2012 -2013 MLB off Season

[MadTigerFan]

It's so bloody hard to keep posted on what's happening in the MLB here in Australia.

Mike and Mike on ESPN and the ESPN website

 

[DaSawx]

mlbtraderumors.com

 

[MadTigerFan]

Baseball trade sucks, never see fair trades lol

 

[Cousin Jed]

Rotoworld

 

[Chops18]

Indians set to sign Brett Myers to a one year deal, not sure on the money he will be getting but would be fairly cheap one would think. I believe he will get a starting gig with us so not a bad move for us. The front office has been active this offseason and i like it. Other than the Blue Jays who have made the blockbuster trades we have been the most proficient and effective i think is fair to say.

 

[lionbear]

Anyone have any opinions on the Hall of Fame Inductees this week?

My feeling on the matter is that this will be a year in which no one will meet the required level to be inducted.

Interesting to see what % Bonds and Clemens get.

 

[usalion]

Biggio, Bagwell, and Morris the most likely to get the votes, but it could be a shutout.

I'm guessing the max that bonds, Clemens or sosa get will be about 33% of the vote.

In other news, the Nats have signed Adam LaRoche to a two year deal. Have not heard for how much, but assume he aint going to need food stamps

 

[usalion]

Nobody was elected by the writers today. Biggio came closest with 68%. Bonds and Clemens around 36%, Sosa farther down on the vote.

Next year- Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Disappointed for Biggio..very close. Happy to see the cheats missing out.

 

[Team DJ]

I find it interesting.

I do not want to see Bonds Clemons etc in.
And its good the see the voters dont either.

The interesting thing is that Major League Baseball still lay claim to all of their records. Yet wont allow them into the HoF.

We want your stats and records. But dont want you in the HoF.......

 

[jk20]

Found this interesting article by Jayson Stark. Raises some questions. Like you said Team DJ they want their stats and records but no other acknowledgement.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/hof13/story/_/id/8826383/what-mlb-hall-fame-be

 

[usalion]

I find it interesting.

I do not want to see Bonds Clemons etc in.
And its good the see the voters dont either.

The interesting thing is that Major League Baseball still lay claim to all of their records. Yet wont allow them into the HoF.

We want your stats and records. But dont want you in the HoF.......

Thing is, it isn't MLB keeping them out. I'm sure if Bud Lite had his way, Bonds, Clemens et al would be on the dais at Cooperstown this summer. It is the BASEBALL WRITERS who vote on the HOF that are sayiing "no" to the players. There is a lot you can get into with that, not least of which is the question why the writers were not speaking out against these guys when the cheating was going on. A lot of them were covering baseball when this whole mess took place. You can also bleame the players associatiohn that did nothing as well.

However, a lot of the problem is that MLB has never really reacted to the use of steroids. Sure, you can say drug suspensions are a response to it, but how many guys in the majors have been nailed with this? Ad how much has it truly affected them?

 

[Team DJ]

Thing is, it isn't MLB keeping them out. I'm sure if Bud Lite had his way, Bonds, Clemens et al would be on the dais at Cooperstown this summer. It is the BASEBALL WRITERS who vote on the HOF that are sayiing "no" to the players. There is a lot you can get into with that, not least of which is the question why the writers were not speaking out against these guys when the cheating was going on. A lot of them were covering baseball when this whole mess took place. You can also bleame the players associatiohn that did nothing as well.

However, a lot of the problem is that MLB has never really reacted to the use of steroids. Sure, you can say drug suspensions are a response to it, but how many guys in the majors have been nailed with this? Ad how much has it truly affected them?

Im aware that its the writers not the MLB themselves. I just find it ironic.

They have 15 years of eligibility, itll be interesting to see come 2028 when a new generation of writers are voting to see if they have the same feelings towards these guys that the current writers do.

 

[Team DJ]

My idea would be for the MLB to have a specific section in the fame for these guys and i guess Pete Rose and even Shoeless Joe could be chucked in to.

Its own little question marked controversy section. Still in the hall, but have a sub heading there.

 

[lionbear]

Think this weeks ha;; of fame has exposed the current flaws in the voting system.

 

[usalion]

Having the writers vote obviously lead to biases coming in, but how would you do it? EVERYBODY is biased, as the late Stan Zermanek used to say.

Jayson Stark has a column on the problems of the hall voting and possible solutions.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/hof13/story/_/id/8826383/what-mlb-hall-fame-be

I've been to the Hall a few times, and I do see it as a museum more than a shrine. Yes, it has overtones of a shrine when you start looking at the plaques, but there is more to it than that. I have been opposed to the Steroid Boys getting in, but Stark's column is getting me thinking that they should get in if their numbers measure up. BUT- put something on their plaque to indicate that their totals may have been enhanced. Of course, you may have to redo a couple other hall plaques- mention Gaylord Perry's love of Vitalis and Whitey Ford's wedding ring (which eh used to scuff the ball).

Have the hall set up an exhibit on the Steroid era, much like they ahve exhibits on other eras of baseball, with special focus given to jose canseco and his book, as well as Ken camminitti and his admission of using steroids.

Then, I would also open the hall

1. To Pete rose- if the Roids Boys get in, the hit king needs to eb there, with mention of his gambling
2. Admit Shoeless Joe Jackson, with the mention of the black Sox
3. Find a spot for marvin miller, with reference given to the Curt Flood case (Miller is one who really should eb in the Hall, but in conjunction with Flood for pushing the case to the Supreme Court.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

The thing with Rose and Shoeless Joe is that they didn't perform above their level artifically as drug cheats did. So in a way their (Rose & Jackson) stats are legit.

 

[usalion]

The thing with Rose and Shoeless Joe is that they didn't perform above their level artifically as drug cheats did. So in a way their (Rose & Jackson) stats are legit.

Agreed- and I think they should both be in the hall because of what they did AS PLAYERS. If we let the drug cheats in, then the Hall should eb open to those two as well.

 

[lionbear]

People found guilty of drug cheating should not be on the ballot.

The issue for me is players only rumored to be cheats are getting punished. The writers are playing guilty until proven innocent and that's not their decision to make.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

The A's give Bob Melvin a two-year contract extension that keeps him in the Oakland dugout until 2016. Melvin definitely warranted an extension, given he's taken a ballclub with few resources and no high-profile players to AL West champions in his first full season in charge.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8843482/bob-melvin-contract-extended-oakland-athletics

 

[Dixie Flatline]

It's so bloody hard to keep posted on what's happening in the MLB here in Australia.

This page updates transactions that have gone through in MLB.

If you set up an ESPN account and list the Giants as your favourite team, then ESPN will highlight transactions affecting the Giants automatically on the page.

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Off topic but didn't want to start a fresh thread.... Where is the best place to get authentic or close to authentic MLB gear at a good price? My partner wants to hook me up with some LA Angels gear for my birthday. Thanks!

I've bought some MLB gear through amazon.com. Worth checking out.

If you really want authentic MLB gear used in games, then check out auctions.mlb.com. One of my mates bought a few bats used in games from this site and had no problems, though you do pay through the nose for the international shipping.

 

[Wickzki]

My girlfriend just surprised me with this for my birthday

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18242416

Sweet

 

[usalion]

Very sad news with the passing of hall of fame manager Earl Weaver today. He died while on a cruise with the team as part of a fantasy camp.

He managed one of the truly great teams in the Orioles of 1969-1971. Truly amazing they won only one World series, against the Big red Machine. Had the only team with four twenty game winners- McNally, Cuellar, Palmer, and Dobson. One year, his team only used a total of twelve pitchers, and the innings were dominated by the starters.

The other stat for which eh will be remembered is being tossed out of so many ballgames. The story I really like though, is that he was twice ejected during the first game of a double header, and then was ejected again while exchanging lineup cards before the second game. I'm sure there are some of his classic arguments with umps on YouTube.

RIP, Earl- the baseball world is much better for having had you in it.

 

[Bomber Bears]

Stan Musial died today as well, aged 92