittsburgh, I would announce that this is the last year for trades and we are going to put full faith in John Russell to see what happens with what we have. Almost comparable to the Baltimore Orioles who brought in a lot of prospects and then said we are done... No way is Nick Markakis, Luke Scott, or Adam Jones is getting traded. That has to become Pittsburgh's attitude for the next three years.
As for San Francisco, they get a lead off bat or two hitter which they desperately need. They still havent answered the questions about power hitting at all. They should try to go after the suddenly red hot Josh Willingham of the Nationals or some spark in the three through five. I dont know if this is something that will put the Giants over the top in the National League Wild Card race.
-Charlie.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Pittsburgh Trades Again... This Time They Win.
Once again the Pittsburgh Pirates have decided to trade one of their cornerstones of their franchise. This time its shortstop Jack Wilson whose been dealt to the Seattle Mariners along with disgruntled pitcher Ian Snell for prospect Jeff Clement, Ronny Cedeno, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin, and Nathan Adacock. I know this probably upsets Pittsburgh but I really think you will like this deal in the long run.
Now Snell was a guy who asked to be sent down because he didnt want to play with the Pirates (I wish Bill Hall would do that) and he was guy that was expected to get traded. The Bucos were working on a deal for Wilson but they couldnt come to agreement on an extension due to the fact that Wilson didnt like that guys like Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche was traded. He didnt trust the management wouldnt trade him if he signed a long term deal.
I would vote that the Pirates this time unlike the first two trades of the year won this deal. The Marniers gave up their top prospect for Jack Wilson? He is going to be a huge upgrade in defense but he has never been a big time hitter for Pirates. In addition, he will have to adjust to the American League. The only way I give Seattle the edge is if Snell turns out to be the stud that we all expected. I am curious if they will move Garrett Jones back to left field when Clement is ready to come out. Once again, it looks like the Pirates could be knocking on the door but who really knows with Pittsburgh.
-Charlie.
Now Snell was a guy who asked to be sent down because he didnt want to play with the Pirates (I wish Bill Hall would do that) and he was guy that was expected to get traded. The Bucos were working on a deal for Wilson but they couldnt come to agreement on an extension due to the fact that Wilson didnt like that guys like Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche was traded. He didnt trust the management wouldnt trade him if he signed a long term deal.
I would vote that the Pirates this time unlike the first two trades of the year won this deal. The Marniers gave up their top prospect for Jack Wilson? He is going to be a huge upgrade in defense but he has never been a big time hitter for Pirates. In addition, he will have to adjust to the American League. The only way I give Seattle the edge is if Snell turns out to be the stud that we all expected. I am curious if they will move Garrett Jones back to left field when Clement is ready to come out. Once again, it looks like the Pirates could be knocking on the door but who really knows with Pittsburgh.
-Charlie.
Mark Buerhle is the Man.
The Chicago White Sox are battling for the American League Central division right now and one guy that is definitely helping out the cause is Mark Buerhle. Despite giving up four runs in the seven innings to the Minnesota Twins, Buerhle did something that no one had ever done before. He retired forty-five straight batters before Alexi Casilla broke it up with a walk. Then Denard Span hit a single shortly thereafter.
I think what Mark Buerhle did was stellar because the two guys behind him in consecutive outs have been both relievers (one of them being teammate Bobby Jenks). For a starting pitcher to first throw a perfect game is something that we only see only once every five years if we are lucky and then to see him come out the next game to get a perfect game into the latter part of the innings is phenomenal.
It does suck that Buerhle did get rocked in the seventh inning and he seemed very upset that they were not able to get the win obviously. Now he is 11-4 this season which I think you have to put him in the conversation for American League Cy Young. Obviously if he stays in the AL, Toronto's Roy Halladay will be right there along with Boston's Josh Beckett. Buerhle will need to keep pitching strong if the Sox wants to get into the playoffs again this year.
-Charlie.
I think what Mark Buerhle did was stellar because the two guys behind him in consecutive outs have been both relievers (one of them being teammate Bobby Jenks). For a starting pitcher to first throw a perfect game is something that we only see only once every five years if we are lucky and then to see him come out the next game to get a perfect game into the latter part of the innings is phenomenal.
It does suck that Buerhle did get rocked in the seventh inning and he seemed very upset that they were not able to get the win obviously. Now he is 11-4 this season which I think you have to put him in the conversation for American League Cy Young. Obviously if he stays in the AL, Toronto's Roy Halladay will be right there along with Boston's Josh Beckett. Buerhle will need to keep pitching strong if the Sox wants to get into the playoffs again this year.
-Charlie.
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