The Official 2013 MLB Thread

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by RedKingGold

Just presume every player uses. Boom, problem solved.

I presume joe buck does too. where else does that jaw come from?

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs3

The Sox have a history of steroids. The Cardinals have a history of steroids. Is there a team that doesn't?

The Royals history of steroids is like everything else in the last 20 years: they suck at it. Washed up Juan Gonzalez, washed up Benito Santiago, noted asshole Jason Grimsley, and now washed up Miguel Tejada. There are some minor leaguers sprinkled in but those are the ones off the top of my head.

SI

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by panerd

Sounds like MBBF defending Frank Haith, the names were redacted for PR purposes not because they didn't use. Ronnie says it better above me... everyone used on every team. But acting like Manny only used the time he got caught and Big Papi never used is like Cards fans saying Pujols and Holliday weren't using.

I've said before that I'm 99% sure Ortiz used at some point back then, but there were 104 players on that list, the NYT published 4 of them (Ortiz, Manny, A-Rod, Sosa), and even they said at least 8 of the players on the list were there for legal things. So you have 100 other players who were caught but haven't had their names released, which is why I think singling him out is wrong.

The bigger question in my mind is whether Ortiz has been using since then, which is a much bigger question mark. I don't think it's impossible by any means to skirt the testing, and I would be in favor of more frequent/blood testing, but the program does work to some extent since we've seen about 50 players caught, so again singling out someone who hasn't as a steroid user seems wrong to me.

The point with Manny was kind of a throwaway one, but I do find it unlikely he would be using a program/drug that allowed him to evade testing for 5 years, and then starts taking random ass drugs that might not even help. I find it more likely he was slowing down and looking for some edge to keep him in the big leagues.

So overall, I'm 99% sure Ortiz used back in 2003, and I'm 100% certain that there have been multiple Red Sox using. Where I step up to defend them is when people single them out as worse than other teams/players, or when people act like it's certain he's using now, or the only reason Ortiz is good is steroids (and trust me, this point gets brought up by at least 1 person every single time his name is mentioned.)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

The Royals history of steroids is like everything else in the last 20 years: they suck at it. Washed up Juan Gonzalez, washed up Benito Santiago, noted asshole Jason Grimsley, and now washed up Miguel Tejada. There are some minor leaguers sprinkled in but those are the ones off the top of my head.

SI

For a while, Royals fans were a bit miffed that no one was cheating on our team while everyone else was getting caught.

[cartman]

I hope Saltalamacchia's World Series game 6 against the Cards ends up better than his WS Game 6 against the Cards when he was with the Rangers.

[B & B]

Hes not starting, Im certain Ross is.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by B & B

Hes not starting, Im certain Ross is.

Yup. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Jonny Gomes, LF
Shane Victorino, RF
Xander Bogaerts, 3B
Stephen Drew, SS
David Ross, C

Wish X was up in that 2 hole with everyone else bumped down 1, or switched with Gomes, and I wish Nava was starting over Gomes, but it could be worse.

2 fun trivia questions that Wacha could join tonight.

Name the only pitcher in history to start and win Game 2 of a post-season series, but then start and lose a deciding game 6 (which is what we want Wacha to do tonight).

Spoiler

Greg Maddux, who did it twice.

Alternatively if you're a Cards fan, name the three pitchers to start and win a post-season game 1 or 2 on the road, and then stave off elimination by starting and winning game 6 on the road.

Spoiler

Grover Cleveland Alexander, Lefty Grove, and Chad Ogea.

[TRO]

Chad Ogea?!?!

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by TRO

Chad Ogea?!?!

Part of that stud 1997 playoff rotation of Ogea, Charles Nagy, Orel Hershiser and Jaret Wright. Made the WS 1-0 in extra innings on a Tony Fernandez home run, then Ogea beat Kevin Brown in both starts including a Game 6 where he had 2 RBI's including the game-winner (1st pitcher with 2 RBI's in a WS game since Mickey Lolich!), before Florida won in game 7 when Craig Counsell hit the Sac Fly off Jose Mesa to tie it in the 9th, then scored to win it in the 11th. What a weird game baseball can be, and what a weird year 1997 was.

[DaddyTorgo]

John Farrell channeling Grady Little?

Let's hope not...

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

John Farrell channeling Grady Little?

Let's hope not...

Fucking hilarious.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Fucking hilarious.

In what way?

[britrock88]

I know at least 7 people at the game tonight (only notable because I know fewer people than that who live anywhere near Boston). Can't imagine what they gave to get in.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by britrock88

I know at least 7 people at the game tonight (only notable because I know fewer people than that who live anywhere near Boston). Can't imagine what they gave to get in.

Tickets were apparently at superbowl-level prices.

For all that I haven't been a baseball fan this season, had I not stayed home from work today and napped till 6pm because of this hellacious head-cold that I have, I was planning on going down to my sister's apartment to watch (she lives like 2 blocks from Fenway).

[SirFozzie]

I'll be honest, the piece of steak I had for dinner was feeling like a lead weight in my stomach.

Probably the last of the pre-'04 mindset

And now a third Intentional Walk to Papi.. that's Respect right there.

[SirFozzie]

Time for my one gloat-post...

THIS IS OUR FUCKING CITY, AND THIS IS OUR FUCKING WORLD SERIES..

What a change a year can make.

Many props to the Cards, Tigers and Rays for great series... but there's only one team standing at the end, and it's BOSTON STRONG!

[DaddyTorgo]

I'm gonna stab everyone that gets all "Boston Strong" over this.

Enough already.

[SirFozzie]

you stab me, I cut you, DT

[JonInMiddleGA]

'grats Sox fans, they earned it so enjoy every bit of it afaic.

[Matthean]

I felt like ESPN was running out of ways to promote the game since they have been mentioning it has been nearly 100 years since Boston clinched a World Series at home. No offense, but after 3 titles in 10 years I'm having a hard time coming up with sympathy.

[Arles]

Congrats to Boston. The Sox were great in the series and got a well-deserved win. Hopefully the Cards can add a few veteran hitters for the bench and finally get a real SS this offseason. I don't know if I can take another season of the Kozma/Descalso poop platoon.

[Desnudo]

The stat that jumped out at me is last clinch at Fenway 1918 - game time 1:46

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

In what way?

Cause that is exactly what I thought too hen I was watching that. I grew in the Boston subs and went o college though I now live in Colorado I have been a life long Sox fan so this is the crown jewel of the last ten years.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

The stat that jumped out at me is last clinch at Fenway 1918 - game time 1:46

A lot quicker with no commercial breaks.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

I'm gonna stab everyone that gets all "Boston Strong" over this.

Enough already.

You've got a lot of stabbing to do...

[Matthean]

Pastor's kids would play a baseball video game before each game of the WS to see who would win that night. They went 6 for 6.

[Galaril]

Wow great McCarver has announced this was his final game! Never cared for him much.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Cause that is exactly what I thought too hen I was watching that. I grew in the Boston subs and went o college though I now live in Colorado I have been a life long Sox fan so this is the crown jewel of the last ten years.

Haha - yeah

[Buccaneer]

Woo hoo! We are very happy here and my son is completely overwhelmed. He said it made up for the Bruins' loss.

[MizzouRah]

Congratulations Boston fans!!!

Great year Cardinals.. when is spring training?

[SirFozzie]

Agreed. When does Spring Training start?

[Dutch]

Congratulations. Red Sox were great all year and deserve to be champs.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Agreed. When does Spring Training start?

Schedules are starting to trickle out so the information is complete but games seems to start Feb 25th-ish and pitchers and catchers will report a couple of weeks sooner so we'll just go with 100 days

Not that I would know off the top of my head or anything.

SI

[Butter]

RED SOX! RED SOX! RED SOX!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Pastor's kids would play a baseball video game before each game of the WS to see who would win that night. They went 6 for 6.

If they have Madden can you ask them to play the Bengals- Dolphins game tonigh and tell me if the Bengals win by 3? Thanks.


Grats to the Boston fans, I know we have several here and I have several in real life

[Bad-example]

Sincere congratulations to the "Not the LA Dodgers" for winning the World Series! I was hoping you would win since the beginning of the playoffs!

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Bad-example

Sincere congratulations to the "Not the LA Dodgers" for winning the World Series! I was hoping you would win since the beginning of the playoffs!

Spoken like a true Jints fan. Good job.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Bad-example

Sincere congratulations to the "Not the LA Dodgers" for winning the World Series!

+100

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Galaril

Wow great McCarver has announced this was his final game! Never cared for him much.

He was actually quite good in his earlier days when he did the play-by-play on the local NYC station for the Mets. I have to think calling nearly every game of a 162 game season has to really begin to wear on an announcer over the years with the living out of a hotel for a lot of it. He wasn't very good at the end of his career, but I certainly salute him for his "body of work"

[Thomkal]

Congrats to the Red Sox and their fans! Very disappointed in how poorly the Cards offense did when the pitching did so well against the Boston lineup (except for Ortiz of course and Game 6).

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Woo hoo! We are very happy here and my son is completely overwhelmed. He said it made up for the Bruins' loss.

...your son is spoiled.

[AENeuman]

Originally Posted by Desnudo

The stat that jumped out at me is last clinch at Fenway 1918 - game time 1:46

Read this in Bryson's new book:

Shortest double header 9/26/26
Game 1: 1:12.with 25 total hits!
Game 2: 0:55 with 20 total hits!

[molson]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

Read this in Bryson's new book:

Shortest double header 9/26/26
Game 1: 1:12.with 25 total hits!
Game 2: 0:55 with 20 total hits!

I'm trying to imagine what that would even look like. Obviously no pitching changes, no time between innings. But those guys must have been intentionally rushing to catch a train or something, maybe there was some gentleman's agreement to swing at everything.

[AENeuman]

Originally Posted by Bad-example

Sincere congratulations to the "Not the LA Dodgers" for winning the World Series! I was hoping you would win since the beginning of the playoffs!

I too was rooting for the 2013 Red Sox and against the 2012 Red Sox

[tarcone]

Congrats Red Sox

104 days until the pitchers and catchers report.

I cant wait to see what next years Cardinals look like. Hopefully there is a shortstop on that team.

[TRO]

Originally Posted by tarcone

I cant wait to see what next years Cardinals look like. Hopefully there is a shortstop on that team.

I think Chris Getz could handle switching to SS for you. Really, take him, please.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by britrock88

...your son is spoiled.

I had him tell me the number of years since 2001 when one of his teams (Boston in all sports) was not in a league championship or championship game. He could only name 4.