MLB Offseason 2011
- Thread starter Mr. Laser Beam
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On the other hand, he's on my fantasy team, so it's a win for Team Scout
A win for the Brewers, too, who were going to have a pretty rough first third of the season without him.
And, in all fairness to Braun, a two-day chain of custody breach is a pretty big fucking deal, which is something even a first-year law student should know.
I saw some Miami Marlins hats at the mall today. Even uglier in person.
So Manny reported to A's camp today, and I guess that means the media circus in Oakland has begun. Ok, so Beane might have taken a flier and people say it's not a bad signing for Oakland, but I still hate it.
Because if the A's are serious about rebuilding and going towards San Jose, they don't need that clown on the team.
If you think there's any sort of long-term plan to keep him on the team, you're off your rocker. Beane took a cheap flyer on Manny in the hopes that he has a monster first half after he serves his suspension, with the plan of flipping him at the deadline for prospects. And it's not like they're moving to San Jose in the middle of the season.
It sounds like lifting the suspension was correct, even if it was only for a technicality. He's being pretty cheeky with his comments today, considering that technicality or not he still had the highest levels of testosterone in his sample that have been seen since this new wave of drug testing began
And to call it a "technicality" is being rather unfair -- as I said earlier, a two-day chain of custody breach is a huge issue, not only from a due process perspective but also considering that this is the procedure that MLB wrote, and the union agreed to as part of the CBA. This is about enforcement of a quality standard that should be followed under every circumstance. Chain of custody exists for a reason: Testing can produce wildly inaccurate results if samples are mishandled as they were here.
MLB's response to this is incredibly asinine, too -- they're looking to see if they can sue in federal court to overturn the decision. "We both agree to use arbitration in these steroid hearings. Wait, he's not guilty? WE DIDN'T GET THE RULING WE WANTED, WE ARE TAKING YOU TO COURT!
"
Did Braun use performance enhancing drugs? Almost certainly, but the tests are catching such a small percentage of users that it's a bit hard to get all indignant and righteous about that. And, in any event, the sample was mishandled and should never have been tested in the first place.
MLB's response to this is incredibly asinine, too -- they're looking to see if they can sue in federal court to overturn the decision. "We both agree to use arbitration in these steroid hearings. Wait, he's not guilty? WE DIDN'T GET THE RULING WE WANTED, WE ARE TAKING YOU TO COURT!
Did Braun use performance enhancing drugs? Almost certainly, but the tests are catching such a small percentage of users that it's a bit hard to get all indignant and righteous about that. And, in any event, the sample was mishandled and should never have been tested in the first place.
I'm calling it a "technicality" primarily because that is how others are referring to it. He gets off because technically the testing was flawed... and in truth he should be off. What does not change is the fact he's proven to have used a banned substance. To posture the way he has is not exactly the smartest move on his part.
While MLB's response seems over the top, it at least shows me that they are serious about cleaning this up. This is their reigning NL MVP after all, not to mention the ball club that the Commissioner used to own.
While MLB's response seems over the top, it at least shows me that they are serious about cleaning this up. This is their reigning NL MVP after all, not to mention the ball club that the Commissioner used to own.
So, just because others are calling it a technicality, that makes it one? Please don't fall for the bullshit narrative that ESPN is spouting just because they got caught with their pants down by running a story without following up on any of the allegations.
In any event, how is it proven? The T/E ratio was abnormally high -- not just for people not using PEDs, but far outside the norm even for the subgroup of positive tests, being three times higher than any other MLB player's test -- the chain of custody was irredeemably broken, the tainted test results were leaked to ESPN (almost certainly by MLB itself, or otherwise the sample collector) ... everything in this issue was fucked up on MLB's end.
To say that Braun is "getting off," as though to automatically presume guilt, is basically taking a Judge Dredd system of rule enforcement in baseball: "The good of the game? I am the good of the game!"
Well, that's why MLB is being such a dick about this whole issue. Braun's positive result and suspension was a powerfully symbolic thing for MLB's drug testing PR. It demonstrated (falsely) that no one was above the law. Anyone could be caught and punished. Braun was a guy who, as far as I know, never had a hint of controversy around him -- he'd just been named MVP and he's the face of team with a growing fanbase. It really sucks for everyone to suspend Braun for 50 games -- I'm sure if you got them alone and off the record most people in MLB are glad he's gonna be playing -- but the suspension reinforces the power of the drug testing program.
Unfortunately, Braun winning this appeal turns all of this around in the minds of dumb fans and dumb sportswriters. It turns the drug testing program into a farce. They think: "Oh, of course Braun won't really be suspended, MLB doesn't really care about doping," whether or not that's true. MLB has to do everything to make it look like they're trying to enforce the suspension. They have to be dicks about it because of all the dumb people who don't understand the situation.
That doesn't make it any less stupid, mind you. Case in point, a ridiculous "article" by ESPN's Jayson Stark:
That kind of reasoning would fail in a middle school English class. Or would it?
Again, it’s called due process. You might not like or even trust the result (as I said earlier, I'm skeptical). But the rules were collectively bargained, and MLB and the MLBPA jointly appointed the independent arbitrator. This is how it works.
Oh, I know it's not a long term plan, but Manny has been slumping for a few years before his suspension. With that and all the extra baggage he carries, was this signing really necessary? Also, living in the Bay Area, this might turn into another Barry Bonds thing and that will suck.
That's the narrative that the media spun, but it isn't really true; the only real decline was in his power (which fell off a cliff). He never lost his ability to hit or judge pitches. For example, in 2010, he still managed to go .298/.409/.460 -- dude managed an .869 OPS while only hitting nine home runs, and he did that because he's always been a walks machine. (His career OBP is third-best among active players.)
I can see if I can summon up an NFL-esque tirade about the Wilpons if it would improve your mood ... sorry, brother.
Jason Varitek to announce his retirement on Thursday.
Sad, but not unexpected. Once the Sox signed Shoppach and only offered Tek a non-guaranteed spring training invite, I figured he was probably done. I don't think he wanted to play anywhere else. And, honestly, he really doesn't have anything left to prove. He's going to be remembered as arguably one of the Red Sox' greatest catchers, and as part of the team that finally brought a championship back to Boston after 86 years.
First Wakefield, and now Varitek. With both of them now gone, I believe the only players left from the 2004 World Series team are David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis.
Sad, but not unexpected. Once the Sox signed Shoppach and only offered Tek a non-guaranteed spring training invite, I figured he was probably done. I don't think he wanted to play anywhere else. And, honestly, he really doesn't have anything left to prove. He's going to be remembered as arguably one of the Red Sox' greatest catchers, and as part of the team that finally brought a championship back to Boston after 86 years.
First Wakefield, and now Varitek. With both of them now gone, I believe the only players left from the 2004 World Series team are David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis.
To be fair, that was eight years ago, and it wasn't a particularly young team in the first place.
Cubs better hurry the $#(% up. You know that big party deck and new video board that they were planning to build in right field at Wrigley? Opening Day's only a month away, and they just started building it. 
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