2014-2015 MLB Hot Stove thread

[Scoobz0202]

There have been reports floating around today that Josh Hamilton will be facing discipline but nothing has been confirmed.

Jon Heyman is reporting that it was a relapse and involved at least cocaine. Hamilton confessed, per Heyman.

Is 80 games next on his suspension list? That's a shame. Drug addiction is a real fucker.

[Scoobz0202]

dola

Heyman also posted on twitter, "There's no word of a failed test. Word is, Hamilton told mlb about relapse. He'd be put in program as 1st time offender."

[Ramzavail]

Confessing is better than getting caught, but she don't lie.

[Warhammer]

If he confessed of his own will and was not caught or anything, you have to give him some props as a person.

[Easy Mac]

He gets tested multiple times a week. He and his people had to know falling on his sword would get him a lighter punishment that just failing a test.

[Chief Rum]

Most important is that he gets the help he needs.

As an Angels fan, I have been kinda treating any positive on field accomplishments from Hamilton as a bonus to expectations, even before this.

[HomerSimpson98]

As much as it pains me to say this, once baseball is done for Josh, I dont see him living long enough to see his kids grow up. Addiction is a bitch and all that, blah, blah, blah. But he has more resources than damn near any addict on the planet, and he still cant get right. What happens when his babysitters arent around? What happens when he's not playing baseball 9 months out of the year?

Such a shame.

[Solecismic]

I was living in the Seattle area when ARod was drafted and became the guy. So I've always rooted for him a bit. Plus, when they got that horrible new stadium and Griffey said he'd never play there because it was a pitcher's park and it would affect his stats (though he did come back in the end), ARod was the one who said it didn't matter to him. And he stayed, until ownership said they couldn't afford him (even though all that money from the horrible new stadium that was built on the promise that they could then afford their stars went into ownership pockets instead).

Then, he winds up in New York, where most stars go to die, and willingly switches to third base to make room for the statue at shortstop.

If he weren't a cheat, he would be my favorite player, hands down. I think people are uncomfortable with him because his ego is a bit weird. It's strong enough that he was willing to cheat when he got worried that injuries would affect his production. But stuff like the stats thing that made Griffey force a trade, then being willing to renegotiate his contract down when the Red Sox wanted him (the cba prevented this), then being willing to move when the Yankees wanted him... that's what we like to see from stars.

Now he's the underdog again. Maybe Cashman and the Yankees are playing this perfectly. Maybe this is the only way the Yankee fans will accept ARod - having management come down on him like this.

It'll be interesting seeing him out there. The skeptic in me says that without PEDs, this whole trend of seeing athletes competitive into their 40s is going to go away like it never existed. But you never know.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Excited about Mike Sweeney going into the Royals Hall of Fame. Great guy on and off the field who represented the team well during a rough period for the franchise. His father is very ill with cancer and Mike is hoping he will live long enough to attend the ceremony this summer given that his father was the one who taught him the game.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

If he weren't a cheat, he would be my favorite player, hands down. I think people are uncomfortable with him because his ego is a bit weird.

His ego is what caused him to swear he never took PEDs, and then when he got caught, his ego again forced him to say "Okay, I admit I took them then...but not then." We all knew it was bullshit, but he said it anyway. And then the cycle has repeated itself again since. So if a guy never being able to come clean, when the majority of people don't really give anywhere near as much a shit about this topic as they did in the past, is what causes everyone to basically say fuck off to him, yeah I guess you could define that as being "uncomfortable with him".

[ISiddiqui]

Who the fuck easily comes clean about PEDs?

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Logan

His ego is what caused him to swear he never took PEDs, and then when he got caught, his ego again forced him to say "Okay, I admit I took them then...but not then." We all knew it was bullshit, but he said it anyway. And then the cycle has repeated itself again since. So if a guy never being able to come clean, when the majority of people don't really give anywhere near as much a shit about this topic as they did in the past, is what causes everyone to basically say fuck off to him, yeah I guess you could define that as being "uncomfortable with him".

I find it fascinating that the Yankees are retiring Andy Pettitte's number.

[stevew]

They're breaking into sports center to show Alex batting vs. some Philly scrub.

It's easily the feel bad story of the spring.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Wow. Helluva start to spring training for the Royals. Both of the new free agent signings (Rios & Morales) along with Hosmer all hit HR's in their first at-bat of the spring. Me likey!

[Grover]

Top Blue Jays prospect Daniel Norris lives by his own code

This guy sounds absolutely awesome.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Wow. Helluva start to spring training for the Royals. Both of the new free agent signings (Rios & Morales) along with Hosmer all hit HR's in their first at-bat of the spring. Me likey!

And now it's looking like Tim Collins is gonna need Tommy John. Ugh. Not good news for the bullpen.

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Grover

And now it's looking like Tim Collins is gonna need Tommy John. Ugh. Not good news for the bullpen.

meh.

Collins was a borderline pitcher in the Royal's pen. Only reason he was even there was because they needed a lefty out there. I think they were expecting Collins in KC, with Finnegan working as a SP in Omaha, but he'll move to the pen.

Their bullpen will end up being:
Louis Coleman or Franklin Morales (L)
Brandon Finnegan (L)
Jason Frasor
Luke Hochevar
Kelvin Herrera
Wade Davis
Greg Holland

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Grover

And now it's looking like Tim Collins is gonna need Tommy John. Ugh. Not good news for the bullpen.

He was likely not even going to make the team. It hurts the depth if they have any injuries in the bullpen, but it likely doesn't affect the opening day roster.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Scarecrow

meh.

Collins was a borderline pitcher in the Royal's pen. Only reason he was even there was because they needed a lefty out there. I think they were expecting Collins in KC, with Finnegan working as a SP in Omaha, but he'll move to the pen.

Their bullpen will end up being:
Louis Coleman or Franklin Morales (L)
Brandon Finnegan (L)
Jason Frasor
Luke Hochevar
Kelvin Herrera
Wade Davis
Greg Holland

All the comments from Yost and Moore this spring said that Finnegan was going to be in the bullpen right away barring any issues in the spring. No need to develop him as a SP for the time being.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

He was likely not even going to make the team. It hurts the depth if they have any injuries in the bullpen, but it likely doesn't affect the opening day roster.

I guess I liked him more than anybody else did, haha.

I'm very okay with Finnegan being in there though.

[Logan]

Matt Harvey back and off to a nice start.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Logan

Matt Harvey back and off to a nice start.

Looking sharp. If this team can get any offense they would be dangerous.

[claphamsa]

Yu Darvish of Texas Rangers has sprained elbow ligament, mulling Tommy John surgery - ESPN Dallas

[cartman]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

Yu Darvish of Texas Rangers has sprained elbow ligament, mulling Tommy John surgery - ESPN Dallas

Ugh. Just... well... ugh.

[claphamsa]

i might know of some available pitchers...if you have a 2B and lots of specs

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

Yu Darvish of Texas Rangers has sprained elbow ligament, mulling Tommy John surgery - ESPN Dallas

While any injury to the Rangers is a positive for the Angels, I will be disappointed if Yu has to miss the season. Texas has already been through so much with injuries, and it means more if the Angels can beat the fully healthy Rangers (and A's and Mariners, etc.).

Plus, baseball is just better, period, when guys as talented as Darvish are playing.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I nearly started a new thread for this post.

Moose just hit a double.......to LEFT FIELD!!!!!!! Even more interesting, it appeared to be intentional!!!!!

[cartman]

And it is official. Yu Darvish to have Tommy John surgery next Tuesday.

[Grover]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

I nearly started a new thread for this post.

Moose just hit a double.......to LEFT FIELD!!!!!!! Even more interesting, it appeared to be intentional!!!!!

LEFT FIELD!?

APOCALYPSE!

[ISiddiqui]

Will Ferrell plays 10 positions in five spring training games - Extra Mustard - SI.com

[BillJasper]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Will Ferrell plays 10 positions in five spring training games - Extra Mustard - SI.com

I caught the half inning he played in Right Field for the Padres last night.

[molson]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Will Ferrell plays 10 positions in five spring training games - Extra Mustard - SI.com

Check out the transaction section at the bottom.

Will Ferrell Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com

[ISiddiqui]

That entire page is fantastic. Way to go, BR!

[molson]

It's unfortunate they never used him as a pinch runner.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Boy, the Royals just keep on rolling. Seems like they just picked up right where they left off. Obviously, it's spring training, but it's always better than losing.

Good Joe Poz article......

Letter from Camp Uneventful | NBC SportsWorld

[Scarecrow]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Boy, the Royals just keep on rolling. Seems like they just picked up right where they left off. Obviously, it's spring training, but it's always better than losing.

Good Joe Poz article......

Letter from Camp Uneventful | NBC SportsWorld

I was at the Mark Quinn game (the story at the bottom of the JoPoz article). Funniest thing I've ever been a part of.

[claphamsa]

When does it go from hot stove to regular season?

Zach Wheeler for tommy john

[ISiddiqui]

Shit.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by claphamsa

When does it go from hot stove to regular season?

Zach Wheeler for tommy john

I'm assuming when the regular season begins. Good place to talk about practice games and injuries until then.

[Lathum]

Zack Wheeler of New York Mets has torn elbow ligament, may need Tommy John surgery - ESPN New York

Brutal being a Mets fan

[Lathum]

dola- looks to pave the way for Syndegard though

[Toddzilla]

This is Kris Bryant's world, we all are just along for the ride

[Chief Rum]

Good gawd, what the hell is going on with elbows? It's a TJ epidemic.

It is almost to the point where, if you haven't had one, you're probably a ticking time bomb, especially if you're a young talent who can throw reasonably hard.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Good gawd, what the hell is going on with elbows? It's a TJ epidemic.

It is almost to the point where, if you haven't had one, you're probably a ticking time bomb, especially if you're a young talent who can throw reasonably hard.

When do they start doing TJ surgery before an injury to a good young pitcher?

[Ramzavail]

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHEELERRRRRRRRRRR TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[cartman]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

When do they start doing TJ surgery before an injury to a good young pitcher?

There have been stories of high schoolers trying to get TJ surgery done as a preventative measure.

12 things you probably didn't know about Tommy John surgery | FOX Sports

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by cartman

There have been stories of high schoolers trying to get TJ surgery done as a preventative measure.

12 things you probably didn't know about Tommy John surgery | FOX Sports

I figured.. it almost seems practical as you'll probably need it at some point in your career if you throw hard.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Good gawd, what the hell is going on with elbows? It's a TJ epidemic.

It is almost to the point where, if you haven't had one, you're probably a ticking time bomb, especially if you're a young talent who can throw reasonably hard.

It starts in youth baseball. Guys are reaching pro ball ticking time bombs for major injury because mechanics taught at young ages are all about squeezing extra velocity with no regard to good mechanics and young players are quite simply overworked.

I coach 13u select baseball and although most leagues have moved to pitch counts with mandatory days rest tournaments are still using an innings for the weekend limit or no limit at all (they call it "coach's discretion"). The reason is because most coaches know they have 2-3 good pitchers and want them on the mound as much as possible and a pitch limit would force them to go deeper into their rotations. Then they have would potentially have to deal with the fallout of parents angry because they're not winning enough.

In games where I've actually tracked pitch counts for both my team and the opposing team I've seen a 9 year old throw 95 pitches, an 11 year old throw 117, and I've seen multiple 12 year old kids in the 90s. Those are 1 game totals. I don't think it's terribly uncommon for top pitchers to throw 130+ pitches over a Saturday/Sunday tournament at 12-14 years old.

[ISiddiqui]

Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins agree to 7-year, $49.5M deal - ESPN

Marlins sign Yelich to a 7 year deal for $7mil per. A GREAT deal for the Marlins.

[Lathum]

And with all their awesome young pitching the Meys name Bartolo Colon owning day starter.